Lifelines Online

Monthly Newsletter

November 2025 - Vol. 20, No. 11
< October 2025

Latest Headlines

Veterinary college recognizes faculty with annual teaching awards

Teaching award recipients pose for a picture.

Three faculty members have been recognized for preclinical teaching excellence in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University. Drs. Pradeep Malreddy, Kristen Hill-Thimmesch and Scott Fritz were each named as the respective top teachers for the first, second and third years of instruction, as voted on by each respective class of students for their teaching efforts in the 2024-2025 school year.

A kind fund helps veterinary students in need during unkind situations

Dr. Kortnee Van Nest and NIK graphic; Emergencies HappenThe Need in Kind fund is designed to provide up to $1,500 in temporary emergency assistance to students who are facing medical bills, car repairs, funeral travel or home-related issues like flooding, fires or structural issues. Students work with Counseling Services when they feel they need assistance in an emergency situation.

Dr. Stacy McHaney meets the press to talk about veterinary radiology

By Fox43 AM Live

Dr. Stacy McHaney during the KSNT interview

What's the most unusual animal one of our radiologists has conducted imaging on? Find out by watching this interview with Assistant Professor Dr. Stacy McHaney as she shares information on veterinary radiology and diagnostic imaging with FOX43 AM live!

With an urgent sense of the need to create a more agile approach to preventing infectious diseases, the heart of Dr. Laura Miller's passion lies in making research practical and providing high-impact solutions to protect animal and human health. Having previously worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, she brings a unique perspective to mentoring students in preparation for high-stakes careers in government and industry.

Search committee for new Hodes Family Dean named

Jesse Perez Mendez, K-State provost and executive vice president, has appointed the committee to lead a national search for K-State's next Hodes Family Dean.

Dr. Hans Coetzee, a university distinguished professor and vice president for research, will chair the search committee.

 

 

Regular features

 

Alumni Events, Development and Continuing Education

VMAA Connect Purple logoThe Veterinary Medical Alumni Association organizes alumni receptions at several of the national annual conferences plus continuing education events and more.

 

 

News Ticker

 

More news from the college

 

Taking a look at the human animal bond and its effect on wellness

Students gather in the BI auditorium for a panel discussion on the Human Animal BondTwo of the CVM's experts, Dr. Neala Boyer and Cassidy Moreau, recently discusssed how relationships with animals can help alleviate loneliness. The event was part of the 2025 K-State First Book program event series. The 2025 K-State First Book is "Together," by Vivek H. Murthy M.D., the 19th Surgeon General of the United States. The author "makes a case for loneliness as a public health concern: a root cause and contributor to many of the epidemics sweeping the world today from alcohol and drug addiction to violence to depression and anxiety. Loneliness, he argues, is affecting not only our health, but also how our children experience school, how we perform in the workplace, and the sense of division and polarization in our society.” The event prompted many questions and insights.

 

Kind Hearts spotlights outreach and wellness efforts in the college

Events collage from Kind Heart celebration

Shelter Medicine and Counseling Services were highlighted at the 2025 Kind Heart Celebration on Friday, Nov. 7. Dr. Adryanna Drake led a student panel discussion at the event and four students were presented with scholarships: fourth-year student Caleb Hildebrand, second-year student Sydney Sontag, third-year student Destiny Serrano and fourth-year student Ivy Elkins. In the top left and bottom right pictures, members of the Shelter Medicine and Community Outreach teams, including Drs. Ron Orchard and Brooke Davis, give tours of the Wellness on Wheels, or WOW, community outreach vehicle.

 

Legislators visit the veterinary college in October

Legislators tour veterinary college - collage of images

Throughout October, Interim Dean Elizabeth Davis welcomed groups of Kansas legislators to the CVM to provide an inside look at the college’s programs, facilities and ongoing initiatives. Above, Dr. Davis met with legislators Angel Roeser, District 67; Nathan Butler, District 68; and Lauren Bohl, District 15. Above left: Susan Rose demonstrates some of the animal models in the Clinical Skills laboratory.

 

DMP hosts reception to celebrate Dr. Juergen Richt's induction into the National Academy of Medicine

Collage showing Dr. Richt with a cake and meeting with colleagues

Last month we reported on Dr. Juergen Richt being elected to prestigious National Academy of Medicine. A reception was held in November with remarks being made by Dr. Derek Mosier, head of the Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology. Dr. Richt said this was a collective honor because of all the support and teamwork he receives from his colleagues and collaborators at K-State in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

 

Class of 2028 gets into character for Halloween costume contest

Students line up with different costumes for Halloween

The class of 2028 held a costume contest for Halloween, and character themes were popular for several groups of the second-year students. The participating students pictured above (not necessarily in strict order from left to right) are Erin Turman, Scara Alonzo, Regan Van Den Elsen, Chloe Lanning, Trinity Wrightfield, Sophia McCully, Nairilys Santana, Trisha Nguyen, Katherine Morrone, Brittany Smith, Brynn Becker, Jess Mayer, Thomas Burnett, Sydney Sontag, Morgan D'Albini, Alexis Justice, Brynn Kennedy, Jenna Rogind, Katelyn Kochanowski and Peyton Hathaway.

 

New Arrivals/Recent Departures

 

CVM News Feed is published each month by the Marketing and Communications Office at the College of Veterinary Medicine. The editors are Rylee Coy, ryleec@vet.k-state.edu and Joe Montgomery, jmontgom@vet.k-state.edu.

Lifelines (archived newsletter) index