Good Wishes and Welcome Class of 2021 | Message from the Dean

Message from the Dean | September 2017

Good Wishes and Welcome Class of 2021

As the nation and world watch anxiously as floodwaters rise in East Texas following unprecedented amounts of rain, I'd like to start by sending my prayers and good wishes to those in Houston and the surrounding area affected by Hurricane and now Tropical Depression Harvey. Amidst the heartbreaking images of devastation and families displaced by this storm, it's hopeful to see that animals are increasingly part of disaster evacuation, sheltering and rescue efforts. Several organizations currently involved in these efforts, including the Houston SPCA, SPCA of Texas, and Austin Pets Alive, are welcoming financial and in-kind donations to assist displaced pets and their people, should you wish to help. Students: If you need any assistance related to attending UW-Madison and the SVM due to the impacts of this storm, please contact our Office of Academic Affairs or the Dean of Students Office.

Back in Madison, we were delighted this week by the Joint Finance Committee's unanimous approval of the Building Commission and Building Program omnibus motion, adding the lot 62 parking ramp to the Capital Budget. The construction of this ramp, which involves no state tax dollars and will be paid for by revenues generated by UW-Madison, is a very important component of the planned addition to the Veterinary Medicine Building. As Chancellor Rebecca Blank noted in a recent statement, the ramp "is a necessary step toward facilitating a badly needed expansion of the School of Veterinary Medicine ... and will ultimately allow the school to serve Wisconsin farmers and pet owners better." The university and the SVM will continue to stress the need to include this project in the next state budget bill.

I want to again welcome to UW-Madison our Class of 2021, who we oriented to the school last week. Given your arrival on campus and the variety of events and tragedies that have occurred across the nation as well as the world, I wanted to reemphasize the School of Veterinary Medicine's commitment to diversity, whether it is among our veterinary medical students, graduate students, staff or faculty, while at the same time our dedication to an inclusive climate for all who learn and work in the school. The SVM rejects all forms of prejudice and discrimination. As part of the UW-Madison campus community, we endorse the statement from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), which states, "The First Amendment is not just a right. It's also a responsibility. We must speak out against evil, hateful beliefs through free speech of our own that advances the shared American value of equality. The struggle against hate will only be won through education and public understanding."

First and foremost, I want to emphasize that the safety of our campus community is our top priority. Only in an environment that is safe can teaching, learning, research, and service take place. The UW-Madison campus and the School of Veterinary Medicine have worked to put in place policies and plans that ensure our community's safety as it relates to campus speakers, protests, and demonstrations. The campus reserves the right to cancel or disallow events that threaten violence. Importantly, the campus and school value the diversity of our campus community as a source of strength that improves learning, creativity, and innovation. We aspire to build a community where all students can thrive and challenging conversations can happen in a learning environment, in a respectful manner. I invite you to learn more about these efforts at campusclimate.wisc.edu.

The SVM also supports the joint statement from the Broad Spectrum Veterinary Student Association (BSVSA), Veterinarians as One for an Inclusive Community for Empowerment (VOICE), and the Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA), which states, "We reject hatred and bigotry in all their forms; it does not, and will never, have a place in our profession... We will continue to advocate for an open, inclusive veterinary profession where students from all backgrounds come to learn, grow, and achieve their dreams uninhibited by hate." Please know that the school is here for you with whatever you may be facing.

Again, welcome to the Class of 2021 and welcome back to the rest of our students. I'm looking forward to the coming fall ... Badger football, leaves changing, and an exciting year. Have a great semester!

UW Veterinary Care Updates from the Director

Echoing the School of Veterinary Medicine's commitment to diversity and inclusion, members of UW Veterinary Care in August participated in the 2017 OutReach Pride Parade in Madison to celebrate and support the LGBTQ community .

Joining our new residents, we are pleased to welcome Diya Sharma, who recently began her clinical pathology residency .

Several remodeling projects are currently underway in UW Veterinary Care. Room 1403 (across from the Clinical Pathology lab) and two adjacent rooms are being transformed into a new workspace for Medical Oncology. In addition, the TomoTherapy and Physical Rehabilitation reception areas are being remodeled to include three examination rooms. Once this work is complete, Medical Oncology will move from its current space into remodeled space; both Primary Care and Ophthalmology will have their own ward space; and we will have less crowding in the main Small Animal clinic.

Another important ongoing project is the excavation of a space on the southeast side of the building for a bulk oxygen tank.

To close, here's just one example of the enthusiastic feedback we have recently received from clients:

"My mare had been having an acute attack of laminitis. Dr. Whyard was the attending doctor and I was so impressed with my entire experience. She was so understanding, professional and caring about my situation. My mare was handled with care and understanding through all the tests and detailed shoeing that followed. I feel so lucky to have been directed to your phenomenal team of doctors, farriers, residents and students. I actually brought my other horse, Henry, on the Monday after Lark was there because of my experiences and now he, too, is on the road to recovery. Thank you for helping my horses and helping me have faith in excellent veterinary and farrier care."

- Lori, Wadsworth, Ill.

Ruthanne Chun DVM'91
Director, UW Veterinary Care
Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs

School News

A reminder that in support of SVM and campus efforts to prevent sexual harassment and sexual violence, mandatory online training for all UW-Madison employees is required by September 30. The online training module is designed to help UW-Madison faculty and staff recognize, prevent, and respond to sexual assault and sexual violence in the workplace. If you have any questions about this training, please contact Nancy Parkinson.

The School of Veterinary Medicine is in the first tier of UW-Madison schools and colleges to use the web-based performance management and development program for conducting employee assessment and reviews, expected to create a more seamless review process. Further information will be provided by Nancy Parkinson.

In August, University Marketing launched a new website, madison.wisc.edu, which showcases Madison and popular destinations in and around campus through the seasons. When recruiting students, staff, or faculty, you may wish to direct them to this site, or take a moment to enjoy it for yourself.

Student Updates

Four Comparative Biomedical Sciences students successfully defended their dissertations in August. Congratulations to Fonn Jiwlawat ("Modeling of Skeletal Muscle Development and Disease Using Human Stem Cells"), Bieneke Bron ("The Role of Short-lived Rodents and Their Fleas in Plague Ecology on Prairie Dog Colonies"), Megan Kulow ("Prevention and Control of Digital Dermatitis in Beef Cattle"), and Jennifer Reinhart ("Pharmacogenetics of Sulfonamide Hypersensitivity in Humans and Dogs").

Seventeen veterinary medicine students participating in the SVM Summer Scholars Program presented posters at the 2017 National Veterinary Scholars Symposium in Washington, D.C., August 3-5. Those students, with their mentor's name in parenthesis, were: Kore Chan (Peter Muir), Richard Dulli (Curtis Brandt), Michael Dupor (Kristen Bernard), Jonathan Elissa (Mark Cook), Jenna Epstein (Jyoti Watters), Melissa Farquhar (Lyric Bartholomay), Joanna Finstad (Michael Wood), Emily Gavic (Douglas Deboer), Shaile Gehrke (Gillian McLellan), Alyssa Karklus (Kurt Sladky and Graham Banes), Stephanie Kurth (Christina Carlson), Devan Leistikow (Charles Czuprynski), Rachel McMahon (Lisa Arendt), Mary Montanye (Dorte Dopfer), Sarah Rossmiller (Mark Markel), Adam Strebe (Nigel Cook), and Andrea Wenzel (Ted Golos).

Faculty and Staff News

Welcome to Lori Mitchell, who has joined the Department of Surgical Sciences as department administrator. Lori has been on campus for 15 years, most recently serving as human resources manager for the School of Medicine and Public Health Dean's Office since 2012.

Deborah Zurbuchen , former Surgical Sciences department administrator, has been granted emerita status from UW-Madison in recognition of her many professional achievements and contributions to the school and university.

School of Veterinary Medicine Professor Eric Sandgren this fall will serve as instructor of Sociology 496, Forward? The Wisconsin Idea, Past and Present. The course, held Tuesday evenings, is aimed at undergraduates, but in the past has also attracted a wide audience from the community .

Research News

Thanks to grants from the school's Companion Animal Fund, faculty and residents at the UW School of Veterinary Medicine will launch 12 new research projects aimed at improving animal health care. Nearly $110,000 in grants were distributed this year.

Two individuals with UW SVM connections were recently awarded first and second place in the AVMA/AVMF Young Investigator Awards competition. Meghan Vermillion, DVM'13 and summer scholars alumna, received first place for her work, "Modeling Congenital Zika Virus Infection in Immunocompetent Mice." And Xuan Pan, SVM assistant professor of medical sciences, received second place for her work on "Molecular Determinants for Polycomb Group Protein YY1 Control of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Quiescence."