The UGA College of Veterinary Medicine

The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine

University of Georgia Alumni Homepage

March 25, 2008 edition

Brought to you by your College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Association

Angela Bushway, alumni association president

President's Message

What's up, Doc? New job? Marriage? New baby? Special honor or award? Exciting discovery? Tell us what's new with you!

The Alumni E-newsletter, Vetmed@Uga, is just the place to let your fellow classmates and alums know what is going on in your world. Send a brief note and/or picture. Even though we are all so busy, the e-newsletter is a great way to keep others abreast of your important life events.

Vetmed@Uga is a quick way to catch up on all the news. I believe it helps build a sense of community and collegiality among the "Vet-Dawg Nation." Send us your news at vetalums@uga.edu.

- Dr. Angie Shurling Bushway, class of '86

In this Issue

• 45th Annual Conference and Reunion - This weekend!
• The Atlanta Steeplechase - the College is a beneficiary!
• Notices
• CVM Advisory Board and Council Meeting
• Alumni awards & honors
• Alumni in the news
• NEW FEATURE! Future Dawg Docs
• Contact us
• Events calendar
• CE calendar

Annual Reunion and Conference

It's not too late to register for the 45th Annual Veterinary Conference and Alumni Reunion, this Friday and Saturday, March 28-29. Register online until 5 p.m. Wednesday, or at the Classic Center on Friday. Questions? Contact Melissa Kilpatrick at melissak@uga.edu or 706.542.1451.

The 2008 Distinguished Alumnus and Young Achiever Award winners will be presented during the conference, and the Saturday evening reception gives you the chance to mingle with your classmates!

One reunion-year alum who won't be able to attend the reunion is CPT James E. "Ed" Neal Jr., DVM '88. Dr. Neal, who is deployed to Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo as an Army veterinarian, is shown (at right) displaying his Bulldog Pride outside the veterinary services building. Click on the photo to see a larger version.

painting by Ginger Lowry for the 2008 Atlanta Steeplechase

The Atlanta Steeplechase

Put on your seersucker and don your hats for the ultimate dog and pony show! The 43rd Annual Atlanta Steeplechase will be held in the beautiful meadows of Kingston Downs, Ga., on April 12, 2008.

Proceeds from the event will go toward building a much-needed new hospital for animals and supporting the educational programs of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.

All alums ordering tickets online through Ticketmaster will receive $5 off the price of each $30 general admission ticket which includes parking - just use VETMED as the password on the Ticketmaster site.

For more information on the event, or to find out how to order tickets, please visit www.vet.uga.edu/GO/steeplechase.

Notices & News

The UGA Christian Veterinary Fellowship is organizing a mission trip to the Navajo and Apache peoples. As part of the fundraising for their trip, CVF is sponsoring an evening meal and a time of fellowship on Saturday, April 19, 6 p.m., at Serenity Creek Farm near Monroe, Georgia. For more information, download their invitation letter, which includes a map to the venue.

Find us on Facebook badge The CVM is on Facebook! Become a "fan" of our page to receive news & updates. Post pictures from events or videos you've made, or just find out about things like volunteering for the 2008 Atlanta Steeplechase. You also will see pictures posted after events! Visit the College's Facebook page here.

If you're not on Facebook but want to be, sign up here: http://www.facebook.com

Veterinary facility for lease in Colbert, Georgia. 2,200 sq. ft. with 4 patient rooms, an office, shower/toilet, laundry room. Facility is wired to accommodate an X-ray machine. Available for $1,200/month. Located on Hwy. 72. Call 706.340.4475 for more information.

New photos from last fall have been added to the Kodak Gallery! Albums include: 2007 Vet School for a Day, the Dean's Tailgate (before the Georgia-Auburn game), the Low Country Boil and the Middle Georgia BBQ. Links to all albums can be found on the Photographs page.

College Advisory Board and Council Meeting

by Angie Royer

Dean Sheila Allen discussed, among other topics, the probability of increased student enrollment within five years of building a new veterinary teaching hospital at the annual meeting of the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine Advisory Board and Council, held in downtown Atlanta on Capitol Hill, February 6, 2008. This meeting coincided with the Georgia Agribusiness Legislative Breakfast. Meeting attendees included College personnel, State Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin, legislators including Representative Gene Maddox, and the Advisory Board and Council members.

College faculty and administrators presented updates on admissions, the Animal Health Research Center, the diagnostic labs which provide testing for the agriculture community, promotion of food animal careers to students*, and the Master of Food Animal Medicine degree program, as well as the consulting services provided to local farmers through this program. Dr. Jerry Saliki, acting director of the Athens Diagnostic Lab, mentioned that the D-Lab remains one of seven laboratories that are certified nationally to test for mad cow disease and other diseases affecting public health.

Discussion regarding current needs of the College included $1.2 million in funding to install a tissue digester, planning funds from legislators for the new Veterinary Teaching Hospital to be voted on during next year’s legislative session, and the introduction of a student loan forgiveness program. Another issue discussed by the board members included upcoming legislation, specifically House Bill 1060 that deals with different aspects of euthanasia. The meeting adjourned to the Governor's office, where new board members were sworn-in by Governor Sonny Perdue.

The Advisory Board and Council to the College of Veterinary Medicine was formed by an act of the General Assembly in 1975. Active leaders of Georgia’s animal commodity industries (beef, dairy, pork, poultry, and sheep), the State Veterinarians and leaders of the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association are appointed to 10 board and seven council positions. The Board functions as a means of communication on mutual concerns and issues pertaining to animal health and veterinary medicine in Georgia.

To view photos from the swearing-in ceremony, visit the Governor's office Web site.

* The Food Animal Veterinary Incentive Program is a joint effort between the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the College of Veterinary Medicine. It was generated in response to the great need for veterinarians specializing in food animal medicine, especially in many underserved areas in the state of Georgia. We are actively recruiting young people interested in this career track, and mentoring them as undergraduates. Mentoring is provided by faculty in both colleges. The main perk of this program is that successful completion of the CAES portion results in admission into the CVM. For more information and a brochure, contact the Office for Academic Affairs at 706.542.5728.

Alumni Honors and Awards

Tom Nickerson, DVM '76, was the Western region finalist in the "Thank Your Vet for a Healthy Pet" contest sponsored by the Morris Animal Foundation, Bow Tie Inc. and Merial. He received the award at the Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas on February 19, 2008. Nickerson practices in Weaverville, California.
http://www.dogchannel.com/dog-magazines/dogfancy/dog-fancy-thank-your-vet.aspx
http://www.dogchannel.com/dog-magazines/dogfancy/thank-your-vet-regional-finalists.aspx
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS142773+14-Feb-2008+PRN20080214

Alumni in the News

Mar. 11: "Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue is VIP Guest at 2008 Atlanta Steeplechase." Gov. Sonny Perdue, DVM '71, plans to participate in the opening ceremonies of the Atlanta Steeplechase on April 12.
http://news.mywebpal.com/partners/680/public/news884329.html

Mar. 1: "To give cats reason to purr, vet bans dogs at North Shore clinic." Marcia Toumayan, DVM '95, opens the Cat Clinic of Chattanooga.
http://timesfreepress.com/news/2008/mar/01/give-cats-reason-purr-vet-bans-dogs-north-shore-cl/
An article also published here: http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_122658.asp

Jan. 17: "Mill Creek Veterinary Hospital breathes new life into Doctors Building in Clarkesville." Article is about Laura Hanson, DVM '81, opening a vet clinic in Clarkesville, Ga.
http://www.thenortheastgeorgian.com/articles/2008/01/17/news/business/01business.txt

Jan. 2: "Veterinarian prepares to move on, while another moves in." Profile of Wayland F. "Buddy" Hogan, DVM '55, who founded the South Ocala Animal Clinic and is now retiring after 50 years.
http://www.ocala.com/article/20080102/NEWS/801020327/1368/googlesitemapnews

Dec. 30: "Frightening calls won't help law and order, but talented women might." Column mentions Vanessa Keller Lester Lee and Elizabeth Hoffman, both DVM '05.
http://new.savannahnow.com/node/422981

Nov. 27: "25 of the Most Influential People in Southeast Tech: Charles Hamner." Profile of Charles Hamner, DVM '60, PhD '64, considered a "driving force" in bringing the biotechnology industry to North Carolina's Research Triangle.
http://www.techjournalsouth.com/news/article.html?item_id=4320

Future Dawg Docs

LTC Russ Wiessinger, DVM '91, shared this adorable photo (right) of his 6-month-old daughter Natalie in a UGA cheerleader outfit. He attended the NAVC Conference with his wife and daughter, and they had a great time at the UGA reception.

Gwynne Kinley with son Ronan

MAJ Gwynne E. Kinley, DVM '95, is married to CPT Shannon Todd Way, and the couple recently had a child, Ronan Kinley Way, born September 20, 2007.

Got e-mail? We do.

Our addresses are:

vetalums@uga.edu for alumni news, alumni business, or a change of address
give2vet@uga.edu for donations or other correspondence with our Development Office
hospital@uga.edu for messages about referrals
vetnews@uga.edu for news items for Aesculapian or vetmed@uga, or for comments about our publications

2008 Events Calendar

April 2008

Annual Open House
Athens, Georgia
Friday, April 4, 2008, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
*FREE! A great opportunity for kids who are interested in veterinary medicine!

43rd Annual Atlanta Steeplechase
Kingston Downs
Rome, Georgia
Saturday, April 12, 2008
*Proceeds benefit the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital Building Fund!

Annual Honors and Awards Night
Athens, Georgia
Friday, April 25, 2008

May 2008
Commencement
Athens, Georgia
Saturday, May 3, 2008
10:30 a.m. to noon

2008 GVMA Summer Convention
May 29 - June 1, 2008
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort
Sandestin, Florida
Reception: Date, Time & Location TBA

July 2008
145th Annual AVMA Convention
New Orleans, Louisiana
July 19 - 22, 2008
Reception: Date, Time & Location TBA

August 2008
New Student Orientation - Class of 2012
Athens, Georgia
August 12-14, 2008

White Coat Ceremony - Class of 2012
Athens, Georgia
Sunday, August 17, 2008