Message from the Dean | February 2020
A Super Surprise

For those who haven't heard, tomorrow the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine will be highlighted during a WeatherTech commercial in the second quarter of the Super Bowl. We have been working hard the last three months to prepare for this amazing opportunity.

The commercial highlights Scout, who is a patient of UW Veterinary Care, describing the cancer he was diagnosed with, the treatment he has undergone and his current pathway to recovery. It also celebrates the work and research being done at the UW School of Veterinary Medicine. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity both for the school and the university and we cannot be more grateful to David MacNeil, WeatherTech's CEO and founder, and to Scout.  I want to also thank our faculty, staff and students for their passion and hard work while taking care of patients such as Scout. Without your efforts, we would not have grateful clients and happy patients like David and Scout. 

UW Veterinary Care patient Scout
The commercial ends with a direct call to action to visit weathertech.com/donate to
support the school's cancer research efforts , with 100 percent of gifts going directly to the SVM. Also on the WeatherTech website, visitors can watch a more in-depth video that describes Scout's journey and all that the School of Veterinary Medicine does to benefit both animal and human health, including the cancer research and therapies that have been and are continually being developed by the school.

I hope you enjoy both the commercial and the extended video. Please repost these videos to your favorite social media platforms and let your friends know all that the School of Veterinary Medicine does to advance this amazing profession. Another great resource to share is vetmed.wisc.edu/scout, where we've outlined Scout's story, our work to treat and prevent cancer, and how those who want to help can make a difference. Enjoy !
UW Veterinary Care Updates from the Director

I'm pleased to share two new exciting hospital initiatives: To provide expanded care to patients who require round-the-clock care, UW Veterinary Care will soon initiate a  24/7 Intermediate Care Ward , projected to open in May. We will also launch a  yearlong Veterinary Technician Internship  to provide specialized clinical experience for recent vet tech graduates, starting in June.

Welcome to new Emergency and Critical Care resident Kayla Alessandrino, as well as  new employees Bailey Donovan in the large animal hospital; Robin Hoebbel, joining Clinical Pathology; and Dana Wagner, a new pharmacy technician. Lacey Goetz, a certified veterinary technician with the large animal hospital since 2010, has taken a new role with Medical Records. And Tammi Walsh, who has served as blood donor coordinator and with Emergency and Critical Care for several years, begins a new role today as vet tech supervisor responsible for Primary Care, Ophthalmology, Special Species and the new Intermediate Care Ward.  In addition, with Karen Young's retirement, Kristen Friedrichs has stepped into the role of Chief of Service for Diagnostic and Support Services, working alongside Rebecca Stepien as Chief of Service for the Small Animal Hospital and Sabrina Brounts as Chief of Service for the Morrie Waud Large Animal Hospital.

Following 35 years of service, best wishes to receptionist Julie Cotton as she begins her retirement.   

And last but not least, congratulations to Pharmacy Manager Shelby Williams, who passed her final board certification test and is now a Diplomate in the International College of Veterinary Pharmacy.  

Whether our patients are Super Bowl celebrities like Scout or simply the stars of their own family, we value every animal we serve. We recognize that there is a wide range of what families can realistically do and it is our goal to find a way to help out in every situation. This recent client comment helps us know we are meeting that goal:

" Overall, my experience was amazing. Each person I interacted with was kind, understanding, and knowledgeable. They gave me all the facts and prices before allowing me to make a decision regarding medical care. They clearly took great care of my baby. ... Thank you to each of the vets, students, and techs I worked with. You were all so sweet to my baby during a hard time for me. I can tell she was happy and well cared for."

-  Abigale, Madison, Wisconsin

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

In an effort to increase outreach to diverse communities and inspire young people interested in veterinary medicine, the school has established a chapter of How We Role, a national curriculum created and coordinated by Purdue University. Starting in the spring 2020 semester, DVM students from two of the school's student organizations -- Veterinarians as One Inclusive Community for Empowerment (VOICE) and Veterinary Medical Outreach Organization (VMOO) -- with the guidance and support of Joan Jorgensen and Carmen Reamer, have begun implementing a fun and engaging lesson plan with kindergarten through second-grade students at the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County.
Faculty and Staff News

After excellent work for the SVM and outstanding service to the UW across 33 years, Ramona Gasper is retiring. Welcome to Brooke Buske (previously with UW Veterinary Care phone reception), who will fill this position in the Dean's Office. 

Welcome also to new staff and faculty members Gil O'Brian , a facility repair worker; Rick Radloff , new in the mail room ; and  Fei Zhao, who has joined the school as an assistant professor in the Department of Comparative Biosciences.

Congratulations to Hannah Carey recipient of a 2020 Postdoctoral Mentoring Award from the UW-Madison Postdoctoral Association, and to  Xuan Pan, recently promoted to the rank of associate professor with tenure.
Student News

Welcome to the following  new Ross and St. George's University students beginning their clinical year with the school: Dominique Capaldo, Sydney Friedman, Ann Le, Randi Sheetz, Sarah Slaughter and Abigail Taylor

Congratulations to Alexis Daggett DVMx'20, recipient of a 2019 Oakwood Scholarship from the Foundation for the Horse, presented in December at the AAEP Annual Convention; Anne Turco, a PhD candidate in the lab of Chad Vezina, recipient of a Women in Toxicology award from the Society of Toxicology; and Kyle Wegner, a PhD student also in Vezina's lab, recently honored with a Wisconsin Initiative for Science Literacy Award for Communicating Graduate Chemistry Research to the Public.
Research News

Professor Ted Golos was an invited speaker at a recent National Academy of Sciences workshop, Examining the State of the Science of Mammalian Embryo Model Systems, at the National Academy in Washington, D.C .
Upcoming Events

Dean's Get Together
February 28
4:30-6:30 p.m.
Veterinary Medicine Building, second-floor lobby

For more SVM-related events, visit the school's online calendar .
SVM in the News
For more media coverage of the SVM, visit the school's In the News page.
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