JUNE 2022
Introductory Message

From the VMTH Professional Student Clinical Education Director
Welcome to summer, the time of transition from the outgoing to incoming seniors. The class of 2023 is starting to settle into the daily flow of the VMTH, and we are already seeing their expanding knowledge in this short time. This is a testament to the education that they have received over the past three years, as well as the support that they receive in the clinics.
 
There has been a shift in our profession over the past number of years to focus more on both the physical and mental health and wellbeing of veterinarians and their staff. This has not come without struggle and creative solutions. Our VMTH leadership has begun to take this to task by adopting student work hours guidelines and is beginning to address house officer wellbeing.
 
In 2021, Drs. Hansen, Outerbridge and I, along with house officers Drs. Callahan and Sharpe, took part in the Clinician Health and Wellbeing Fellowship through UC Davis Health. It was eye opening to see that the human health care professionals are equally as affected by similar workplace pressures, burnout, and moral stress, including things like medical records, emergency on-call, and work-life choices (it’s never really a balance). For our capstone project, Drs. Hansen, Outerbridge and I have secured funding for a hospital-wide survey of burnout in the VMTH. We hope that when you receive the request to take part that you will fill out the completely anonymous survey, after which you will automatically receive your personal results.
 
This VMTH Voice letter is coming at the end of my tenure as Director of Professional Student Clinical Education, a position that both challenging and fulfilling, and I am excited to see what new things the next director brings. At one of the AVMA Veterinary Health and Wellbeing Summits, Gene Crumley stated that it takes seven years for culture to change. As much as I didn’t want to hear that it took so long, he was correct…I’ve seen change happen, and I have hope for continued forward momentum in supporting the health and wellbeing of all in our profession.

Melissa Bain
Celebrate Pride Month
As we wrap up Pride Month, I want to take a moment to reaffirm our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. I am proud to sign the Pride VMC Gender Identity Bill of Rights on behalf of the hospital. Every day and especially during Pride Month, it is important to reflect on our community commitment to these rights and reaffirm our intent to ensure safe spaces for all members of our team. As part of our Pride Month celebration, the Director’s Office is offering optional badge buddies as shown below to display preferred pronouns. We have a wide variety of options printed for staff, interns, residents, fellows, students, technicians, clinicians, and faculty. Feel free to stop by VMTH Room 2021 to pick up your badge buddy with your preferred pronouns and new badge holder at any time. If you haven't already, please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the UCDavis LGBTQIA Resource Center, the Gender Identity Bill of Rights, and our UC Davis Principles of Community. 
Happy Pride!
--Joshua Stern
Dean Stetter Hosts Spring Forum
Earlier this month, Dean Mark Stetter hosted his first Spring Forum, an annual wrap-up of SVM activities. If you were unable to attend, you can view a recording of the presentation. You can also view the PowerPoint deck. As part of the presentation, Dean Stetter thanked everyone at the school who worked onsite through the pandemic, especially the VMTH staff and faculty. A complete review of the event and a message from Dean Stetter is posted to the school’s news page.
Hospital / VMC Updates
Staff Update:
  • Please welcome our new staff pharmacist Emily Toney, PharmD. Dr. Toney graduated from UC Davis in 2012 with a BS in Chemistry with a pharmaceutical emphasis. After spending a gap year working at the Shields Library on main campus, she then completed her pharmacy degree at the UC San Diego School of Pharmacy in 2017. Following graduation, Dr. Toney worked in retail pharmacy for two years in Sonoma County, before starting the UC Davis & FARAD Veterinary Pharmacy Fellowship in 2019. She then spent a year at the UCVMC-SD, before moving to the VMTH in 2020. Dr. Toney now assumes the role of full-time staff pharmacist at the VMTH. In her spare time, Dr. Toney enjoys jigsaw puzzles, camping, and spending time with her husband, Brandon, and their two cats, Purrsephone & Pusseidon.
Faculty Update:
  • Please welcome Dr. Austin Viall who joined the Clinical Pathology Service as an associate professor, effective May 23. Dr. Viall earned his DVM (2010) from Washington State University and then completed a one-year small animal medicine and surgery internship (2011) at WestVet Animal Emergency and Specialty Center in Boise. He then obtained his MS (2014) in Veterinary Science and completed his residency training (2014) in clinical pathology at Oregon State University. In 2014, he became board certified in Clinical Pathology by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. Prior to coming to UC Davis, Dr. Viall served as an assistant professor and then associate professor of clinical pathology at Iowa State University. While at Iowa State, he also served as director of the Clinical Pathology Laboratory and the Blood Bank. Dr. Viall’s research interests and expertise are in flow cytometry for diagnostic research in hematopathology/immunohematology, especially in companion animals. In 2020, he received the Zoetis Distinguished Teaching Award, and he is the current president of the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.
Recognitions

NOMINATE YOUR COLLEAGUES TODAY

Recognize the hard work
your team performs every day.
Please utilize the PerfectForm icon link available on every VMTH desktop (or through VIPER>VMTH>Forms>VPETT) to nominate your colleagues for recognition of an outstanding example of one of our five Cultural Pillars: Realize Our Vision, Value People, Pursue Excellence, One Team, Trusted Dialogue.

The Cultural Pillars Committee is pleased to announce the recipients of the VPETT Recognition Award for the month of June.
June Recipients:

Karla Geach, the Client Services supervisor in Reception B, was recognized for exemplifying our cultural beliefs of Value People and Pursue Excellence, which contributed to the key result of Excellent Patient Care.
“An exotics client came to the VMTH to pick up a special pelleted diet that was left in Reception B on a Saturday. Normally, we instruct our clients to pick up food Monday-Friday during normal working hours. There was obviously some miscommunication, and the client was very upset. Karla went above and beyond and delivered this food to the client personally on her own time. Thank you, Karla.”
Lori Simington, an animal health technician in the Anesthesia Service, was recognized for exemplifying our cultural beliefs of Realize Vision, Value People, Pursue Excellence, and One Team, which contributed to the key results of Excellent Patient Care and Student Teaching. “Lori stayed late on a busy Friday to insure that our students and patients were well taken care of and comfortable. We couldn't do it without her. Thank you, Lori.”
 
Thank you, Karla and Lori, for your hard work and dedication to the VMTH.
 
In addition, Drs. Allison Zwingenberger and Bridget Nottle also received awards for recognizing their colleagues’ hard work.
Key Cultural Pillar
“Pursue Excellence”
In 2015, the first ever PET scan on a horse was performed right here at the VMTH. Since then, Dr. Mathieu Spriet has led a team of researchers to pioneer that new imaging technique and help create a database of more than 1,000 scans that is now changing the way racehorses are being trained and cared for. Thanks to Dr. Spriet’s research, PET scanners are now in place at Santa Anita Park, the VMTH, the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Kentucky, and the World Equestrian Center in Florida. The Paulick Report recently published a summary of this work, highlighting the progression of Dr. Spriet’s research to date.
Wellness Tip of the Month

Florence Soares-Dabalos, MS, LMFT, the VMTH’s client support and wellness professional, offers a brief tip on managing stress through the current crisis. Please see full website of services that Florence offers, including a new section on House Officer Wellness.