Message from the Dean | November 2020
Vote

With only two days left until the Nov. 3 election, I encourage you to become informed of the issues and candidates and cast a ballot. Every election, whether it determines who occupies the nation's highest office or how local schools are funded, is an opportunity for you to affirm and uphold the democratic process. Voting is not only a right; it is one of the first responsibilities of citizenship. So, please vote! The websites vote.wisc.edu and myvote.wi.gov provide all the information you need on voting absentee or in-person, where to vote, how to register to vote, and more.
 
In this issue of my dean's message, we will launch a new section that will alternate between the school's diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and our progress and discussion around the school's curriculum. Richard Barajas and Peggy Schmidt will lead these discussions respectively.
 
Again, I encourage each and every one of you to vote!
UW Veterinary Care Updates from the Director

Last month we celebrated National Veterinary Technician Week (Oct. 11-17) with an appreciation breakfast, luncheon (thanks to Purina for contributing funds towards the luncheon), cake and cupcakes, and our annual Vet Tech of the Year Award winners. Congratulations to Teka Bue with the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service for being voted by her peers as the winner of the Early Career Award and to Karrie Mazurkiewicz in the Anesthesiology and Pain Management Service for being voted as the winner of the Legends Award.
 
Treatments have begun with the hospital's new radiotherapy delivery system, Radixact; you can read more about this cutting-edge system here.
 
Congratulations to Molly Racette of the Emergency and Critical Care Service, who passed boards and is now a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency Critical Care (ACVECC).
 
Welcome to Gina Durham, a certified veterinary technician joining the small animal hospital as a float technician (Oncology, Medicine, Neurology and Dermatology); Samreen (Sam) Rose, who joins the lab team as a medical technologist and previously worked in the lab a few years ago; Cora Schoofs in the hospital call center; and Josh Smith, the newest faculty member with the Emergency and Critical Care Service. 
 
Thank you everyone for your hard work, dedication and support of the hospital, particularly over these last several challenging months. We are all finding ways to adapt and this recent client comment provides a great example of that
:

"I especially appreciated the UW team's flexibility and willingness to see our very nervous dog outside the clinic, so we could stay with her even given COVID."

-Julia, Madison, Wisconsin

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

As announced in an update from Chancellor Blank, the university will implement another six months of the progressive furlough program, beginning on Jan. 1 and continuing through June 30, 2021. These furloughs will include the SVM. View details of the furlough structureThe university expects to announce further budget cuts in the next several weeks as the FY22 budget process begins. Details are not yet available on what budget reductions will be required at the SVM. 
 
Complete SVM climate survey
Credit: Edwin PM/Noun Project
All School of Veterinary Medicine students and employees are encouraged to complete the 2020 SVM climate survey designed to identify how employees and students feel about working and learning at the school. Surveys were previously conducted in 2014, 2016 and 2018 in support of our strategic priority to foster a community that stimulates professional enthusiasm, collegiality, equity, diversity, inclusion and continuous engagement within the school and throughout the UW system. Survey findings help us better understand how we are progressing. The survey is brief and anonymous and will close on Dec. 5.  
 
The 2020 SVM Alumni Reunion will be held in a virtual format on Zoom on Nov. 8 from 4-5 p.m CT, celebrating the graduating Classes of 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015. Zoom breakout rooms will allow alumni to gather as a class. If interested in participating, please contact Kristi Thorson for the Zoom information. The 2020 Alumni Reunion was originally scheduled for June but had to be canceled due to COVID-19.
 
A lab glove recycling program piloted at the Hanson Biomedical Sciences Building in coordination with the Office of Sustainability will now be expanded across campus. Well done to all who participated in this pilot effort and helped to make it successful.
 
Welcome to Tom Bach DVM'94, joining the school's Board of Visitors as the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association (WVMA) representative. Bach is WVMA president-elect.
 
SVM Bucky Book fundraiser
The School of Veterinary Medicine is pleased to participate in the 29th annual Bucky Book fundraiser. The Bucky Book ($35) provides 50% off coupons for more than 300 Madison-area businesses, valid through September 2021 (you will recoup your contribution after using just a few coupons). Your purchase through the
School of Veterinary Medicine landing page will not only support the school, but will also benefit our frontline workers. For each book purchased to support the SVM, the Bucky Book will donate one book to frontline workers at UW Veterinary Care as a thank you for continuing to care for our animal patients.
 
The 48th annual Partners in Giving campaign, the voluntary workplace fundraising campaign for state, university and UW Health employees in Dane County, runs through Nov. 27 in support of more than 500 charities making a difference in the lives of those who need it most, locally and globally.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion News
An update from Richard Barajas, director of diversity, equity and inclusion

As shared in a message from Dean Markel, the SVM will pay the cost of registration for any faculty, staff or student interested in completing the curriculum of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine's certificate in diversity and inclusion. If you are interested in registering and completing this certificate, please email Richard Barajas by Nov. 13. 

The school's Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Committee (EIDC) recently added a number of questions related to diversity, equity and inclusion to the biannual SVM climate survey. These questions will help to provide baseline information on where the SVM currently stands. 

Over the next few months, the EIDC committee will also put together a diversity, equity and inclusion-specific strategic plan and will share this plan widely within the SVM as the framework begins to come together. The goal is to have a final version by early next semester. In the more immediate term, the school will provide information on new diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives from the Office of Academic Affairs
Faculty and Staff News

In the first quarter of FY21, the following School of Veterinary Medicine faculty received their first issued patent on a technology: Professor Peter Muir, Assistant Professor Susannah Sample and Professor John Svaren for a method to predict the likelihood of inherited peripheral neuropathy in mammals.
 
Carved pumpkin by Jay Samanta
Professor Kristen Bernard participated in a Cap Times Idea Fest discussion in October on preparing for the next pandemic. View a recording.
 
Clinical Associate Professor Samantha Morello was part of an AAVMC Diversity and Inclusion on Air episode about a lack of diversity among veterinary medical interns and residents. Listen to the conversation
 
Assistant Professor Jayshree Samanta wielded her carving artistry for a submission to a pumpkin carving contest hosted by Novogene. Her entry, at right, is titled Bats in Coronavirus
Student News

A reminder that there will be no in-person group instruction following Thanksgiving break (which occurs Nov. 26-29), beginning on Monday, Nov. 30. All final exams and other assessments during the last two weeks of the semester will be remote. Fourth-year clinical rotations will continue as they are currently
Research News

Professor Tony Goldberg led the American efforts among an international team that collaborated to describe the first two relatives of the rubella virus ever found, their similarities to rubella virus, and their differences. The findings were published in Nature in October. Neither of the new viruses is known to infect people.
Upcoming Events
Whenever possible, the university recommends that events and meetings continue to be held virtually. The campus events policy for schools, colleges, divisions and departments can be found here and for registered student organizations here.

2020 SVM Alumni Reunion
Nov. 8
4-5 p.m.
Celebrating the Classes of 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015. Virtual event; please contact Kristi Thorson for the Zoom details.
 
Virtual School of Veterinary Medicine Town Hall
Nov. 18
Noon-1 p.m.
Tentative; if held, login details will be sent by email.
SVM in the News
For more media coverage of the SVM, visit the school's In the News page.
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