Happy new year! I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday season. The beginning of 2022 for the School of Veterinary Medicine will be all about accreditation and our AVMA Council on Education site visit Jan. 23-27.
As we start a new year, I want to first thank all of you, our faculty, staff and students, for all that you did this past year during a very challenging time. Whether your efforts were principally focused on instruction, or in our hospital treating our patients and their clients while educating our fourth-year students, or in the laboratory, pursuing research to benefit both animal and human health, or our support staff in IT, Facilities, HR, Business Services, Academic Affairs, Advancement, Dean or Associate Dean support, you all deserve a heartfelt thank you from all of us for your efforts. We would not have made it through this past year and a half without your dedication, passion and commitment to our mission.
I'm looking forward to welcoming the site visit team and showing them all we do to educate our students, training them to be the next generation of veterinarians in this amazing profession. We likely won't know the final results of the site visit until the September Council on Education meeting. But I have great faith in where we are today and where we will be in the future as we literally build the infrastructure we’ll need to succeed in the coming decades.
I know some universities recently have elected to return to virtual instruction due to the increased number of COVID-19 positives in their communities. At least, as of the writing of this message, campus does not plan to modify instruction. Campus leaders continue to monitor the situation and we will continue to share information with you in the coming weeks. We are fortunate that the overwhelming majority of our faculty, staff and students are vaccinated, and many are boosted, so I believe we will be protected at least from significant illness on our campus. As always, the university will evaluate plans and policies as new information and public health guidance emerges.
As you may have heard, Jonathan Patz, the inaugural director of the UW-Madison Global Health Institute (GHI), is stepping down in July to focus more on his work on health and climate. GHI is looking for a visionary global health scholar or practitioner to lead the next phase of the institute, with applications now open for the director position. This is a 40-50 percent appointment open to UW-Madison faculty and academic and clinical staff, with an anticipated start at the end of May 2022. For more information, visit Jobs at UW-Madison, then search Internal. Applications close on Jan. 10.
I'm looking forward to 2022 and all that it offers, and I wish each of you a great year.
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UW Veterinary Care Updates from the Director |
Welcome to Lyndesey Winkers, a new veterinary technician assistant with the Emergency and Critical Care team. And congratulations to Amanda Volden, who has transitioned to a new role as a night float technician.
Congratulations to Michelle Piccione, who passed her certifying examination and is now a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology.
Looking back on 2021 and my first many months as hospital director, I am amazed at all we have accomplished together across our clinical care and teaching missions and through critical work to improve morale and retention. Just some of the highlights from the past year include bolstering hospital recruitment efforts through a new dedicated UW Veterinary Care careers web page, enhanced outreach, sign-on bonuses and more; partnering with Madison College as an internship site for veterinary technicians in training; expanding continuing education and professional development support for staff and clinicians; creating a social worker position; launching hospital ethics and morale committees; and more.
Thank you to all who have contributed your ideas, feedback, time and talents to help the hospital provide meaningful ways to show appreciation for everyone’s efforts. Whether treating animals large or small, I know that you make a difference every day for your colleagues, our clients and patients. The client comment below reinforces that.
"The entire team was amazing! This was my first time at the large animal area. Our piglet, Samantha, was treated very well. I cannot remember the doctor’s and interns' names, but they were kind, explained things in detail and listened intently to our questions and/or concerns. The woman that greeted us was very kind and friendly. Overall, it was a great experience for both the humans and the pig!" -Robin
Christopher Snyder, DVM, DAVDC
Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs
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Daryl Buss, former dean and professor emeritus with the UW School of Veterinary Medicine, stands in the school's atrium in 2012. In December, the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges announced that Buss is the recipient of the 2022 AAVMC Billy E. Hooper Award for Distinguished Service. Buss was honored for his more than 50-year career, including clinical practice, teaching, leadership of academic institutions and AAVMC, and ultimately, serving as editor-in-chief of the AAVMC’S Journal of Veterinary Medical Education.
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COVID reminders and new information: Several updates related to COVID-19 to be aware of for the spring semester:
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As shared in a Dec. 31 message from the Office of the Chancellor to all UW-Madison employees, we recognize that recent changes to the Madison Metropolitan School District K-12 schedule will affect our employees with students at home. The university and School of Veterinary Medicine will continue to offer workplace flexibility to employees, when possible and appropriate. If you are an employee seeking assistance in balancing work and childcare (or elder care) responsibilities, please speak with your supervisor, department chair or local human resources contact. View complete information about family caregiving options, resources and contacts.
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On Dec. 27, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated recommendations for people who test positive for COVID-19 and for people who have been exposed. In a post, Public Health Madison and Dane County offered a quick resource for navigating this new guidance. Campus will be updating information on the COVID Response page, but in the meantime, please consult the following.
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On Jan. 3, campus testing will move to a single location, the University Club, at 803 State St.
- The campus mask policy has been extended to Jan. 15. This policy will be reviewed again in early January, taking into consideration current public health guidance and COVID-19 prevalence.
- Based on emerging medical evidence and expert advice, the university plans to incorporate at-home rapid antigen tests into the campus testing strategy for fully vaccinated students and employees. Additional information will be provided.
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The university has paused implementation of the federal vaccination mandate due to an injunction issued by a federal court. Campus will continue to monitor legal activity related to the mandate and share more information as it becomes available.
- UW leaders continue to evaluate plans and policies on a regular basis as new information and public health guidance emerges. The university will provide additional information about campus testing plans and protocols as soon as it is available ahead of the semester.
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To stay informed, visit the COVID-19 Response website, FAQs and dashboard, which are updated regularly.
Pay plan increase: In late December, the Wisconsin legislature’s Joint Committee on Employment Relations approved a 2 percent pay increase in each of the next two years for state workers, including most UW-Madison employees, under the 2021-23 pay plan. All academic staff, faculty, limited appointees and university staff are eligible. Some employee categories, including temporary employees and student hourly employees, are not eligible. Employees should expect to see the Jan. 2, 2022 increase on their earnings statement for Jan. 27, 2022.
Top 10: The National Science Foundation has released its 2020 fiscal year Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) data and UW–Madison has again ranked 8th in the national research rankings for public and private universities. Data on UW–Madison’s 2020 research expenditures show over $1.3 billion in annual expenditures for research across all fields, about half of which comes from federal awards. That is an increase of nearly $67 million from fiscal year 2019.
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Practice of the year: ZimmVet, a veterinary clinic in Zimmerman, Minnesota owned by UW School of Veterinary Medicine alumna Maria Krenz DVM’06, was named the 2021 American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)-Accredited Practice of the Year. Krenz credits her talented team, which includes fellow UW graduate Abby Soderberg DVM'18, for the award, and says her time at the UW School of Veterinary Medicine provided a foundational experience for operating a successful practice.
Great success: Thank you to everyone who helped make the 2021 SVM Craft Fair a success. The event, featuring 23 crafters, raised a record $2,000 for the school's Companion Animal Fund. This fund supports a range of health care studies by SVM faculty designed to advance the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the diseases that afflict companion animals.
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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion News
An update from Richard Barajas, director of diversity, equity and inclusion
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Save the date for the 2022 Iverson Bell Midwest Regional Diversity Summit that will be hosted at the UW School of Veterinary Medicine from May 20-22. Registration details will soon be available online.
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Congratulations to Professor Ian Duncan, Department of Medical Sciences, on his retirement Nov. 1 following his career studying myelination of the central nervous system, diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and stem cell repair of brain disorders. Duncan's research on myelin (the protective nerve coating that is damaged in MS) advanced understanding of the development of myelin in the brain and spinal cord, how myelin is injured in central nervous system disorders, particularly MS, and how myelin can be repaired.
Welcome back to Shawna Hawkins, who completed her zoological medicine residency with UW Veterinary Care in 2021 and has now been hired as a clinical instructor in zoological medicine. Hawkins will provide teaching and clinical services for the new Wildlife Rehabilitation Medicine service, zoo medicine outreach service and Special Species.
Welcome also to Cecilia Grinis, the new career development coordinator in the Office of Academic Affairs. Grinis will be the liaison for DVM student job and externship opportunities; offer assistance in career exploration, writing resumes/cover letters, navigating NAVLE, and reviewing and negotiating contracts; and coordinate and facilitate financial literacy opportunities and some student-focused events.
Tom Yuill, professor emeritus, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, was honored in December at a ceremony at the University of Guadalajara, Mexico, recognizing his 28 years of collaboration on graduate training program development, research and teaching a wildlife disease course.
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Carly Mickelson, a graduate student in the lab of professor Tracy Baker-Herman, received a National Institutes of Health (NIH) F31 predoctoral fellowship. Mickelson is investigating mechanisms by which exercise reduces neuroinflammation and improves breathing stability in a rodent model of sleep apnea.
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The application period is now open for the UW-Madison Global Health Institute 2022 grants and awards program. Awards range from $1,500 to $20,000 and are designed to support global health efforts of faculty, staff, clinicians and graduate students across campus, fostering a spirit of collaboration with local and global colleagues and communities. Applications for all grants and awards are due Jan. 24.
Tracy Baker, professor of comparative biosciences, has been awarded a patent that describes a potential pharmacotherapy (retinoic acid or agonists of retinoic acid receptors) to treat sleep apnea in humans by activating endogenous mechanisms of respiratory neuroplasticity. Baker shares the invention with Gordon Mitchell and Daryl Fields.
Joan Jorgenson, associate professor in the Department of Comparative Biosciences, recently learned that the UW Foundation established a new fund, the Excellence in Reproductive Endocrinology Research Fund, based on a large gift from an anonymous donor. The gift has been designated to support Jorgenson's research in reproductive endocrinology.
Sathish Kumar, associate professor of comparative biosciences and obstetrics and gynecology, and collaborators have been awarded grants from the UW Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR) and National Institutes of Health. The ICTR grant studies the perinatal effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of about 5,000 human-made chemicals widely reported in commercial drinking water sources. The NIH research project grant (R01) grant, in collaboration with the University of California-Irvine, will examine the novel role of hydrogen sulfide in mediating vasodilation of uterine arteries during pregnancy and explore the therapeutic potential to combat pregnancy hypertension and preeclampsia.
Albee Messing, professor emeritus of comparative biosciences, and collaborators published research in Science Translational Medicine describing a potential new treatment for Alexander disease, a progressive and rare neurological disorder with no cure or standard course of treatment. The new study provided preliminary data instrumental for a human clinical trial currently being led by Ionis Pharmaceuticals.
Jayshree Samanta, assistant professor in the Department of Comparative Biosciences, was awarded an NIH research project grant (R01) to study specific cellular pathways that regulate remyelination in neural stem cells. Diseases of the nervous system, including multiple sclerosis (MS) in people, degrade the essential insulation around nerve fibers known as myelin. A lack of remyelination (how myelin repairs itself naturally) in diseases like MS results in degeneration of neural fibers and debilitating clinical outcomes. This research will help determine new strategies for promoting remyelination by neural stem cells in the brain.
Jessica Vazquez, a postdoc in the lab of Ted Golos, is part of an Integrated Program in Endocrinology (iPEnd) T32 training grant. iPEnd was founded in 2016 to bring together endocrinology researchers across UW–Madison. Vazquez will work on an NIH grant to develop a rhesus monkey model for understanding how maternal immune responses to placental infarcts (areas of tissue death due to inadequate blood supply) can impact placental blood flow and result in fetal growth restriction.
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Taylor Weary, a DVM/PhD dual degree student with the UW School of Veterinary Medicine, trains staff of Kasiisi Project, an education nonprofit in Uganda, to perform a nasal swab. Weary is the inaugural recipient of the Dr. Gregory D. Bossart Memorial One Health Scholarship. The scholarship, administered by the One Health Commission and funded by the Georgia Aquarium, aims to support research exploring the intersections between human, animal and environmental health, known as the One Health framework. Weary studies the movement of respiratory diseases from human children to chimpanzees in Uganda's Kibale National Park.
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May 20-22
2022 Iverson Bell Midwest Regional Diversity Summit
School of Veterinary Medicine
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PBS Wisconsin
Spectrum News 1
American Veterinary Medical Association
Hoard's Dairyman
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“Please understand that veterinary staff are overwhelmed with cases and are working their absolute hardest to address the needs of all the pets that need care. A little kindness, compassion and patience will go a long way.” |
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-Molly Racette, a clinical assistant professor with the Emergency and Critical Care team, shares guidance on ways to safely celebrate the holidays with pets and how some common holiday hazards can put a strain on veterinary medical ER staff and the services they offer.
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