Aesculapian - University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine

Cabernet Franc grapes were among the first varietals planted at Crane Creek Vineyardsin Young Harris, Ga.13FacultyNews3133 Tompkins receives Fulbright Scholarship for research in Australia33 Coffield named new associate dean of graduate school33 CVM professor promotes FAMACHA© program in Australia34 Glisson now leads U.S. Poultry Foundation Research35 More tools in the arsenal: CVM researchers combat tuberculosisCoverIn late September, thesegrapes are almost ready forthe harvest at Crane CreekVineyard in Young Harris, Ga.Photo by Sue Myers SmithImage courtesy of Fred Quinn35AlumniNewsMycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria(green) attached to the outside ofhuman lung cells.3939 A Message from the President of the Alumni Association40 A new President: Dr. Flynn Nance41 Class Notes43 Distinguished Alumni honored44 Mueller and Waggoner win 2012 fraternity awardsFind us!facebook.com/ugacvmtwitter.com/ugavetmedflickr.com/photos/ugavetmedyoutube.com/ugavetmedfoursquare.com/ugavetmed45 Fundraising Update: The Veterinary Medical Learning Center46 Why I Give...

CollegeNewsJackwood now heads Department of Population HealthMark W. Jackwood, a molecular virologist known forhis work in avian diseases, has been appointed tohead the College’s department of Population Health. Thedepartment includes the College’s Food Animal HealthManagement and Laboratory Animal Medicine programs,as well as the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center(PDRC) and the Southeastern Cooperative WildlifeDisease Study (SCWDS).Jackwood joined the College in 1989 and is basedin the PDRC. His primary research focus is the field ofrespiratory viruses, particularly avian coronaviruses,infectious bronchitis virus and avian influenza. He codevelopedand co-owns patents on a rapid diagnostictechnique for infectious bronchitis and an aviantherapeutic compound; he has a third patent pending onan infectious bronchitis virus vaccine.“We conducted an international search for thisimportant leadership position in the College,” saidDean Sheila W. Allen. “We had an outstanding field ofcandidates, including Dr. Jackwood. We are fortunateto have someone with Dr. Jackwood’s breadth ofexperience and outstanding reputation lead this importantdepartment in the College.”Jackwood’s research has earned him numeroushonors and awards, including the Creative ResearchMedal from UGA’s Research Foundation; the PfizerAnimal Health Award for Research Excellence, the highestresearch honor awarded by the College and one that hehas received twice; the Upjohn Achievement Award forOutstanding Contributions to the Field of Avian MedicineResearch, awarded by the American Association of AvianPathologists; and the Bruce W. Calnek Applied PoultryResearch Achievement Award.During his time at UGA, Jackwood has served boththe College and the University in various capacities.Currently, he serves as chair of the Veterinary MedicalAgricultural Research Committee, a member of theApplied Life SciencesFaculty Research GrantsReview Committee,as member of theCDC/UGA InfectiousDisease Review Panel,a member of theFaculty of InfectiousDiseases ExecutiveCouncil, a memberof the UniversityCouncil, a member ofthe University CouncilCommittee on Facilities,and a member of theCollege of VeterinaryMedicine Ethics Committee.“It is truly an honor to be selected to lead anoutstanding group of faculty and staff in this importantposition in the College,” said Jackwood, who assumedhis position on Dec. 15, 2011. “I look forward to workingwith my friends and colleagues here at the University, inthe poultry industry, and in livestock and wildlife healthmanagement programs across the state.”Since 2001, Jackwood has served as secretary/treasurer of the Southern Conference on Avian Diseases.In 2011, he co-organized the first International AvianRespiratory Disease Conference, held in Athens andattended by 179 scientists. He is also an active member ofthe American Association of Avian Pathologists and serveson the organization’s advisory board for avian diseases.He is a member of multiple professional organizations,and has served as a reviewer or editor of more than 25professional publications worldwide.Jackwood earned his BS and MS degrees at theUniversity of Delaware and his PhD in the department ofpoultry science at The Ohio State University.Photo by Sue Myers SmithAesculapian Spring/Summer 2012 4

Photo by Flint BuchananPhoto by Sue Myers Smithget consistent results,the process then movesto further trials whichultimately will benefitanimals and humans.”“Fracture repair inanimals is really, reallyvital because they are notgood patients,” continuesPeroni. “You can’t tell ananimal not to walk aroundon a fracture repair.I am very optimisticabout applications of this in the veterinary field as it mayexpedite healing so that recovery times and treatment costscan be substantially decreased.”For Dr. Ulrike M. Korte, an internist in humanmedicine practicing in Alpharetta, a PRP treatmentcombined with stem cell injections were recommendedfor her horse, Liberty, in October 2010. Liberty was lamedue to a problem in his right leg flexor tendon. She tookLiberty to the UGA Teaching Hospital, where Peroni spoketo her about the different types of treatment involving RM.“Dr. Peroni was excellent at explaining the process,”says Korte. “There is a huge commitment to this treatmentand it is important to know what you are getting into interms of timing andLindsey Helms Boone(DVM ’08), a graduatestudent, works inPeroni’s stem cell lab.rehabilitation. But,to have this type oftreatment availableis awesome and Iam convinced it isgoing to help a lot ofanimals. This is onlythe beginning.”In a routinefollow-up with anultrasound fourweeks after thetreatment, Libertyhad experienced anearly full recovery,and followingseveral months ofDr. John Peroni collects blood from ahorse. After it is collected, the blood willbe transferred to the laboratory for thepreparation of Platelet Rich Plasma.rehabilitation, Liberty is now being ridden again.Liberty is just one example of the positive impactof RM, but there are other potential benefits of stem celltherapy that are constantly being studied. Areas that Peroniand the other UGA RMS researchers are investigatingright now range from studies of logistics, including thebest way to transport stem cells, to investigating the antiinflammatoryeffects of MSCs. Peroni explains that mostdiseases and injuries result in significant inflammation andthat stem cells have been shown to reduce inflammation ina biological way without using medications.“Using stem cells to modulate inflammation is arealistic goal to accomplish relatively quickly,” says Peroni.The impact of cellular therapies in animals issignificant. Taken together, cell products or blood-derivedproducts may complement traditional therapies, with theend result being a faster and improved healing process.The quicker veterinary patients can return to functioningnormally, the better. This can lead to a decreased financialburden on animal owners and an increase in the qualityof life for both owners and their animals. Additionally,by improving the quality of tissue healing with thesetreatments, it’s less likely the animal will hurt itself again,which is vital to return them to normal functioning.And, all of these research implications translate fromanimals to humans.“It is important to remember that stem cells arecross-species and this is not a veterinary-specific branch ofscience,” Peroni concludes. “It is wide-spread and not onlyabout horses. There are lots of human applications.”Aesculapian Spring/Summer 2012 6

Photo courtesy of Natalie Toneybeen through the Hospital and subsequent CommunityPractice Clinic (CPC) over the years, while Toney hasbeen witness to an evolution at the VTH.“The biggest change has been the tremendousgrowth,” says Toney. “These days there is so muchspecialization, too. And, when I started cominghere years ago it was all men. Now the students arepredominantly women.”The increased specialization is something that Jackand Janet Damhorst have noticed, too. The Damhorstshave been clients since 1975 when their veterinarianreferred their German Shepard, Shiloh, to the Hospital.“There are so many different branches ofspecialization that you have now that you didn’t haveyears ago,” says Janet Damhorst.The Damhorsts, who have brought several familypets to the VTH over the years for serious issuesranging from bladder infections to cancer to orthopedicsurgeries, moved to Athens from Alpharetta in 2008,opening up new opportunities for involvement with theCollege. When their daughter, who stayed in Athensfollowing graduation from UGA, suggested they starttaking their dogs to the Community Practice Clinic(CPC), it was a logical step for the Damhorsts because oftheir previous experience at the VTH.Kathy Frye (DVM ‘13) examinesFrancie.Photo by Sue Myers SmithNatalie Toney with Francie.“When you are walking through the doors ofthe Hospital, you have a serious issue,” explains JackDamhorst. “The biggest assets that give us confidenceand reassurance coming over here are that you havestate-of-the art technology with excellent faculty andwell-trained students, and you always have multiple setsof eyes looking at this serious problem. And that’s thebiggest confidence factor for the Clinic, too. “The Damhorsts admit that it is a time investmentcoming to the CPC since it will almost always takelonger for an appointment at a teaching clinic, butfor them, there is a comfort in knowing their petshave been thoroughly checked over by multiplepeople.Another reason the Damhorsts keep coming backis that they know the students in the Hospital and CPCare carefully supervised by faculty members.“Every time we had a pet at the Hospital,” JanetDamhorst says, “we always had some contact with ateaching faculty member. We know it’s a team backthere working.”The same thing is true at the CPC with the studentsupervision under the direction of Dr. Ira Roth.Aesculapian Spring/Summer 2012 10Photo by Sue Myers Smith

Photo by Laura SmithPhoto by Laura SmithJack and Janet DamhorstJudith DePaola and one of her dogs, Logan.“Dr. Roth is such an asset to the CPC,” explains JackDamhorst. “His knowledge and personality combinationserve Athens well.”For the Damhorsts, an added benefit of bringing petsto the VTH for more than 35 years is working with thestudents — a few of whom were family friends. “There wasone student we ran into at the Hospital a few years agowhom we have known since she was playing t-ball at fouryearsold,” recounts Mrs. Damhorst. “It is a neat experienceto run into kids you have known most of their lives and itis always good to talk with them.”It is that same mission of working with the studentsand helping to further their education that has kept JudithDePaola coming back over the years. DePaola first broughther dog, Maggie, to the VTH to be spayed back in 1984and 28 years later, she is still bringing animals to the CPC.“It’s important to me to give back to the Universitythat meant so much to me,” says DePaola, who now bringsher two dogs, Nicole Grace and Logan, to the CPC forroutine care. “I want to help the students learn and if I cando something to contribute, I will continue to take myanimals there as long as the students are learning.”In addition to routine care, the CPC also offers puppytraining classes, in which DePaola enrolled Logan, her1-year-old black Labrador Retriever, after the puppy atethrough two pairs of expensive eyeglasses.The biggest change DePaola has been witness to overthe years, other than the CPC’s move to a free-standingbuilding, is that the files have been computerized.“Maggie used to have a huge file,” says DePaola. “Nowall the information is accessed through a computer.”While helping students learn may have been herinitial reason for coming to the CPC, DePaola emphasizesthat compassionate care and good customer service arebonuses.“I can honestly say that every student I have hadcontact with has had an extra level of compassion andcare,” said DePaola. “And, when a veterinary technicianor faculty member comes out to greet you and asks aboutyour dog, or recognizes you from class, that extra touchmakes you feel very welcome.”And it keeps them coming back through the years.For MoreInformationFor more information on our Teaching Hospitalor our Community Practice Clinic:www.vet.uga.edu/hospital706.542.3221 or hospital@uga.eduTo make an appointment at the CPC,call 706.542.198411The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine

News from the Veterinary Teaching HospitalCardiology Service Features ExpandedProceduresThe Cardiology Service at the UGAVeterinary Teaching Hospital (UGAVTH) now offers several interventionalprocedures for congenital heart disease.These procedures have been madepossible by the addition of a newfluoroscopy imaging system introduced tothe hospital in 2011.The new procedures include:Balloon Valvuloplasty (BVP)Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)OcclusionHeartworm ExtractionPacemaker ImplantationElectrical CardioversionThe introduction of these procedurespositions the UGA VTH as Georgia’s mostcomprehensive small animal cardiologycare center.Emergency & Critical Care Service NowOffers Continuous Renal ReplacementTherapy (CRRT)The UGA VTH is now the only veterinaryhospital in Georgia offering ContinuousRenal Replacement Therapy (CRRT), orhemofiltration/hemodialysis services, withits recent purchase of a Gambro Prisma.CRRT is primarily used to treat acuterenal failure that is unresponsive totraditional treatment, especially whenaccompanied by oliguria/anuria or fluidoverload.The new services are administered bythe VTH’s two critical care doctors, Dr.Amie Koenig and Dr. Benjamin Brainard,along with the VTH’s staff of veterinarytechnicians and critical care residents. Dr.Koenig is board-certified in emergency/critical care and internal medicine; Dr.Brainard is board-certified in emergency/critical care and anesthesia.Picture Your Pet Photo ContestReturns!After a hiatus, the VTH’s popular PictureYour Pet Photo Contest is returning. AnyVTH or Community Practice Clinic (CPC)client is invited to submit their pet’s photo,along with a brief written description.Photos will be accepted through August31 and winners will be announcedOctober 1. The winning pictures will bedisplayed in the VTH.Visit www.vet.uga.edu/GO/photo-contestfor more details or to enter.Call for EntriesPicture Your Pet Photo Contest★ Photos must be of high-resolution using a camera 6megapixels or higher★ A brief description of the picture and/or pet must accompany each entry★ Open to any UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital or Community Practice Clinic client★ Winning entries will be displayed in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital★ Visit vet.uga.edu/GO/photo-contest for more detailsSubmissions will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. August 31, 2012.To submit your photo, please visit:vet.uga.edu/GO/photo-contestTHE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA ®Veterinary Teaching Hospital* Photos can also be loaded on a non-returnable disk and dropped off at the VTH or CPC, ormailed to: The UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Attn: Picture Your Pet Photo Contest,501 DW Brooks Dr., Athens, GA 30602

Photo by Sue Myers SmithPhotos and story bySue Myers Smith

Dr. DeAnne Livingston (DVM ’88) and herhusband, Eric Seifarth, purchased the landfor Crane Creek Vineyards in 1995, thesame year that Livingston purchased her veterinarypractice in Blairsville, Ga. They planted their firstvines that same year, but it took until about 2001for them to have enough grapes to begin producingwine. The pair met while serving in the U.S. Army—Livingston in the Veterinary Corps and Seifarthas an artillery officer—and became interested inthe lifestyle associated with owning and running awinery while they were stationed for several yearsin Northern Italy. “We fell in love with wine in Italy,and were drawn to the connection you make withthe land when you grow grapes and make wine,” saysLivingston.The original house on the property wasbuilt in 1886 and now serves as the winery’s tastingroom. The couple lived in the old home with theirtwo young sons when they first moved to YoungHarris, but built a new house in 2000. In early 2011,they converted that home into a space that couldaccommodate their growing events calendar, andmoved into the vineyard cottage in anticipationof building a new home. The couple says that it’sdifficult to just be a winery—you have to havea hospitality side as well. Since the event side oftheir business has been growing, Livingston hasbeen working more and more with their tastingroom general manager, David Sanford, in additionto working full-time at her veterinary practice inBlairsville.The goal is for the vineyard to be able toproduce 6,000 cases of wine per year; currently theymake about 4,200. They plant additional vines eachyear, particularly on an adjacent tract of land theypurchased in 2010. Once they’ve reached their idealproduction level, they will thin the vines so they areproducing fewer fruits per plant, thus increasing thequality of the grapes they get from each vine.The vineyard is staffed by three to four fulltimeemployees, including vineyard manager RussellShannon and assistant winemaker Matt Matteson, aswell as seasonal pickers, vineyard techs, and even anintern, all of whom participate in the fall harvest.Livingston with adachshund puppy inthe waiting room atBlairsville AnimalHospital, her veterinarypractice in Blairsville,Ga. The clinic is about12 miles from hervineyard home in YoungHarris. Livingston is anavid folk-art collector,always keeping her eyesopen for pieces such asthe large-scale paintingin the background. Thepainting was a gift fromthe late Jon Whiddon,who also produced theartwork for their winelabels.

The harvest begins in early September and runsthrough early October—and it’s all hands on deck toget the vines picked at just the right time. In 2010, theharvest yielded 83,000 pounds of grapes; because oflate spring frosts, however, Livingston and Seifarthexpected about half that amount from the 2011 harvest.To combat any future losses from frost, the vineyardinvested in a wind machine that circulates warm airfrom above the ground toward the grapes below.Grape picker Ashley Kelly snips undesirablegrapes from a cluster during the harvest.Assistant winemaker MattMatteson picks grapes duringthe fall 2011 harvest.

Jacky Fortier pours a glassof Mountain Harvest Blushin the Crane Creek tastingroom. Fortier has been withCrane Creek since 2007,and started the popular“Wine 4 Women” monthlywine education series.Eric Seifarth cultivatesa plot in the late springbefore planting new vinesin May 2010.Two of Crane Creek’s award-winning wines, theSeyval Blanc from their Barn Swallow label, andHellbender Red, are both produced from a singlevarietal. The Hellbender Red is particularly uniquebecause it is made from Norton grapes, a varietynative to America. The Hellbender has won threeawards, including a Gold Medal at the 2010 SanFrancisco Chronicle Wine Competition. TheSeyval Blanc was made from grapes from the firstvines planted at Crane Creek; at the San FranciscoChronicle Wine Competition, this wine took homethe 2009 Silver Medal and was the highest-ratedSeyval.

graduated from UGA with his DVM in 1983.“I enjoyed private practice, but I always wanted todo something with a bigger impact,” says Daley, whopracticed in Chamblee, Ga., for 12 years. “I was alwaysinterested in the CDC, but I didn’t see a pathway as aclinical veterinarian.”Eventually, Daley got his MPH from EmoryUniversity and received a fellowship to work at the Foodand Drug Administration before joining EIS in 1997.While finding a channel into public health was difficult forDaley, he says that his veterinary background translatedwell into his new career.“The training we get as veterinarians gave me a clinicalperspective that was also applicable to human health,” saysDaley. “That time in practice was valuable and gave me aclient-focused perspective that many of my colleagues [atEIS] didn’t have — now, my client is the public.”Clinical veterinarians play a crucial role in the healthof individual animals, but the education veterinariansreceive as students follows the principles of populationhealth, something that is not emphasized as much inphysician training. The undeniable link between animalhealth and human health — now referred to as One Health— places veterinarians in a unique position to affect both.It’s veterinarians who are interested in this animal-humaninterface that go into public health, according to Hamilton.L. Rand Carpenter (DVM ’98), an EIS grad now inthe Tennessee Department of Health, worked in dairypractice before moving to Haiti as a consultant on theelimination of lymphatic filariasis, where his interest inpublic health was piqued.“Treating the ill individual, whether it’s an animalor a human, usually isn’t the most effective way to dealwith disease transmission in populations,” says Carpenter.“Prevention is more effective, and veterinarians understandthat, especially those involved in agriculture.” Workingon a dairy farm is not much different from working withhuman populations, according to Carpenter. “The switchfrom dairy to humans may seem extreme to some,” hesays, “but it’s all about the approach — that emphasis onprevention and disease distribution.”“Veterinarians make excellent epidemiologists becausewe’re trained in population health,” says Kirk Smith (PhD’95), a veterinarian and EIS alumnus who now works assupervisor of the Food-borne, Vector-borne and ZoonoticDisease Unit for the Minnesota Department of Health.Photo by Christopher B. HerronPhoto courtesy of L. Rand CarpenterLaura Adams (DVM ’11; MPH ’12) completed her DVM and MPHat UGA before becoming an EIS officer in 2012.L. Rand Carpenter (DVM ’98), right, and a colleague distributeoral vaccine baits as part of the 2006 USDA raccoon oral rabiesvaccine campaign in Tennessee.Aesculapian Spring/Summer 2012 20

A History of the Epidemic Intelligence Service1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 20101951- Threat ofbiological warfare, EISstarted1955- Polio epidemic1957- Asian flu1961- Cancer cluster1966- Smallpoxeradication1968- Malnutritionand famine1971- Lead exposure1974- Vinyl chloride1976- Lassa fever,Ebola, Legionnaire’sDisease1978- Reye Syndrome1980- Toxic shocksyndrome1981- HIV/AIDS,Toxic-Oil Syndrome1984- Intentionalfood poisoning1987- HIVseroprevalence survey1989- Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome1992- HurricaneAndrew1993- E. coli1994- Cryptosporidiumin drinking water1995- Kidney failurein Haitian children1999- West Nile Virus2000- Bioterrorism2001- 9/11, anthrax2003- SARS2005- HurricaneKatrina2009- H1N1Centers for Disease Control and PreventionPhoto courtesy of Laura Edison“Veterinarians exist in large part for human healthbecause animals serve human needs.”It is becoming more common to see veterinariansworking in state health departments, internationalorganizations and federal agencies alongside physiciansLaura Edison (DVM‘03) on a veterinaryexternship in SouthAfrica.and scientists, identifying and responding to diseaseoutbreaks. While the first veterinarian was accepted intoEIS in 1953, the number of veterinarians in the programremained low until recent decades.Now, the odds are good that your stateepidemiologist or veterinarian went throughEIS. About half of state epidemiologists are EISgraduates, and most veterinarians working at CDCnow — there are around 80 — got their start in EIS,according to Hamilton.Laura Edison (DVM ’03) began working at theCDC after seven years of clinical practice, and willbegin EIS in the summer with Laura Adams. Anexternship during veterinary school in which sheshadowed several public health veterinarians, mostof whom were EIS grads, sparked her interest inpublic health, but she wanted to practice clinicalmedicine before making the switch.While earning her MPH at Emory, she workedin the National Center for Environmental Healthand the One Health office.“I think the MPH coupled with the veterinary21The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine

training gives us an edge over MDs coming straight outof residency,” says Edison. “The MPH exposed me to thewide range of opportunities in public health and showedme how our diverse training as veterinarians can apply toso many different areas.”With growing concerns over emerging zoonoticinfections, bioterrrorism and food safety, veterinaryschools and public agencies are beginning to recognize thevalue of having veterinarians on the public health team. Atleast 10 of the country’s 28 veterinary schools offer dualdegree DVM/MPH programs, including UGA, making thedecision to become a public health veterinarian easier interms of cost and time spent in school.“I would probably have made the switch five yearsearlier if the path had been there,” says Daley.Learning by doingEIS might bring to mind images of the movieContagion, in which Kate Winslet portrayed an EIS officerin the midst of a deadly outbreak; the reality is a lessdramatic, but just as vital in protecting the health of thepopulation.Officers in the program do more than takeclasses; they apply their skills in real-world situations.Veterinarians were on the front lines during the H1N1epidemic and have investigated everything from multidrugresistant tuberculosis to human plague to a rabidhippo in Kenya.While most veterinarians in EIS lean toward zoonoticdiseases, they aren’t limited to any one area or division.Daley worked in environmental health during his time inEIS, responding to natural disasters and environmentallyinducedillnesses like lead exposure in Russian childrenand chemical exposure on a Sioux reservation. Carpenterparticipated in one of the first campaigns to distribute fluvaccines in a Tennessee school system.EIS officers also have the opportunity to impactpolicy, one of the most effective tools used to improvepublic health, through their investigations, particularly forfoodborne illness — such as incorrect product labeling orinadequate monitoring of production. “Working in publichealth allows me to actually affect public policy,” says KirkSmith, “and that’s very gratifying.”Most of the veterinarians who graduate from EISstay with local and state health departments, or continueto work for the CDC. A few go into academia, but it israre for any to go back into private veterinary practiceonce they’ve had a taste of working from a populationstandpoint.Whether they go straight into public health orpractice before switching career trajectories, there’s nodoubt that veterinarians play an essential role in improvingthe health and safety of people and animals.“Working in public health gives you an idea of justhow many things you actually touch as a veterinarian,”says Edison.For MoreInformationFor more information on EIS, visitwww.cdc.gov/eisAesculapian Spring/Summer 2012 22

StudentNewsDr. Renee Barber, an intern on the hospital’s Neurologyservice, will receive funding from the Morris AnimalFoundation for companion animal studies. Dr.Barber’s work involves mapping genes associated withinflammatory brain disorders in dogs.Dr. Bradley Heins (DVM ’11) received the 2012 WesternVeterinary Conference Food Animal Incentive Award,given by the Western Veterinary Conference to fiveveterinarians engaged in a university or private practiceinternship or residency in food animal medicine, surgery,production medicine, theriogenology or epidemiology.Heins is a graduate student in the department ofpopulation health earning his master’s of food animalhealth and management.Dr. Robert Holly (DVM ’14) was accepted into the UnitedStates Army’s Health Professions Scholarship Program.Erica Noland (DVM ’14) was selected as a Morris AnimalFoundation Fellow, and awarded a $4,000 grant for herresearch on the role of chromatin remodeling proteinsin chromosome instability in canine mammary glandcarcinomas.Jenna Shafer (DVM ’14) received the OutstandingSophomore Student Award for having the highestcumulative grade point average in the second-year class.As part of her award, Shafer will serve as vice president ofthe Phi Zeta Committee for one year.Winners* at the 2011 Science of Veterinary Medicine Research SymposiumBest Overall Oral Presentation:Leo Sage (DVM ’16)Oral Presentations:Veterinary StudentsFirst place: Leo Sage (DVM ‘16)Graduate StudentsFirst place: Vijay Durairaj (Infectious Diseases)Second place: Ming Fung (Pathology)Third place: Kyung-il Kang (Infectious Diseases)Post-DocsFirst place: Patricia Jorquera (Infectious Diseases)Second place: Claudia Baumann (Physiology andPharmacology)Third place: Abhijeet Bakre (Infectious Diseases)Interns/ResidentsFirst place: Natalia Andrade (Resident, Surgery)Second place: Jill Maney (Resident, Anesthesiology)Third place: Andrew Bugbee (Resident, Internal Medicine)Poster Presentations:Veterinary StudentsThird place: Sarah Hooper (DVM ’13)Graduate StudentsFirst place: Sean Rowley (Infectious Diseases)Second place: Simon Odera Owino (Infectious Diseases)Third place: Monique Franca (Pathology)Post-DocsFirst place: Ying Cheng (Poultry Diagnostic and ResearchCenter)Second place: Tracy Sturgill (Large Animal)Third place: Xuefeng Niu (Pathology)Interns/ResidentsFirst place: Balasubramanian Manickam (Resident, Pathology)Second place: Ross Larson (Intern, Small Animal)Third place: Bryan Torres (Resident, Surgery)* This event is open to all undergraduate and graduate students at UGA.Only CVM winners are represented here.23The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine

Valentine’s Day onCapitol HillPhotos and story by Hannah Jackson (DVM ’14)While some people spent Valentine’s Day this yearwith their sweethearts, I spent it at our nation’sCapitol lobbying for the veterinary profession. OnFebruary 13, 2012, veterinary students from each ofthe Student American Veterinary Medical Association’s30 chapters and two associate schools converged inWashington, D.C., to learn how we could impactlegislation about veterinary matters. Let me walk youthrough my two days at the 4th Annual AVMA VeterinaryStudent Legislative Fly-In.The first day we received an introduction fromDr. Ashley Morgan, assistant director for the AVMAGovernmental Relations Division (GRD), and a videowelcome from Dr. Ron DeHaven, chief executive officer ofthe AVMA, who was so personable, even via video, that Iwas tempted to clap at the end of his welcome. Gina Luke,another assistant director for the GRD, explained howthe division works with the rest of the AVMA to supportor oppose proposed legislation in the national and stategovernments.This introduction was followed by a panel with formerGRD Fellows, Dr. Doug Meckes and Dr. Whitney Miller.The AVMA Fellowship Program provides veterinarianswith an $80,000 stipend to live in Washington, D.C., and topromote the AVMA’s scientific agenda to the U.S. Congressfor one year.Not all GRD Fellows are new graduates, evidencedby Dr. Meckes, who had been a private practitioner andmulti-hospital owner for 30 years. He is now actingdirector of the Food, Agriculture and Veterinary DefenseDivision of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security andaims to run for mayor of Apex, N.C., in 2014. A few wordsof wisdom from this highly experienced man: Get involvedin the profession, get involved in the community, andconsider getting involved on a widespread scale.Dr. Miller, a new grad when she became a Fellow,echoed the phrase that vet students hear repeatedly atconferences and veterinary meetings nationwide: Theskills we learn in veterinary school will not only equipus to practice veterinary medicine, but also enable us towork in several arenas because we’ve learned how to buildrelationships, think critically and problem-solve.In preparation for our legislative sessions, we wentover the two pieces of legislation for which we wouldbe advocating while on Capitol Hill: The Fairness toPet Owners Act and The Animal Fighting SpectatorProhibition Act. We also learned about big state issuesunder review right now, such as bills in multiple NewEngland states that would prohibit gestation crates for sowsand tethering of veal calves, bills fining or prohibiting thesale of unsterilized cats and dogs, and several state bills infavor of or opposing horse slaughter, to name a few. Most,if not all of the state bills reflect a clear intent to protectanimals, but some are directed more by conscience thanscience.By 9 a.m. on Valentine’s Day, we were on Capitol Hillin the Ag Hearing Room in the Longworth House Officelistening to Nebraska Rep. Adrian Smith, one of AVMA’smost active supporters in Congress. Rep. Smith furtherstressed the need for veterinarians to give their feedbackabout veterinary issues to Congress because of their uniqueknowledge.We were then released on the Hill to do ouradvocating. My day of advocacy was highly rewarding,although exhausting. I was awed and honored to walkwhere our forefathers walked and to talk with staff aboutimportant issues, and I am so grateful to have beenafforded this enlightening opportunity.The AVMA Veterinary Student Legislative Fly-Inwas a great introduction to show how easy this can be.I honestly believe that Congress values our informedopinions and appreciates when we take time to share ourconcerns.I urge all of you to get involved, put together yourthoughts about proposed legislation — veterinary andnon-veterinary — and send them to your congressionalrepresentatives and senators. Your unique perspectivecould be the viewpoint that tips the scale one way or theother on how they vote on issues critical to our profession.25The University of Georgia College of Veterinary MedicineHannah Jackson (right) and Amanda DiMascio (DVM ‘15)

CVM students selected for bovine externship programCVM students Isaac Hardee (DVM ’15), Sarah Holladay (DVM ’14) and Rachel Patrick(DVM ’15) have been selected to participate in the 2012 Pfizer Bovine Externship Program, an externshipopportunity that is available to first- and second-year veterinary students at 28 veterinary schools across theUnited States.The program, which is supported by Pfizer Animal Health, will provide a $2,000 stipend for each studentfor the four-week summer experience. During that time students will work with hosting veterinary clinicsor cattle operations, where they will be exposed to different areas of bovine veterinary practice. Studentsare expected to complete a project focusing on either dairy or beef operations and prepare a report andpresentation about their experience.By providing students with experience in livestock medicine, the externship seeks to guide studentstoward careers in cattle practice.Graduate StudiesEarn your:MS and PhD in Veterinary and Biomedical SciencesIf you want a career in translational or clinical research.DVM-MPHIf, as a veterinarian, you want to address public health issues inenvironmental health, infectious diseases, global health, biosecurity,epidemiology and/or health policy.DVM-PhDIf you want a career that will integrate clinical knowledge in comparativemedicine to address questions in applied or basic research.Master’s in Avian Medicine or Food Animal Health and ManagementIf you’re a veterinarian looking for advanced training in poultry or foodanimal medicine.vetgrad@uga.edu 706.542.5752www.vet.uga.edu/research/students

UGA veterinary students establishAthens Pet Food BankBy Alexandra LanierVolunteers place dog foodinto bags to distribute topet owners in need.Photo by Sue Myers SmithStudents at the University of Georgia Collegeof Veterinary Medicine have partnered withfaculty and community organizations to providefood for dogs and cats in need.The number of pets whose owners arehomeless is growing at an astounding rate. Manypet owners cannot afford to feed and care for theirpets and end up relinquishing them to shelters.CVM rising third-year student Alan Powerparticipated in the Leadership UGA program infall 2011, and was shocked to learn just how poorAthens is — 33.5 percent of Athens residents livebelow the poverty level. In response, he decidedto create a program to aid the pets of the homelesspopulation and others in the community whostruggle to care for their companion animals.After working with a mobile veterinarianwho understood the responsibility of servicing thehomeless population in Savannah, Ga., Power sawthe need to make a positive change in the Athensarea.Power says that the rigors of the academicprogram at the veterinary school often mean beingcut off from the community beyond the campus.He wanted to have a personal connection withmembers of the Athens community, so he put outfeelers for the idea of providing pet food to petowners in need and got a positive response withinthe vet college from faculty, staff and students.Drs. Mary Hondalus and Janet Martin, both CVMfaculty members, approached Power and werewilling to help.Hondalus, an associate professor at the CVMwho also directs the College’s dual DVM/MPHdegree program, wants her students to assist thepublic as well as animals. “We serve animals, yes,but we serve people as well,” says Hondalus.Hondalus has been in Athens for seven yearsand, like Power, realizes the extent of poverty inthe area. She wants her students to serve eventhose not actively seeking veterinary care; studentsin her program are encouraged to work withunderprivileged communities to help individualskeep their pets healthy.Janet Martin, adviser for the CVM’s ShelterMedicine club, was eager to be involved. Martin27The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine

will help expose students to not onlythe needs of pets in shelters but alsoways to work in the community to keeppets in their homes. She believes thatexposing future veterinarians to theplight of impoverished pet owners in thecommunity and educating them about theways in which veterinarians can intervenewill prevent more pets from becomingshelter statistics.By including her students inthis project and encouraging theirparticipation in the pet food collectionsand distributions, Martin hopes they willgraduate with a fuller understanding ofthe community and their roles in it.Heather Tucker, a DVM-MPHdual-degree student and president of theShelter Medicine Club, has also becomeinvolved in the efforts. She wants tocomplete an internship and residency tobecome a shelter medicine veterinarian.She hopes that her efforts with the foodbank will help to deter the public fromrelinquishing their animals to shelters.“The fields of public health and shelter medicineoverlap in many ways,” says Tucker. “I hope to educatethe public so that fewer pets are relinquished to alreadyovercrowded animal shelters. As veterinarians, we have aresponsibility to help not only animals, but the people whoown them as well.”How the program worksTo obtain dog and cat food to be distributed, foodis collected continuously throughout the year in largedonation bins placed in high-traffic areas of the vet college.Student volunteers periodically sort the food and re-bag itinto one-gallon plastic bags for easier distribution to thosewho might have a limited ability to store and transport thefood. It is then handed out on a weekly basis to registeredparticipants at Our Daily Bread (717 Oconee St.).The Athens Area Humane Society, an Athens PetFood Bank partner, also provides pet food for owners inneed. Pet owners can fill out an online application andqualified applicants can make appointments to pick up amonth’s supply of food.Participants agree that the main goals for the AthensPet Food Bank are to provide a needed service to thecommunity, provide opportunities for UGA studentsto learn about issues involving pet owners in all areasFrom left: Dr. Mary Hondalus, Food Bank advisor; Alan Power (DVM ’14), founder of theAthens Pet Food Bank; Dr. Janet Martin, Food Bank advisor; and Heather Tucker, presidentof the Shelter Medicine Clubof the Athens community, and provide ways to supportthe maintenance of the human-animal bond, therebydecreasing the number of pets going into shelters. Andthey feel that their efforts are proving successful.An Athens-area homeless man with a well-knowndog, “Cheeseburger,” has already told volunteers he isexcited about the program and using the pet food bank.The program, in addition to making a difference in thecommunity, is also providing students and faculty with lifeexperiences that go beyond veterinary college.“It started as a project idea, and now it’s a realprogram that is making a positive difference in ourcommunity,” says Power.For MoreInformationVisit: www.vet.uga.edu/GO/petfoodbankPhoto by Sue Myers SmithAesculapian Spring/Summer 2012 28

A t h e n s P e t F o o d B a n kHow It WorksAthens-area pet owners may registerthrough Action Ministries, Advantage BehaviorsHomeless Services Program, and the AthensArea Humane Society.Registered pet owners may pick up foodon Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at OurDaily Bread (717 Oconee St.).Participants must be 18 or older, and havea combined household income of less than$20,000. Homeless individuals can register onThursdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the HomelessDay Service Center (95 North Ave.). Otherscan register on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.at Action Ministries (717 Oconee St.).Alternately, people can apply for temporaryassistance through a partnering program withthe Athens Area Humane Society. Their fooddistribution is monthly and by appointment.For more information, contact the Athens AreaHumane Society: 706.706.AAHSHow To HelpDonate FoodConvenient Drop off: Pet food donationsmay be left at any of the collection bin locationsin the Athens area.Convenient Budgeting: Pledge to drop off agiven amount of food on dates you scheduleahead throughout the year.Donate Pet Care SuppliesWe also gladly accept new or gently used andclean collars, leashes, food bowls, blankets, petbeds, etc.Donate Funds or TimeFor information about donating money or time,or for a complete list of drop-off locations andother information, visit us online:www.vet.uga.edu/GO/petfoodbankShelter Medicine at UGAShelter medicine is a growing specialty in veterinarymedicine and students at UGA have been showinginterest in such a program for several years. A studentrunShelter Medicine Symposium has been held annuallyat the CVM since 2009. These seminars allow sheltermedicine professionals, DVMs and students to hearfrom speakers in various areas of shelter medicine. Inaddition, they are free and open to the local animalsheltering community, providing a forum to spread newinformation and exchange ideas. For more informationon the annual Shelter Medicine Symposium, contactHeather Tucker at hntucker@uga.eduDr. Janet Martin joined the CVM in 2011, andis the faculty adviser for the Shelter Medicine club.Martin researched other schools with similar programs,then she spoke with numerous members of the CVMcommunity, both faculty and students, to gauge theinterest level and was met with great enthusiasm. Martinsays that she is greatly encouraged by the excitementand interest students have shown, and is lookingforward to creating many more opportunities forthem to enhance their understanding of their roles asveterinarians in the community.29The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine

Soyoung KwonFirst graduate of the PhD in Veterinaryand Biomedical SciencesSoyoung Kwon, who came to the U.S. in 2008 fromSouth Korea, is the CVM’s first graduate of the PhDin Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Program. ThePhD-VBS program is designed to broaden the scopeof biomedical training and research by includinggraduate faculty and resources of the College’s clinicaldepartments with those in the basic sciences.What did you do before coming to UGA?I pursued Veterinary Medicine in Seoul, South Korea,where thoroughbred racing is an important sport anda major industry. After my veterinary training, I spentthree months at the Equine Health Center at the KoreanRacing Authority as a visiting veterinarian before joiningthe graduate program at UGA in 2008.What made you want to pursue the PhD inVeterinary and Biomedical Sciences?During vet school training, I realized that researchin basic and clinical sciences is essential for a betterunderstanding of disease pathogenesis and theimprovement of treatment regimens. I became interestedin continuing my study with a focus on clinical sciences,especially equine medicine. The UGA CVM has one ofthe greatest equine research teams, and has variousresearch topics that interest me, like equine colic andlaminitis. Both conditions are major issues in equinehealth and I joined the team with the hope that I mightbe able to help horses suffering from such diseases.Which professors greatly influenced youduring your time at UGA?There were so many outstanding mentors, includingsJim Moore, Tom Robertson, Michel Vandenplas, andDavid Hurley. They all have different backgrounds fromclinical sciences to molecular biology, and the uniqueperspectives each of them bring to the field broadenedmy understanding of medicine. I was truly fortunateto have worked with them, not only because of theirincredible insights as scholars, but also because of theirthoughtful and endless support of my studies.What aspects of the program were the mostbeneficial to you?My knowledge of equine immunity and diseases thatI gained while studying at UGA gives me a deeperunderstanding of the diseases I see at the clinic. I am alsocontinuing my latest clinical research to measure serumconcentrations of flagellin and anti-flagellin antibodies inhorses with colic.What are you doing now and what are yourgoals for the future?I shifted gears back into clinical settings, and I amcurrently working at Alamo Pintado Equine MedicalCenter in California as an intern. My goal aftercompleting my clinical internship is to continue intoan equine medicine residency, which is necessaryto accomplish my long-term goal of devoting myexperiences and knowledge to improve animal healthand welfare.Photo courtesy of Soyoung Kwon

Steve Budsberg, Karen Cornell, MaryAnn Radlinsky,Chad Schmiedt (DVM ’00), Ben Brainard and ErikHofmeister.Dr. Tom Robertson, an associate professor in thedepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology, was namedthe Georgia BioBusiness Center Entrepreneur of the Yearby the University of Georgia Research Foundation. Dr.Robertson was recognized for his work launching IS3DLLC, which develops interactive learning products forscience education. Dr. Robertson is also the recipientof a Creative Research Medal from the UGA ResearchFoundation.Dr. Corrie Brown, a professor inthe department of Pathology, wasinducted as an honorary facultymember into the AgriculturalHonor Society (AGHON).AGHON is an honor societyencompassing the College ofAgriculture and EnvironmentalScience, the Warnell Schoolof Forestry, and the College ofVeterinary Medicine.Brown (center)Drs. Karen Cornell, Kate Creevy, Ajay Sharma, FlintBuchanan, James Moore, and medical illustrator BradGilleland were awarded a $5,000 Innovative InstructionFaculty Grant for their project, “Computer AidedRadiographic Diagnosis of Canine Abdominal Diseases.”The grants are offered by the Office of the Vice Presidentfor Instruction in collaboration with the Office of theSenior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost forfaculty projects designed to improve teaching and learning.Drs. Bridget Garner and Maria Viveiros were selectedas Lilly Teaching Fellows. The fellowship is offered bythe Center for Teaching and Learning, and is designedto provide instructors with opportunities to strengthentheir teaching skills. Garner is an assistant professorin the department of Pathology, and Viveiros is anassistant professor in the department of Physiology andPharmacology.2012 Phi Zeta Award CeremonyDr. Xiaoqin Ye, an associate professor of Physiology andPharmacology, was awarded the John M. Bowen Awardfor Excellence in Animal/Biomedical Research, sponsoredby Pfizer. Ye’s studies of reproductive mechanisms willhelp lead to therapeutics to treat reproductive diseases inhumans and animals.Dr. Shiyou Chen was awarded the Pfizer Awardfor Research Excellence for his contributions to hisdepartment, Physiology and Pharmacology, as well as tothe at-large research community. Chen serves on NIH andAmerican Heart Association review panels, and reviewsmanuscripts for several medical journals.Dr. Kate Creevy, an assistant professor of internalmedicine, received the Outstanding Hospital ServiceAward for her role in re-vamping the consultation processfor the Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s Internal Medicineservice. Creevy has also coordinated the hospital’sinternship program for the past three years, and hashelped implement beneficial changes in the program.Drs. Marc Kent and Simon Platt were awarded the DavidTyler Award for Advances in Teaching, sponsored byPfizer, for their work in developing a web-based tool tohelp students learn clinical neurology, neuroanatomyand neurophysiology. Kent is an associate professor ofneurology and Platt is a professor of neurology.Dr. Corey Saba, an assistant professor of veterinaryoncology, received the Clinical Research Award, sponsoredby Pfizer, for her contributions toward understanding theuse of chemotherapeutic agents in animals, including thespecific dosages used to treat neoplasia in small animals.Inductees: Dr. Robert Gogal, an associate professor ofimmunology and immunotoxicology; Dr. Michelle Turek,an assistant professor of radiation oncology.New FacultyDr. Tai Guo, associate professor, Anatomy and RadiologyAesculapian Spring/Summer 2012 32

Tompkins receives FulbrightScholarship for research in AustraliaPhoto by Andrew Davis TuckerCVM associate professor Mark Tompkins hasbeen selected to receive a 2012 Fulbright U.S. SeniorScholarship to undertake research on Hendra and Nipahviruses in Australia. Tompkins and his family will live inGeelong, Australia, for roughly five months beginning inAugust 2012.Tompkins will be working at the AustralianAnimal Health Labs (AAHL), which are part of theCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial ResearchOrganization, Australia’s national science agency. AAHLis an internationally recognized BSL3/BSL4 facility capable of studying highconsequenceand emerging infectiousdiseases in small and large animals.While there, Tompkins’ workTompkinswill focus on the development oftherapeutic drugs for Hendra andNipah viruses, highly-pathogeniczoonotic viruses that pose a seriousthreat to human and animal healthin Australia, as well as in other parts of the world. Thereare currently no effective vaccines or treatments for thesepathogens, and Tompkins’ project will be to develop novelantiviral approaches for their treatment.Nipah virus, first identified in pigs, has caused over200 human fatalities in Asia since 1999 with evidence ofhuman-to-human transmission and a mortality rate above50 percent. Hendra virus, which infects bats, horses andnow humans, has also been observed in Australia, withthe first outbreaks reported in 1994 and rising sharplysince 2007.Tompkins is based within the CVM’s department ofInfectious Diseases.Coffield named new AssociateDean of Graduate SchoolDr. Julie Coffield has been named the newAssociate Dean of the Graduate School at theUniversity of Georgia. Dr. Coffield has been involvedin graduate training and administration with theUniversity for the past 17 years. She is an associateprofessor in the department of Physiology andPharmacology within the College of VeterinaryMedicine and was the director of the InterdisciplinaryToxicology Program, a campus-wide program thatincludes students and faculty from several differentcolleges who share common interests in the field oftoxicology.Dr. Coffield will serveas the chief of operations forthe Graduate School, whereshe will work closely withthe Graduate School staff inAdmissions and EnrolledStudent Services. Her focuswill be on student affairs andprogram management as sheassists Graduate Coordinators.She also will help theCoffieldGraduate School implementits 2020 Strategic Plan.Photo by Nancy EvelynCVM professor promotes FAMACHA© program in AustraliaDr. Ray Kaplan, a professor of parasitology in thedepartment of Infectious Diseases at the CVM, traveled toAustralia in February to promote the use of FAMACHA©among sheep and goat producers. Kaplan, the directorof the U.S. FAMACHA© program, presented threeworkshops on integrated parasite control, which includedinstruction and hands-on training in the FAMACHA©method. He also presented four research seminars whilevisiting Australian universities.FAMACHA© is a clinical on-farm systemdeveloped in South Africa for classifying animals intocategories based upon level of anemia. Since anemiais the primary pathologic effect from infection withHaemonchus contortus, or Barber’s Pole worm, the systemis an effective tool for identifying animals that requireanthelmintic treatment. The system also provides alow-cost way to slow the development of anthelminticresistance by reducing the number of animals treated withdeworming drugs.The trip was funded by Meat and Livestock Australia,a producer-owned company that works with industryand government to achieve a profitable and sustainablelivestock industry in Australia.

Glisson to lead U.S. Poultry Foundation researchDr. John Glisson (DVM ’80; MAM ’83; PhD ’85), retired head of the CVM’s department ofPopulation Health, has been appointed director of research for the U.S. Poultry & Egg Harold E.Ford Foundation (USPOULTRY Foundation).As director of research, Glisson will administer the association’s comprehensive researchprogram, which encompasses all components of poultry and egg production and processing. Hewill work with the Foundation’s Research Advisory Committee in receiving and evaluating researchproposals and making recommendations to the board of directors for funding approval. Over thepast 20 years, $22 million has been invested in research funding.Glisson recently retired as head of the department of Population Health at the Universityof Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and has served as head of the department of avianmedicine and associate dean of public service and outreach. He is a past-president of the American GlissonAssociation of Avian Pathologists and has received numerous honors for his work. He received his BS in Biology fromValdosta State and his DVM, Master of Avian Medicine, and PhD in Medical Microbiology from the University ofGeorgia.“We are pleased to have Dr. Glisson join us in this vital research role. He has a very distinguished career andhas been an active member of the research community, sharing and reaching out to industry. We look forward to hiscontribution to our research efforts,” said USPOULTRY Foundation chairman, Steve Willardsen.“The USPOULTRY Foundation research program is an important source of support for innovation for the U.S.poultry industry. I am very pleased to have the opportunity to be involved in the future achievements of the researchprogram,” said Dr. Glisson.Dr. Glisson also recently received the 2011 J.T. Mercer Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia VeterinaryMedical Association.Save the Date!!9th AnnualHawaii Dawg-OAugust 4, 2012Founders Garden on UGA’s CampusThis year’s hosts:UGA Athletic Director Greg McGarityand his wife, Sheryl McGaritySponsored by the Grace Memorial FoundationGet your own AnAtomic Dog!If you’ve visited our student lobby recently, you’ve probably noticedour “AnAtomic Dog” — a colorful, more-than-life-sized bulldogthat was presented to the College as a gift from the Class of 2009.Now you can have your very own, scaleddownversion.Omega Tau Sigma is selling miniatureversions of the AnAtomic Dog to raisemoney for the fraternity. A portion ofthe proceeds also benefits the VeterinaryMedicine Hospital Building Fund.Like the original, the miniature wasdesigned by Athens artist John Ahee. EachAnAtomic Dog statuette costs $30, plus shipping and handling.Prior to mailing your in your order, please contact Dr. Doris Millerfor shipping and handling costs: miller@uga.edu or 706.542.5915.Checks should be made payable to Omega Tau Sigma. Pleaseinclude a note containing your name, shipping address, phonenumber, and email address. Mail your payment and contact/shippinginformation to:OTS Alumni Treasurer205 Burnett St.Athens, GA 30605

MORE TOOLSIN THE ARSENALCVM researchers combat tuberculosisBy Laura SmithOver a century ago, German physicianRobert Koch identified Mycobacteriumtuberculosis as the causative agent oftuberculosis. Today, while other historicallydevastating diseases like smallpox, plague andtyphoid fever no longer pose significant threats,researchers are still fighting to gain control of thispersistent pathogen.In the face of new challenges, such asantibiotic resistance and increasing co-infectionswith HIV, researchers at the University of GeorgiaCollege of Veterinary Medicine are working hardto develop new tools to diagnose, treat and preventthis tenacious disease.“We need a game changer,” says FrederickQuinn, professor and head of the departmentof Infectious Diseases at the UGA College ofVeterinary Medicine. “We need a new vaccine, atherapy that doesn’t take nine months to work, anda better set of diagnostic tests.”A global burdenM. tuberculosis, the bacterium responsible fortuberculosis in humans, is one of the world’s mostresourceful pathogens. Traces of it have been foundin Egyptian mummies from about 3,000 B.C., andonly in the past 70 years have humans developedeffective anti-TB drugs, moderately usefuldiagnostic tests and a not-so-effective vaccine, saidQuinn.It is estimated that 1 in 3 people in the world isinfected with M. tuberculosis, although the majorityof these infections are latent, incapable of spreadingand without symptoms. The problem occurs whenthe bacteria come out of hiding and grow when theinfected person becomes immunocompromised— typically by developing diabetes, or contractingHIV or another immune-suppressing condition.While most people in the Western world don’tconsider tuberculosis to be a major health concern,the disease runs rampant in the developing world,often going undetected in its latent stage. “In theUnited States it’s a problem, but in other parts of theworld it’s a crisis,” says Quinn. “We need to thinkabout parts of the world where this [TB] isn’t undercontrol.”Currently, there is only one vaccine approvedto prevent infection with M. tuberculosis. Thebacille Calmette-Guerin vaccine, or BCG, is usedwidely around the world to prevent infection inchildren, but it has serious limitations; it does notprotect into adolescence, and it can result in a falsepositive in the skin test often used to diagnose TBinfection.Available treatments for drug-susceptibletuberculosis, in the form of antibiotics, takeanywhere from six to nine months to get rid of theinfection -- if the patient takes the three daily drugscorrectly.Dr. Frederick Quinn, professor and head of the department ofInfectious Diseases.Photo by Laura Smith

The most widely used diagnostic test is the tuberculinskin test. It was developed nearly a century ago andrequires an under-the-skin injection of purified M.tuberculosis proteins. As mentioned before, it can give falseresults in individuals vaccinated with BCG, but also inindividuals exposed to other related bacteria or infectedwith HIV, and it cannot accurately identify latent infection.One of the major challenges in the global effort tocontrol TB is deciding which of these areas to focus on:diagnostics, therapeutics or vaccines. Researchers atUGA are working on a little bit of everything, from noveltherapeutics to more sensitive diagnostics.UGA researchers making progressIn 2010, Quinn was one of only six researchers in theUnited States to receive part of a $2.9 million grant fromthe FDA to develop a diagnostic test for latent tuberculosisinfection. “A vast majority of the infections worldwide arelatent, but there’s no way to diagnose them,” says Quinn.Two years later, Quinn is making progress ondiagnostic blood and urine tests based on bacterialresponses; he has applied for a one-year extension to beginlooking at the test’s effectiveness on clinical serum andurine samples.Don Mark Estes, a professor in infectious diseasesand an immunology expert, came to UGA in 2010. Hesays that the research opportunities available through theUniversity’s Animal Health Research Center were a majordraw for him as a TB researcher.The Animal Health Research Center (AHRC), abiocontainment facilityopened on the UGA campusin 2006, is key for UGA’scapacity to study tuberculosis.The AHRC is designatedABSL-3 by the Centersfor Disease Control andPrevention, and BSL3-Agby the U.S. Department ofAgriculture, which meansit can hold high-securitypathogens and house largeanimals for research. It iscurrently one of only twouniversity-operated facilitiesin the nation with labs thatmeet these standards.“There is a lot ofpotential for collaborativeThe Animal Health ResearchCenter (AHRC)Photo by Sue Myers SmithDr. Don Mark Estes, professor in the department of InfectiousDiseases, in his lab.work at UGA,” says Estes. His lab focuses on the geneticsand immunology of M. tuberculosis, and he will beconducting the first high-containment animal study in theAHRC starting in the fall of 2012.The AHRC’s ability to hold large animals means thatinstead of studying only smaller animal models, like miceand guinea pigs, for vaccine development, they can nowuse everything from nonhuman primates to cattle.“That’s one of the advantages of the AHRC,” saysEstes. “It has the capability for large animal studies thatother universities don’t have.”Animal modeling plays a pivotal role in testingvaccines; for any vaccines to go into human clinical trials,they must first be tested in animals.“The problem with TB vaccine development is thatwe really don’t understand enough about the immuneresponse to be able to create the ultimate vaccine,” saysPhoto by Laura Smith

TB Facts*Growing challengesVaccination may be one of the only channels left tocombat drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis, which are onthe rise. Overuse and incorrect use of anti-TB drugs haveled to drug resistance on every continent. “Once peopleget over the night sweats and fever symptoms,” says Estes,“they think they are cured and stop taking the drugs, andthat’s how you get drug-resistant strains.”In addition to spreading drug resistance, high ratesof HIV in the developing world pose another uniquechallenge. “The HIV connection changed the landscape ofTB control,” says Quinn. These dual epidemics cause majorproblems in resource-poor countries and disadvantagedpopulations — Russian prisoners and South Africanminers, for example.Infection with HIV raises the risk of reactivatinglatent tuberculosis disease, and having both infectionstogether exacerbates the effects of both. Estes will focushis studies on HIV and TB co-infection, and he is alsoworking on therapeutics for end-stage wasting in HIVpositivepatients.Quinn and Estes are optimistic that UGA is on thepath to becoming a frontrunner in the race to controltuberculosis, thanks to the Animal Health ResearchCenter and a dedicated, diverse group of researchers fromdifferent disciplines around UGA’s campus.“We’ve got everything here — the genetics expertise,the immunological expertise, the vaccine developmentexpertise, the animal modeling expertise,” says Quinn.“We’re the whole package.”Tuberculosis (TB) is the world’s secondleading cause of death due to a singleinfectious agent. (HIV/AIDS is first.)At least one-third of the estimated 34million people worldwide who are infectedwith HIV are also infected with TB bacteriabut do not yet have active TB. These peopleare 21 to 34 times more likely to developactive TB disease.Over 95% of TB deaths occur in developingcountries, and it is among the top threecauses of death for women aged 15 to 44.In 2009, about 10 million children wereorphaned due to the death of their parentsfrom TB.In 2010, about 500,000 children, ages 14 andunder, worldwide became ill with active TB.Between 58,000 and 71,000 children diedfrom the disease.People who are ill with active TB can infectup to 15 other people through close contactover the course of a year.Drug-resistant strains of TB have been foundin every country surveyed by the WorldHealth Organization.78 countries, including the United States,reported at least 1 case of TB in 2011.TB is treatable, curable and preventable.For MoreInformationAbout the CVM’s department ofInfectious Diseases, visit:www.vet.uga.edu/idTB Research at UGA*Source: World Health OrganizationMultiple TB-related research projects areunderway on the UGA campus, including atleast five within the UGA CVM Department ofInfectious Diseases.The research ranges from developmentof novel therapeutics, such as vaccines, todevelopment of new diagnostics.Aesculapian Spring/Summer 2012 38

College of VeterinaryMedicineAlumni AssociationMembers of the Executive BoardDr. Flynn Nance (DVM ‘83)dawgvet83@comcast.netPresidentDr. Michael Topper (DVM ‘80)mjtopper@comcast.netImmediate Past PresidentDr. Chad Schmiedt (DVM ‘00)cws@uga.eduPresident-electDr. Doris Miller (DVM ‘76)miller@uga.eduSecretaryDr. Sheila Allensallen01@uga.eduDean; Ex-officioDr. Thomas Hutto (DVM ’85)huttothomas@gmail.comDr. Ginger Macaulay (DVM ’84)ginger@cherokeetrail.nerDr. Catherine McClelland (DVM ’83)catherinemcclelland@mindspring.comDr. Bill Seanor (DVM ’83)jwseanor@attglobal.netTGreetings from your Alumni Association!he UGA CVM Alumni Association needs your support as a member. Allveterinarians who have attended or taught at the College are members. TheAssociation’s objectives are to promote fellowship among alumni, faculty andstudents; unite alumni and faculty interested in improving and developing theCollege; build a permanent endowment fund for the benefit of the CVM; fundstudent scholarships; fund alumni receptions at state, regional and nationalmeetings; provide leadership for alumni reunions; select and grant annual alumniawards; and inform alumni about the College and its activities through printed andelectronic publications.Although the majority of the efforts to accomplish our objectives areconducted by the Executive Board with the expert assistance of the College’s staff,we cannot do it without your active involvement. Service is very important tothe continued development of the CVM and its future graduates. We need you toserve as a board member or as a member of a standing committee. We are activelypursuing ways to better reach out to our recent graduates. Our New GraduateAdvisory Committee, chaired by Dr. Catherine McClelland (DVM ‘83), is strivingto improve the interactions between the College, the Alumni Association, andthese newest members. The Georgia Veterinary Medicine Association is ourpartner in this effort. Additionally, our Awards and Recognitions Committee isworking to identify our best alumni to be honored with Distinguished Alumnusand Young Achiever awards.I serve because the College has provided me with the education to become aveterinarian, the profession that I love. I want to give back to the College so that itwill be able to provide even more for future generations of veterinarians. ContactMarti Brick at brickm@uga.edu and let her know you are willing to join me in thisendeavor and serve the CVM.Thank you for allowing me to be your president for the past two years. Iwill remain on the board for two more years in the capacity of immediate pastpresident,and I look forward to assisting our new president, Dr. Flynn Nance(DVM ’83), as he assumes the helm of our Association.Warmest regards, and Go Dawgs!Dr. Stephen Arbitter (DVM ‘96)sma5168@windstream.netDr. Charlie Broussard (DVM ‘84)Charles.broussard@sp.intervet.comDr. Scott Bryant (DVM ‘94)scottvetboy@msn.comMichael J. Topper, DVM ’80Immediate Past PresidentDr. Alan Herring (DVM ‘85)doc@dairy.netDr. Jan Sosnowski Nichol (DVM ‘80)maplerun@aol.comF o l l o w t h e C V M a n d A l u m n i A s s o c i a t i o n ’ s c u r r e n t a c t i v i t i e s !www.vet.uga.eduwww.facebook.com/UGACVMtwitter.com/ugavetmedUGA VCM New Graduate Forum:www.facebook.com/pages/UGA-CVM-New-Graduate-Forum/137124556317443

A new president: Dr. Flynn NanceDr. Flynn Nance (BS ’77; MS ’79; DVM ’83) is the new president of the UGA College of VeterinaryMedicine Alumni Association. Dr. Nance, a “triple dawg,” has served as a member and president ofthe Georgia State Board of Veterinary Medicine; as president of the Lambda Chapter of Alpha PsiProfessional Veterinary Fraternity; and as president of the fraternity’s alumni society. He co-owns HoneyCreek Veterinary Hospital in Conyers, Ga., with his wife, Dr. Susan Aldridge Nance (DVM ’84).have always enjoyed being involved in UGA Vet Med Alumni functions, and having theI opportunity to talk to friends, colleagues, students, faculty and staff members of the College issomething I always look forward to. I agreed to serve as President of the Alumni Association becauseI feel the College is only as strong as its weakest link. Having a superb faculty and staff and wellqualifiedstudents aren’t enough to keep us competitive. We also need an active and supportive alumni base, as well as theproper facilities and financing to get the job done. This profession has been so good to me and my family, and I want togive back. I look forward to serving during this exciting time of growth for the College, and it is with great anticipationthat I start my tenure as president of the Alumni Board of UGA College of Veterinary Medicine. — FlynnWhy did you decide to become aveterinarian?I decided my senior year of high school, upon the adviceof my guidance counselor, to pursue a career in veterinarymedicine and have never regretted the decision. Helpinganimals and enriching their owners’ well-being is verysatisfying.What makes your practice successful?My wife and I have been fortunate to have many greatclients and employees. We put emphasis on clienteducation, so that hopefully they understand thedynamics of their pets’ problems, and staff education sothat we can adequately explain those dynamics.Why is it important for the College’sgraduates to get involved in the AlumniAssociation?Q&Athe Foundation’s annual fundraiser, Grace’s BirthdayParty, which helps support the College’s G.R.A.C.E. Fund(that helps clients with demonstrated financial need helpfund medical procedures for their dog). I have beenthe president of the Grace Foundation since 2004. Weoffer some yearly scholarships, sponsor seeing-eye dogs(Grace’s owner was blind), give Valentine gifts for pets ofMeals-on-Wheels clients, and several other things. Ourprimary fundraiser now is Hawaii Dawg-O, held everyAugust. Past guest hosts have included Larry Munson,Loran Smith, Kevin Butler and several other formerfootball players.I take great pride in the University and I feel it isimportant to be involved in organizations both physicallyand financially to ensure that the veterinary field andespecially the College are the best they can be, ensuringour graduates are equal to or better than any other in thecountry. Why shouldn’t UGA have the best veterinarycollege in the country? Get involved, donate, and beproud of veterinary medicine and your alma mater.What is your involvement with the GRACEMemorial Foundation?I got involved with the Grace Memorial Foundation, a501(c)3 charitable organization, in 2003 by doing an “Askthe Vet” article in Southern Living when they wrote aboutWhat advice do you have for soon-to-bealumni of the College?Practice veterinary medicine with professionalism andintegrity and uphold the traditions that make us oneof the most respected professions. Give something ofyourself back to the field and the College so that they willcontinue to be the best they can be.Photo by Laura Smith

ClassNotesDr. Mary Dickens Hicks (DVM ’88) was honored with anAbraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) AlumniAssociation award on March 3, 2012, at the GeorgiaMuseum of Agriculture and Historic Village.Dr. Earl Gaughan (DVM ’81) has joined the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicineat Virginia Tech as a clinical professor of large animalsurgery.Dr. Matthew Booth (DVM ’97) has been certifiedas a Diplomate by the American Board of VeterinaryPractitioners specializing in Canine and Feline Practice.Dr. Booth practices at Alpenglow Veterinary Specialty +Emergency Center in Boulder, Colo.Dr. Timothy Montgomery (DVM ’83) was inducted intothe University of Georgia’s AGHON Honor Society onNov. 6, 2011, for a lifetime of outstanding leadership.Dr. Joseph Gaydos (PhD ’01) was elected to chair theScience Panel of thePuget Sound Partnership,Washington state’scomprehensive effort torestore Puget Sound.Dr. Walter Gregg (DVM’79) was named theGaydos2011 SCAV Veterinarianof the Year. Dr. Gregg, one of three ABVP canine andfeline diplomates in South Carolina, owns Gregg AnimalHospital in Columbia, S.C.Dr. Erin Casey (DVM ’10) is a member of the inauguralclass of the AVMA Future Leaders Program, whichprovides a one-year opportunity to help bolster leadershipand problem-solving skills related to organized veterinarymedicine.Dr. Dale Bjorling (MS ’82) was named associate deanfor research and graduate training at the University ofWisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.Drs. Rebecca Babcock (DVM ’98) and Karen Donovan(DVM ’04) opened Red Barn Veterinary Hospital, a fullycomputerized veterinary hospital that focuses on qualitymedicine and surgery in Dahlonega, Ga.Bulldog 100Drs. Angela Dodd (DVM ’00),Jenifer Gustafson (DVM ’91),Debbie A. Pinson (DVM ’83) andEdward Reid Pinson (DVM ’93)were selected for the Bulldog100 Class of 2012, recognizingthe fastest growing alumnibusinesses.Drs. Dodd and Gustafson own Gustafson (right)Hope Animal Medical Center inAthens, Ga., and Debbie and Edward Pinson own NorthOconee Animal Hospital in Bogart, Ga.Dr. Amy Belew (DVM ’99) is Cobb County AnimalControl’s first full-time veterinarian. The countycommissioners approved the new position in February2011. The county is part of the greater Atlanta region.Dr. Jason Eisele (DVM ’02) purchased Specialists inVeterinary Surgery (SVS) in Estero, Fla. SVS is a smallanimal referral practice specializing in orthopedic,oncologic, neurologic and soft tissue surgical care.Dr. Emily Hoppmann (DVM ’05) bought ElginVeterinary Clinic in Elgin, S.C. She practices small animaland exotic animal medicine and surgery.Dr. Gary Baxter (MS ’88) is a Professor Emeritus atColorado State University, from which he retired in2011. He is now director of theUniversity of Georgia VeterinaryTeaching Hospital and a professorin the department of largeanimal medicine. His wife, Dr.Margaret Baxter (DVM ’86), soldher practice, The Vets AnimalHospital, in Windsor, Colo.Dr. Robert M. Cobb, Jr. (DVMBaxter’81) was named Georgia’s stateveterinarian by Commissioner of Agriculture GaryW. Black. The state veterinarian oversees the AnimalProtection and Equine Health offices.41The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Heather Wilson Barron (DVM ’95) was named clinicdirector at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife inSanibel, Fla.Dr. Theodore G. Westmoreland(DVM ’58) was named a 2012Distinguished Service Awardrecipient by the Clemson AlumniAssociation. Dr. Westmorelandowns Boulevard Animal HospitalP.A. in Shelby, N.C.Dr. Walter C. Cottingham(DVM ’61) received the 2011Distinguished Veterinarian ofWestmorelandthe year Award from the SouthCarolina Association of Veterinarians.Dr. Donald G. Simmons (DVM ’67; MS ’69; PhD’71) was recognized with the dedication of the 92ndConference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases inhis honor. Dr. Simmons is considered one of the foundingleaders of the North Carolina State University College ofVeterinary Medicine.Dr. Kelli Jones (MAM ’04) won the World VeterinaryPoultry Association Young Veterinarian of the Yearaward. Dr. Jones is a clinical assistant professor in thedepartment of pathobiology and population medicineat the Mississippi State University College of VeterinaryMedicine.Dr. Larry Corry (DVM ’66) was appointed by GovernorNathan Deal to serve on the Georgia Board of VeterinaryMedicine. Dr. Corry is the owner and practicingveterinarian of two small animal hospitals in Buford, Ga.ObituariesJames Joseph Miller, DVM ’73, of Asheville, N.C., July 24,2010 ◆ James Hamilton Van Etten, DVM ’78, Riverview,Fla., March 19, 2011 ◆ Francis Miller Jackson, DVM’52, Morganton, N.C., March 24, 2011 ◆ Robert LamarMeeks, DVM ’51, Eatonton, Ga., Apr. 28, 2011 ◆ WilliamRobert Gaines, DVM ’64, Rapid City, S.D., May 2, 2011 ◆Walter Hicks Rogers Jr., DVM ’52, Newnan, Ga., May 7,2011 ◆ John C. LeMay, DVM ’59, Durham, N.C., June 6,2011 ◆ Thomas Earl Staton, DVM ’56, Goldsboro, N.C.,July 7, 2011 ◆ Leonard Junior Steele, DVM ’51, Toccoa,Ga., Aug. 3, 2011 ◆ Dorsey A. Sanders Jr., DVM ’54,Hawthorne, Fla., Aug. 9, 2011 ◆ Harold H. Holbrook,DVM ’53, Olney, Md., Sept. 21, 2011 ◆ Harold KimballChandler, DVM ’56, Jacksonville, Fla., Sept. 23, 2011 ◆Raymond T. Copeland, DVM ’53, Greensboro, N.C., Oct.15, 2011 ◆ Jack Riley Whittaker, DVM ’60, Spartanburg,S.C., Nov. 1, 2011 ◆ Frederick E. Ducey Jr., DVM ’50,Ridgeland, S.C., Nov. 17, 2011 ◆ John Morgan SpringsJr., DVM ’58, Santee, S.C., Nov. 18, 2011 ◆ Edwin LeeBroom, DVM ’76, Rossville, Ga., Dec. 7, 2011 ◆ JohnForrest Peacock, DVM ’66, Warwick, Md., Dec. 30, 2011◆ William Lee Carter Jr., DVM ’51, Winter Haven,Fla., Jan. 11, 2012 ◆ Preston Miller Givens, DVM’54, Richmond, Va., Jan. 16, 2012 ◆ Charles ThomasShortall, DVM ’65, Lutherville, Md., Jan. 20, 2012 ◆Keith William Chapin, DVM ’74, West Palm Beach, Fla.,March 2, 2012.Dr. Patrick Andrew Bremer (DVM ’83) of Bluffton,S.C., passed away Sunday, March 4, 2012.Dr. Bremer was an active alum, served on the CVMAlumni Board beginning in March 2011, and wasnamed Veterinarian of the Year in his hometown ofSavannah, Ga., in 1999.W e w a n t t o k n o w w h a t y o u ’ r e u p t o !Your classmates want to know what’s happening in yourlife. Drop us a line. And please include your currentcontact information, including your phone number andemail, to help us keep our alumni database up to date.Email us:vetalums@uga.edu orbrickm@uga.eduORFax:706.583.0242

Distinguished Alumni honoredOn March 24, 2012, the College of Veterinary Medicine recognized two individuals as Distinguished Alumni and one asa Young Achiever in a ceremony at the 49th Annual Veterinary Conference & Alumni Weekend. The College of VeterinaryMedicine Alumni Association recognizes Distinguished Alumni each spring. Nominees must have graduated fromthe College of Veterinary Medicine and made contributions in one or more of the following areas:• Animal and human health-related public service• Professional service• Involvement in veterinary educational research and/or service• Contributions to the local community, state or nation• Involvement in veterinary associations at the local, state or national level• Contributions to the College’s Alumni Association• Nominees for the Young Achiever Award must meet the above criteria, and have graduated 9, 10 or 11years prior to the year the award is presentedDr. Michael Zager (DVM ’79) is a mixed-animal practitioner at Ocoee Animal Hospital,and is known for his expertise in camelids, particularly llamas and alpacas. Zager is asought-after speaker in this area and is recognized throughout the Southeastern UnitedStates as a veterinary resource for these animals. Zager also provides mentoring to andlearning opportunities for UGA’s veterinary students.Dr. John R. Glisson (DVM ’80; MAM ’83; PhD ’85) is the retired head ofthe department of Population Health, and the University of Georgia PoultryDiagnostic and Research Center. Glisson has recently launched a second careeras director of research for the U.S. Poultry & Egg Harold E. Ford Foundation.During his time at UGA, Glisson co-developed two vaccines and a DNAencodingprocess, held editorial roles for five professional publications, and wasawarded more than 80 research grants.Dr. Kimberly Lewis Carney (DVM ’01) is a mixed-animal practitioner at HarrogateHospital for Animals in rural East Tennessee and an adjunct professor at Lincoln MemorialUniversity. Carney was responsible for making endoscopy, ultrasonography, laser surgery,and alternative therapies available to Harrogate’s clients. Carney recently accepted an offerto serve the Christian Veterinary Mission for three years in Bolivia, where she will teach atthe veterinary college at Santa Cruz and work with indigenous subsistence farmers.To nominate an alumnus for the 2013 awards, email vetalums@uga.edu for a nomination form.43The University of Georgia College of Veterinary MedicinePhotos by Wingate Downs Photography

Mueller and Waggoner win 2012 Fraternity AwardsMuellerDr. Eric Mueller (PhD ’96) is the recipient of the 2012 A.M. Mills Award from the LambdaChapter of Alpha Psi; Dr. James C. Waggoner (DVM ’69) is the 2012 recipient of the Fred C.Davison Award for Distinguished Service, from the Eta Chapter of Omega Tau Sigma.Dr. Mueller obtained his DVM from Michigan State University in 1989 and his PhD inphysiology from the University of Georgia. Now a Diplomate of the American College of VeterinarySurgeons, Dr. Mueller is the CVM’s director of Equine Programs, and has served on manydepartmental, college and university committees over the years. He has also been recognized for hisexcellence in scholarship, teaching and service with numerous awards over his 20-year career.Dr. Waggoner built Stockbridge Veterinary Hospital in 1972, Henry County VeterinaryHospital in 1998, and East Lake Veterinary Hospital in 1995. He has been a member of StockbridgeLion’s Club for 15 years, Lion of the Year five times, and has been on the Board of Directors of FirstState Bank — Stockbridge for 17 years. Dr. Waggoner is a long-time supporter of the CVM, theGeorgia Veterinary Medical Association, and Omega Tau Sigma.WaggonerPet MemorialsMeaningful to clients, veterinarians and the College“Pet memorials have been great for our business. They help us remember clients and their pets, as well as support the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine’s goal to build a new teaching hospital. The feedback we get is priceless.”— Dr. Roy Brogdon, DVM ’73Cleveland Veterinary Hospital Cleveland, GeorgiaFor more information, please contact us:Phone: 706.542.1807E-mail: THE give2vet@uga.eduUNIVERSITY OF GEORGIAWeb: www.vet.uga.edu/GO/memorialCollege of Veterinary MedicineTHE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIACollege of Veterinary MedicineDr. Roy Brogdon, co-­‐owner of Cleveland Veterinary Hospital, donates regularly through our pet memorial program.THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIACollege of Veterinary MedicineAesculapian Spring/Summer 2012 44

Georgia funds VMLC, but fundraising will continueIt was 14 years ago that the College administration first conceived the idea for a new TeachingOur Goal: Hospital to replace our aging facility. We are thrilled to report that this fall we will finally break ground on$25 Million our Veterinary Medical Learning Center!In early May, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signed the state’s budget for FY13, which includes $52.3million in bond funding for construction of our new hospital. Part of our ability to get funding fromthe state relied on our ability to raise a minimum of $15 million in private donations toward the project.Thanks to the on-going support from so many of you, we exceeded our goal by the time the legislatureRACTER PERSPECTIVE voted | on NORTH the budget. FACADE facing College Station RoadEveryone who supported this project in any way helped us achieve this milestone: our alumni; friendsrinary Medicine Learning Center1.2012of the College; our faculty and staff; the upper-administration at the University of Georgia; the Boardof Regents; former Gov. Sonny Perdue (DVM ’71); Gov. Nathan Deal, and the members of the GeorgiaGeneral Assembly.Despite our celebration, our work is not done. The funding provided by the state and the privatedonations received thus far will allow us to build most of the needed elements of the Learning Center. Aswith many major capital projects, some areas had to be deferred due to budgetary limitations. There are anumber of deferred elements that we hope to include in the construction project if sufficient funds can beraised over the next few months.Our total fundraising goal is now $25 million. As of press time, we had raised $21 million in gifts andpledges. If you wish to make a multi-year pledge or consider a naming opportunity, please contact ourDevelopment office at 706.542.1807. For more information about the need for the VMLC, the plans for thefacility, our capital campaign, and the honor roll of donors, or to give a gift through our secured website,visit: www.vet.uga.edu/vmlcThanks so much to all of you for your continued support of this project, and for helping us createa new state-of-the-art facility that will serve our clients and patients, as well as our profession, for manydecades to come!A Damn Good Read!Read a history of Uga, the University of Georgia mascots.A sports classic, this version is updated to include new material on UgaVI, Uga VII, Uga VIII, and Russ.The book is available from your bookseller of choice. UGA alums areeligible for a 30% discount if they order from the University of Georgia Pressat 800.266.5842 or online at www.ugapress.orgA portion of the proceeds from sales of this book benefits theUniversity of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.

Why I give:Edith Martin RogersMy name is EdithMartin Rogers, and Iam currently an associateat Peachtree Hills AnimalHospital, a small animalpractice in Atlanta. Ireceived my bachelor’sdegree in biology fromthe University of Georgiain 1998, and a DVMfrom the UGA College ofVeterinary Medicine in2003.Followinggraduation, I completeda one-year rotatinginternship in small animalmedicine and surgeryat the Animal MedicalCenter in New YorkCity and practiced smallanimal medicine in bothLos Angeles and LosAltos, Calif., for a total offive years before moving back with my family to Georgiain 2009. I’m thrilled to be back in Georgia close to family,friends and the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine.I am passionate about being a veterinarian, and I amso thankful to have a career that I love. I also recognizethat the opportunity to have such a career came fromthe wonderful education I received and the experiences Ihad with my classmates, teachers, interns and residents atUGA. Living and working out of the state only adds to thepride I feel for my time in Athens. It is that pride and thePhoto courtesy of Edith Martin Rogersresponsibility that I feel asan alumna that compelsme personally to give aportion of my incomeback to the institution thatmade my career possible.My children are too youngto really understandcharitable giving, but itis important to me thatwhen the time comes theyunderstand the importanceof supporting their almamaters and the institutionsthat supported them.I will also share withthem my belief that, earlyin a career, the size of adonation to some degreeis less significant thanthe participation itself. Ibelieve it is important tocondition oneself to giveat any level. With thatthought, I have made a concerted effort to give each yearsince my graduation, and I have increased my gifting whenpossible. For years, I contributed to the annual operations,but more recently, I have contributed to the capitalcampaign for the new Veterinary Medical Learning Center.I believe that the new Hospital is greatly needed and willprovide an opportunity for UGA to shine in the veterinaryworld even more than it already does. As an alumna, Iwant to be a part of making that happen, and I will beexcited and proud to visit the new facilities.

College of Veterinary MedicineAthens, GA 30602-7371®Nonprofit Org.U.S. PostagePAIDAthens, GAPermit #11Return Service RequestedDates to remember:August 4August 12September 26September 29December 1-5March 22-23, 20139th Annual Hawaii Dawg-OWhite Coat CeremonyVet School for a DayDean’s TailgateAAEPThe 50th Annual Veterinary Conference & Alumni WeekendContinuing Education Courses: (CE dates and topics subject to change)October 4-5October 13-14October 20-21November 10-11December 1-2December 2December 8-9December 8-98th Equine EncoreInternal MedicineSmall Animal SurgeryRabbit/Rodent EndoscopyAvian and Reptile Diagnostic EndoscopyNeurologyOutpatient MedicineAdvanced Laparoscopic and Thoracoscopic SurgeryThis publication is paid for by private donations, and is available online at www.vet.uga.edu. For future mailings, if you would prefer to receiveour Aesculapian or Annual Report electronically, please email us at vetnews@uga.edu and tell us what email address you would like usto notify when the publication goes online. Thank you for your support of the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine!