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Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine

VirginiaVirginiamarylandmaryland

Summer-Fall 2000

Inside

Please see Steger: page 26

Please see Symposium: page 27

2000 Commencement.........12

EMC News..........................20

Maryland News..................23

Tech PresidentSteger SetsResearch AgendaDuring Keynote

Year 2000 Focus is on Zoonotic Diseases

The many virtues of the “human-animal bond” are readily apparent.But close relationships betweenpeople and companion animals canpresent some hazards too, chiefly inthe form of parasitic and infectious

Veterinary College, Medical College of Virginia, StateAssociations to Present Second in Three-Year Symposium Series

diseases that can be spread by animalsto people.

These diseases, termed zoonotic,and the risks they present, will beexplored by a series of experts duringa symposium entitled “EducatingPhysicians and Veterinarians on theRisks of Animal Interactions toHuman Health and Well-being”hosted by the Virginia-MarylandRegional College of VeterinaryMedicine on Friday, September 22.The event will be held at theDonaldson Brown Hotel and Confer-ence Center on the campus of Vir-ginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Proclaiming ideas “the rawmaterial of the informationeconomy,” President Steger chal-lenged university faculty assembledfor the Virginia-Maryland RegionalCollege of Veterinary Medicine’sannual research conference to “turnup the Bunson burners” as VirginiaTech begins to focus on “vaulting”itself into a top 30 research institutionduring the decade ahead.

Steger delivered his remarks asthe keynote speaker of the college’s12th Annual Research Symposium, athree-day event that featured apresentation on Iraq’s biologicalwarfare program, a day-long sympo-sium on comparative gerontology

In this digitally enhanced photograph, members of the College’s Class of 2004 participatein leadership and team-building exercises at an outdoor adventure center in nearby GilesCounty. The entering DVM students were the first to participate in the college’s newlyintroduced week-long orientation process. The enhanced orientation process for newveterinary students is one of the strategic responses the college is taking to challengesidentified in the KPMG MegaStudy of the veterinary profession.

Wilcke named to First EndowedProfessorship on VMRCVM’sBlacksburg Campus

The first endowed professorship everestablished on the Virginia-MarylandRegional College of Veterinary Medicine’sBlacksburg campus will support a profes-sor who is exploring and defining the newfield of veterinary medical informatics.

Dr. Jeff R. Wilcke, a professor in theDepartment of Biomedical Sciences and

Please see Wilcke: page 6

Dr. Jeff R. Wilcke

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Peter Eyre, B.V.M.S., Ph.D., M.R.C.V.S.Dean

John Lee, Ph.D.Associate Dean forResearch and Graduate Studies

Grant Turnwald, B.V.Sc., M.S.Associate Dean for AcademicAffairs

William D. Hueston, D.V.M., Ph.D.Associate Dean - MarylandCampus

Donald Barber, D.V.M., M.S.Head, Department of Small AnimalClinical Sciences

Craig Thatcher, D.V.M., M.S., Ph.D.Head, Department of Large AnimalClinical Sciences

Lud Eng, B.A., M.A., Ph.D.Head, Department ofBiomedical Sciences & Pathobiology

G. Frederick Fregin, V.M.D.Director, Marion duPont ScottEquine Medical Center

Robert A. Martin, D.V.M.Medical Director, VeterinaryTeaching Hospital

Jeffrey S. Douglas, MS, APRManaging Editor

Terry LawrenceArt Director

Angela BroganEditorial Assistant

Frank Pearsall, Ann NadjarContributing Editors

Jerry Baber, Don MassiePhotography

Virginia Tech does not discriminateagainst employees, students, orapplicants on the basis of race, color,sex, sexual orientation, disability, age,veteran status, national origin, religion,or political affiliation. Anyone havingquestions concerning discriminationshould contact the Equal Opportunities/Affirmative Action Office.

Virginia-MarylandVMRCVM

Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061Dean Peter Eyre

EDITORIAL ADVISORYBOARD

Dean’s Desk Virginia Maryland is published periodi-cally by the Virginia-Maryland RegionalCollege of Veterinary Medicine. Wewelcome your comments, suggestionsand questions. Please address allcorrespondence to:

Newly inaugurated University President Charles Steger has set an ambitous goalfor Virginia Tech over the next ten years. Becoming one of the nation’s top 30research universities will require enormous energy and dedication from every sectorof this university community.

According to National Science Foundation data, Virginia Tech is currently 48th,

with annual research expenditures of about $170 million. We will need to raise thatby more than $100 million in order to achieve the president’s goal by the close of thedecade. Yet knowing this university and its people as I do, I consider this goalachievable.

Dr. Steger’s bold vision has led me to reflect upon our own stature as one of thenation’s 27 colleges of veterinary medicine. While we certainly remain one of thenewest, we are in the midst of our 20th year of full-scale operations. We haverecruited an excellent faculty and staff, we have trained and graduated 17 classes,and we have funded and built a three-campus system operating on about 400,000square feet of physical plant.

We are doing many things well, and by several measures, compare favorablywith our peers. National data reveal that state support for the college is aboutaverage. Whereas external sponsored support for research is not as good as it shouldbe, we are above average in the amount of private support we have achieved andrank seventh in terms of clinical revenues when you combine our teaching hospitalenterprises in Blacksburg and Leesburg. Based on the whole spectrum of nationaldata, we are ranked at the median of our peers. Yet this is not a time to rest on ourlaurels.

All of you reading these words will be aware of the way technology, economicsand demographics will forever change higher education as we have known it. Theproduction of new knowledge in all of its forms, from the engineering and computersciences through the life and social sciences, will become an even more robust facetof university life in the years ahead. Scientific inquiry is moving quickly fromsolving problems to creating economic opportunity. It is a bridge between academiaand the private sector, where it is transformed into products and services andprogress.

Like the university, our college must now turn its attention toward research andeconomic development more vigorously than before. In the keynote addressPresident Steger presented during our annual research symposium, he outlinedshifting priorities in federal funding for the health sciences that may spell opportuni-ties for us.

Other important initiatives and opportunities are also emerging here in Blacks-burg. Virginia Tech’s partnership in the Carilion Biomedical Institute and thepromising new Bioinformatics Institute present many opportunities for collabora-tion, and these models may soon re-emerge in the form of other similar institutes forthe environment, food and nutrition, and others… all of which can benefit from thecomparative animal research which can be found within a college of veterinarymedicine.

As an institution, our college is maturing well. And like the university, we haveexcellent momentum. Perhaps, as the university has committed itself to a new planeof excellence, so should we. It seems entirely reasonable to me that we can moveourselves into the “top ten” realm of North American veterinary colleges during thispivotal first decade of the 21st century. In the near future, I expect to make furthercomments about this goal for our college. In the meantime, I sincerely thank all ofyou, internal and external, who have contributed to the success of our first 20 years.

A Bold Agenda

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virginia maryland news briefs

Training the nextgeneration of veterinarians is apassion Dr. Korinn Saker doesnot limit to her classrooms.

For the fifth year in a row,the veterinary nutritionist hasled a week-long veterinarycamp in conjunction with theScience Museum of WesternVirginia’s annual summer campprogram for school-children.

Saker LeadsVeterinary Camp atScience Museumof Western Virginia

Under the leadership of Dr.Craig Thatcher, head of theDepartment of Large AnimalClinical Sciences, the college iscooperating in an innovative newMacromolecule BiomoleculeInterfaces research and educationprogram at Virginia Tech.

The consortium seeks topromote research, developmentand technology transfer toindustrial partners of new scientificinformation on how syntheticmolecules interface withbiomolecules. The discipline hassignificant implications foreverything from food and medicineto commercial packaging.

Tech facilities cooperating inthe MBI include the Departmentsof Biochemistry, BiologicalSystems Engineering, ChemicalEngineering, Chemistry, Environ-mental Engineering, Food Scienceand Technology, Materials Scienceand Engineering and theVMRCVM.

College Workingwith MacromoleculeBiomoleculeInterfaces Group

Freeman LeadsNational VeterinaryAnatomists’ Group

Dr. Larry Freeman,associate professor, Depart-ment of Biomedical Sciencesand Pathobiology, has beenelected president of theAmerican Association ofVeterinary Anatomists.

Founded in 1949, theAAVA exists to advanceveterinary anatomical scienceand includes several hundredmembers from the 31 NorthAmerican veterinary colleges,and from organizations aroundthe world.

Drug InformationLab Honored by ISI

The College’s Drug Informa-tion Laboratory was recentlyrecognized by the Institute forScientific Information (ISI) for itson-line version of the FDA “GreenBook.” Published by the Food &Drug Administration’s Center forVeterinary Medicine, the “Greenbook” contains detailed productand licensing information about allgovernment approved animaldrugs

The digital publication willnow be included in the ISI’s on-lineawareness database calledCurrent Web Contents. CurrentContents, a database that providesinformation in the fields of science,social science, technology and thearts, recently created Current WebContents, which features a dailyupdate of the database and anoption to link to selected andevaluated Web sites.

Following passage of theGeneric Animal Drug and PatentTerm Restoration Act in 1988, thelaboratory began publishing a printversion of the FDA “Green Book”in 1989 and has published itannually ever since. The labmanages the Food & DrugAdministration Center forVeterinary Medicine’s “ApprovedAnimal Drug Database” which isused to produce both versions ofthe “Green Book.”

The reference guide includesinformation concerning animaldrugs’ trade and genericnames,label indications, patentinformation, and other relatedfacts.

ISI editors evaluated theGreen Book Web site using criteria

Animal WelfareExpo Held

A “Spring 2000 AnimalWelfare Expo” recently hosted bythe college featured a day filledwith educational events andopen discussion forumsconcerning animal welfareissues.

Co-sponsored by theVirginia Partnership for AnimalWelfare and Support (VAPAWS)and the Virginia Tech StudentAnimal Welfare Committee, theexpo focused on developingregional, long-term solutions todifficult animal problems such asirresponsible reproduction.

Presentations on thehuman-animal bond, state andlocal ordinances regardingshelter policies, dogs inliterature, achieving the animalwelfare medical mission, animalsin community disaster planningand others were featured.

The expo also included avariety of demonstrations byassistance dogs, Canine GoodCitizens and Therapy DogInternational tests, canine searchand rescue and others.

Considered one of the mostpopular of the museum’s summerscience camps, the veterinarycamp offers students anopportunity to experienceveterinary medicine first-hand,right down to practicing “surgery”and first aid on animal mannequinsSaker has built.

The 30 students enrolledalso spend a day on the college’sBlacksburg campus during theweek-long camp, where they tourfacilities and watch veterinariansconduct the clinical business ofcompanion and large animalveterinary medicine.

such as authority, accuracy,currency, navigation and design,applicability and content, scope,audience level and quality.

“We work to produce auseful high-quality publication forour subscribers. Recognition ofour site by ISI suggests we haveaccomplished that goal,” said Dr.Jeff Wilcke, the Dorothy A. andRichard G. Metcalf Professor ofVeterinary Medical Informatics.

Congressman Rick Boucher (D-9th), left, listens to veterinary radiologistDr. Jeri Jones (right) discuss the Alphin Radiology Center’s computedtomography (CT) scanner while veterinary college Dean Peter Eyre lookson. Congressman Boucher visited the VMRCVM in early August.

Eight DVM students were enrolled in the year 2000 Summer FellowshipProgram. Sponsored by the Office of Research and Graduate Studies,the program offers specialized experiences in leadership, science andpublic policy training through an extensive summer program. Pictured,from left to right, front row, Anne Van Auken, Jody Dickey, LindseySavage, Margaret Bowman. Back row,Jennifer Landolfi, RachelJohnson, Cheryl Kay Gruver, Karen Nelson Wolf.

Dr. Larry Freeman

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University Veterinarian andDirector of the Office of AnimalResources Dr. David Moore hasbeen appointed Assistant ViceProvost for Research Complianceat Virginia Tech, according to Dr.Leonard Peters, vice provost forresearch and dean of thegraduate school.

Moore, who joined theuniversity community in 1985, hasbeen in charge of animal careand regulatory complianceassurance for animals used inteaching and research at theuniversity.

His broadened responsibili-ties now include oversight andregulatory compliance issues forall animal and human subjectsused in university researchprograms, plus radiation safety,and laboratory safety programs.

Among other duties, he willchair the university’s InstitutionalReview Board, Radiation SafetyCommittee, and serve on the

A VMRCVM graduatestudent claimed top honors inthe agricultural and animalsciences category of the16thAnnual Research Symposiumat Virginia Tech.

Dr. Christiane Massicotteof Repentigny, Quebec, Canada,a Ph.D. student in theDepartment of BiomedicalSciences and Pathobiologywas honored for her presenta-tion “Adenosine triphosphate(ATP) concentration in hensciatic nerves affected withorganophosphorus ester-induced delayed neuropathy(OPIDN).”

ATP supplies energy formany biochemical cellularprocesses and is critical fornerve fiber functions. Massicotte evaluatedconcentrations of the moleculein hen peripheral nervesfollowing exposure to anorganophosphate that causesdelayed degeneration of thenervous system.

Their results suggest thatvariations in sciatic nerve ATPconcentrations are early eventsin the development of OPIDN.

The college’s Laboratoryfor Neurotoxicity Studies is oneof the nation’s leading researchcenters for organophosphatetoxicity.

Organized by theuniversity’s Graduate StudentAssembly and judged by facultymembers, the event wasthemed “Bridging ResearchBoundaries.” There were 109entries and $3,650 in prizeswere awarded.

Massicotte EarnsGraduate ResearchHonors

A livestock teachingfacility to be built on thecampus of Virginia Tech will benamed the Alphin-Stuart Arenain honor of university benefac-tors Colonel and Mrs. HoraceAlphin and the late PatriciaBonsall Stuart.

Both have providedsubstantial philanthropic

support for the VMRCVM.The Alphins, residents of

Clifton, Virginia, have been long-time contributors to Virginia Tech.Colonel Alphin is a 1934 VirginiaTech graduate in dairy science.The Alphins have provided over$2 million in support to VirginiaTech. The VMRCVM’s radiologycenter is named the Horace E.and Elizabeth F. Alphin ImagingCenter in honor of their philan-thropy.

Stuart, who died in 1996, leftnearly $2.7 million to be dividedequally between the College ofAgriculture and Life Sciences andthe VMRCVM. Stuart, a life-longhorse enthusiast who lived inAlbemarle County, earmarked thegift to support equine programs inthe two colleges.

The centerpiece of the $3.6facility is a 31,250 square-footarena floor with seating for 800people. The structure will alsohouse classrooms, an office, akitchen-concession area, andanimal holding facilities.

Livestock Arena toHonor Alphins,Stuart

A veterinary surgeon onfaculty has been honored fordistinguished service by the St.Francis of Assisi Service DogFoundation.

Dr. Spencer Johnston,associate professor, Departmentof Small Animal Clinical Sciences,was presented the year 2000“Veterinarian of the Year Award”from the Roanoke-basedfoundation which trains servicedogs to assist the disabled.

Johnston was recognized forhis work in conducting orthopedicexaminations on dogs beingconsidered for the group’straining programs. Many of thebreeds commonly used asassistance animals, such asLabrador and Golden Retrieverssuffer from hip dysplasia.

Johnston is certified toconduct “Penn Hip” radiographicexaminations, a sophisticatedprocedure for evaluating a dog’ships and predicting the animal’schances of developing the

Johnston Honored bySt. Francis ServiceDog Group

disorder later in life.Using the Penn Hip

examination procedure, Johnstoncan make recommendationsabout an animal’s suitability as aservice animal. The service is acritical part of the screeningcriteria used by the foundation inselecting dogs for the program,since the training is so time-consuming and expensive.

Johnston is board certifiedby the American College ofVeterinary Surgeons.

Jeffrey S. Douglas, APR,public relations director for theCollege, has been electedpresident of the Association forVeterinary Advancement Profession-als (AVAP).

The organization, whichconsists of development, publicrelations and alumni relationsdirectors of the North Americanveterinary schools and colleges,holds its annual meeting inconjunction with the AmericanVeterinary Medical Association.

Douglas, who joined theCollege in 1983, is professionallyaccredited by the Public RelationsSociety of America and alsoserves as an adjunct professor ofpublic relations at RadfordUniversity.

Douglas LeadsNational VeterinaryCollege Advance-ment Organization

Hundreds and hundreds ofcurious animal lovers turned outto visit the college during itsannual Spring Open House.

Guided tours were providedthroughout the day and dozens ofactivities showcased theprofession and the college.

A “Teddy Bear Repair Clinic”delighted children, and moreserious presentations liked“Parasites and Toxicants”provided useful information forguests.

The open house alsofeatured information on alterna-

College PresentsAnnual Open House

tive careers in the veterinaryprofession, and includedpresentations on preparing acompetitive application forveterinary school.

The college’s 2001 OpenHouse will be held on April 7, 2001.

Dr. Jonathan Abbott hasjoined the college as a veterinarycardiologist in the Department ofSmall Animal Clinical Sciences.

Abbott earned his DVM fromthe Ontario Veterinary College atthe University of Guelph inCanada. He completed aninternship at the University ofSaskatchewan and a residency atthe University of Florida. He isboard certified by the AmericanCollege of Veterinary InternalMedicine.

Prior to joining the college,Abbott served on the veterinarycollege faculties of the Universityof Florida and the University ofSaskatchewan.

Abbott joins DSACSin Cardiology

Moore AppointedResearch ComplianceHead

Dr. ChristianeMassicotte

Dr. SpencerJohnston

Jeffrey S.Douglas

Dr. DavidMoore

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Animal Care Committee andLaboratory and HazardousMaterials Safety Committee.

Moore will also providefederally mandated trainingprograms for faculty, staff, andstudents in the areas of humansubjects compliance andappropriate animal care and use.

Dr. Robert A. Martin, directorof the college’s VeterinaryTeaching Hospital, has beennamed president of the AmericanAssociation of VeterinaryClinicians (AAVC).

That 600-member organiza-tion includes veterinarians basedat colleges, institutions andveterinary practices who areengaged in teaching, service,and/or research in clinicalveterinary medicine.

Martin says changing marketdynamics in the veterinaryprofession are creating humanresource challenges for academicveterinary medicine.

“Upon completion of theirtraining, clinical specialists arenow entering private specialtypractices throughout the U.S.rather than remaining inacademia,” said Martin.

“The American Associationof Veterinary Clinicians is activelyinvolved in seeking ways toencourage the best and brightestto consider careers in academicveterinary medicine in order tomeet the needs of clinicalinstruction in the veterinaryteaching hospitals of our colleges

Shires HeadingUniversity’s BiologicalSciences Initiative

Dr. Peter Shires, aprofessor in the Department ofSmall Animal Clinical Sci-ences, has been selected tolead Virginia Tech’s BiologicalSciences Initiative.

As university BSICoordinator, Shires will head amultidisciplinary program thatunites 400 professors in fivecolleges in an effort that seeksto enhance undergraduateteaching and learning in thelife sciences.

“We’re pleased andexcited to have Petercoordinate the BSI, particularlybecause he brings a keeninterest in innovative teachingand learning pedagogies forthe life sciences,” said Dr. RonDaniel, associate provost forundergraduate programs.“Peter has a well developedhistory of collaborations withthe Center for Excellence inUndergraduate Teaching andthe Faculty DevelopmentInstitute.”

Participating collegesinclude Agriculture and LifeSciences, Arts and Sciences,Human Resources andEducation, Forestry andWildlife Resources, and theVirginia-Maryland RegionalCollege of Veterinary Medi-cine.

Special support inlearning theory, instructionaldesign and educationaltechnologies is being providedfor faculty participating in theBSI. Enhanced studentadvising is another programgoal.

The National VeterinaryServices Laboratory of the U.S.Department of Agriculture(USDA) has confirmed thatthree horses in SoutheasternVirginia have died of EasternEquine Encephalitis (EEE),according to Dr. Jim Bowen,extension equine specialist.

Horse owners, especiallythose living near the EasternShore, are strongly encouragedto vaccinate their animalsagainst Eastern EquineEncephalitis twice yearly inorder to afford the best possibleprotection, Bowen said.

Eastern Equine Encephali-tis can also cause encephalitisin humans, with children andthe elderly especially at risk.

“There is no vaccine for thehuman population, so it isessential that you guard againstmosquito bites by using insectrepellents and avoiding beingoutside when the mosquitoesare most active, namely dawnand dusk,” said Bowen.Eastern Equine Encephalitisshould not be confused withWest Nile Virus, which has beenreported in the Northeast overthe past two years, he said.

This, too, will causeencephalitis in horses andhumans, Bowen said, but hasonly been reported to date inNew York State, New Jersey,Connecticut and Massachu-setts.

Eastern EquineEncephalitis inVirginia

Martin Assumes Presidency of AAVCof veterinary medicine,” hecontinued.

As president-elect, Martinserved as program chair for therecent AAVC forum held inSeattle in conjunction with theannual meeting of the AmericanCollege of Veterinary InternalMedicine.

He will also plan and presideover an upcoming conference inArlington, Virginia entitled“Education in the 21st Century”that will focus on the value ofpractice-based clinical education.

The AAVC operates theVeterinary Internship/ResidencyMatching Program and providesprogrammatic leadership forveterinarian’s seeking post-DVMtraining in internal medicine,surgery and other specialties.

Martin, who earned his DVMfrom Auburn University in 1976, isboard certified by the AmericanCollege of Veterinary Surgeonsand the American Board ofVeterinary Practitioners.

He joined the faculty atVirginia-Maryland in 1983, andhas directed the VeterinaryTeaching Hospital since 1993.

AAVC IncomingPresident Dr. Robert A.Martin (R) accepts thegavel from outgoingPresident Dr. RichardDeBowes.

Dr. Peter Shires

Dr. Nino Aloro, a veterinarianwho operates a practice inVirginia Beach, recentlydonated a series of veterinaryantiquities to the College.Aloro, who earned hisveterinary degree in Italy, haspracticed in the Tidewater areafor more than 30 years. Thecollection of artifacts includedseveral antique “crossbow”style venipuncture deviceswhich were designed and builtby Aloro’s grandfather. Theinstruments were used forblott-letting in horses and otherlarge animals. College Art &Archives Committee Chair Dr.Carl J. Pfeiffer, who authored apaper on the history of blood-letting in the horse in 1986,described them as “specialartifacts in veterinary history”that are very “unique.”

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Thirteen new veterinarianshave been hired as residentsand interns.

Internships and residen-cies are advanced clinical/educational programs pursuedby DVM’s seeking advancedtraining and eventual boardcertification by organizationslike the American College ofVeterinary Surgeons, theAmerican College of VeterinaryInternal Medicine, the AmericanCollege of Veterinary Radiology,or the American College ofVeterinary Ophthalmology.

There are three newresidents and interns in theDepartment of Large AnimalClinical Sciences.

Dr. David M. Wong hasjoined as a resident in LargeAnimal Medicine. He attendedMichigan State University andhas practiced at Four WindsEquine Hospital in Bridgeport,Michigan.

Dr. Kara L. Kreitner, whoearned her DVM at ColoradoState University, and Dr. JacobR. Werner, who earned hisDVM at the University ofPennsylvania, are interns inlarge animal medicine andProduction ManagementMedicine.

Ten new veterinarianswere also hired as residentsand interns in the Departmentof Small Animal ClinicalSciences.

Dr. Stephanie Hamilton, aVMRCVM alumnus, is aresident in anesthesiology. Dr.Hamilton recently practiced at

Henry County Animal Clinic.Dr. Jacob Rohleder has

joined as a resident in radiology.He received his DVM at PurdueUniversity and has completed aninternship at MetropolitanVeterinary Hospital. Dr. Rohlederalso practiced at an AnimalEmergency Clinic.

Dr. David Grant earned hisDVM and completed an internshipat the University of Florida. He isnow a resident in small animalmedicine.

Dr. Tisha Harper has joinedas a resident in small animalsurgery. Dr. Harper received herDVM at the University of the WestIndies in St. Augustine. She haspracticed at Fiddler’s DreamVeterinary Clinic and has alsoserved as a lecturer/clinician atthe University of the West Indies.

Dr. Nancy Zimmerman-Pope, who earned her DVM atthe University of Wisconsin, hasalso joined as a resident in smallanimal surgery. She hascompleted internships at theVMRCVM and Dallas VeterinarySurgical Center.

Dr. Max Banwell and Dr.Christopher Kunze, both receivedtheir DVM from Kansas StateUniversity and are new interns.Other new interns are Dr. HeidiMacLean, who received her DVMat the University of Prince EdwardIsland, Dr. Brett Wood, whoreceived his from North CarolinaState University, and Dr. KellyWang, who earned her DVM atMichigan State University.

New Residents andInterns Announced

Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary MedicineRetired Faculty Luncheon, April 20, 2000

Left to Right: Joyce Morgan, Jeff Douglas, John Lee, Fred Carlisle, Gordon Carter, John Wilson, CharlesDomermuth, Bob Hammond, Gerry Colmano, Bernie Gross, Gordon MacInnis, Peter Eyre, Kent Roberts, LudEng, Bob Martin, John Perry, Frank Pearsall, Craig Thatcher, Donna Pitt

Pathobiology who has beenworking in the emerging field forthe past 15 years, has beennamed to the Dorothy A. andRichard G. Metcalf EndowedProfessorship in VeterinaryMedical Informatics.

“I’m extremely honored bythis appointment,” said Wilcke, aveterinary pharmacologist.“Personally and professionally,this is a very gratifying opportu-nity,” he continued. “But in alarger sense, this move goes along way toward underscoringthe legitimacy of this newdiscipline on a national scale.”

Veterinary informatics is ascientific discipline that involvesthe application of moderninformation technology to managevast amounts of medical data.

The professorship has beenmade possible as a result of a $2million gift from philanthropistDorothy A. Metcalf of the EasternShore of Maryland through herprivate foundation. Half of Mrs.Metcalf’s gift will be used tosupport the professorship, andanother half will support othernew initiatives under develop-ment in the college.

“We’re extremely gratefulfor both the spirit of philanthropyand the foresight which isdemonstrated by Mrs. Metcalf’sgift,” said VMRCVM Dean PeterEyre. “It seems especiallyappropriate that our firstBlacksburg based endowedprofessorship be placed in suchan exciting and innovative area ofinquiry.”

Wilcke has led the college’s

Drug Information Laboratory formost of the past decade. The labmanages the Food & DrugAdministration Center for Veteri-nary Medicine’s electronic AnimalDrug Database and several similarinitiatives. Following passage ofthe Generic Animal Drug andPatent Term Restoration Act in1988, the laboratory beganpublishing the FDA “Greenbook” in1989 and has published it annuallyever since. The reference guideincludes information concerninganimal drugs’ trade and genericnames, label indications, patentinformation, and other relatedfacts. The laboratory soonthereafter developed and beganmaintaining the expandedelectronic version known as theFDA Approved Animal DrugProducts Database System.

Wilcke serves as director ofthe American Veterinary MedicalAssociation’s Secretariat toSNOMED International. Thatinternational system of medicalnomenclature, which wasestablished by the AmericanCollege of Pathology, serves as aunifying standard for electronicmedical record systems in humanand veterinary medicine.

Looking ahead, Wilckedescribes the next ten years as a“building block” period for the fieldof veterinary informatics asmedical information networks andinformation standards areestablished and adopted.

“Ultimately, veterinarians aregoing to have access to vastlygreater amounts of information asthey diagnose and treat animals intheir practices, and that is going tolead to better patient care.” he said.

The VMRCVM has operatednationally recognized programs inveterinary medical informaticsthroughout the past decade. Thelate founding Dean Richard Talbotestablished the first graduateprograms in the field and keyrelationships with the FDA during atime when the internet and web-based communications wereemerging as the defining communi-cations technology of an era.

Wilcke, who joined theVMRCVM in 1982, was one of thefirst faculty members in the collegeto begin using computer technol-ogy to enhance student instructionin the mid-80’s. He earned hisDVM from Iowa State Universityand his M.S. in clinical pharmacol-ogy from the University of Illinois.

Three professorships havebeen endowed at the MarionduPont Scott Equine MedicalCenter in Leesburg, Virginia, whichfunctions as the college’s northernVirginia campus. However, theMetcalf Professorship is the first tobe endowed on the Blacksburgcampus.

Wilcke:continued from page 1

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A parasitologist on faculty wasrecently recognized with the mostdistinguished honor conferred by theAmerican Society of Parasitology.

Dr. David S. Lindsay, associateprofessor, Department of BiomedicalScience and Pathobiology, was pre-sented the Henry Baldwin Ward Medalfor 2000. Lindsay received the awardduring the society’s annual meeting inSan Juan, Puerto Rico in June.

Lindsay has been a major figure ininternational parasitology research formuch of the past two decades. Much ofhis work has involved the examinationof the protozoal parasites causingdiseases like cryptosporidiosis, coccidi-osis infection in pigs, and toxoplasmosis.

More recently, he has been recog-nized for his work as part of a USDAfunded team that made a major break-

VMRCVM’S Lindsa y Honored ByAmerican Societ y Of Parasitology

through in the understanding of aneconomically significant parasiticdisease afflicting cattle.

Working in the college’s Centerfor Molecular Medicine and InfectiousDisease, Lindsay and colleaguesdemonstrated that the dog is a “defini-tive host” for Neospora caninum, asingle-celled parasitic organism whichcauses pregnant cows to abort theirfetuses.

He is also working on an improveddiagnostic test for Equine ProtozoalMyelitis (EPM), a recently identifieddisease which causes a range ofneurological problems in horses.

In the Ward Medal acceptancespeech Lindsay delivered at thesociety’s annual meeting this summerin Puerto Rico, he attributed the honorto “a great deal of luck and association

with extremely talented people.” Hethen chronicled the scientists and theorganizations he has been affiliated withduring a career that has coincided withmajor advancements in the field ofparasitology.

Lindsay worked at Auburn Univer-sity and the American ParasitologyInstitute at Beltsville, Maryland prior tojoining the Virginia Tech faculty in1997.

Scientists in the college’s Labora-tory for Neurotoxicity Studies (LNS)and the Immunotoxicity Risk Assess-ment Laboratory (IRAL) are wellunderway on an almost $1 millionresearch contract from the U.S. Armydesigned to assess how stress andvarious organophosphate compoundsmay affect health.

Awarded in late 1999 by theUnited States Army Medical Research

$1 milli on Resear ch Grant Suppo rt-ing Gulf W ar Illness Investi gations

and Materials Command, the programis helping researchers examine theindividual and interactive effects ofstress and two chemical compounds onneurological and immunologic well-being.

Those chemicals includechlorpyrifos, which is commonly usedin insecticides, and triorthotolyl-phosphate, commonly used as anadditive in everything from jet fuel to

plastics and lubricants.The work is directly related to

efforts undertaken by military, govern-ment and medical officials to criticallyexamine what has been referred to in themedia as “Gulf War Illness.” Victims ofGulf War Illness report a number ofmaladies, ranging from malaise toneurological disorders and immunosup-pression as a result of their experiencesduring the Gulf War.

The targeted chemical compoundswere both in use during the Gulf Wartheatre of operations.

Faculty involved with the projectinclude Drs. Bernie Jortner, professor;Marion Ehrich, professor; StevenHolladay, associate professor; and HaraMisra, professor; all in the Departmentof Biomedical Sciences andPathobiology.

The three-year progam is evaluatingbehavioral, neurochemical, neuropatho-logical and immunological changes thatmay be caused by stress and thechemical agents acting individually orinteractively, Jortner said.

VMRCVM scientists have con-ducted a number of investigations in thisarea for the U.S. Army. However, the$910,000 program grant is the largestproject funded to date.

Dr. Bernie Jortner andDr. Marion Ehrich andtechnical supportpersonnel in thelaboratory for Neurotox-icity studies havecollaborated on anumber of projectsdesigned to learn moreabout a health disorderwhich has beendescribed by some as“Gulf War Illness.”

Dr. David S. Lindsay

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To hear veterinary ophthalmolo-gist Dr. J. Phillip Pickett tell the story,he was just doing his job.

But an honest day’s work and agood deed he turned almost a decadeago has led to the establishmentof the Roseanne RobertsonMemorial Fund and helped theOphthalmology Service acquiremore than $100,000 in newequipment.

Thanks to retired PhilipMorris executive Richard “Dick”Robertson, the service is rapidlybecoming one of the definingpieces of the Veterinary TeachingHospital’s highly acclaimedclinical service programs.The Roseanne RobertsonMemorial Fund is a tribute toDick Robertson’s late wife, yetit’s genesis can be traced to Mr.Robertson’s first association withthe VMRCVM. It was March 1991 when hisbeloved female Lhasa Apso“Chiri” first presented with acorneal ulcer so severe it wasthreatening to burst. Robertson, a former WWIIfighter pilot had droppedeverything, loaded the pet intohis plane and flown immediatelyto Virginia Tech to seek emer-gency care for “Chiri’s” criticalcondition.

Dr. Pickett not only curedthe dog, he played host to Mr.Robertson, driving him aroundtown to find lodging and gatherthe essentials he required duringhis impromptu visit to Blacksburg.

Six years later, Mr. Richardsonand Chiri were back, but this timethings were even more critical. Chiriwas almost blind from complicationsof Kerato-conjunctivitis sicca andcataracts; in fact, Mr. Richardson hadbeen told there was no hope for the

Roseanne R obertsonMemorial FundEquippin gOphthalm ology

dog regaining his vision. Yet the combination of Dr. Pickett’s

skill and Mr. Robertson’s heroic,around-the-clock nursing care broughtsuccess once again. Following surgery

and medical therapy, Chiri was seeingagain. So enamored was Mr.Richardson of the high-quality servicehe experienced, he decided to take someaction. And take action he did.

Almost “adopting” the ophthalmol-

ogy service and its personnel, Mr.Richardson has worked with thematching charitable gift program atPhilip Morris to help the college acquireabout $100,000 worth of ophthalmic

diagnostic and surgical equipment.The first piece of equipment

funded was a stationary photo slitlamp biomicroscope with digitalvideo equipment, which hasdeveloped into an excellentresource for both clinical care,teaching and outreach. Dr. Pickettsays the equipment will serve wellas a “platform” resource for “on-line” veterinary ophthalmologycontinuing education courses in thefuture.

The fund has also helped thehospital acquire a Zeiss surgicalmicroscope and digital videocamera which have proven ex-tremely useful for ophthalmicsurgery, as well as in other areas ofthe hospital where micro-surgery isrequired.

Most recently, Mr. Robertsonhas provided funding that hasenabled the service to acquire aphaco-emulsification unit forcataract surgery that is as good aunit as is available anywhere inboth human and veterinary ophthal-mology, according to Pickett.

Pickett says the Robertsonphilanthrophy has enabled theservice to acquire the high-endequipment much more swiftly thanwould have been possible throughconventional large-scale equipmentacquisition programs such as theSCHEV Trust Fund.

“He’s a tremendous friend ofthe college,” said Pickett, associateprofessor, Department of Small AnimalClinical Sciences. “He’s a dynamic,energetic guy who has decided he isgoing to do all he can to help us do thebest job possible. We’re very grateful.”

Mr. Dick Robertson (center, forefront) and some of his extended familyrecently gathered for a day at the college. Also pictured onMr. Robertson’s right are his friends and former Virginia Tech PresidentDr. William Lavery and his wife Peggy.

Mr. Robertson has taken a “hands-on”approach to his philanthropic involve-ment with the college. Here, heexamines some of the equipment hehas helped the Veterinary TeachingHospital acquire.

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A Molecular Diagnostics Labora-tory is being established in the college,thanks to $50,000 in start-up fundingfrom the Carilion Biomedical Institute’sOptical Science Research and Engineer-ing Center.

The laboratory will enable clini-cians and scientists to investigate thegenetic foundations of disease and mayultimately lead to spin-off corporationsin the private sector, according to Dr.Mark Crisman, associate professor,Department of Large Animal ClinicalSciences.

The laboratory will be equipped toconduct microarray analysis, a newtechnology for rapidly evaluating highvolumes of genetic samples.

“The lab will enable us to analyzegene expression accurately and quickly,”said Crisman. “We can look at hundredsor even thousands of different genes inone preparation.”

Scientists are increasingly lookingat the genetic and proteomic foundationsof disease in an effort to better under-stand the causes, and ultimately thecures, for all forms of disease. Under-standing which genes are expressed andwhich remain “quiet” during states ofhealth and disease will eventually helpscientists develop improved drugtherapies, Crisman said.

Crisman, along with colleagues Dr.Steven Holladay, associate professor,Department of Biomedical Sciences andPathobiology, and Dr. Lioudmilla

Molecular DiagnosticsLaboratory Established

Sharova, expect to focus on four majorprojects in the early phases of theproject.

Under Holladay’s leadership, thelab will support ongoing investigationsdesigned to learn more about the roleenvironmental toxins and contaminantsmay play in teratology, or the develop-ment of health disorders prior to birth.Holladay has been examining the rolethese substances may play in thedevelopment of immunological disor-ders.

Another program will look atChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease(COPD) in horses, an asthma-likedisease which causes severe respiratoryproblems in horses. Advances inunderstanding the mechanisms of thatdisorder may lead to improved treat-ments for human asthma.

Dr. Rick Howard, assistantprofessor, Department of Large AnimalClinical Sciences, will use the labora-tory to support his ongoing research intothe molecular foundations of osteoar-thritis in horses, another disorder thathas significant comparative implicationsfor human arthritis and degenerativejoint disease.

Finally, the laboratory will providesupport for investigations on howdiabetes leads to pregnancy complica-tions.

The research team is also in theprocess of building a library of human,mouse, and horse “probes,” geneticmarkers required in order to conductmicroarray analysis.

They plan to seek funding fromadditional sources, and have alreadysubmitted a grant to a National Institutesof Health program which providesfunding for life sciences research withstrong potential for commercial devel-opment in the private sector.

Dr. Mark Crisman

Carilion Biomedical Institute Funds Effort

“The lab will enable us to analyzegene expression accurately andquickly. We can look at hundreds oreven thousands of different genes inone preparation.”

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Fetal development is a highlychoreographed process. But all toooften it is disrupted when a mother isexposed to a teratogen – an agentknown to cause a variety of birthdefects. In the United States alone,150,000 babies are born with defectslike these, making birth defects theleading cause of infant mortality.

But what if there was a way toreduce or even reverse these defects?

Call it unbelievable, call it magic,or call it as toxicologist Dr. StevenHolladay does, “immunoteratology.”The name comes from the influence themother’s immune system can have inassuring fetal development remains ontrack.

Recognizing the tremendousimpact this could have on the number ofbabies born with birth defects everyyear, Holladay and his team of research-ers have set out to discover just how thismagic really works.

Scientists have reported thatinjecting pregnant mice with an inertsubstance large enough will alert and setinto action one of the body’s frontlineimmune cells called “macrophages.”These macrophages essentially engulfand break down what they see asforeign – a process called phagocytosis.

In the past, other researchers hadhypothesized that the macrophages wereacting directly on the fetus. Under thisscenario, the cells would cross theplacenta from the mother, then find andeliminate abnormally developing cellsin the fetus that were causing birthdefects such as cleft palates, digitanomalies and neural tube defectsaffecting the brain and spinal cord.

But that proved to be a dead end.Holladay and his co-worker on thisproject, Dr. Lioudmila Sharova, decidedto turn down a different road. Whiletheir own tests clearly showed thatimmune stimulation did reduce birthdefects in mice, they believed some-thing other than maternal immune cellscrossing the placenta was causing thisphenomenon.

They knew that fundamentalreproductive immunology suggestsmaternal immune cells don’t routinelytraffic across the placenta. This is inpart because the fetus is geneticallydifferent from the mother and will berecognized by her immune cells asforeign, resulting in what is known as anegative “graft-vs- host” rejection

response in the fetus.So instead of a direct effect from

maternal immune cells, they looked for anindirect effect.

Once set into action, immune cellssecrete a vast array of proteins calledcytokines or growth factors that regulateimmune responses through cell-to-cellcommunication. Similar or sometimesidentical growth factors are also requiredfor the timed expression of cell-cyclegenes. Cell-cycle genes control carefullyorchestrated waves of cellular prolifera-tion, differentiation, or cell death neces-sary for normal development. Considerthe development of the hand as anexample. Cells proliferate, but at somepoint, some of the cells must undergoprogrammed cell death – apoptosis – tocreate separate digits.

To test this hypothesis, Holladay andSharova looked at the expression of alimited panel of genes that regulate cellcycle and apoptosis during fetal develop-ment of the palate. Using laboratoryanimals, they found that when the motheris injected with a known teratogen likeurethane, there is decreased expression ofthese critical development genes, resultingin cleft palates.

Repeated studies also verified thatstimulation of the maternal immunesystem has the opposite effect on activityof these cell cycle genes in the fetus,significantly increasing their expressionlevel. So while a chemical like urethanemight reduce the growth factor in the

fetus, immunostimulation of the mothermay cause an increase in that same growthfactor in the fetus. In this way, Holladay’steam was able to reduce the incidence ofclubbed digits from 20 percent to zero,and cut the number of cleft palates by half.

The implications of Holladay’sresearch could be enormous. Traditionalthinking has long held that the fetus is apreprogrammed entity that derivesnutrition from the mother, but otherwisedirects its own development. But theobservation that maternal immunestimulation causes altered expression ofcritical genes in the fetus indicates it’stime for another look.

Holladay says these observationsmay suggest that there is routine cross-talkbetween fetus and mother via chemicalmediators, and that mothers may play amuch greater role than once believed infetal development. Not only does thisindicate that optimal maternal immunehealth may be important for protectionagainst agents or events that lead to manybirth defects, but it also raises the questionwhether individuals with a compromisedimmune system are at greater risk forhaving babies with birth defects.

Answering these questions could helpunlock some of the secrets to fetaldevelopment and a mother’s early role inensuring things go right.

Researcher’s Seek Secret t oBirth Defect Reversal by Meg Conlon

Immunotoxicologist Dr. Steven Holladay and Dr. Lioudmilla Sharova examine data in theImmunotoxicity Risk Assessment Laboratory.

Meg Conlan is a veterinary student who iscurrently taking a brief sabbatical from herstudies to care for her infant. She is workingpart-time in the Office of Research andGraduate Studies.

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Twenty-three DVM students, afaculty member and a Ph.D studentwere inducted into the College’smost prestigious academic honorsociety, the National Society of PhiZeta, during recent ceremonies inBlacksburg. The honorees wereinducted by Chi Chapter PresidentDr. Mark Smith, and about $5,500in scholarship support was awardedduring the event.

Dr. Leon Geyer, a professor inVirginia Tech’s Department ofAgricultural and Applied Econom-ics and chair of the university’s

HonorsSystemReviewBoard,congratu-lated theinducteeson theirachieve-ments anddiscussedtheimpor-tance ofacademicintegrity,honor andprofes-sionalismduring akeynoteaddress.

Phi Zeta is the honor society ofveterinary medicine that recognizeshigh scholarship, stands for constantadvancement of the veterinaryprofession, and promotes research inmatters pertaining to the welfare anddiseases of animals. The VMRCVM’sChi Chapter was established in 1984.

The event marked the fifth timethat scholarships have been pro-vided for inductees, according toDr. Colin Carrig, Secretary-Treasurer of Phi Zeta.

Fourth year veterinary studentsparticipate in three-week off-campuselective clerkships that sometimesinvolve national and internationaltravel. The scholarship support isdesigned to assist students in meeting

some of the expenses incurred duringthese educational opportunities.

“We are extremely grateful forthe scholarship support we receivefrom organized veterinary medicineand corporations,” said Carrig, whonoted that 18 organizations donated atotal of $5500 to support Phi Zetascholarships.

Scholarship support was providedby the Roanoke Valley VeterinaryMedical Association, the CentralVirginia Veterinary Medical Associa-tion, the Southwest Virginia VeterinaryMedical Association, the GreaterPeninsula Veterinary Medical Associa-tion, the South Hampton Roads Veteri-nary Medical Association, the PrinceWilliam Veterinary Medical Associa-tion, the Blue Ridge Veterinary MedicalAssociation, the Montgomery CountyVeterinary Medical Association, theFredericksburg Veterinary MedicalAssociation, and the Harford CountyVeterinary Medical Association. Thepast presidents of the Chi chapter of PhiZeta also provided scholarship support.

Corporations providing scholarshipsupport included Bayer CorporationAnimal Health, Pfizer Inc. AnimalHealth Group, Schering-Plough AnimalHealth, Novartis Animal Health USInc., Ralston Purina Company,VAMVESS-Hill’s, and ProfessionalEducational Enterprises. Textbookawards were provided by HarcourtHealth Sciences and Lippincott,Williams & Wilkins, and theVMRCVM provided additional supportfor the event.

Membership in Phi Zeta is opento faculty members and graduatestudents who have made significantcontributions to veterinary medicineand to veterinary students who rank inthe top 10 percent of the third yearclass and the top 25 percent of thefourth year class.

Class of 2000 members inductedwere Philip Edward Bailey, Patricia A.Coles, Jennifer Noelle Collins,Stephanie C. Flaherty, Michelle LynnGorbutt, Erin Ellen Hardam, Douglas C.Humphrey, Barbara M. Leotta,Katherine Marie Newhart, Reema T.Patel, Richard P. Streett, III, and EarlWillis.

Chi Chapter Phi Zet a Induc tsMembers, Awards Sch olarships

National Phi ZetaResearch AwardsPresented

A former surgical resi-dent in the VMRCVM haswon top honors in the PhiZeta national manuscriptcontest.

The 2000 National PhiZeta Award in the clinicalsciences category was pre-sented to Dr. Henri C.Bianucci. Dr. Bianucci’smanuscript was entitled“Periodontal healing ofcanine experimental grade-III furcation defects treatedwith autologous fibrinogenand absorbable barriermembrane.”

Biannuci is now a surgi-cal specialist with CoastalCarolina Veterinary Surgeryin South Carolina.

Class of 2001 members inductedwere Carrie Lynn Ellis, G. AnthonyGray, Jessica S. Mikszewski, SaraMonahan, Leela Elise Noronha, ElissaRandall, Valeria Rickard, CassandraLynn Thomas, and Phillip Turfle.

Dr. Otto I. Lanz, an assistantprofessor in the Department of SmallAnimal Clinical Sciences, and Dr.Christiane Massicotte, a veterinarianpursuing her Ph.D. degree, were alsoinducted during the event.

The Chi Chapter of Phi Zeta alsorecognized winners of their annualscientific manuscript contest. Dr.Massicotte was honored for her work inbasic sciences, and Dr. Henry Bianucci,a former resident in the Department ofSmall Animal Clinical Sciences, wasrecognized for his work in the clinicalsciences.

“We are extremelygrateful for thescholarship supportwe receive fromorganized veterinarymedicine and corpo-rations.”

Dr. Colin Carrig

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The former Maryland governor whohelped create the College’s regional founda-tions was honored during the 17th annualcommencement ceremony.

The Honorable Harry R. Hughes wasinducted into the college’s John N. DaltonSociety during the ceremonies. Hughesserved two terms as governor of Maryland,from 1978 until 1986. He signed the Memo-randum Of Understanding with the lateVirginia Governor John N. Dalton which

22222000000000000000

VMRCVMGraduates 17th Cl ass

began Maryland’s official involvement withthe regional veterinary college. Memorializingthe late Virginia governor who signed itsfounding legislation, the Dalton Societyhonors those who have provided distinguishedservice for the college.

Eighty-eight DVM degrees, one Ph.Ddegree, eight M.S. degrees and five Certifi-cates of Residency were awarded during theceremony.

Featuring dignitaries from both Virginia

Dr. John Robertson, professor, Biomedical Sciences andPathobiology, urged the graduates to be confident in theirabilities to serve animals and people during the commencementceremony’s keynote address.

Dean Peter Eyre presents former Maryland Governor Harry R. Hughes with a commemorative following hisinduction into the John N. Dalton Society.

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Tech and the University of Maryland,the colorful pageant included theadministration of the “Veterinarian’sOath,” the “Hooding Ceremony,” andthe presentation of numerous awardsand honors.

Dr. John L. Robertson, a professorin the Department of BiomedicalSciences and Pathobiology, presentedthe year 2000 address. Dr. MichaelErskine, vice-president of the Mary-land Veterinary Medical Association,administered the “Veterinarian’sOath,” and Dr. Dale L. Cupp, presidentof the Virginia Veterinary MedicalAssociation, welcomed the newveterinarians on behalf of organizedveterinary medicine.

The Dr. and Mrs. Dorsey Taylor

by Colleen Kuenzig,Office of University Relations intern

Elizabeth Santini’s outstandingacademic performance and demon-strated leadership talents earned her theVMRCVM’s Outstanding Senior Awardfor 2000.

While maintaining a 3.5 gradepoint average, the Maryland nativegained experience through externshipswith the U. S. Department of Agricul-ture and Ashby Herd Health Services.She also worked as an assistant forBreton Veterinary Hospital for Compan-ion Animals and the University ofMartlan Veterans’ AdministrationMedical Center.

“Elizabeth was selected for heracademic performance, clinical skillsand outstanding leadership skills,” saidDr. Dru Forrester, director of studentaffairs. “She is admired by her peersand will serve as an excellent rolemodel in the veterinary profession.”

Santini served as the president andpresident-elect of the Student Chapterof the American Veterinary MedicalAssociation, and participated in manyother organizations, including the FoodAnimal Practitioner’s Club, AmericanAssociation of Bovine Practitioners,American Association of Small Rumi-nant Practitioners, Equine PractitionersClub, American Association of EquinePractitioners, and Alpha Psi VeterinaryFraternity.

The former valedictorian of herhigh school class has continued to earnhonors throughout her collegiate andpost-graduate education.

She has won: E.L. Tyler and C.W.Vaughan, Jr. Endowed Scholarship,W.R. Winslow Trust Scholarship,Student Chapter of the AmericanVeterinary Medical Association Schol-arship, Maryland Veterinary FoundationScholarship, Maryland Delegate Award,St. Mary’s College of Maryland ScholarAward, and the Beta Beta Beta NationalBiological Honor Society.

Santini NamedClass of 2000OutstandingStudent

Mahin Award for Clinical Excellence,an award that honors veterinarianswho display skill and compassion inservice to animals and people, waspresented to veterinary ophthalmolo-gist Dr. J. Phillip Pickett, associateprofessor, Department of SmallAnimal Clinical Sciences. JeremySmedley, the Class of 2000 valedicto-rian, was presented with the RichardB. Talbot Award, and Dr. Anthony T.Blikslager was named the College’sOutstanding Young Alumna for 2000.

Earlier in the day, scores ofscholarship donors and studentrecipients were recognized during thecollege’s annual Awards Luncheon.

Dr. Dale L. Cupp, president of the VirginiaVeterinary Medical Association, welcomedthe new veterinarians into the professionon behalf of organized veterinarymedicine.

Veterinary ophthalmologist Dr. J. PhillipPickett was presented the Dr. and Mrs.Dorsey Taylor Mahin Award for ClinicalExcellence.

Dr. Michael Erskine, (Class of ‘88),president of the Maryland VeterinaryMedical Association, administered the“Veterinarian’s Oath” to the graduates.

Dr. Anthony T. Blikslager (Class of ‘89),a faculty member at the North CarolinaState University College of VeterinaryMedicine, was honored as theCollege’s Outstanding Young Alumnafor 2000.

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SAVMA 2000

Virginia Tech H osts2000 SAVMA Conference

About 1200 veterinary studentsand scores of representatives fromcorporations serving the profession ofveterinary medicine converged atVirginia Tech in Blacksburg March15-18, 2000 for SAVMA Symposium2000.

SAVMA, which stands forStudent American Veterinary MedicalAssociation, is a national associationof veterinary students affiliated withthe American Veterinary MedicalAssociation. The meeting is hostedannually by an American college ofveterinary medicine. This is the firsttime in the history of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College ofVeterinary Medicine that it has hostedthe event.

SAVMA Symposium 2000,“Bridging the Millennia/UnitingTradition and Technology in Veteri-nary Medicine,” featured almost 100lectures, laboratories and intercolle-giate competitions. For the first time,the symposium featured a commercial

exhibit hall featuring new informationand the latest in veterinary medical andsurgical technology.

The SAVMA 2000 House ofDelegates, which is the governing andpolicy body for the national associationof veterinary students, also convenedduring the first two days of the meeting.

Topics explored throughout themeeting included small animal, equine,food animal, emergency medicine,exotics, wildlife, small ruminantmedicine, and others. Some of the non-traditional programs offered includedalternative medicine, animal behavior,and government and corporate opportu-nities and experiences.

The SAVMA symposium alsoincluded a “Look Back to New OrleansParty,” a “Welcome to Blacksburg,Virginia” party, a “Betting on the Futureand Blowing out the Old Century”party, and a 5K run.

Excursions to The Biltmore inAsheville, North Carolina, Baltimore-Washington to look at the College’sMarion duPont Scott Equine MedicalCenter, the Smithsonian and theBaltimore Aquarium, and other regionalsites, were also offered.

The keynote speaker for the finalevening event was Dr. David G. Pugh,currently Director of Llama Researchand Assistant Professor of Large AnimalSurgery and Medicine at AuburnUniversity College of VeterinaryMedicine. Dr. Pugh, a former professorat the VMRCVM, discussed how thepractices of the past and the technologyof the future can combine successfullyin veterinary medicine.

Veterinary students from around the nationparticipated in a series of about 100lectures, laboratory experiences, andintercollegiate scholastic competitionsduring their visit to Blacksburg for SAVMA2000. The event also included a variety ofsocial and athletic events.

virginia-maryland 15

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sDr. Michael Leib, professor,

Department of Small Animal ClinicalSciences, recently made a series ofcontinuing education presentations at theBritish Small Animal Veterinary AssociationCongress in Birmingham, England. Thoseincluded “Chronic vomiting: a diagnosticapproach,” “Upper GI endoscopy,”“Therapy of gastric diseases,” “Chronicvomiting: refractory cases,” “Chronicvomiting: interactive cases,” and “Fluidtherapy for GI diseases.” Leib also madepresentations on “Chronic diarrhea: a caseoriented diagnostic approach,” “Acutepancreatitis,” and “Helicobacter gastritis” ata meeting of the Louisiana Academy ofVeterinary Medicine in Baton Rouge, LA.Leib also made a presentation on“Esophageal Strictures” and served as aspecial interest group presentation leaderon “Endoscopy: What’s your Diagnosis” atthe American College of Veterinary InternalMedicine’s 18th annual Veterinary MedicalForum in Seattle. Leib also madepresentations on acute pancreatitis,chronic vomiting: the role of Helicobacter,therapy of gastric diseases, acutediarrhea, and inflammatory bowel diseaseat a meeting of the Vermont VeterinaryMedical Association in Vergennes, Vermont.

Dr. David Lindsay, associateprofessor, Department of BiomedicalSciences and Pathobiology, recently hadtwo articles published in professionaljournals. “Isolation and characterization ofSarcocystis neurona from a Southern seaotter (Enhydra lutris nereis)” was publishedin the International Journal of Parasitologyand “Activity of decoquinate againstCryptosporidium parvum in cell culturesand neonatal mice” was published inVeterinary Parastitology. Lindsay alsopresented “Oocyst production in dogs fedtissue cysts of a cloned bovine strain ofNeospora caninum” and chaired a sessionon “Life cycles and Epidemiology” at a jointmeeting of the American Society ofParasitologists (75th Annual meeting) andThe Society of Protozoologists in SanJuan, Puerto Rico.

Lindsay was also awarded theprestigious Henry Baldwin Ward medalfrom the American Society of Parasitolo-gists in recognition of his leadership in thefield of parasitology at the meeting. Dr.Lindsay has also been appointed to theEditorial Board of the Journal of Zoo andWildlife Medicine.

Alexa C. Rosypal, graduate studentin Parasitology, Department of BiomedicalSciences and Pathobiology, was electedthe graduate student representative to theAmerican Association of VeterinaryParasitologists at their recent annualmeeting in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Sharonda Meade, a graduatestudent working toward her Ph.D. in theCollege’s Department of Large AnimalClinical Sciences, recently received anaward for “Best Research Paper” duringthe 72nd Northeastern Conference onAvian Diseases held at the University ofDelaware. Meade’s paper was entitled“The effectiveness of fenbendazole,roxarsone, and itroimidazole derivatives inthe treatment of Cochlosoma anatisinfections in turkeys.”

Don Massie, supervisor of theBiomedical Media Unit, has been namedrecipient of the year 2000 Dean &Department Area Staff Award. Massiejoined the veterinary college in 1984.

Dr. Gordon Carter, professoremeritus in the VMRCVM, has collabo-rated with a former Brazilian graduatestudent to write a book entitled “BrazilianPortuguese For Travelers” which has been

recently published in Brazil. Carter, a veterinarymicrobiologist, worked extensively in Brazil duringhis career.

Dr. Beverly Purswell, associate professor,Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences,presented two posters and three abstracts at the 4th

International Conference on Canine and FelineReproduction in Oslo, Norway. Purswell alsorepresented the Virginia Veterinary MedicalAssociation as an alternate delegate during a meetingof the American Veterinary Medical Association’sHouse of Delegates in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Dr. Spencer Johnston, associate professor,Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, wasrecently presented with a Distinguished Post-doctoral Veterinary Alumnus Award from MichiganState University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.Johnston, who conducted a surgical residency atMSU from 1987-90, was honored for his perfor-mance as an exemplary faculty member in theVMRCVM, where he has earned nine teachingawards in seven years and established an excellentreputation for research and clinical activities.

Jeffrey S. Douglas, APR, director of publicrelations, VMRCVM, moderated a panel discussionon “Live Animals in Teaching and Research: How isit Playing in Peoria?” during a recent meeting of theAssociation of Veterinary Advancement Profession-als in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Dr. Xiang-Jin Meng, assistant professor,Department of Biomedical Sciences andPathobiology, has recently been awarded severalresearch grants as principal investigator (includingtwo NIH grants). These grants support him to studythe pathogenesis, zoonotic and xenozoonotic risksof swine hepatitis E virus, to develop a vaccineagainst porcine circovirus-associated disease, andto study the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesisby porcine reproductive and respiratory syndromevirus and hepatitis C virus.

He recently chaired the review panel of “STEPN: Hepatitis Vaccines” for the U.S. Army’s IntramuralMilitary Infectious Diseases Research Program(FY99 Report). Meng has recently been appointedto the Editorial Board of the Infectious DiseaseReview and the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

Meng has recently authored and co-authoredseven articles in peer-reviewed journals on swinehepatitis E virus, porcine reproductive andrespiratory syndrome virus and porcine circovirus(two published in Journal of Clinical Microbiology,and one each published in Journal of MedicalVirology, Journal of Virology, Infectious DiseaseReview, Veterinary Microbiology, and AmericanJournal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene). He wasinvited to write an editorial for the Journal ofHepatology on the emerging issues of the hepatitisE virus.

Meng recently gave an invited lecture onxenozoonotic risk of swine hepatitis E virus at theXenotransplantation Workshop in Minneapolis, MN,an invited talk on virus xenozoonosis at the IBC’sBiological Safety and Products 2000 Conference inWashington DC, and invited seminars at PPLTherapeutics, Inc. and Fralin Biotech Center onswine hepatitis E virus. Meng was a co-author ofseven presentations at recent national meetings onswine hepatitis E virus and porcine reproductive andrespiratory syndrome virus (three at the 80th

Conference of Research Workers in AnimalDiseases, Chicago, IL, three at American Society forVirology 18th Annual Meeting, Amherst, MA, and oneat the 2000 Annual Meeting of American Associationof Swine Practitioner, Indianapolis, IN). One ofMeng’s graduate students, Martijn Fenaux, won thesecond place award in basic sciences at theCollege’s 12th Annual Research Symposium.

Dr. Marion Ehrich, professor, Department ofBiomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, has beenaccepted as a Fellow of the Academy of Toxicologi-cal Sciences. Established in 1981 to honor andcertify toxicologists who have achieved peerrecognition, the academy includes 130 fellows from12 different countries.

Dr. Bernard Feldman, professor, Departmentof Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, served assenior editor of the Fifth Edition of Schalm’s

Veterinary Hematology, published by Lippincott,Williams and Wilkins. This classic text has been andis the definitive veterinary hematology text for thepast 40 years. It was last published 15 years ago.Published in late June 2000, the new edition has1400 pages, over 500 illustrations, 192 chapters,222 authors and includes over 100 clinical casedescriptions.

Dr. Marie Suthers-McCabe, extensionhuman/companion animal interaction specialist,recently presented “Safe Pets program for DomesticViolence” at the Action Ohio Domestic ViolenceResearch Symposium in Columbus. She was also akeynote presenter at the “Horse Trailer EmergencyRescue” seminar for emergency and rescuepersonnel, veterinarians, veterinary technicians,horse owners and horse carriers which wassponsored by the Maryland Fire and RescueInstitute at the Maryland State Fair Grounds inTimonium. She also made a presentation entitled“Beneficial Effects of Animal Companionship inHuman Health and Well-being” at a meeting of theFredericksburg Veterinary Medical Association.Suthers-McCabe also made a presentation on “TheLink Between Violence to People and Cruelty toAnimals” at a meeting sponsored by the RichmondSPCA in conjunction with the Prevent Child AbuseVirginia Conference in Richmond. She alsopresented “A holistic Approach to HumaneEducation: Animals in the Community” during the“Safe Pets” program of the 2nd Annual HumaneEducation Seminar held at the University of Illinois.She also made several presentations on the human-animal bond and the use of birds as therapy animalsin long-term care centers at the annual conferenceof the Mid-Atlantic States Association of AvianVeterinarians in Williamsburg. She also made apresentation entitled “Human Animal Bond: TheChallenge of Evacuation Compliance and FacingPet Loss” at the National Disaster Medical System2000 Conference in Las Vegas. She also made twopresentations on the link between cruelty to animalsand interpersonal violence at a program sponsoredby the Washington County Animal Defense Leaguein Abingdon. She also made a presentation on “Petsand Primary Care” at an interdepartmental primarycare conference entitled “The Impact of CompanionAnimals on Patient Well-being” sponsored by theMCV-VCU in Richmond.

Dr. W. Edward Monroe, professor, Depart-ment of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, presentedlectures on Cushing’s Disease, diabetes, felinehyperthyroidism and other topics during a meeting ofthe Virginia Academy of Small Animal Medicine inPortsmouth, Virginia. Monroe also made apresentation entitled “Insulin Treatment of CanineDiabetes Mellitus” at the American College ofVeterinary Internal Medicine’s annual Forum inSeattle.

Dr. Larry Freeman, associate professor,Department of Biomedical Sciences and Patho-biology, served as program chair for the annualmeeting of the American Association of VeterinaryAnatomists in San Diego, California. He alsopresented a paper entitled “Double cranial venacava in a horse” at the meeting, which was held inconjuction with the annual convention of theAmerican Association of Anatomists/Federation ofAmerican Societies of Experimental Biology.

Dr. Peter Eyre, dean, has made a series ofpresentations before varying groups around thenation regarding the strategic responses thatacademic veterinary medicine may mount inresponse to challenges outlined in the KPMGMegaStudy. Eyre made presentations before theannual meeting of the Association of VeterinaryAdvancement Professionals in Salt Lake City andduring an economic symposium sponsored by theAmerican Veterinary Medical Association during theirannual meeting in Salt Lake City. Eyre also madesimilar presentations during the AVMA’s AnnualLeadership Conference in Chicago, during ameeting of the South Carolina Veterinary MedicalAssociation in Charleston, at the North CarolinaState University College of Veterinary Medicine inRaleigh, during the SAVMA 2000 Symposium inBlacksburg, and at the University of Illinois.

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T It has been another great year for the University and for our College. We continue to be blessed with loyal donorswho give year after year and with new ones joining the college family to advance our mission with their gifts of timeand resources. To say we are thankful is a tremendous understatement. As reported by the university, the Blacksburgcampus experienced a 54% increase over last year with $1,423,898 and the Equine Medical Center a four-foldincrease with $2.4 million in funds received. When we add funds pledged, it gets even better: $3,035,466 for theBlacksburg Campus and $2,437,353 for the EMC for a total of $5,472,819. And this still does not include revocablegifts, such as wills. So you have been generous once again. Thank you!

As you have no doubt heard, our new President, Dr. Charles Steger, has set a goal for the university to move intothe top 30 research universities in America by the year 2010. We can do that, but it will take some work. Part of thatwill be a major campaign beginning in 2003. Complementing that goal Dean Eyre has interpreted in his article in thisissue what that means for us. We will move into the top 10 veterinary colleges in America by the same date. We cando that too. What will we have to change to make it possible? - continue doing what we do well, embrace newopportunities, and expand our circle of friends.

To address the latter, Jeff Douglas, our Public Relations Director, and I will develop ways to open communicationwith the animal lovers that we know about and may have communicated with at one time, but with whom we have notmaintained any kind of dialogue. The two largest groups are our former Teaching Hospital clients and those who haveparticipated in the Veterinary Memorial Fund program. But we know that these are not the only constituencies thatwe need to address. If you know of a group or of individuals that would be interested in knowing more about ourcollege, please let me know. Our goal is to identify our friends and begin to develop those relationships. As we aresuccessful at that, those who want to be supporters financially will step forward. We are fortunate that there is noshortage of animal lovers, nor any scarcity of funds. It is only a process of developing relationships, and from themevery other opportunity will evolve. If you have suggestions, please let me know by calling 540-231-4259 or throughemail at pearsall@vt.edu. Thank you for your partnership with us in the exciting move to the next tier of excellencefor the college serving our two states.

Ms. Dorothy A. Metcalfhas made an extremelygenerous pledge of $2,000,000over the next 10 years toadvance two areas of criticalimportance in the growth ofleadership for the college.Half will be used to supportthe Dorothy A. and Richard G.Metcalf Professorship ofInformatics and half willsupport the like namedHuman-Animal InteractionFund. These two areas will beof increasing importance to theprofession over the nextdecade and beyond. Theefforts and individualssupported now will help definethese areas of the profession inthe future. We thank Ms.Metcalf for the $450,000already received to acceleratethis growth.

Development Reportfrom the Blacksburg Campus

Gifts of $10,000 or More Received or PledgedJuly 1, 1999 - June 30, 2000

by E. Frank Pearsall, II – DVM ’84

Dr. JoAnne S. O’Brien, one of thefirst female veterinarians to practice inthe District of Columbia and an accom-plished dog breeder and judge, hasestablished two life-income gifts withthe college to support Canine and FelineTheriogenology. Dr. O’Brien was first aclient of Dr. Beverly Purswell’s and wasimpressed with her expertise and withthe college supporting the first femalefaculty member to be president of theVirginia Veterianry Medical Association.Dr. O’Brien is also active in assisting thecollege in its efforts to develop a closerrelationship for admissions with theDistrict.

Mr. Richard D. Robertson hascontinued to add to the RoseanneRobertson Memorial Fund towards hisgoal of making our OphthalmologySection among the tops in the countrywith gifts of $50,000 and matches fromPhilip Morris Companies, Inc. of

$26,000. His total giving with matchesfor this purpose now totals $122,477 asa result of the special care by Dr. PhilPickett and all those in his section andthe whole Teaching Hospital. We areexcited to be working with Dick to raisethe level of service and teaching inophthalmology.

Mr. and Mrs. Cecil and NancyPruitt have created The SerendipityAnimal Sanctuary, Inc. ScholarshipEndowment with a gift of $97,079 toprovide scholarships to veterinarystudents “who are pursuing a clerkship,internship, or research in the medicine,treatment, public policy, or programapproaches to the pet over-populationissue.” They are great animal loverswho devote significant time andresources to helping animals. Weappreciate their support to help studentsmake lasting contributions to addressthis problem.

virginia-maryland 17

Ms. Carolyn Adele Russell hasmade a pledge of at least $50,000with gifts of $5000 a year for the nextten years or more and a bequestprovision to support a neurologyfellowship for post-DVM students,with a preference for neurosurgery.Ms. Russell has a background innursing and was especially pleasedwith the diligence, skill, and compas-sion of Dr. Otto Lanz as he helpedher dog Ginger return to normalactivity through back surgery. Hergifts will assure talented studentshave assistance in developing theirexpertise in this area.

Mrs. Francis Farr Young hasonce again made an early distributionof the $2,000,000 estate provisionmade by her and her late husband, Dr.Tyler Young, by giving a second$50,000 towards their endowedscholarship fund. Both Dr. and Mrs.Young have had extensive careers inveterinary medicine as practiceowners, as presidents of the SouthernVeterinary Medical Association andits Auxiliary respectively, and assupporters of the veterinary collegesat Auburn and Virginia Tech. Theyhave exemplified the best in theprofession by their life-long dedica-tion to veterinary medicine as a team.We are honored to be a part of theirefforts to advance the profession.

The W. R. Winslow ResiduaryTrust has not only continued itssupport of the named scholarshipendowment which supports studentswithout discrimination from Mary-land, Virginia, the District, or NorthCarolina enrolled at the College, butalso has increased its support throughdiligent stewardship and managementof the Trust. We are both grateful toMr. Winslow and to those carryingout his wishes at First Union. Givingthis year was $38,931 for a cumula-tive total of $696,111 to our collegeand the College of Agriculture andLife Sciences.

Frank A. and Helen D. Spurr, Jr.have generously continued theirsupport of canine and feline researchthrough assistance to students in theSummer Internship program with anadditional gift of $37,197, whichincludes a $10,000 match from theBell Atlantic Foundation. Their totalsupport with matches for theirendowment is $125,500, not countingplanned giving. We are appreciative

of their generosity and active interest inthe affairs of the college, as well as BellAtlantic Foundation’s support of theircommitment.

Anonymous donors in Richmondhave made a charitable lead trust whichbenefits the college and its researchefforts on behalf of dogs and cats. Thedonors have kindly made it possible touse the $36,575 donated so far as seedmoney for an educational researchprogram. Under the guidance of Dr.Bob Martin, our Hospital Director, thecollege is attempting to create a new,higher certification opportunity forveterinary technicians to recognize andsupport these valued members of theprofession. We anticipate that this maybecome a national model and appreciatethe opportunity to seek new answers foran increasingly complex profession.

The Ralston Purina Company hasgenerously provided $30,000 to thecollege to partially fund a nutritiontechnician in the Teaching Hospital forits Veterinary Nutrition Support Service,while also continuing its annual scholar-ship support of $1000. Our nutritionprogram is now one of the tops, if notthe tops, in the country due in part tosupport from corporations in the animalfeed business. We appreciate RalstonPurina for being among those supporters.

The Virginia Kennel Club haspledged $30,000 over the next six yearsto create an annual scholarship award of$500 and an endowment to perpetuatesupport of veterinary students with aninterest in pure bred dogs. We appreci-ate the partnership which this representsbetween owners, breeders, dog lovers,and the profession dedicated to servingthem and their animals. We are honoredto be a part of it.

Mr. and Mrs. W. Stuart Johnson,great supporters of the university, havemade a gift of $26,151 to establish theFreda B. and W. Stuart Johnson AnimalCompassion Endowment to “provideassistance to owners coming to theVMRCVM Teaching Hospital so thatpets which can be reasonably helped torecover and live out a full life are giventhat chance and not euthanized duesolely to financial constraints.” Wethank them for their gift to the Collegeand for giving us the opportunity to givethe gift of life to pets and their owners.

James M. Stevens has for the 6thyear in a row given $25,000 to hisnamed scholarship endowment to assistVirginia residents in good standing in

the DVM program with financial need.Jim is a loyal Hokie, a generoussupporter of programs within ourcollege and across the university, and heand his wife are great animal lovers andservers. They do not just admire petsfrom afar, but roll up their sleeves andnurture them first hand. We appreciatetheir dedication to the university, to thecollege, and to animals.

Dr. and Mrs. John G. Salsburyhave again added to their endowmentnamed for his father, Dr. Joseph E.Salsbury, a pioneer in the productionand use of vaccines for animals,especially in the poultry industry, with agift of $20,000. Dr. Salsbury has kindlyallowed us to diversify his endowment’suse to not only support fourth yearDVM students who “demonstratesuperior scholarship, initiative, persever-ance, potential for leadership, andfinancial need”, but also a multi-yearfellowship to support students in theGovernment and Corporate VeterinaryMedicine track preparing for a careerserving the poultry industry. TheSalsbury’s giving now totals $233,000and their endowment has grown to$475,720.

The Virginia Federation of DogClubs and Breeders has given $12,100during this time period which coverstwo years’ support of a $1500 scholar-ship to a member of each class who is“financially deserving Virginia studentbased on academic merit, financial need,and an interest in purebred dogs.” TheFederation has been an important ally ofthe College dating back to its members’phone and letter campaign to get stategovernment release of funds for thecreation of the college. Their loyalsupport now totals $156,650.

The Marion Bradley Via Memo-rial Foundation has again provided$12,000 to support the Peter L. ViaScholarship which provides majorsupport for four years for an individualstudent showing academic achievementand overall leadership potential asrecommended by the Dean. It is anhonor to be able to make such a signifi-cant award annually.

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Dear Thagy,

I’m confused. I hear a lot of people talking about how a certainamount of the assets my wife and I own will be protected fromestate taxes. However, I keep hearing different amounts. Howmuch is it? And what do I have to do to take advantage of it?

Curious in Culpeper

Dear Curious,

You are referring to an amount shielded by the “unified credit”(as the tax code calls it). This credit effectively shields a certainamount of your estate from estate taxes. If your estate doesn’texceed this amount, it will owe no estate taxes.

For a number of years, the amount shielded by the credit was$600,000. Since the credit had not been raised in a number ofyears, a law was enacted several years ago to gradually raise it.In 2000 and 2001 the credit will shield $675,000 in assets. Thisamount will rise to $1,000,000 by 2006.

A person doesn’t have to do anything to take advantage of theunified credit—it automatically applies. However, marriedcouples are often advised to do some special estate planning totake advantage of both spouses’ credits. While couples cangenerally pass assets to spouses free of estate taxes, thisprovision is not enough to get the most benefit out of bothspouses’ credit. For maximum tax savings, special trusts called“credit shelter trusts” (also known as “A-B” trusts or “bypasstrusts”) would need to be created and funded.

Dear Thagy,

I want to make a gift to help the Virginia-Maryland RegionalCollege of Veterinary Medicine, but I am concerned that Imay need my assets to pay for future health care costs. Isthere a way that I still could support the College?

Willing in Williamsburg

Dear Willing,

Absolutely! One of the easiest ways to make a big differenceat the College is through your Will. By making a giftthrough your Will, you can provide significant support thatyou might not otherwise be able to provide during yourlifetime. More importantly, you continue to have access toyour assets. Thus, you would continue to be able to meetwhatever expenses may arise. For those with estates subjectto estate taxes, such a gift will have the added benefit ofreducing (or even eliminating) such taxes.

Larger gifts (currently $25,000 or more) can allow you tocreate an endowment in the College. An endowment is afund that provides perpetual financial support for scholar-ships, professorships, research, and other needs at theCollege. Any gifts made through your Will should bedirected to the Virginia Tech Foundation, Inc.

There are also some other ways that you can make a giftwhile still providing for future health care costs. Theyinvolve gifts through retirement accounts, life insurance, and“life income gifts”—gifts that can pay you money back. Tolearn more about how you can make such a gift, call Dr.Frank Pearsall at the College – 540-231-4259.

Well, I’ve got to go bury some bones. Talk to you next time.Arf!

Thagy.

Thagy, short for Pythagoras – his Mom is a Math Professor -lives with Steve Clark, Director of Planned Giving atVirginia Tech. In addition to completing basic obedienceclass, he has acquired some experience in various estateplanning issues.

Dear Thagy…Dear Thagy…Dear Thagy…Dear Thagy…Dear Thagy…

virginia-maryland 19

Alumni News

Dear Alumni Society Member:

My first six months in my new position have certainly flown by and I have enjoyed every moment of it! I have metmany wonderful people affiliated with this excellent college and am truly impressed by both their professionalism and warmhospitality.

During my time here, I have been juggling ideas and events for the three colleges with which I am affiliated —theColleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Natural Resources, and Veterinary Medicine. With such a large number ofresources available to me through each program, I am confident that each college will benefit greatly. The College ofVeterinary Medicine can look forward to the following ways in which Alumni Association has been actively working on theirbehalf:

I recently attended the 25th annual National Agriculture Alumni and Development Association (NAADA) conference atPurdue University to learn more from other institutions of programming for alumni.

Trina Murphy was recently hired to assist with events and programming for the Colleges of Veterinary Medicineand Natural Resources. Trina is a vet med student, expected to graduate in 2002.

I recently took part in the week-long orientation for first year students. Hopefully, this will enable the students to have abetter understanding of how the Alumni Association can help them as students before they become alums.

The College of Veterinary Medicine recently held its first off-campus regional alumni reception at the College Parkcampus in Maryland on May 21. Dean Eyre, Will Hueston, Fred Fregin, Grant Turnwald, Bob Martin, and about 35 otheralumni and friends attended.

The annual VMRCVM Alumni Reunion will be held on September 23. The Saturday night dinner will be catered andheld at a shelter at the Caboose Park (Hand-in-Hand) playground in Blacksburg. Children will be cared for during the eventat the playground and will be supervised by members of the Student Alumni Associates (SAA) from the Virginia TechAlumni Association.

The first Alumni Society board meeting, led by President Julie Holland ’89, will also take place during this weekend.Many new events are planned for alumni beginning in October! On October 14, the annual Morven Park Steeplechase

Races will include an alumni reception. Also, an alumni pre-game tailgate will be held at the University of Marylandhomecoming football game on October 21! Look for registration materials in late August or early September.

I look forward to meeting you at one or all of the events scheduled.

Sincerely,

Lynn YoungAlumni Coordinator

Sept. 22-23, 2000 VVMA and VMRCVM Alumni Reunion, Blacksburg

Oct. 14, 2000 Morven Park Steeplechase Races and Alumni Reception, Leesburg

Oct. 21, 2000 University of MD Homecoming Football Game and Alumnipre-game tailgate, College Park

Jan. 13-17, 2001 North American Veterinary Conference, Orlando

Feb. 1-4, 2001 VVMA, Williamsburg

Mar. 1-3, 2001 DC Academy, NOVA (place not yet determined)

Alumni Society Calendar of Events:

Dozens of guests turned outto enjoy the college’s alumnireception on the College Parkcampus.

Lynn Young

virginia-maryland 20

News from the Leesburg campus

More than 80 people volunteeredand assisted the Equine MedicalCenter during a busy 2000 foalingseason. Between January and June,volunteers donated time and energy toaid in the care of more than 50premature or critically ill foalsbrought to the EMC for treatment.

Throughout the year, volunteersperform a variety of helpful duties,depending upon their interests andskills. People assist in filing records,entering data, and supporting the staffwith special events and tours. Natu-rally, many of the volunteers areexperienced in handling horses andwant to work with the animals, and sothey are kept busiest during the latewinter and spring with the “mat-babies” in need of constant monitor-

EMC’s Caring Volunteers Conclude “Foal Watch 2000By Ann Nadjar

ing. During foal season, volunteers sitwith the sick foals for four-hour shifts atall hours. During their shift theymonitor I.V. and oxygen lines, and assistin hand feeding and grooming the foalsas directed by the veterinarians andnurses.

The volunteer program was initiatedin 1992 by Shelley Duke, a horse owner,client, and active supporter of the centerwho now chairs the EMC’s Council.Since 1997, Maria Wakefield has servedas the volunteer coordinator. Maria is a1987 graduate of Virginia Tech whoworked as a veterinary technician at theEMC for six years before taking on hernew job.

Maria’s background and experiencehave been extremely valuable in thisnew role because of her working

knowledge of how the volunteers canbest assist the clinicians. Maria alsotakes the time to help educate thevolunteers so they can gain even morefrom their experiences. “Volunteerswho care about our program and ourpatients make the difference at theEMC,” says Maria. “When a horse issick and feels terrible, the additionalgrooming and attention given by thevolunteers provides the extra comfortbeyond what the doctors, nurses andgrooms can do when they are takingcare of many patients.”

One busy volunteer, SandyDanielson, works in Washington DC,trains her horse in Middleburg andmakes time to volunteer at the EMCthroughout the year. She works fourhours a week during foal season andbeyond. “Working with the foal watchprogram is an opportunity to contributeand learn at the same time,” says Sandy.“If I can provide even a little bit ofcomfort and assistance to the recoveryof these lovely animals, I am thankful.”

The EMC’s volunteer program hasalso served some as their first experi-ence with Virginia Tech. In the pastthree years, five volunteers have goneon to college at Virginia Tech and fiveothers have entered the VMRCVM.EMC volunteer Sandy

Danielson comforts a sickpatient. Photo by JackStrawther.

Dr. G. Frederick Fregin, along with VirginiaTech President Charles W. Steger and hisson David, braved the 90-degree weatherat the Equine Medical Center’s annualhospitality tent at the Virginia Gold Cupsteeplechase in The Plains, Virginia. Morethan 150 supporters and friends of theEMC joined the center’s faculty membersand President Steger to watch the day’sraces. Each year, Dr. Fregin serves as theveterinary medicine coordinator for thisevent, which attracts a crowd of more than50,000 spectators.

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Planning and engineering work is underway on theconstruction of a new isolation unit at the EquineMedical Center. Lead architects for the project are fromMosely, Harris and McClintock of Virginia Beach.Gralla Architects, specialists in equine and equestrianfacilities, will act as a consultant.

A recent bequest from the estate of the late PaulMellon for $1 million, along with smaller privatecontributions and support, will cover construction costs,equipping the new building and starting an endowmentfor the facility. Funding from the state’s pari-mutuelracing industry earmarked for Virginia Tech programsdesigned to support the horse industry were used tosupport the feasibility study.

A stable source of funding to staff the unit, which ispart of the Emergency Care service, is still needed. Thenew Isolation Facility is important for the college’saccreditation review this fall.

The finished unit will contain eight isolation stallswith access from a center aisle and outside coveredwalkways. The building also will contain rooms forequipment, feed, hay and bedding storage, and steriliza-tion. To facilitate the needs of isolated patients, the stallsare designed with specialized drains and wash stations.

“Gralla has designed for us an isolation unit that willbe spacious and filled with light,” said Dr. G. FrederickFregin, the Jean Ellen duPont Shehan Professor andDirector of the Center. “Between the architects’ andfaculty members’ ideas, we can look forward to a unitthat will be practical, pleasant to be in, and within abudget that still leaves funds for the unit’s endowment.”

“Mr. Mellon was a fine gentleman and generousphilanthropist who has given a great deal to the equinecommunity,” said Fregin. “We are deeply appreciativeof Mr. Mellon’s support of the EMC during his lifetimeand now of the legacy he has left for us through hisestate.”

New Isolation Unit Project GettingUnderway at EMC

Since its founding, the Equine Medical Center hasbenefited through the munificent patronage of the late PaulMellon, culminating recently in a discretionary bequest of $1million. Dr. Fred Fregin, the Director, suggested that thebequest be applied to the new Isolation Unit now in theplanning stage. This will provide for not only a substantialpart of the construction cost and equipment but also willenable the EMC to reserve a portion of the bequest to endowmaintenance of the structure.

For most of his life Mr. Mellon had keen interests inhorses and participated in fox hunting and steeplechasing.His paramount interest was in Thoroughbred racing, both inAmerica and England, and he maintained a large stable at hisbeloved Rokeby near Upperville, Virginia. He is the onlybreeder and owner to win both the American and EnglishDerbies as well as the Prix de L’arc de Triomphe in France.

Because of his life-long commitment to the welfare of thehorse, Mr. Mellon supported several veterinary colleges andagricultural research programs, including the MiddleburgAgricultural Research & Extension Center which he foundedthrough a gift of a 420-acre farm to Virginia Tech 51 yearsago. He often was receptive to projects that otherwise wouldnot attract private funding such as the new morgue for theUniversity of London’s Royal Veterinary College. At theEquine Medical Center he participated by equipping thepresent building in concert with its founder, the late MarionduPont Scott. Mr. Mellon continued to make grants in hislifetime to the EMC for new equipment and research.

In reflecting on his career as a horseman, includingwinning the Old Dominon 100 mile endurance ride three yearsin a row on Christmas Goose, Mr. Mellon once wrote a poemcontaining these famous and heartfelt lines:

Bequest from Paul Mellon FostersHis Commitment to Equine Welfare

Thanks to the generous contribu-tions and support of many friends, theMarion duPont Scott Equine MedicalCenter will soon begin offering clientsstate of the art diagnostic services

heart, lung, muscle, respiratory and gaitfunctions under high speed, workingconditions.

A Stratton high-speed treadmill,capable of simulating speeds of up to 55miles per hour and elevating its plat-form10 degrees in 20 seconds, has beenordered and will be installed in aspecially renovated 2500 square-footfacility on the campus of the EMC.

EMC officials chose to renovate anexisting building as opposed to con-structing a new one in order to make thenew service available as soon aspossible. Work on the renovation isexpected to be complete in early 2001

The building will contain twoholding stalls, a wash stall and stocks, aswell as an equipment room.

Treadmill Facility to Open Early 2001through its new treadmill facility.

The climate-controlled treadmillfacility will provide EMC veterinarianswith clinical information important indiagnosing problems associated with

“I’ll thank the Lord the life I’ve ledWas always near a Thoroughbred.”

The new treadmill facilitywill provide EMC clinicianswith another advanced toolfor diagnosing equinehealth problems associ-ated with the circulatory,respiratory, and musculo-skeletal systems.

virginia-maryland 22

Tuesday Talks, a communityeducation series annually hosted by theEquine Medical Center, will offer foursessions this season. The informallecture series began four years ago inresponse to the equine community’senthusiastic request for information onequine health and medical issues.

At each Tuesday evening session,horse owners, trainers, managers andveterinarians are invited to gather atthe Leesburg campus for presentationson relevant topics in veterinarymedicine. Presentations are made byfaculty members from the Leesburgand Blacksburg campuses.

Topics for the 1999 series included“Corrective Shoeing and LamenessProblems,” “Preparing Your Horse forAnesthesia,” “Feeding the EquineAthlete,” and “Laser Treatment forUpper Airway Problems.” Topics aretaken from the faculty and suggestionsfrom members of the equine commu-nity who attend the lectures.

ComputedRadiography Servicecoming To EMC

The Equine Medical Center willsoon acquire a Fuji computed radiogra-phy system that will enable clinicians toelectronically capture extremely detailedradiographs and then output and trans-port them in a variety of digital formats.

Replacing the existing xeroradiogra-phy system, the new computed system isexpected to provide the detail ofconventional xeroradiography with thestorage and networking possibilities ofthe electronic age.

A single computed radiographenables clinicians to evaluate the digitalimage for bone detail or soft tissuedetail. The image may also be enlargedand enhanced to reveal problems thatcannot be identified in standard filmx-rays.

Digital images are easily archivedand stored with patient records and maybe sent electronically anywhere in theworld. This new technology is expectedto be brought on-line at the EquineMedical Center in Fall 2000, thanks tothe generous support of friends of theEMC.

New Faculty andResidents

The EMC’s faculty and staffwelcomed three additional doctors inJuly.

Dr. David Adam-Castrillo hasjoined the Equine Medical Center as aresident in equine surgery. Adam-Castrillo received his BS degree fromSuffolk University, Boston in 1994.He received his VMD from theUniversity of Pennsylvania School ofVeterinary Medicine in 1998. He alsocompleted a Large Animal Medicineand Surgery Clinical Fellowship atOregon State University, College ofVeterinary Medicine from 1999-2000.

Dr. Julia Georgesen has joinedthe EMC as an intern in equinemedicine and surgery. She receivedher DVM from Purdue UniversitySchool of Veterinary Medicine inMay 2000.

Dr. Christopher Meyer joinedthe EMC as an intern in equinemedicine and surgery. Meyerreceived his DVM from NorthCarolina State University College ofVeterinary Medicine in May 2000.

Tuesday Talks SeriesSlated for 2000-2001

Dr. Michael Murray, Adelaide C.Riggs Professor of Equine Medicine,Marion duPont Scott Equine MedicalCenter, recently presented four lectureson equine gastric ulcer syndrome forthe Michigan Veterinary MedicalAssociation. In February he presenteda seminar sponsored by Merial Ltd. onequine gastric ulcer syndrome to horseowners and veterinarians at theWellington Horse Festival, West PalmBeach, FL. Murray also presented“Preliminary Study on the Effect ofTopical Administration of l-NAME on theGastric Mucosa of the Antrum inPonies” and gave a specialist lecture onequine gastric physiology at theAmerican College of Veterinary InternalMedicine’s annual ACVIM Forum inSeattle, Washington. He alsopresented four lectures on equinegastric ulcer syndrome for the GeorgiaVeterinary Medical Association andconducted gastroscopy clinics at Laurel,Pimlico, and Bowie Racetracks inMaryland. Those were sponsored byMerial Ltd.

Equine Medical Center Names in the News

Dr. Kenneth E. Sullins, associateprofessor, Marion duPont Scott EquineMedical Center, and Dr. Douglass B. BerryII, resident, have received a grant from theVirginia Horse Industry Board on “TopicalAntimicrobial Effects on Equine WoundHealing.” Sullins recently presented a lectureentitled “Noninvasive Laser Lithotripsy inGeldings” at a meeting of the AmericanSociety for Lasers in Medicine and Surgery inReno, Nevada. Sullins also conducted alecture and instructional laboratory on “LaserSurgery in Horses” at the annual meeting ofthe American Veterinary Medical Associationin Salt Lake City, Utah. In September, heserved as program chairman and presented alaser surgery course for the American Collegeof Veterinary Surgeons annual ACVSSymposium in Crystal City/Leesburg, VA.

Dr. Nathaniel A. White II, TheodoraAyer Randolph Professor of Surgery, hasbeen elected to the Board of Directors of theAmerican Association of Equine Practitioners.White has recently been awarded tworesearch grants from equine organizations.“Effect of Diet and Fluid Administration onColonic Ingesta” was awarded by the

Grayson Jockey Club ResearchFoundation and “Changes in the PlasmaLevels of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide inResponse to Enteral and IntravenousFluid Therapy” was awarded by theAmerican Quarter Horse Association.Dr. White also lectured at the Washing-ton State University College of Veteri-nary Medicine’s Annual Conference.Those lectures included “Intestinal Injury,Diagnosis and Decision for Surgery,”“Motility Disturbances,” “Shock andEndotoxemia,” “Epidemiology of Colic,”and “Medical Treatment of Colic.” Whitealso presented “Diagnosis and SurgeryDecision,” “Intestinal Injury,” “MedicalTreatment for Colic,” and “Epidemiologyof Colic” at the Oregon VeterinaryMedical Association’s annual confer-ence.

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News from the maryland campus

AVMA District 2 Delegate Dr. Greg Hammerof Dover, Delaware has moved decisivelyto create a greater sense of communityamong the many state veterinary medicalassociations within his jurisdiction.

In an effort to promote mutual understand-ing and unified vision, he has organizedseveral meetings which have joined stateVMA officials and other veterinary leadersin a forum that looks at common issues andshared concerns.

Almost 40 people from throughout the Mid-Atlantic States met in early March at theGudelsky Center at College Park for thefirst meeting, and another was held inconjunction with the annual meeting of theMaryland Veterinary Medical Association.A third meeting is tentatively scheduled forthis Fall in College Park.

Hammer Building Consensus, Vision

Salmonella Risk Reductionat the Farm End of the Food Chain

Dr. Edward T. Mallinson (right), extensionpoultry veterinarian emeritus, accepts acommendation from Andrew Rohrer (left)senior coordinator of the National PoultryImprovement Plan (USDA sponsored).Mallinson was recognized for his outstand-ing efforts and research in the area ofSalmonella isolation and identification frompoultry and poultry environments.

continued next page

University of Maryland exten-sion poultry veterinarians Dr. EdMallinson (emeriti) and Dr.Nathaniel Tablante say recentresearch suggests that some of thesame techniques used to minimizesalmonella problems at home and incommercial kitchens may beeffective in reducing the risks inproduction houses.

Low-level introductions ofSalmonella cells are essentiallyinevitable, say Mallinson andTablante; however, the risks of suchintroductions are largely neutralized

when the cells introduced are eitherkilled or inactivated and kept frommultiplying.

With funding support from the U.S.Poultry and Egg Association, data hasrecently been obtained which suggeststhat minimizing water spillage andleakage andusing gentlydrying

uniform patterns of airflow in closeproximity to litter/manure surfacescould be major features of a HACCPprogram for poultry production.

virginia-maryland 24

Maryland Centerfor Aquatic PathologyMoves to College Park

The Center for Aquatic Pathologyformerly located at the University ofMaryland College of Medicine inBaltimore has been relocated to theAvrum Gudelsky Veterinary Center,according to College Park AssociateDean Dr. Will Hueston.

A $160,000 renovation at theGudelsky Center has providedquarters for the new center, which isunder the leadership of Dr. AndyKane. Kane, his graduate studentsand technical support staff haverelocated and are resuming work inaquaculture and environmental healthsupported by about $600,000 in U.S.Army, Environmental ProtectionAgency, and other funding.

ACVPM Prep Course Offered forProspective Diplomates Big Success

An innovative preparatory courseoffered through the College’s Centerfor Government and CorporateVeterinary Medicine (CGCVM) forveterinary epidemiologists seekingdiplomate status in the AmericanCollege of Veterinary PreventiveMedicine (ACVPM) appears to havepaid off for those that participated.

Thirteen of the 47 candidateswho sat the examination passed it,according to CGCVM AssociateDirector Dr. Bettye Walters, and nineof those who passed participated inthe prep course.

The course was the brainchild ofWalters and Maryland CampusAssociate Dean Dr. Will Hueston,who recognized the need for thecourse in the midst of growingdemand for trained and board certifiedveterinary epidemiologists.

Eighteen individuals enrolled inthe course, which was presented

through a half-dozen four-hour sessionsat the Avrum Gudelsky VeterinaryCenter. The course was digitallysimulcast to the Centers for DiseaseControl in Atlanta as well as a majorhealth sciences center in San Antonio,Texas.

About 20 board certified veterinaryepidemiologists made presentations aspart of the course, which was alsovideo-taped and made available forthose who could not participate live,Walters said.

Participants said the prep coursewas of exceptional value, and haveestablished an e-group to stay in touchon topical issues.

The course will be offered againnext year.

Programmatic advancements continue to enhance the “regional” nature of the college,which is jointly operated by the land-grant universities of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg andthe University of Maryland at College Park. Two recent examples involve the renaming ofan “extension” veterinary publication to better reflect the college’s constituencies, and anexpanded distribution network for “Veterinarian’s Notebook.” The syndicated radioprogram, which features college veterinarians discussing a variety of animal health topics,is now being shared with radio stations throughout the state of Maryland.

Mallinson and Nablante stress thenew perspective does not diminish theimportance of other established controlpractices such as good hatcherysanitation, properly palletized feeds,fly and rodent control.

But the new perspective doessuggests thatjust as properfood prepara-tion andhandlingprocedures canneutralizethose occa-sional intro-ductions ofcontaminationat the kitchenend of thefood safetycontinuum,sound litter/manuremanagementstrategies thatdeter theproliferationof salmonellaorganisms arevitallyimportant farmmanagementpractices.

For more information about thework, please contact Drs. Mallinson orTablante on the Maryland Campus at1-301-935-6083.

With funding sup-port from the U.S.Poultry and EggAssociation, datahas recently beenobtained whichsuggests that mini-mizing water spill-age and leakage andusing gently dryinguniform patterns ofairflow in closeproximity to litter/manure surfacescould be majorfeatures of aHACCP program forpoultry production.

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Epidemiologists from theCollege’s College Park Campus aremeeting regularly with epidemiolo-gists at the University of MarylandCollege of Medicine’s Department ofPreventive Medicine through a newepidemiology “Grand Rounds” program.

“We see this as a great way tostimulate exchange” that reallypromotes the “one-medicine” concept,said Maryland Campus AssociateDean Dr. Will Hueston.

A number of public healthproblems facing society today requiremedical and veterinary medicalexpertise and perspective, he said,including West Nile Virus, anti-microbial resistance, food safety,rabies and others.

About ten people from eachschool are meeting during the forums,Hueston said, which generally includepresentations about ongoing projectsand topics of concern.

The goal of the program is to helpfoster a unified approach to addressingpublic health problems, examinecurrent trends in epidemiology andidentify opportunities for collabora-tion, Hueston said.

The inaugural meeting was heldat the Gudelsky Center in the Spring,and the next meeting is scheduled forSeptember in Baltimore.

Maryland State Fair officials wereso pleased with the success of a newprogram presented by the College thatthey decided to do something in kind.

That reciprocal gesture has come inthe form of $3,000 in scholarshipsupport for Maryland students enteringin the college’s Class of 2004. Threestudents will each receive $1,000 insupport during their first year of theDVM program as a result of the gift.

“They wanted to do something inresponse to the overwhelming success ofthe birthing center,” said Dr. WillHueston, associate dean of the MarylandCampus.

Under the leadership of extensionveterinary leaders Dr. W. Dee Whitter,Blacksburg Campus, and Dr. RobertDyer, College Park Campus, faculty andstudents have been presenting animalbirthing exhibits at the Virginia,Maryland and Delaware State Fairs.

The exhibits have proved enor-mously popular with fair-goers at allthree states.

Epidemiology “GrandRounds” Promoting“One Medicine”

Executive FellowshipProgram Shaping upfor 2000-2001 Program

The Executive Fellowship Programin Science, Politics, and Animal HealthPolicy has enrolled its second class ofFellows and will meet this October atCollege Park.

The 24 Fellows include animalhealth professionals from government,industry and academia and hail fromfive different countries, including theUnited States, Canada, Mexico,Switzerland and the Netherlands.

The program was founded to helpanimal health professionals moreeffectively participate in the publicpolicy process, according to CollegePark Associate Dean Dr. Will Hueston,who worked with Michigan State

University College of VeterinaryMedicine Dr. Lonnie King to create theprogram.

The Fellows will participate in threefour-day sessions, Hueston said, withmeetings scheduled for the WashingtonD.C. area, Michigan State in EastLansing, and an international venue thatmay be in either Mexico or Paris.

The October meeting scheduled forearly October will include an innovativeprogram on risk communication at the“Newseum” in Arlington. TheNewseum is a national museum forjournalism and communications.

CommunicationsOfficial Appointed onMaryland Campus

Valerie McAlpin has been ap-pointed associate dean for communica-tions and information technology in theUniversity of Maryland’s College ofAgriculture and Natural Resources.

The University of Maryland’sCANR provides the administrativehome for the VMRCVM’s College ParkCampus.

McAlpin is responsible for publicrelations and outreach, as well asdistance education, for the college.

Maryland State FairPresents Scholarships

VMRCVM Dean Peter Eyre presents Dr. Siba K. Samal of the College Park Campus withthe 2000 Pfizer Award for Research Excellence. Pfizer presents the award annually torecognize distinguished researchers whose innovative work is advancing the frontiers ofscience. Samal for recognized for his work in molecular virology.

virginia-maryland 26

produced in conjunction with theCollege of Human Resources andEducation, and dozens of profiles ofresearch currently underway inveterinary college laboratories.

The VMRCVM and the univer-sity are in a good position to takeadvantage of shifting priorities infederal research funding, Steger said.Federal research presently accountsfor about 64% of Virginia Tech’sresearch funding. However, researchfunding from the National Institutes ofHealth, which accounts for about 53%of all federal research funding, isfairly nominal at Virginia Tech.

Terming the “Research 30” goalas “formidable” yet “achievable,” Dr.Steger said he was pleased with theresponse he has received fromuniversity faculty since articulatingthe Research 30 goal. “Faculty wantto make a difference,” said Steger,outlining the need for more interdisci-plinary collaborations at the univer-sity. “They want to be part ofsomething exciting.”

The recently fundedbioinformatics initiative, which Stegerdescribed as the largest “infusion ofbase research support in the history ofthe institution” is an exampleof the creative new programsthat must be developed to movethe university ahead in theearly 21st century.

Partnerships with otherorganizations, such as thecollaborations with the Univer-sity of Virginia and CarilionHealth Sytems in the newCarilion Biomedical Institute,are another good example ofhow the university mustproceed toward the goal, Stegersaid.

On Thursday, formerUnited Nations official Dr.David Kelly outlined UNefforts to profile and containIraq’s biological warfare program.The UN monitoring team determinedthat Iraq had generated some 465,000litres of toxic weapon materials, aswell as developed rocket and bomb-based biological and chemicalweapons delivery systems.

Their containment project waseventually thwarted by Iraq’s success-ful manipulation of a power strugglecoursing through the foundations ofthe United Nations’ Security Council,

Kelly said, closing his presentation withsuggestions that Iraq may have pre-served remnants of the program.

Some of the common ground sharedby aging people and aging pets wasexplored on the third day of the sympo-sium. Department of Small AnimalClinical Sciences Professor and formerVeterinary Teaching Hospital Director

Dr. Greg Troy told registrants that 13%of the United States population was nowover 65 and that the figure would doublebetween 2010-2030.

Advancements in clinical care arehelping pets lead longer lives, Troy said,noting that the oldest dog on recordlived to 29 and the oldest cat lived to 34.Geriatric animals and people all sufferfrom heart, renal and joint disease andresearch underway can benefit bothgroups, he said.

Long term relationships betweenelderly people and their pets can alsocreate some special grieving problemsfor older people when their pets die.“Older people tend to have older pets,”said Troy. “As a result they tend to havea stronger bond.”

Other highlights of the programincluded a presentation on cognitive

dysfunction in companion animalsby VMRCVM alumnus Dr. SharonL. Campbell (‘93) of the AnimalHealth Group at Pfizer, Inc., andmore than sixty individual presenta-tions concerning biomedical andclinical research underway incollege laboratories.

Students winning awards in theBasic Sciences competition for bestresearch project included BrandyCowing, first place; Martijn Fenaux,second place; and TimothyLaBranche, third place. Winners inthe Clinical Sciences competitionincluded Anne Cook, first place;Dagny Leininger, second place; andJohn Rossmeisl, third place.

The annual symposium isdesigned to foster increased collabora-tion among researchers by generatinggreater awareness of the college’sresearch activities, according to Dr. JohnC. Lee, associate dean for research andgraduate studies. It was sponsored bythe VMRCVM, the College of HumanResources and Education, the Center forGerontology, the Center for AnimalHuman Relationships, Pfizer, Inc.,Novartis Animal Health and Hill’s PetNutrition.

Virginia Tech President Dr. Charles Steger is presented with a College sweatshirt by VMRCVMDean Peter Eyre following Steger’s delivery of the year 2000 keynote address for the college’s12th Annual Research Symposium.

The VMRCVM and the universityare in a good position to take advantageof shifting priorities in federal researchfunding, Steger said. Federal researchpresently accounts for about 64% ofVirginia Tech’s research funding. How-ever, research funding from the NationalInstitutes of Health, which accounts forabout 53% of all federal research fund-ing, is fairly nominal at Virginia Tech.

Steger:continued from page 1

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The event is the second in aseries of three annual symposiumshosted by the veterinary collegedesigned to explore the linkagesbetween human and veterinarymedicine. Entitled “The BridgeBetween Veterinary Medicine andHuman Health,” the series wascreated to generate increased profes-sional and public awareness of thetherapeutic aspects of human-animalinteraction, human threats posed byhuman-animal interaction, and publichealth and food safety issues relatedto human-animal interaction.

The series is sponsored by theVMRCVM, the Medical College ofVirginia at Virginia CommonwealthUniversity (MCV-VCU) and theVirginia and the Maryland VeterinaryMedical Associations (VVMA andMVMA). Corporate sponsorship isbeing provided by Hill’s Pet Productsand Merial, Inc.

“Physicians and veterinariansrecognize the benefits of animalcompanionship and both are con-cerned with zoonotic disease threats,food safety issues, biomedicalresearch and the complex interdepen-dencies between people and animals,”said VMRCVM Dean Peter Eyre,“Through these symposia, we hope tocreate a forum in which these areas ofmutual interest can be examined froma more integrated perspective.”

During opening remarks, Eyrewill update the group on the status ofa joint academic center which isbeing established between theVMRCVM and MCV-VCU toexamine animal-human relationshipsfrom a more systemic perspective.Dr. Marie Suthers McCabe, associateprofessor and extension specialisthuman-companion animal interactionis leading that effort.

Ten speakers from around thecountry will then make presentationson different aspects of the symposiumtopic. Jorge Guerrero, DVM, PhD,Executive Director of VeterinaryProfessional Services at Merial, Inc.,will present “One Medicine,” andJeannie Perron, JD, DVM, anassociate at the law firm of Covingtonand Burling in Washington, D.C., willpresent “Liability Issues and ProblemSolving for the Veterinarian and thePhysician.”

Also, Peter Schantz, VMD, PhD,Centers for Disease Control & Preven-tion at the National Center for InfectiousDiseases in Atlanta, will present“Zoonotic Risks of Intestinal Parasitesof Dogs and Cats and Strategies forPreventing Them,” and LeonardMarcus, VMD, MD, Consultant inTropical, Zoonotic and Vector-BorneDiseases for Travelers’ Health andImmunization Services, will present asession on “Bite Associated Zoonosis.”

During afternoon sessions, PhyllisCassano, DVM, MA of Merial, Inc. willdiscuss “Zoonotic Diseases in the 21st

Century and ImmunocompromisedPatients,” Rochelle Klinger, MD, PhD,Director, Medical Psychiatry Program ofMCV-VCU, will present “The Role ofCompanion Animals in the Psychologi-cal Health of People with HIV/AIDS,”and Mark Haines, DVM, MS, AnimalProgram Director of the Clinical Centerat National Institutes of Health, willpresent “Animals in the NIH ClinicalCenter: Service, Therapy & Risk ofZoonosis.”

Also, Kevin Connelly, DO, FAAP,FACOP, Director of the Paws for HealthPet Visitation Program at MCV-VCU,will present “Children, Pets, and Pests:The Realities and Myths of ZoonoticDiseases.” Finally, Marie Suthers-McCabe, DVM, associate professor ofHuman-Companion Animal Interactionand Director of the emerging Center forAnimal Human Relationships willchallenge veterinary and medicalstudents to more fully explore thisemerging discipline in the years aheadduring her closing presentation.

The first in the series, whichfeatured a presentation by Dr. MichaelBlackwell, Assistant Surgeon General ofthe United States, was held in Fall 1999and focused on “Beneficial Effects ofAnimal Companionship on Human

Health & Well-Being.”The three year series concludes in

September 2001 with a seminar entitled“Educating Physicians about their JointResponsibilities in Public Health andFood Safety.” Topics scheduled forexamination during that event includemicrobiological and chemical safety offoods of animal origin, antimicrobialdrug resistance and others.

While most people think of veteri-nary and human medicine as distinctprofessions, they share a commonhistory. The earliest known medicalwritings, the Kahun Papyrus, circa 1800B.C. Egypt, described two cattlediseases, one dog disease, and anobstetrical procedure. At the time of itsdestruction in the fourth century A.D.,the 70 volumes of the “CorpusHippocraticum” in the Great Library ofAlexandria, viewed by some as the firstmedical school, contained extensiveinformation on both human and animalhealth.

Over the centuries, human andveterinary medicine became morespecialized and evolved independently.But today, the compelling inter-relation-ships which bind them together aresignificant enough to warrant academicexploration, Eyre said. Each promotesthe public health and works to containthe threats of infectious disease. Each isinvolved with the human health implica-tions of an animal protein-based foodsupply, and each is concerned with thephysical and psycho-social benefits ofthe human-animal bond.

A luncheon will be held in VirginiaTech’s Owen’s Dining Hall, and tours ofthe college’s Veterinary TeachingHospital will be offered after the event.Registration is $60. For more informa-tion, contact Dr. Marie Suthers-McCabeat 540-231-7133.

Symposium:continued from page 1 This electron

micrograph of aToxoplasma gondiitissue cyst depictsone example of azoonotic parasite thatcan cause seriousharm to people.Toxoplasma gondiicauses birthdefects and mentalretardation in babieswhen their motherbecomes infectedby eating these tissuecysts in under-cookedmeat.

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As Roanoke Times higher educa-tion writer Michael Sluss called it, “theylook like creatures from a science fictionfilm” and have “blood as blue as theocean they call home.”

With two sets of eyes and five setsof legs, the arachnid-like crabs lookexactly like what they are: 350 million-year old creatures that have found littlereason to change from their, well… uglyold selves.

“They” are horseshoe crabs, andbecause of some concern about thefuture viability of the species, they are asubject of study in the Aquatic MedicineLaboratory at the College’s Price’s Forkresearch center.

Virginia Tech Fisheries andWildlife Professor Dr. Jim Berkson andgraduate student Elizabeth Wells have

been working with Aquatic MedicineLaboratory Director Dr. Stephen Smith ona study designed to determine how currentharvesting and management proceduresmay be affecting the population.

About three million a year arecurrently being harvested, and conserva-tionists and commercial interests arebeginning to square off about whether ornot those numbers should be reduced.

While the crabs were caught andground for fertilizer from the 1880’sthrough the 1960’s, there are now twoprimary commercial applications for thebizarre-looking crustaceans. Fishermanuse about three million a year as bait foreel and conch in the fishing industry.

But it is the role they play in anoperation that is almost as curious as theirappearance itself that has found them the

subject of inquiry in university laborato-ries. Horseshoe crabs donate blood thatplays an important role in the biomedicalindustry.

The crabs’ copper-based blue bloodcontains a clotting agent called LimulusAmebocyte Lysate (LAL) which is usedto detect bacteria that may contaminateinjectable drugs and implantable medicaldevices such as pacemakers. A quart ofhorseshoe crab blood can be worth up to$15,000.

Commercial laboratories such asMaryland-based BioWhittaker harvestthe creatures, extract some blood andthen return them to the sea. But scien-tists estimate that as many as 15% ofthose donors may not survive theprocess.

With $125,000 in funding from Bio-Whittaker and other funding from theVirginia Sea Grant Program, the scien-tists are attempting to learn more aboutthe creatures’ blood chemistry, the effectof blood donation on their health andwell-being, and other information thatmight shed some insight on properpopulation management procedures.

The Curi ous Lives o fHorsehoe Crabs

Aquatic Medicine Laboratory DirectorDr. Stephen Smith examines a specimen.

Don’t worry... the horseshoe crab hasn’t gotten by for 350 million years onits looks alone.