JUNE 2021
Message from the CVMO
It is with mixed feelings that I write this introduction to the last issue of VMTH Voice as CVMO. I have been so fortunate to serve as the CVMO over the past five years and as the director of the Small Animal Clinic prior to that. It has been a gift to lead and learn from this inspiring community. 
 
Thanks to your resilience and passion to continue in the face of adversity, we have survived multiple fire disasters and the pandemic. In both circumstances, the true character of our VMTH family shone through. I witnessed teams coming together like never before to face disaster while never losing sight of our mission and goals. We truly were a beacon of light for so many families in need during those times, and I was never prouder to be a part of this hospital.
 
I have learned much about leadership in this role and will use those skills to continue advancing veterinary medicine. I also look forward to rejoining my outstanding colleagues in the Small Animal Internal Medicine Service and pursuing my research, clinical, and teaching activities in companion animal infectious diseases. 
 
Finally, through the outstanding teamwork of the VMTH Administration, I am proud of the positive changes we’ve made over the past five years. Many of those activities are having significant impacts on personnel, clients, and patients. And many are laying the groundwork for an even brighter future as we look to transform the VMTH into the Veterinary Medical Center.
 
I know the VMTH has a very bright future ahead; I hope through my activities I have helped to make it a better place for everyone.
Dr. Jane Sykes
Chief Veterinary Medical Officer
Juneteenth National Holiday Recognized at UC Davis
Juneteenth has officially been recognized as a national holiday and has become an official university holiday. In accordance, UC Davis will celebrate the Juneteenth holiday this year on June 28. (In subsequent years, the holiday will fall on its nationally recognized day of June 19.) The VMTH will be emergency only on that day. Existing appointments should be rescheduled if possible, and new appointments should not be made. We apologize for the inconvenience this late decision created.
Recognitions

VPETT stands for:
V = Realize Our Vision
P = Value People
E = Pursue Excellence
T = One Team
T = Trusted Dialogue

The VPETT initiative is in full swing, so 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.
 
To help you better understand the VPETT initiative and the nomination process, Cultural Pillars Committee members Melissa Bartholomew and Becky Griffey created a video to easily walk you through the process and to see some of the great prizes available.
 
Each award recipient will receive a certificate and be entered into a monthly drawing. Each month, four lucky people—two nominators and two recipients—will receive amazing prizes.
 
The VMTH has partnered with Ariat Crew, who donated many prize items from their inventory, including water bottles, t-shirts, pullovers, jackets, boots, and much more. Additionally, all SVM employees will receive a 20% discount and free shipping on all Ariat items available on their website.
June Recipients:

Dr. Daniel Hershberger, Community Medicine Service, was recognized for exemplifying our cultural beliefs of Pursue Excellence, One Team, Value People, Trusted Dialog, and Realize Our Vision, which contributed to the key result of Outstanding Patient Care and Student Instruction.
“Dr. Hershberger is always patient with me and the students. He always keeps a calm composure which makes him very easy to work with and talk to. Students and staff know that he can help calm crazy waters and accomplish lots with how he is. If we have any bumpy roads, we know we can count on him to help pave a smoother path. He’s very good with client, student, and staff communication.”
You may not be aware, but Dr. Hershberger is an avid cyclist and while he usually bikes to work, he is happy to have earned the Employee of the Month parking space since it will be so hot!
Delaina Matz, Client services Manager, was recognized for exemplifying our cultural beliefs of Value People and One Team, which contributed to the key result of Client/rDVM Satisfaction and Employee Engagement.
“Delaina returned from her Memorial Day weekend vacation early to cover an overnight client services shift when a staff member called out. She did not want to leave the other CSR by herself during a very busy emergency weekend, and together they provided support for those patients needing the VMTH over the holiday. Thank you for your support of coworkers, clients, and rDVMs.”
 
Thank you, Dr. Hershberger and Delaina, for your hard work and dedication to the VMTH!
 
In addition, Drs. Maggie Knipe and Lauren Skipper received small awards for recognizing their colleagues’ hard work.
Key Cultural Pillar
“One Team”
Annually, the Development team creates solicitation letters to increase the hospital’s donor base. Contents of the letters generally tell a story of a patient and how the care received at the VMTH saved its life or made a significant impact on its health. The school always seeks permission from these animals’ owners before using their stories for such a unique and specific purpose. So, to accomplish this goal, our clients essentially become part of our team. We are always thrilled when they go beyond a simple “yes” and enthusiastically get behind this initiative. This year, we sought the permission of three clients – one from the Orthopedic Surgery Service, another from the Neurology/Neurosurgery Service, and one from a truly team effort that involved five large animal services who came together to save a mare in a complicated delivery. All three clients responded almost immediately singing the praises of those services and agreeing to be part of our donor-seeking campaign:
  • “Starlit Sky would be honored to help rally up some donations for such an amazing cause. Thank you for everything you do to help advocate for the creatures that are unable to do so for themselves.”
  • “Absolutely tell Miro's story. You don’t have to sell me on the importance.”
  • “We would be thrilled to participate. Bella and foal are doing well thanks to the expert care they received at UC Davis.”
Hospital / VMC Updates
COVID-19 Update:

  • With new COVID-19 guidelines changing constantly, the UC Davis Emergency Management Team has created a matrix to help UC employees and student navigate those changes. The matrix will be updated weekly by the Emergency Management Team based on changes in our state, county, and UC policies.
Staff Update:
  • Please welcome Danielle Randall as the new clinical services manager providing support for the Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology, CAPE, Behavior, Nutrition, Community Medicine and Community Surgery Services. Danielle has been in the veterinary field for nearly 15 years. She began in general practice and made her way to specialty practice and supervisory positions. Prior to UC Davis nearly four years ago, she worked as an instructor at a veterinary technology college. Danielle spent a short time with the Community Medicine and Small Animal Internal Medicine Services as an assistant supervisor, and then moved to Gourley as the Community Surgery Service supervisor. Danielle is a proud mom of a 1-year-old daughter, a Labrador retriever lover, and a fan of anything Star Wars and Marvel.

  • Joy Hoover, hospital administrator, and David Lish, human resources manager, were recently given the Disability Awareness Award through UC Davis’ “Soaring to New Heights” program. The award recognized their proactive efforts to provide reasonable accommodations to hospital employees, recognizing the value of retaining long-term, knowledgeable staff. Congratulations on this team win supporting these accommodations.
Hospital Update:

  • The VMTH’s “COVID Return to Operations” survey was recently completed. The more than 400 responses were extremely helpful to further our understanding of our community’s feelings about returning clients to the building. The complete survey results are posted on VIPER. We had a range of comfort levels from very comfortable (“and no more masks, please”) to not comfortable at all with bringing clients back into the building. We also recognize the differences in approaches that are warranted with large animal vs. small animal clients. A total of 86% of respondents were either completely comfortable (58%) or somewhat comfortable (28%) with returning clients to the building for check-in and check-out as described (wearing masks, completing a symptom survey as required by campus). The level of comfort was lower for allowing clients back in the lobby to wait and interact with clinicians in exam rooms – 73% were either completely comfortable (51%) or somewhat comfortable (22%). Some indicated that their level of comfort would depend on the outcome after implementation of the first phase. We have begun allowing clients into the lobby of the Pritchard building for check-in and check-out after hours (5 p.m. overnight to 8 a.m. the following morning). Clients must wear masks to enter the building. Because the north elevators are scheduled for repair on approximately June 30, we will move the client entrance to the east entrance on a temporary basis, and clients will be escorted by student employees to the main upstairs lobby. At this time, clients will also be allowed to enter during regular business hours. Please stay tuned for announcements and a more detailed protocol in the coming days. If you have any questions as this process proceeds, we encourage you to contact us at VLTadmin@ucdavis.edu.
Facilities Update:
  • Thank you for your continued patience during the VMTH elevator renovation project. We anticipate the west elevator being completed by June 30. We are excited to have that portion of the project finally complete. After completion of the west elevator, the crew will focus on the north elevator.
VMC Update:
  • The construction bidding process for the Veterinary Medical Center’s All Species Imaging Center (ASIC) wrapped up on June 15. The selection of a contractor is expected to be finalized by the end of June, and construction staging for the ASIC project will begin shortly after, with work expected to begin in mid-summer.
VMTH Committee Update:
  • Clinical Trials Review Board Committee – The Clinical Trials Review Board (CTRB) Committee was established to review and approve formal clinical trials that occur in the VMTH. The CTRB functions in an advisory capacity to the UC Davis Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and works to protect the welfare of clients and client-owned animals recruited into clinical research activities conducted under the auspices of the VMTH and aids in the design and execution of clinical trials and clinical research. The CTRB has the authority to approve, require modifications of, or disapprove all research activities involving VMTH patients, and through its efforts, serves to enhance the ability of all at the school to successfully undertake clinical investigations in the veterinary patient population. Annually, the board reviews more than 50 protocols. Over the last year, members of the committee included: Drs. Robert Brosnan (chair), Boaz Arzi, Michelle Giuffrida, Cynthia Karsten, Isabelle Kilcoyne, Chai-Fei Li, Bev Sturges, and Sara Thomasy.
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.
  • Did you know the VMTH has its own Hospital Wellness Service that offers a webpage entitled Faculty/Staff Wellness Resources? Visit this webpage to connect to various mental health and wellbeing resource links that can provide help and support to all who work at the VMTH.