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Vet Cetera magazine 2015

Official magazine of the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences at Oklahoma State University

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The official <strong>magazine</strong> of the Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University<br />

<strong>2015</strong><br />

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s.<br />

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e.<br />

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c<br />

s.<br />

s.<br />

s.<br />

CALF-<br />

ISTHENICS<br />

EVIE TREADS WATER<br />

IN A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND<br />

TREATMENT


Future OSU Cowboys got a chance to play veterinarian<br />

at this summer’s Grandparent University.<br />

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

VET CETERA<br />

M A G A Z I N E W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 / V O L U M E 1 8<br />

The Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health<br />

Sciences graduates competent,<br />

confident, practice-ready veterinarians<br />

— a tradition it has<br />

proudly carried forward since<br />

the day the veterinary college<br />

opened its doors 67 years ago.<br />

Please join us at the CVHS website:<br />

www.cvhs.okstate.edu. The<br />

OSU homepage is located at<br />

www.okstate.edu.<br />

<strong>Vet</strong> <strong>Cetera</strong> <strong>magazine</strong> is a publication<br />

of the Oklahoma State<br />

University Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Health Sciences. Its purpose is<br />

to connect the college with its<br />

many alumni and friends, providing<br />

information on both campus<br />

news and pertinent issues in the<br />

field of veterinary medicine<br />

OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY © <strong>2015</strong><br />

ON THE COVER: Evie, a young calf with problem legs, exercises in Oklahoma State University’s Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences’ underwater<br />

treadmill. The innovative treatment is profiled on page 12. Photography by Phil Shockley / University Marketing.<br />

18 WHEN PEACE IS A PROBLEM<br />

A cat known for his bullying personality took a turn for<br />

the milder — which caused his owners to investigate.<br />

20 TOXICOLOGY GROWS<br />

And that’s a good thing in our case: The Sitlington<br />

Lecture has become a cornerstone of a new<br />

annual interdisciplinary seminar at OSU.<br />

42 FROM MARDI GRAS TO MEADOWS<br />

Equine surgeon Dr. Daniel Burba has returned to OSU<br />

after spending 24 years at LSU in Baton Rouge, La.<br />

64 CLASS OF <strong>2015</strong> …<br />

Get a glimpse of some of the newest<br />

veterinarians to graduate from CVHS.<br />

84 AND CLASS OF 1965<br />

The 50-year reunion of the class of 1965 was<br />

held in conjunction with the <strong>2015</strong> Hooding<br />

and Commencement Ceremony.<br />

Editor’s Note: In <strong>2015</strong>, <strong>Vet</strong> <strong>Cetera</strong>’s publishing date was changed to the end of the year, so<br />

we could match the calendar in our coverage. With that, you’ll see a few articles in this<br />

issue include both 2014 and <strong>2015</strong> versions. We think our readers will enjoy a <strong>magazine</strong> that<br />

includes a full year of CVHS news, and that’s what we’re beginning with this issue.<br />

Jean Sander, DVM, MAM, DACPV<br />

Dean, Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences<br />

Derinda Blakeney, APR<br />

Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator<br />

derinda@okstate.edu<br />

Sharon Worrell<br />

Alumni Affairs Specialist<br />

Jayme Ferrell,<br />

Director of Development<br />

Dorothy L. Pugh<br />

Editor<br />

Paul V. Fleming<br />

Art Director / Designer<br />

Phil Shockley / Gary Lawson<br />

Staff Photographers<br />

Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order<br />

11246 as amended, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Higher Education Act), the Americans<br />

with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the<br />

basis of race, color, national origin, genetic information, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion,<br />

disability, or status as a veteran, in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This provision includes, but is<br />

not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. The Director of Equal Opportunity,<br />

408 Whitehurst, OSU, Stillwater, OK 74078-1035; Phone 405-744-5371; email: eeo@okstate.edu has been<br />

designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies. Any person (student, faculty, or staff) who<br />

believes that discriminatory practices have been engaged in based on gender may discuss his or her concerns and<br />

file informal or formal complaints of possible violations of Title IX with OSU’s Title IX Coordinator 405-744-9154.<br />

This publication, issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by The Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health<br />

Sciences, was printed by Royle Printing, 745 South Bird Street, Sun Prairie, WI 53590 at a cost of $9,550.52.<br />

3.8M/Dec. <strong>2015</strong>/#6239<br />

w w w . c v h s . o k s t a t e . e d u


From the Office of the Dean<br />

I have great news:<br />

The Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences Academic Center<br />

faculty office building is finally complete.<br />

A wonderful dedication ceremony was held Sept. 12. OSU President Burns Hargis, with the assistance of<br />

PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

Dr. Joao Brandao, our wildlife and exotic animal specialist, released a barn owl that had been found as an<br />

owlet and reared under OSU’s outstanding care. Guests toured the new building and made behind-thescenes<br />

visits to the hospital and the Gaylord Center for Excellence in Equine Health, another recently<br />

opened area supporting our equine specialty service. An award-winning documentary — Nature vs. Nature:<br />

The Animal Victims of the May 2013 Oklahoma Tornadoes — was shown, which featured the involvement of<br />

the college and many of our alumni throughout central Oklahoma during this difficult time.<br />

Many naming opportunities<br />

are available in the new building,<br />

and I’d like to share my views on<br />

such giving opportunities. Our<br />

role is to train the whole person.<br />

Of course there is the classical<br />

education, requiring classroom<br />

time where faculty and students<br />

discuss areas of veterinary medicine<br />

that will be essential to their<br />

future success. The current Academic<br />

Center building is phase<br />

1; phase 2 is focused on our student<br />

success and may include an<br />

auditorium, educational spaces<br />

or discussion areas. The CVHS<br />

is bursting at the seams and<br />

needs additional educational<br />

spaces. The gifts that are received<br />

through naming opportunities in<br />

the academic center will support<br />

Phase 2, which directly benefits<br />

our wonderful students.<br />

But this goes much further.<br />

Naming opportunities are a<br />

visual reminder of the support<br />

our friends have provided to help<br />

us along our way. Each time I<br />

see a plaque indicating a gift was<br />

made by someone who cared, I<br />

am grateful for all we have. I<br />

don’t know that we stop often<br />

enough to recognize what others<br />

do for us, and that daily dose of<br />

gratitude makes us all better people.<br />

That gratitude can go beyond<br />

simply putting your name on an<br />

office or meeting space to being<br />

a way of recognizing someone<br />

who made an impact on our lives<br />

and may have made all the difference<br />

in our success. Spaces can<br />

be named in honor or memory<br />

of someone for whom we owe<br />

a great deal. I did that for my<br />

mother before she passed, and<br />

every dollar that I contributed<br />

was worth the look on her face<br />

when she was presented with this<br />

honor in her name.<br />

Naming spaces keeps away<br />

the “out of sight/out of mind”<br />

problem. These gifts can help<br />

shape the understanding of both<br />

faculty and students that we are<br />

here due to the grace of people<br />

who love animals and education.<br />

Without our friends, our lives<br />

would be less rich and our experiences<br />

less fulfilling. I welcome<br />

all of you to think about how<br />

you might keep the idea of giving<br />

back in front of our students<br />

so we might guide them in the<br />

art of gratitude and the pleasure<br />

of giving back.<br />

Feel free to reach out to me<br />

directly or contact Jayme Ferrell,<br />

the new CVHS development officer.<br />

You can find information on<br />

her in this issue of <strong>Vet</strong> <strong>Cetera</strong>.<br />

JEAN E. SANDER, DVM, MAM, DACPV<br />

DEAN, CENTER FOR<br />

VETERINARY<br />

HEALTH<br />

SCIENCES<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 1


2 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

Treating Equine Athletes<br />

GAYLORD FOUNDATION’S GIFT LEADS<br />

TO STATE-OF-THE-ART HORSE HOSPITAL<br />

Thanks to a $1 million lead gift from the E.L. and<br />

Thelma Gaylord Foundation, the Gaylord Center for<br />

Excellence in Equine Health is open to treat equine<br />

athletes. The gift created versatile new space by<br />

renovating areas within the OSU equine hospital<br />

and providing funds for diagnosis, treatment and<br />

rehabilitation equipment.<br />

The newly renovated space creates<br />

an outpatient service area. A separate<br />

overhead door allows sport<br />

horses to enter the Gaylord Equine<br />

Performance Suite directly from the<br />

lameness examination area. Separate,<br />

specialized heating, ventilation and<br />

air conditioning systems make the<br />

diagnostic area comfortable. In addition,<br />

specialty equipment for rehabilitation<br />

and regenerative medicine<br />

is now centrally located adjacent to<br />

the exam area.<br />

Six equine stalls were remodeled,<br />

forming three enlarged stalls for<br />

mare and foal hospitalization. Swinging<br />

stall partitions with Dutch doors<br />

accommodate mares while allowing<br />

the management of critically ill foals<br />

in the adjacent partitioned stall with<br />

separate access for veterinary medical<br />

staff. The stall partitions can also<br />

be positioned to provide full 12x24-<br />

foot stalls for the hospitalization of<br />

larger breed horses such as Drafts and<br />

warmbloods.<br />

CONTINUES<br />

GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

Dr. Mike Schoonover,<br />

equine surgeon and<br />

sports medicine and<br />

rehabilitation specialist,<br />

performs a coffin joint<br />

injection on a horse with<br />

osteoarthritis.<br />

Dr. Todd Holbrook,<br />

professor and June Jacobs<br />

Endowed Chair in Equine<br />

Medicine and equine section<br />

chief, poses with a resident<br />

horse in the Gaylord<br />

Equine Performance Suite.<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 3


PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

Critically ill horses with infectious diseases need to be isolated. The<br />

isolation facility HVAC system was replaced with a system that manages<br />

this airspace with negative pressure and specialized filters to safely isolate<br />

horses with airborne infectious conditions. The isolation facility is also<br />

equipped with a hoist system to manage horses with infectious neurologic<br />

conditions that require assistance standing or need full sling support.<br />

“These new facilities will greatly enhance our ability to provide the latest<br />

in health care for horses of all ages and disciplines,” says Dr. Todd Holbrook,<br />

equine section chief. “I am very excited about the future of equine<br />

health care at OSU and confident opportunities will arise to fulfill our<br />

vision to become the region’s premier equine health care referral center.”<br />

OSU equine team members are ready to serve the needs of all horses, whether it’s a neonatal foal,<br />

a competitive equine athlete or a beloved family horse. The team includes:<br />

• TODD HOLBROOK, DVM, DACVIM, DACVSMR, professor<br />

and June Jacobs Endowed Chair in Equine Medicine,<br />

is the equine section chief. In addition to his expertise<br />

in equine internal medicine and sports medicine, he<br />

has a special interest in endurance horses. For more<br />

than a decade, he represented the U.S. Equestrian<br />

Federation as a veterinarian for the endurance team<br />

internationally. In his spare time, he enjoys raising and<br />

showing reining horses with his family.<br />

• DAN BURBA, DVM, DACVS, is a professor of equine<br />

surgery and the McCasland Professor in Biomedical<br />

Laser Surgery. He has a special interest in cribbing and<br />

upper airway function in horses. His research interests<br />

focus on orthopedics and laser surgery. He also has<br />

extensive experience in equine rescue efforts, having<br />

served a pivotal role during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.<br />

• LYNDI GILLIAM, DVM, DACVIM, Ph.D., is an associate<br />

professor of equine medicine. She has extensive<br />

equine internal medicine experience. Her special<br />

interests include neonatology, cardiology and client<br />

communication. She has spent decades researching<br />

the effects of venomous snakebites on cardiac<br />

function in horses.<br />

• MIKE SCHOONOVER, DVM, DAVS, DACVSMR, is an<br />

assistant professor of equine surgery. He specializes<br />

in the treatment of western performance horses. His<br />

clinical and research interests include diagnosis and<br />

treatment of navicular syndrome.<br />

• MICHAEL DAVIS, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, DACVSMR,<br />

professor and Oxley Chair in Equine Sports<br />

Medicine, is the director of the Comparative Exercise<br />

Physiology Lab. He has supported many collaborative<br />

investigations affecting the health of equine athletes<br />

and has an international reputation in exercise<br />

physiology research. He also oversees the equine<br />

treadmill facility used for both clinical and research<br />

purposes in horses.<br />

TODD<br />

HOLBROOK<br />

DAN<br />

BURBA<br />

LYNDI<br />

GILLIAM<br />

MIKE<br />

SCHOONOVER<br />

MICHAEL<br />

DAVIS<br />

Thanks to the generosity of donors such as the Gaylord Foundation; Alamo Pintado<br />

Equine Clinic; Dr. Dick (BS ’69, DVM ’71) and Mary Kay Shepherd (BS ’69); and the<br />

family of John S. Gammill, the OSU Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences has stateof-the-art,<br />

renovated facilities to improve the health care of horses.<br />

If you love horses and want to contribute to the Gaylord Center of Excellence in<br />

Equine Health, contact Jayme Ferrell at the OSU Foundation at 405-385-0729<br />

or jferrell@osugiving.com.<br />

4 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


Academic Center<br />

Enhances <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Program<br />

NEW FACILITY ADDS PREMIER FACULTY OFFICES<br />

On Sept. 12, <strong>2015</strong>, OSU President Burns Hargis joined Dr. Jean Sander, dean of the<br />

Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences, and donor Vicki Palmer to dedicate the new<br />

Academic Center Faculty Office Building.<br />

One of only 30 American colleges accredited by the American <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Association, OSU’s<br />

veterinary center is addressing the growing national shortage of veterinarians. Throughout its history,<br />

the center has produced more than 3,700 graduates.<br />

“When the Boren <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Hospital<br />

opened in the late 1970s, the only space for<br />

veterinary clinical sciences faculty was in the<br />

basement. The cubicles did not provide privacy<br />

for the counseling of students and clients,”<br />

said Sander. “Those conditions made it difficult<br />

to recruit and retain the best faculty. Once<br />

this Academic Center started becoming a reality,<br />

we brought on many bright young faculty<br />

who are enhancing our teaching and research,<br />

and expanding our clinical services.”<br />

The new 13,972-square-foot building connects<br />

to the <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Hospital, better<br />

equipping OSU to support progressive clinical<br />

education, accommodate additional growth<br />

and meet the challenges and advancements in<br />

21st-century veterinary medicine. It will house<br />

40 veterinary clinical sciences faculty. These<br />

veterinarians, most of whom are board-certified<br />

specialists in their fields, provide veterinary<br />

medical services to the public and referring veterinarians<br />

through the center’s <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical<br />

Hospital. In addition, this faculty conducts<br />

research and serves as clinical instructors for<br />

fourth-year veterinary students.<br />

This new facility completes Phase 1 of<br />

the Academic Center. Phase 2 is a 140-<br />

seat multimedia equipped auditorium<br />

with conferencing capabilities for<br />

distance learning courses. For more<br />

information on how you can support the<br />

Academic Center, contact Jayme Ferrell,<br />

OSU Foundation, at jferrell@osugiving.<br />

com or 405-385-0729.<br />

PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

OSU President Burns Hargis<br />

and Dr. Joao Brandao release<br />

a barn owl at the Academic<br />

Center Faculty Office Building<br />

dedication.<br />

PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

Gracing the Academic Center’s garden is Our Patients by Mark Carter.<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 5


DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR / CVHS<br />

The dynamic respiratory<br />

scope is portable and worn<br />

across the horse’s back.<br />

Breathing<br />

Easier<br />

OSU VETERINARY HOSPITAL<br />

ACQUIRES A DYNAMIC<br />

RESPIRATORY SCOPE<br />

Horse owners can breathe a little easier if their horse is having<br />

respiratory problems. Equine veterinary specialists at OSU’s<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Hospital recently acquired a dynamic respiratory<br />

scope to help better view the respiratory track of horses.<br />

dynamic respiratory scope or DRS will<br />

allow us to better assess the upper respiratory<br />

track of performance horses,” explains “The<br />

Daniel Burba, DVM, Diplomate of the American College<br />

of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Surgeons, professor of equine surgery<br />

and the McCasland Professor in Biomedical Laser<br />

Surgery at OSU’s <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Hospital. “The<br />

DRS will be a valuable tool in assessing whether the<br />

problem is in the throat area.”<br />

Burba says horses’ respiratory tract can be subject<br />

to a variety of problems, including a collapsed throat.<br />

The new DRS system can help diagnose such things<br />

as roarer (paralysis of the flapper in the throat), displacement<br />

of the soft pallet and problems with the<br />

epiglottis.<br />

The DRS system is portable and worn across the<br />

horse’s back and can fit under a regular saddle. A<br />

scope is placed up the horse’s nose and a transmitter<br />

projects images from the horse’s throat onto a portable<br />

computer screen.<br />

“This system allows us to watch a performance horse<br />

‘work’ in real time and assess its respiratory track simultaneously,”<br />

says Burba. “You can ride the horse or put<br />

it on a lunge line. The DRS system records the respiratory<br />

track activity even as you watch it live on the<br />

screen. So if you want, you can review it after the<br />

horse has exercised.”<br />

Burba used the DRS system in his former position<br />

at Louisiana State University’s School of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Medicine and thought it would be a great tool for<br />

Oklahoma State to offer clients.<br />

VIDEO: http://okla.st/1jqBmqJ<br />

6 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


A Brighter<br />

Operation<br />

SMALL ANIMAL SURGERY<br />

GETS NEW LIGHTS<br />

Thanks to the generosity of grateful clients,<br />

alumni and referring veterinarians, all<br />

three small animal surgery suites at OSU’s<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Hospital look brighter<br />

with brand-new lighting.<br />

“Our current lights were circa 1981, and this upgrade gives us state-of-the-art<br />

operating room lighting,” says Dr. Mark Neer, director of the hospital.<br />

“In addition, each new light has a camera attached so that teaching,<br />

videotaping surgeries and surgery resident training will all be enhanced.”<br />

The donors who made this possible are David Traub, M.D.,<br />

of Tulsa, Avis and Phil Scaramucci of Oklahoma City, and Drs.<br />

Bob Shoup and Steve Weir of Catoosa, Okla.<br />

In February 2014, Traub brought his German shepherd,<br />

Samantha, who had knee issues, to the small animal clinic.<br />

After suffering an ACL rupture, Samantha needed surgery.<br />

Small animal surgeons leveled the dog’s tibial plateau to<br />

prevent her tibia from sliding, giving her a more stable joint<br />

even without her cruciate ligament.<br />

“I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have an animal care<br />

center of such excellence for my dogs,” Traub says.<br />

The Scaramuccis have been friends of the veterinary center<br />

since 2008. Three of their seven farm dogs have visited<br />

the hospital — Frosty, an English pointer; Milla, a German<br />

shepherd; and Sadie, a mixed breed. Their love for their dogs<br />

inspired them to consistently donate to small animal needs<br />

at OSU’s <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Hospital, including a recent gift<br />

to the underwater treadmill project.<br />

Having earned their DVM degrees from OSU, Shoup (’82)<br />

and Weir (’80) know the value of the hands-on experience<br />

students gain during their fourth year of veterinary college.<br />

To ensure that tradition continues, these veterinarians refer<br />

cases to the hospital and support scholarships and equipment<br />

needs.<br />

The gifts from these donors totaled $40,000, approximately<br />

half of the total project cost of $90,000 to remove the old surgical<br />

lights and install the new, more efficient lights.<br />

“We cannot thank our donors enough,” says Neer. “We perform<br />

approximately 725 small animal surgeries a year — just<br />

think of the animals and owner lives that these gifts will touch<br />

in the days to come. Thank you so much.”<br />

To support the <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Hospital or the<br />

Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences as a whole,<br />

contact the OSU Foundation at 405-385-5607.<br />

“… JUST THINK OF THE ANIMALS<br />

AND OWNER LIVES THAT THESE<br />

GIFTS WILL TOUCH IN THE DAYS<br />

TO COME. THANK YOU SO MUCH.”<br />

PHOTOS / OSU VETERINARY MEDICAL HOSPITAL<br />

Generous donations replaced these<br />

old lights in small animal surgery.<br />

— DR. MARK NEER<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 7


GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

An Honor for Keen Eyes<br />

NJAA’S AWARD BEGAN WITH SIMPLE OBSERVATIONS<br />

IT ALL STARTED WITH A SIMPLE REQUEST.<br />

Brad Njaa, DVM, DACVP, an associate professor in OSU’s Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health<br />

Sciences Department of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Pathobiology and in the Oklahoma Animal Disease<br />

Diagnostic Laboratory, was asked to write a chapter on the ear for the Pathologic Basis of<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Disease, fifth edition by James F. Zachary and M. Donald McGavin. In preparation,<br />

he opened nearly every middle ear in dogs and cats that crossed his necropsy table —<br />

and noticing things that had not been recognized before, which led to research, which<br />

resulted in the <strong>2015</strong> C. L. Davis Journal Award.<br />

Each year the award is given to <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Pathology authors of pieces that:<br />

• Advance significantly the area of knowledge covered by the manuscript.<br />

• Demonstrate exemplary scientific techniques and scholarly conceptions.<br />

• Demonstrate technical excellence in the text, figures and tables.<br />

“I consider this a wonderful honor primarily<br />

because it largely involved clarifying a poorly<br />

understood area that was based on observations<br />

in the necropsy room that were incongruent<br />

with current thought or recent publications,”<br />

says Njaa.<br />

In 2009 a study found that only 59 or 1.7 percent<br />

of 3,442 examined cats had otitis media.<br />

Feeling that otitis media might be underreported,<br />

Njaa enlisted the help of Dr. Mee Ja<br />

Sula, an anatomic pathology resident at OSU<br />

at the time, to examine that hypothesis.<br />

“Histologic characterization of the cat middle<br />

ear: in sickness and in health” was authored<br />

by Drs. Mee Ja Sula, Brad Njaa and Mark Payton.<br />

It did not require any molecular tests, just<br />

detailed observation. Njaa hopes it will lead to<br />

more investigation of otic disease.<br />

“The first cat I worked on had otitis media,<br />

defined as inflammation of the middle ear,” says<br />

Njaa. “I found the cat dead alongside the road.<br />

Without any medical history on the cat, I can’t<br />

confirm it; however, I surmise that the cat met<br />

its death because it was having trouble navigating<br />

due to the discomfort in its middle ear.”<br />

The research was partially funded by the<br />

Roger J. Panciera Pathology Educational Fund.<br />

The images in the publication were taken with<br />

an Aperio digital microscope in OSU’s Department<br />

of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Pathobiology. Near the end<br />

of the project, the veterinary center’s Research<br />

Advisory Committee provided support through<br />

the Research Equipment and Development<br />

fund for a digital stereomicroscope imaging<br />

system that depicted images of the middle ear,<br />

specifically the relationship between the stapes<br />

and the facial canal foramen where the facial<br />

nerve lacks a bony covering and is exposed to<br />

the middle ear compartment.<br />

8 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


PHOTO / CENTER FOR VETERINARY HEALTH SCIENCES<br />

“We looked at 50 cats for a total of 100 ears,”<br />

Njaa says. “A total of 48 ears, nearly 50 percent,<br />

showed lesions of previous or ongoing otitis<br />

media. This is a much higher occurrence than<br />

the 2009 study reported.”<br />

Otitis media can cause discomfort and irritation<br />

that could result in behavioral issues.<br />

“Middle ear inflammation can lead to facial<br />

neuritis, which could lead to abnormal posture<br />

of the ear pinna. The common misconception<br />

is middle ear inflammation leads to head tilt<br />

but that is a reflection of internal ear inflammation,<br />

not middle ear,” says Njaa. “If both ears<br />

are affected, it can lead to a very subtle sign of<br />

the cat extending its neck.”<br />

Because the changes in the cat’s behavior<br />

are subtle, owners might not pick up on them.<br />

“We did discover that unlike dogs where otitis<br />

media is secondary to otitis externa, in cats<br />

there is not a single case of otitis externa,” he<br />

says. “In the cat, otitis media is thought to occur<br />

primarily as a sequela of upper respiratory<br />

tract disease. This often occurs as a direct consequence<br />

of bacteria from the nasopharynx or<br />

simply auditory (Eustachian) tube dysfunction.<br />

“When talking about the ear, I am referring<br />

to the middle and inner ear compartments.<br />

Because of the bony shell, complex anatomy<br />

and delicate sensory apparatus, few articles<br />

address the pathology of this compartment<br />

in common veterinary journals. When dogs<br />

and cats were used as animal models of otic<br />

pathology in toxicity studies or methods that<br />

mimicked diseases in humans (sound-induced<br />

hearing loss), these studies were buried in specialized<br />

journals not commonly referenced by<br />

veterinarians.”<br />

Njaa’s findings are being included in several<br />

book chapters including Jubb, Kennedy and<br />

Palmer’s Pathology Domestic Animals, G. Maxie<br />

ed, sixth edition <strong>2015</strong>; Zachary and McGavin’s<br />

Pathologic Basis of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Disease, fifth edition<br />

2012, and a sixth edition 2016; and Tumors in<br />

Domestic Animals, D. Meuten, fifth edition 2016.<br />

“There needs to be greater attention paid to<br />

cats with the possibility of otitis media being<br />

more prevalent than once assumed,” Njaa says.<br />

“A problem for practitioners is the lack of clinical<br />

disease or very subtle signs associated with<br />

bilateral otitis media. Most people associate a<br />

head tilt with otitis media, but that actually<br />

is a sign that refers to otitis interna affecting<br />

the cranial nerve VIII or the vestibulocochlear<br />

nerve. Furthermore, otitis media may cause<br />

drooping ears related to facial nerve paralysis<br />

(cranial nerve VII). The droopy ears may be<br />

due to chronic, bilateral otitis media necessitating<br />

imaging studies and appropriate therapy<br />

before it becomes more serious and leads<br />

to otitis interna or meningitis.”<br />

According to Njaa, studies have investigated<br />

upper respiratory disease (rhinitis) in cats leading<br />

to meningitis by traversing the nasal cavity.<br />

These studies did not investigate middle<br />

ears for disease.<br />

“I presume that at least some of the cats with<br />

chronic rhinitis may have had dysfunctional<br />

auditory tubes (Eustachian tubes) that could<br />

have initially led to otitis media followed by<br />

otitis interna and meningitis. This is an area<br />

that has not been pursued and one that I would<br />

love to investigate.”<br />

To read Dr. Njaa’s research in full,<br />

visit okla.st/1Poq180.<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 9


Breeding Options<br />

NEW TCI UNIT GIVES DOG OWNERS HEALTHIER AID CHOICES<br />

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY LAWSON<br />

Thanks to a new transcervical insemination (TCI) unit, the theriogenology veterinary<br />

specialists at OSU’s <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Hospital can do several nonsurgical procedures<br />

on dogs to aid the breeding process.<br />

CANDACE LYMAN<br />

“This compact, portable transcervical<br />

insemination unit from<br />

MOFA Global finally allows us to<br />

perform frozen semen breedings,<br />

chilled semen breedings and endometrial<br />

biopsies in the dog nonsurgically.<br />

Not having to put a dog<br />

under anesthesia is a huge benefit<br />

to its overall well-being,” says Candace<br />

Lyman, DVM, DACT, assistant<br />

professor of theriogenology.<br />

“Other treatment options provided<br />

to us by this equipment include<br />

uterine lavage and, in some cases,<br />

treatment of the serious condition,<br />

pyometra in the intact female without<br />

the requirement of surgery.”<br />

This advanced system is relatively<br />

new. In the past, veterinarians<br />

used equipment from the human<br />

side of medicine but endoscopes<br />

designed for human uses had limitations<br />

in animals.<br />

The TCI unit utilizes transcervical<br />

endoscopes that are more flexible<br />

than traditional scopes and<br />

have a larger inner diameter for use<br />

with additional equipment. The<br />

handle design is streamlined with<br />

portals for the light source for the<br />

camera/endoscope all in one cord.<br />

It has Wi-Fi capability for teaching<br />

purposes. The procedure can be<br />

streamed to an audience (the client,<br />

veterinary students, etc.) who<br />

can watch the procedure being performed.<br />

The system can also document<br />

the procedure with still<br />

pictures and video.<br />

Both Lyman and Reed Holyoak,<br />

DVM, Ph.D., DACT, have trained<br />

at the MOFA Global International<br />

Center for Biotechnology,<br />

in Mount Horeb, Wis., on using<br />

the equipment.<br />

“We are beyond excited to have<br />

the ability to provide services to<br />

our clients, and to the valued clients<br />

of our referring veterinarians,<br />

utilizing this new equipment,”<br />

Lyman says. “This equipment has<br />

made surgical intervention and<br />

general anesthesia previously utilized<br />

to perform breeding procedures<br />

and diagnostic tests on<br />

subfertile breeding bitches unnecessary;<br />

technology such as this<br />

enables us to vastly improve the<br />

quality of care offered at OSU.”<br />

Lyman and Betsy Coffman, DVM,<br />

MS, DACT, will use this equipment<br />

in research projects geared toward<br />

improving offered advanced reproductive<br />

technologies in dogs and<br />

small ruminants.<br />

For assistance<br />

with breeding your<br />

dog, contact the<br />

theriogenology group at<br />

405-744-7000, ext. 1.<br />

“NOT HAVING TO<br />

PUT A DOG UNDER<br />

ANESTHESIA IS A<br />

HUGE BENEFIT TO ITS<br />

OVERALL WELL-BEING.”<br />

— DR. CANDACE LYMAN<br />

Dr. Brandon<br />

Gates (left),<br />

resident in<br />

theriogenology,<br />

and Dr. Lyman<br />

prepare to perform<br />

an artificial<br />

insemination<br />

utilizing the new<br />

Flexicam Mobile<br />

Pro TCI unit.<br />

10 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


‘AN AMAZING EFFECT’<br />

DR. LITTLE DETAILS BENEFITS OF PETS FOR PEOPLE AT <strong>2015</strong> TEDx<br />

Dr. Susan Little, a Regents Professor<br />

who holds the Krull-Ewing Endowed Chair<br />

in <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Parasitology and is the co-director<br />

of the National Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Parasitology at OSU, is passionate about<br />

improving the health of pets and people<br />

by understanding and controlling parasites<br />

and vector-borne diseases in dogs and cats.<br />

She spoke on “The Human-Animal Bond” for<br />

the Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences<br />

at the <strong>2015</strong> TEDxOStateU.<br />

“Pets make our lives better. They have<br />

an amazing effect on us — reducing anxiety,<br />

depression, decreasing blood pressure,<br />

even reducing the incidence of allergy<br />

and asthma,” said Little. “And we love our<br />

pets. In fact, recent surveys show that the<br />

majority of dog and cat owners in the<br />

United States sleep with a pet in the bed<br />

with them.”<br />

Little went on to say that because of the<br />

close relationship people have with pets,<br />

it is important to practice effective parasite<br />

control to keep pets and their owners<br />

healthy. Thanks to advancements in veterinary<br />

medicine, it is now easier to control<br />

common parasites such as fleas and ticks,<br />

which makes pets healthier and reduces<br />

transmission of severe diseases.<br />

To view her entire TEDx talk,<br />

visit okla.st/1Rdig1P.<br />

Dr. Susan Little speaks<br />

at the <strong>2015</strong> TEDxOstateU.<br />

PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 11


Treading a New Path<br />

CALF GETS WATER EXERCISE TO HELP HER FRONT LEGS<br />

At OSU’s <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Hospital,<br />

the order for New Year’s Eve —<br />

like any other night — is treating<br />

emergency patients.<br />

ALL PHOTOS / PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

Patient history<br />

The 4-day-old Brahman heifer calf was brought to<br />

OSU’s <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Hospital on Dec. 31, her body<br />

temperature 10 degrees lower than normal and refusing<br />

to take a bottle.<br />

“Diana asked me what her name was,” owner Bill<br />

Martell of Jacktown, Okla., recalls. “I told her she didn’t<br />

have one and that if she saved her, she could name her.<br />

They named her Evelyn, Evie for short because it was<br />

New Year’s Eve.”<br />

“When a calf’s temperature drops below 101 degrees,<br />

it can’t thermo-regulate and keep warm,” says Dr. Melanie<br />

Boileau, food animal medicine and surgery section<br />

chief. “We warmed Evie up and treated her for dehydration,<br />

abomasitis (inflammation of the inner lining of the<br />

stomach), diarrhea with secondary metabolic acidosis, or<br />

increased acidity in her blood, and pneumonia. We eventually<br />

gave Evie a feeding tube to get some nutrients into<br />

her system until we could teach her to drink from a bottle.”<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinarians also noticed something was wrong with<br />

her two front legs.<br />

12 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


“Evie has laxity in her flexor tendons,” Boileau<br />

says. “Her tendons are too loose and in a<br />

constant state of extension. We put splints (initially)<br />

then casts on her legs to give her support,<br />

hoping that as she grows, the problem<br />

will self-correct.”<br />

Evie was discharged on Jan. 16, still wearing<br />

casts on her front legs. Martell later brought<br />

Evie back to OSU’s <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Hospital<br />

to have the casts removed and her legs checked<br />

by Dr. Robert Streeter, associate professor of<br />

food animal medicine and surgery.<br />

“Evie’s legs still needed support, so we put new<br />

casts on and sent her home,” says Streeter. “We<br />

told Mr. Martell to take the casts off in 10 days.”<br />

He did. Still, it wasn’t long before Evie was<br />

back at OSU.<br />

“When Evie returned on Feb. 15, I felt her legs<br />

had worsened and decided to consult with Dr.<br />

Michael Schoonover, one of our equine veterinary<br />

surgeons and sports medicine rehabilitation<br />

specialists,” says Streeter.<br />

In addition, Streeter brought in Dr. Lara Sypniewski,<br />

a certified veterinary medical acupuncturist<br />

who works primarily with small animals<br />

and uses a variety of modalities.<br />

“This is what is so exciting about bringing<br />

your animals to OSU for treatment,” says Sypniewski.<br />

“We have all these experts here who<br />

can collaborate about each client’s animal. The<br />

three of us went over Evie’s case and discussed<br />

the best options.”<br />

Martell was given three choices: 1) euthanize<br />

Evie; 2) treat her with underwater treadmill<br />

exercise, electric stimulation and anabolic<br />

steroids; or 3) fuse her knee joints, making her<br />

stiff-legged.<br />

“I told them if we do option 1, we won’t know<br />

if 2 or 3 work,” says Martel. “If we do option 3,<br />

we won’t know if 2 will work. So let’s start with<br />

option 2 and see where it goes. If it doesn’t work,<br />

we will still have two choices left.”<br />

“THIS IS WHAT IS SO<br />

EXCITING ABOUT<br />

BRINGING YOUR<br />

ANIMALS TO OSU<br />

FOR TREATMENT. WE<br />

HAVE ALL THESE<br />

EXPERTS HERE WHO<br />

CAN COLLABORATE<br />

ABOUT EACH<br />

CLIENT’S ANIMAL.”<br />

— DR. LARA SYPNIEWSKI<br />

(RIGHT, WITH EVIE)<br />

Making <strong>Vet</strong>erinary History<br />

Sypniewski’s rehabilitation center has an<br />

underwater treadmill that will hold up to a<br />

250-pound animal — usually dogs use it. It had<br />

never held a calf before Evie arrived.<br />

“I don’t think any other veterinary college<br />

has treated a calf with underwater therapy; it’s<br />

a first, and we’re glad her owner was willing<br />

to try this different approach,” says Sypniewski.<br />

“Evie weighs 125 pounds, so the treadmill can<br />

easily accommodate her.”<br />

Housed in the food animal barn, Evie had to<br />

get from one side of the hospital to the other<br />

on slippery floors. She ended up being wheeled<br />

through the hospital in a moving crate.<br />

“It was a learning process for sure,” says Dr.<br />

Megan Downing, a food animal medicine and<br />

surgery intern. “We put foam noodles (like people<br />

use in the water) on each side of Evie so she<br />

would stay on the moving track and away from<br />

the sides of the treadmill. A student would put<br />

on waders and get in the tank to keep Evie from<br />

sliding into the back of the tank.”<br />

A special life jacket was secured around her.<br />

“Brahman cattle tend to lie down when they<br />

are stressed,” says Downing. “Once she started to<br />

lie down, Evie discovered she could float with<br />

the life jacket on, which defeated the purpose,<br />

so we had to take it off her.”<br />

In addition, Evie’s rehabilitation included<br />

electrical stimulation. Gradually, Evie built<br />

up her stamina and was discharged March 23.<br />

Martell will bring her in for checkups to<br />

monitor her progress. Evie’s case will probably<br />

be the subject of a future journal publication so<br />

that other veterinarians may learn from OSU’s<br />

experience treating tendon laxity in a calf using<br />

an underwater treadmill, electrical stimulation<br />

and anabolic steroids.<br />

DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR<br />

To watch a video on Evie,<br />

visit okla.st/1M4fknZ<br />

THE TEAM<br />

Throughout Evie’s stay at OSU’s <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Medical Hospital, these people played an<br />

important role in her rehabilitation:<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinarians<br />

• Dr. Melanie Boileau<br />

• Dr. Robert Streeter<br />

<br />

• Dr. Lara Sypniewski<br />

• Dr. Megan Downing<br />

<br />

• Dr. Michael Schoonover<br />

• Dr. Chase Whitfield<br />

Fourth-year veterinary students<br />

• Diana Pirolo<br />

• Sarah Fry<br />

<br />

<br />

• Cynthia Smith<br />

• Celena Quist<br />

Cynthia Smith, above, a fourth-year<br />

veterinary student, towels Evie off after an<br />

underwater treadmill therapy session.<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 13


Rosie and her owner, Shelley Wilmoth.<br />

Jumping and Playing Again<br />

ROSIE THE DACHSHUND GETS BACK TO A DOG’S GOOD LIFE AFTER SURGERY<br />

PHOTOS BY THE CENTER FOR VETERINARY HEALTH SCIENCES<br />

Shelley Wilmoth of Fayetteville, Ark., has a soft spot for Dachshunds, as proven by<br />

her rescues: two male Dachshunds and a long-haired girl named Rosie Claire.<br />

“Rosie is approximately 2 years old,” Wilmoth says. “When we adopted her in the fall of 2014 from<br />

Fayetteville’s Washington County Shelter, she had a bad back and could only walk a little bit. We took<br />

her to a veterinarian and an x-ray showed she has a pellet in her chest. So at some point in her life, she<br />

was shot with a pellet gun. She has probably had a hard time.”<br />

14 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


But things are looking up for Rosie. Wilmoth<br />

brought Rosie to Oklahoma State University’s<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Hospital in February<br />

<strong>2015</strong> to see if the dog was a good candidate for<br />

percutaneous laser disc ablation surgery. The<br />

surgery, a prophylactic procedure developed by<br />

Dr. Kenneth Bartels, emeritus professor, lessens<br />

the risk of intervertebral disk rupture in dogs.<br />

It is performed only on dogs that are currently<br />

free of back pain; some have had prior episodes<br />

of pain or paralysis while others are at risk for<br />

disk rupture. Without the procedure, up to 40<br />

percent of dogs face more back pain or paralysis.<br />

“The disc is like a jelly donut with a tough<br />

outer layer and jelly-like material on the inside,”<br />

explains Mark Rochat, DVM, MS, Diplomate of<br />

the American College of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Surgeons<br />

and former small animal surgery section chief<br />

at OSU’s <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Hospital. “We<br />

insert a needle into each disc that needs treatment,<br />

then insert a laser fiber through the needle.<br />

Laser energy is delivered through the fiber<br />

to ‘burn away’ the inside (jelly) material so that<br />

it cannot rupture through the outer layer, compress<br />

the spinal cord and cause pain or paralysis.<br />

It’s a minimally invasive procedure with<br />

no surgical opening, just the tiny holes made<br />

by the needles.”<br />

Rosie was a good candidate for the laser surgery,<br />

and so she was treated. She spent one night<br />

in the hospital and was crate-contained while<br />

recovering at home for a few weeks.<br />

“I think it will definitely help her quality of<br />

life,” adds Wilmoth. “Right now, we don’t let her<br />

sprint across the yard. We don’t let her jump up<br />

on furniture. We have ramps in the house and<br />

out to the yard even though it is just two steps<br />

off the deck. She needs to be a normal dog; I’m<br />

hoping surgery will do that.”<br />

“The length of surgery varies from dog to<br />

dog,” Rochat says. “The needle placement is<br />

the unknown factor; sometimes it takes longer<br />

than other times to place them. Firing the<br />

laser is 40 seconds for each needle with time in<br />

between to double check the placement. Rosie<br />

had eight needles.”<br />

The laser<br />

goes into<br />

one of<br />

the eight<br />

needles.<br />

Dr. Mark Rochat places needles in Rosie during<br />

her percutaneous laser disc ablation surgery.<br />

Rosie’s procedure took about an hour. Even<br />

though Wilmoth’s friends have had the procedure<br />

done on their dogs with great success, she<br />

was still anxious about Rosie’s operation.<br />

“It was elective surgery, so it was very difficult<br />

for us to do this. Even though it was elective,<br />

I feel like it was not elective in the sense if<br />

I wanted Rosie to have a normal dog life. She<br />

wants to be able to play with other dogs. She has<br />

two brothers, and they don’t play a whole lot. If<br />

you have ever seen a Dachshund with back pain,<br />

their nose is to the ground and their back is<br />

hunched, and you know it’s extremely painful.”<br />

Wilmoth says veterinarians told her Rosie<br />

did great.<br />

“The doctors and staff are wonderful,” she says.<br />

“They explained the risks, the process of what<br />

they were going to do and they communicated<br />

with me. I was in contact with the veterinary<br />

student on the case a lot, which was wonderful.<br />

They called me after surgery and said Rosie<br />

came out of anesthesia, walked around and<br />

went to the bathroom. … It was a success and<br />

I’m glad we did it.”<br />

DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR<br />

For more information on laser disc<br />

surgery, contact Oklahoma State<br />

University’s <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical<br />

Hospital at 405-744-7000, ext. 1.<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 15


During a follow-up visit,<br />

Abby waits for an exam.<br />

Doggy Dialysis<br />

DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR / CVHS<br />

PUPPY GETS SECOND CHANCE WITH TREATMENT AT OSU<br />

Abby, an English golden<br />

retriever puppy, became<br />

deathly ill only 10 days after<br />

she joined the Ashcraft family of<br />

Edmond, Okla.<br />

“I noticed that Abby wasn’t eating<br />

and that she felt extremely warm,” says<br />

Shasta Ashcraft. “We took Abby to<br />

our normal vet, Britton Road <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Clinic in Oklahoma City. They<br />

kept her through the day and monitored<br />

her. Her values weren’t right,<br />

and her kidney function didn’t look<br />

good. They asked if I wanted to take<br />

her home for the night since nobody<br />

would be there with her 24/7. I was<br />

out of town and wasn’t comfortable<br />

with that so that evening, my<br />

mom actually drove to Oklahoma<br />

City, picked her up and brought her<br />

to OSU.”<br />

Dr. Lydia Gentry with the <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Medical Hospital’s emergency<br />

service quickly found that Abby had<br />

elevated kidney values, meaning her<br />

kidneys were not working properly.<br />

Abby was given IV fluids and some<br />

antibiotics but by morning, her kidneys<br />

had completely shut down.<br />

“Abby was diagnosed with a bacterial<br />

infection called leptospirosis,”<br />

says Dr. Shane Lyon, assistant professor<br />

of small animal internal medicine<br />

at OSU’s <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical<br />

Hospital. “Leptospirosis is a bacteria<br />

that is transmitted through the urine<br />

of infected animals, particularly rats,<br />

possums, raccoons, things like that<br />

in the environment. When dogs are<br />

exposed to the urine, this bacterial<br />

infection infects their bloodstream<br />

initially, then settles into their kidneys<br />

and causes kidney damage.”<br />

With her kidneys not working,<br />

Abby’s body had no way to rid itself<br />

of toxins. Her team of veterinary specialists<br />

included Drs. Lyon and Kelly<br />

Sesemann in small animal internal<br />

medicine, Dr. Sabrina Reilly in anesthesia,<br />

Drs. Mark Rochat and Brandy<br />

Cichocki in small animal surgery,<br />

several veterinary technicians and<br />

assistants, and fourth-year veterinary<br />

student Rebecca Dallam.<br />

“We used a specific kind of dialysis<br />

on Abby called peritoneal dialysis,”<br />

says Lyon. “We surgically placed<br />

a tube into her abdomen and infused<br />

sterile product into her abdomen.<br />

We allowed that to sit for a period<br />

of time using her body to draw out<br />

those toxins that should be removed<br />

from the kidneys and then removed<br />

that fluid from her abdomen. That<br />

cycle was repeated every hour for the<br />

first 24 hours.”<br />

Abby undergoes dialysis while<br />

wearing a stockinette bandage.<br />

PHOTO / CVHS<br />

16 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


Abby went from making no urine<br />

to making too much urine. Housed<br />

in the hospital’s Kirkpatrick Foundation<br />

Small Animal Critical Care<br />

Unit, she received round-the-clock<br />

care for 14 days.<br />

“One thing that I have been so<br />

happy with as a pet owner is just<br />

the attention to detail and the care<br />

and the true love that Abby has<br />

received,” says Ashcraft. “I have constantly<br />

received updates by phone in<br />

the mornings and in the evenings letting<br />

me know how things are going. I<br />

didn’t even know before I walked in<br />

this place that dogs could receive dialysis.<br />

The fact that they were willing to<br />

go the distance, as long as I was giving<br />

them permission to go the distance,<br />

should make anybody say, ‘This is the<br />

place I should go when I need help.’”<br />

“Her prognosis at this point is<br />

pretty good to excellent,” says Lyon.<br />

“Her kidney values have pretty much<br />

normalized. I do think the only<br />

reason Abby was successful in her<br />

treatment was because of the team<br />

approach that we have at Oklahoma<br />

State. And that involves a lot of different<br />

people, including really good,<br />

dedicated owners that were observant<br />

of their dog and brought her to her<br />

primary care veterinarian in a timely<br />

fashion. The primary care veterinarian,<br />

who recognized the severity of<br />

her disease and immediately referred<br />

her for further care. That care was continued<br />

by our emergency service and<br />

then by our internal medicine and<br />

surgery services for dialysis.”<br />

Abby has returned to the hospital<br />

for a couple of follow-up visits.<br />

“Abby is producing sufficient<br />

amounts of urine, and her kidney<br />

enzymes have returned back to normal.<br />

We will just have to monitor<br />

those over time to see how much<br />

damage was done,” says Lyon.<br />

“To bring her in the state that<br />

she was and then be able to pick<br />

her up and the progress that we’ve<br />

made in the last two weeks is just<br />

uncanny,” says Ashcraft. “It’s an amazing<br />

response to the way that she’s<br />

healed. And being a normal puppy,<br />

and running and jumping, being into<br />

everything and destroying everything,<br />

I just never thought we’d get back to<br />

this point.”<br />

DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR / CVHS<br />

Abby shows Rebecca Dallam<br />

how grateful she is for her<br />

life-saving treatment at OSU’s<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Hospital.<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 17


… WE LOVE<br />

OUR EVIL CAT!”<br />

— STACY SHOUSE<br />

A Brain-Tumor Bully<br />

GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

MIKEY’S SUDDEN TURN TOWARD PEACE BRINGS OWNERS TO OSU FOR HELP<br />

Most pet owners would be thrilled if their “bully” animal turned over a new leaf.<br />

But Mikey’s owners knew something was wrong.<br />

Mikey lives in Tulsa, Okla., with his owners,<br />

Stacy and Drew Shouse, and two other<br />

cats — Sheridan and Odin. Stacy Shouse calls<br />

Mikey a bully, saying the fluffy, 11-year-old cat<br />

would purr and lure people close — then slap<br />

would-be admirers in the face. Mikey even<br />

sent both Sheridan and Odin to the veterinarian<br />

on separate occasions. But in March,<br />

that all changed.<br />

“Mikey stopped attacking his siblings and<br />

started stumbling around, walking in circles<br />

and staring at the wall,” Stacy recalls. Totally<br />

out of Mikey’s character, Stacy and Drew<br />

decided to have him checked out at OSU’s<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Hospital. Dr. Shane Lyon,<br />

small animal internal medicine, first saw<br />

Mikey and ordered an MRI.<br />

“The MRI showed a huge mass on Mikey’s<br />

brain,” says Dr. Mark Rochat, former small<br />

animal surgery section chief. “It was about<br />

the size of a large grape and was pressing<br />

on the cat’s brain, which basically affected<br />

Mikey’s behavior.”<br />

Mikey was not a fan<br />

of the cone he had to<br />

wear after his brain<br />

surgery at OSU’s<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical<br />

Hospital.<br />

18 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


“We struggled with the decision to<br />

have surgery because of his age and the<br />

risk of complications,” says Stacy. “However,<br />

I so enjoyed the rare occasion when<br />

he would curl up in my lap. Or when I<br />

was sick or injured, he had to be close<br />

to make sure I was OK, even if it meant<br />

beating up the other cats to get a good<br />

spot. Every time Drew was out of town<br />

or deployed, … Mikey would wait hours<br />

by the door before giving up and going<br />

on to bed. So we decided to move forward<br />

with the surgery.” Drew is a member<br />

of the Tulsa Air National Guard,<br />

138th Fighter Wing, 125th Fighter<br />

Squadron.<br />

Mikey’s surgery took about an hour.<br />

“This type of tumor is one of the easier<br />

types to deal with. Mikey came through<br />

surgery without any lasting problems,”<br />

adds Rochat — but with another change<br />

of behavior.<br />

“Mikey came through surgery great.<br />

He hated the cone around his neck<br />

with a passion but the weird thing is,<br />

Mikey is not attacking his siblings and<br />

is quite the lover,” Stacy says. “We hope<br />

this mellow side of him stays but even<br />

if it doesn’t, he is still a keeper — we<br />

love our evil cat!”<br />

“Mikey is doing great,” she continues,<br />

several weeks later. “Although he isn’t<br />

beating up on his siblings, Mikey has<br />

started growling and hissing, which may<br />

be a sign of things to come.” If Mikey’s<br />

softer side gives way to his original personality,<br />

sibling cats and visitors to the<br />

Shouse household beware — Mikey has<br />

been known to slap.<br />

For more information on OSU’s<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Hospital,<br />

visit www.cvhs.okstate.edu or<br />

call 405-744-7000.<br />

Drs. Mark Rochat and Brandi Cichocki,<br />

small animal surgery resident, watch owner<br />

Drew Shouse cuddle Mikey.<br />

GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 19


Robert Tanguay, Ph.D.<br />

Research for All<br />

PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

FIRST INTERDISCIPLINARY TOXICOLOGY SYMPOSIUM HEARS FROM STUDENTS AND EXPERTS<br />

BY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR<br />

Toxicology research is key to protecting human, animal and environmental health.<br />

The First Interdisciplinary Toxicology Symposium included presentations from graduate<br />

students and industry and government experts, and the 15th Sitlington Lecture in Toxicology.<br />

Organized by Carey Pope, Ph.D.,<br />

Regents Professor and Sitlington<br />

Chair in Toxicology at OSU’s Center<br />

for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences, the event featured<br />

speakers from multiple backgrounds and<br />

experiences, all focusing on various aspects of<br />

toxicology research.<br />

CVHS Dean Jean Sander, DVM, and Graduate<br />

College Dean Sheryl Tucker, Ph.D., who<br />

is also interim vice president for research, welcomed<br />

attendees as well.<br />

Pope moderated the 15th Sitlington Lecture<br />

in Toxicology. This year’s presenter was Robert<br />

Tanguay, Ph.D., from the Department of<br />

Environmental and Molecular Toxicology and<br />

director of the Sinnhuber Aquatic Research<br />

Laboratory in the Environmental Health Sciences<br />

Center at Oregon State University. Tanguay<br />

presented “High Throughput Assessment<br />

of Bioactivity Using Zebrafish: High Content<br />

Data for the 21st Century.”<br />

“Dr. Tanguay is a molecular toxicologist who<br />

has been instrumental in the development<br />

of the zebrafish as a model for toxicological<br />

research in order to improve human and environmental<br />

health,” says Pope.<br />

Tanguay says that the main challenge in<br />

the field of toxicology is that there are too<br />

many chemicals to evaluate using traditional<br />

approaches.<br />

20 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

The inaugural recipients of graduate fellowships in Interdisciplinary Toxicology joined professors at the Interdisplinary Toxicology<br />

Symposium. From left are Manushree Bharadawaj, Shane Morrison, Dr. David Wallace, Adam Simpson, Dr. Carey Pope, Patrick<br />

Cusaac, Dr. Loren Smith and Chris Goodchild.<br />

“There are 50,000 to 90,000 individual compounds<br />

in commerce that we are exposed to,”<br />

he says. “Then you add on the fact that we are<br />

always exposed to chemicals in complex mixtures<br />

and these mixtures are constantly changing.<br />

This results in a nearly infinite number of<br />

possible chemical exposures.”<br />

But Tanguay says it isn’t all gloom and doom.<br />

The goal is to use structural and mechanistic<br />

information from large numbers of chemicals<br />

in order to predict chemical toxicity of all<br />

chemicals. This information can be used to regulate<br />

chemical use, but perhaps more importantly,<br />

will help to design safer products.<br />

Tanguay uses the zebrafish model because it<br />

is amenable to large-scale studies.<br />

OSU’s Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program<br />

fosters collaborative research on toxicity among<br />

faculty from different disciplines and supports<br />

the training of students in the use of multidisciplinary<br />

concepts and approaches.<br />

Loren Smith, Ph.D., Regents<br />

Professor, head of the Department<br />

of Integrative Biology and co-director<br />

of the Interdisciplinary Toxicology<br />

Program, moderated the<br />

five graduate fellows’ presentations,<br />

which included:<br />

•ADAM SIMPSON, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Integrative Biology, presented<br />

“Utilizing Resurrection Ecology to Discover the Link Between Cultural Eutrophication and<br />

Xenobiotic Sensitivity.” Simpson studies Daphnia pulicaria, a freshwater zooplankton.<br />

Daphnia produce eggs that can remain viable in sediment for centuries. Simpson exposed<br />

a population of hatched Daphnia eggs to the insecticide chlorpyrifos in a series of acute<br />

toxicity tests, which found the resurrected organisms were more sensitive to chlorpyrifos.<br />

• PATRICK CUSAAC, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Integrative Biology, presented<br />

“Terrestrial Exposure and Effects of Headline AMP Fungicide on Amphibians.” Cusaac used<br />

agricultural areas in the Rainwater Basin of Nebraska to examine exposure and effects of<br />

Headline AMP fungicide to amphibians, specifically Bufo woodhousii ulicaria (toads) and<br />

Acris blanchardi (cricket frogs), during routine aerial treatment of corn (tassel stage). He<br />

determined that mortality appeared low under these conditions.<br />

• MANUSHREE BHARADWAJ, BVSc, a graduate teaching assistant and Ph.D. candidate<br />

in the Department of Physiological Sciences at the Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences,<br />

presented “Effects of the Cholinesterase Inhibitor Pyridostigmine on Autonomic Regulation<br />

of Cardiac Function.” The drug pyridostigmine has been used to control symptoms of<br />

progressive weakness and improve cardiac function in humans suffering heart failure. The<br />

current project is focused on developing an animal model of heart failure and studying the<br />

mechanism by which pyridostigmine is beneficial.<br />

• CHRISTOPHER GOODCHILD, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Integrative Biology,<br />

presented “Assessing the Bioenergetic Effects of Crude Oil in an Avian Model System.”<br />

Goodchild plans to use zebra finches to determine if birds, not visibly oiled, are affected by<br />

ingestion of crude oil.<br />

• SHANE MORRISON, a Ph.D. student also in Integrative Biology, presented “Development<br />

of Helisoma trivolvis Pond Snails as Bio-Monitoring Tools for Current Use Pesticides.”<br />

Morrison’s research focuses on methods for estimating environmental exposures that<br />

typically occur in short pulses.<br />

David Wallace, Ph.D.,<br />

professor of pharmacology and<br />

assistant dean for research at the<br />

OSU Center for Health Sciences in<br />

Tulsa, moderated the Toxicology<br />

in Safety Assessment section:<br />

• KEN OLIVIER, Ph.D., senior director of toxicology at Merrimack Pharmaceuticals,<br />

presented “Is it Safe? Toxicology in Therapeutic Development.” Olivier likened his job as a<br />

toxicologist to that of a risk assessor with an “it depends” approach to ensure high-quality<br />

generation and interpretation of data. “Drug-development toxicologists evaluate the<br />

effects of drug candidates in nonclinical animal studies to inform the benefits/risks to<br />

human patients,” he said. “We study the adverse effects of chemical, physical or biological<br />

agents on living organisms and the ecosystem and try to prevent and/or lessen such<br />

adverse effects.”<br />

•ANNA LOWIT, Ph.D., senior scientist, health effects division at the U.S. Environmental<br />

Protection Agency, presented “Toxicology in Risk Assessment: Pesticides.” According<br />

to Lowit, registration of pesticides for use in the U.S. requires extensive toxicology and<br />

exposure data. “We review the safety of pesticides and the effects of pesticides on human<br />

and ecological health.”<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 21


2014 CLASS OF 1963 DISTINGUISHED LECTURE<br />

Healthy Animals,<br />

INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT MAKES CASE FOR ONE HEALTH APPROACH<br />

PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

Dr. Edward Breitschwerdt and OSU CVHS Dean Dr. Jean Sander visit before the Class of 1963 Distinguished Lecture.<br />

The Class of 1963 Distinguished<br />

Lecturer, Edward<br />

Breitschwerdt, DVM,<br />

DACVIM, made a strong case for<br />

a total approach to medicine to<br />

approximately 200 veterinarians<br />

during OSU’s Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Health Sciences’ 2014 annual<br />

conference for veterinarians and<br />

veterinary technicians. An infectious<br />

disease expert, Breitschwerdt<br />

drew attention to one genus of bacteria<br />

in particular — Bartonella spp.<br />

Bartonella spp. causes such diseases<br />

as endocarditis (inflammation<br />

of the lining of the heart),<br />

granulomatous disease (malfunctioning<br />

immune system), chronic<br />

intravascular infection and vasoproliferative<br />

tumors. It has also been<br />

linked to Rocky Mountain spotted<br />

fever. It can be transmitted by sand<br />

flies, human body louses, rodent<br />

fleas and other insects.<br />

“Because approximately 75 percent<br />

of emerging infectious diseases<br />

are zoonoses, a One Health<br />

approach to bartonellosis and<br />

other zoonotic infections is needed<br />

to address animal health, public<br />

health and environmental factors<br />

that influence the distribution and<br />

transmission of these bacteria,” Breitschwerdt<br />

says. “The One Health<br />

concept has been around for 100<br />

years. It is an effort to bring veterinary<br />

medicine and human medicine<br />

more closely aligned to solve<br />

very complicated medical problems<br />

facing society today. I think<br />

by working together, we will get<br />

to the answers for society much<br />

quicker than working in our own<br />

individual silos. Furthermore, substantial<br />

research is needed to define<br />

the medical importance of this<br />

new genus as a cause of animal and<br />

human illness.”<br />

Research finds rodents, cats,<br />

dogs, wildlife and humans can be<br />

among the variety of Bartonella reservoir<br />

hosts, adding to the avenues<br />

where the bacteria can infect animals<br />

and humans.<br />

“It is important that veterinarians<br />

and the general public recognize<br />

that fleas that infect dogs and<br />

cats are not just an inconvenience,”<br />

he says. “Fleas are transmitting bacteria<br />

to animals and to people that<br />

can result in very chronic infections<br />

in the blood stream, infections<br />

that affect the joints, the<br />

nervous system and other systems<br />

within the body. These diseases are<br />

very difficult to diagnose and bring<br />

to the forefront the urgency of having<br />

medical and veterinary medical<br />

professionals collaborate on<br />

projects whenever possible. While<br />

we know the source of disease, we<br />

don’t know how often ticks are<br />

actually transmitting members of<br />

the genus Bartonella to animals<br />

and humans throughout the world.<br />

“The one thing that animal owners<br />

can do is protect a pet from<br />

becoming infected. Owners can<br />

use products that are readily available,<br />

that are safe and effective for<br />

killing fleas and ticks before they<br />

are able to transmit these organisms,”<br />

he says. “Once the organisms<br />

are transmitted they can literally<br />

‘set up housekeeping’ in the animal<br />

for fairly long periods of time<br />

— months and years — and serve<br />

as a source of infection for members<br />

of the family.”<br />

Breitschwerdt is a professor of<br />

medicine and infectious diseases at<br />

the North Carolina State University<br />

College of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medicine and<br />

an adjunct professor of medicine in<br />

the division of infectious diseases at<br />

Duke University.<br />

22 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


<strong>2015</strong> CLASS OF 1963 DISTINGUISHED LECTURE<br />

Healthy People<br />

BETTER VETERINARY PRACTICES IMPROVE FOOD SAFETY, EXPERT SAYS<br />

PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

Drs. Stan W. Casteel (from left), CVHS Dean Jean Sander and Class of ’63 representative Thomas Loafmann visit at the event.<br />

The increasing safety of the<br />

food supply was the focus of<br />

the keynote speech at OSU’s<br />

Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences’<br />

<strong>2015</strong> annual conference<br />

for veterinarians and veterinary<br />

technicians.<br />

Stan W. Casteel, DVM, Ph.D.,<br />

DABVT, presented “Back Then,<br />

Now, What’s Next for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Medicine.”<br />

“I think the food supply is safer<br />

than ever. Animal agriculture is<br />

increasingly consolidating which<br />

includes pig farms and cattle operations,”<br />

Casteel said during his<br />

speech. “Since 1940, production<br />

efficiencies have increased. Meat<br />

produced today per sow is double<br />

what it was in 1940.”<br />

Casteel also discussed antibiotic<br />

use in food animals.<br />

“I think it is a myth that antibiotic<br />

free animals in general are<br />

better for us. Residue testing procedures<br />

are better, and we’re not<br />

finding antibiotic residue in food<br />

animals. In Denmark, a ban on<br />

antibiotic use resulted in increased<br />

mortality, a reduction in weight<br />

gain and an increased incidence<br />

of salmonellosis.”<br />

Casteel added that 75 percent<br />

of emerging infectious diseases<br />

are zoonotic, which highlights the<br />

connection between animal health<br />

and human health.<br />

“There are changes of susceptibility<br />

in our own population due<br />

to immunosuppression,” he said.<br />

“We also have microbial adaptation.<br />

Every year we have the influenza<br />

virus to deal with. It changes<br />

its antigenic character in just a<br />

matter of months and the vaccine<br />

industry can’t always keep up with<br />

it. Approximately 36,000 people<br />

per year in this country die from<br />

influenza, which usually affects<br />

the very young and the very old.<br />

Because we have global transportation,<br />

we have the potential to<br />

spread diseases around the planet<br />

within 24 to 48 hours quite easily.”<br />

Casteel also discussed bioterrorism<br />

and its potential impact on animal<br />

and human health.<br />

“I think the concern here is that<br />

bioterrorism could easily attack<br />

both our food supply and our<br />

human population,” he said. “We<br />

need more veterinarians with<br />

advanced degrees in virology<br />

and bacteriology to keep track of<br />

emerging infectious diseases that<br />

could affect us all.”<br />

Casteel is a professor of veterinary<br />

pathobiology at the University<br />

of Missouri’s College of<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medicine and a Diplomate<br />

of the American Board of<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Toxicology. He has 28<br />

years of experience as a researcher,<br />

teacher and diagnostician of animal<br />

diseases.<br />

THE LECTURESHIP<br />

In 2004, the Class of 1963 established its Distinguished Lectureship<br />

Endowment. The money earned from this investment<br />

hosts an annual expert speaker on a variety of subjects related<br />

to veterinary medicine, human health and environmental factors.<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 23


6TH ANNUAL LUNDBERG-KIENLEN LECTURESHIP IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH<br />

GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

Working for Easier Breathing<br />

KOTTON DETAILS RESEARCH TO HELP REPAIR INJURED LUNGS<br />

Darrell N. Kotton, M.D., shared his findings from his research into stem cells at<br />

the 6th Annual Lundberg-Kienlen Lectureship in Biomedical Research at OSU’s<br />

Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences, presenting “Pluripotent Stem Cells for<br />

Modeling Lung Development and Disease” in November 2014.<br />

Dr. Lin Liu (left) and CVHS<br />

Dean Dr. Jean Sander<br />

welcome Dr. Darrell N.<br />

Kotton to the Center for<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences.<br />

Kotton spoke at the 6th<br />

Annual Lundberg-Kienlen<br />

Lectureship in Biomedical<br />

Research.<br />

Since 2002, Kotton has studied<br />

pluripotent stem cells, which can<br />

form any cell in the body. They are<br />

mostly embryonic or induced pluripotent<br />

stem (iPS) cells. All stem<br />

cells can divide and create an identical<br />

copy of themselves.<br />

Kotton’s research focuses on<br />

lung injury and repair. One study<br />

looks to determine the road<br />

map needed to use developing<br />

embryos to recreate pluripotent<br />

stem cells that will benefit animals<br />

and humans fighting certain<br />

lung diseases. Using a mouse<br />

model, Kotton can determine the<br />

pathways faster, then adapt the<br />

process to human cells.<br />

The doctor shared a story of a<br />

young boy who was being shocked<br />

100 times a day to keep his<br />

body systems functioning. Using<br />

iPS cells from his parents to create<br />

cells for the child cut the number<br />

of arrhythmias — and thus the<br />

need for shocks — to zero.<br />

“It is working,” Kotton. “However,<br />

more research is needed. Specifically<br />

we need a functional assay<br />

for iPS-derived lung cells to test<br />

how good the cells are that we are<br />

making. We need better cellular<br />

definitions of what makes a cell.<br />

And we are lacking in rigor; we<br />

need true organ controls such as a<br />

lung biopsy from a person.”<br />

Kotton is a professor in the<br />

Department of Medicine and the<br />

Department of Pathology and<br />

Laboratory Medicine at the Boston<br />

University School of Medicine.<br />

In addition, he is an attending<br />

physician in the Medical Intensive<br />

Care Unit and on the Pulmonary<br />

Consultation Service at<br />

Boston Medical Center. He is also<br />

the founding director for the Center<br />

for Regenerative Medicine and<br />

co-director for the Alpha-1 Center.<br />

The Lundberg-Kienlen lecture<br />

is hosted by Lin Liu, Ph.D., OSU<br />

Regents Professor of physiological<br />

sciences, the Lundberg-Kienlen<br />

Endowed Chair in Biomedical<br />

Research and director of the Oklahoma<br />

Center for Respiratory and<br />

Infectious Diseases at the veterinary<br />

center. The lectureship is co-sponsored<br />

by the Oklahoma Center for<br />

Respiratory and Infectious Diseases<br />

and the Interdisciplinary Program<br />

in Regenerative Medicine at Oklahoma<br />

State University.<br />

24 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


7TH ANNUAL LUNDBERG-KIENLEN LECTURESHIP IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH<br />

GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

Researching Pneumonia<br />

DOERSCHUK DESCRIBES HOW DISEASE CHANGES LUNGS<br />

Claire Doerschuk, M.D., presented “Leukocyte Recruitment and Function during<br />

Bacterial Pneumonia” at the 7th Annual Lundberg-Kienlen Lectureship in<br />

Biomedical Research on Nov. 18, <strong>2015</strong>. Doerschuk is a professor in the Department<br />

of Medicine and the director of the Center for Airways Disease at the University<br />

of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine.<br />

Dr. Martin Furr (left)<br />

and CVHS Dean Dr. Jean<br />

Sander welcome Dr. Claire<br />

Doerschuk to the Center for<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences,<br />

along with Dr. Lin Liu (right).<br />

Internationally known for her<br />

contribution to bacterial pneumonia<br />

research, her interests focus on<br />

understanding innate immunity in<br />

the lungs and the host defense, particularly<br />

the mechanisms that initiate<br />

the host’s responses.<br />

Doerschuk’s current research<br />

focuses on the mechanisms underlying<br />

the recognition of pathogens<br />

or other lung injuries, the<br />

recruitment of leukocytes, the<br />

changes in vascular permeability,<br />

the functions of leukocytes<br />

and the effects of leukocytes and<br />

edema or excess fluid.<br />

“We have determined that bacterial<br />

pathogens induce changes<br />

in the expression of mRNAs and<br />

microRNAs in lung neutrophils<br />

during pneumonia,” says Doerschuk.<br />

“Bioinformatics analyses<br />

of correlations between microR-<br />

NAs and mRNAs provide testable<br />

hypotheses for future research.”<br />

Doerschuk has published<br />

approximately 140 scientific<br />

papers. She is a councilor of the<br />

Society for Leukocyte Biology and<br />

a fellow of the American Association<br />

for the Advancement of Science.<br />

Doerschuk has received the<br />

MERIT award from the National<br />

Institutes of Health and the Elizabeth<br />

Rich, M.D. Award and the<br />

Recognition Award for Scientific<br />

Accomplishments from the American<br />

Thoracic Society.<br />

The Lundberg-Kienlen Lectureship<br />

in Biomedical Research is<br />

hosted by Lin Liu, Ph.D., Lundberg-Kienlen<br />

Endowed Chair in<br />

Biomedical Research, director of the<br />

Oklahoma Center for Respiratory<br />

and Infectious Diseases and director<br />

of the Lung Biology and Toxicology<br />

Laboratory at the OSU Center for<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences.<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 25


PHOTO / CENTER FOR VETERINARY HEALTH SCIENCES<br />

Honoring Our <strong>Vet</strong>erans<br />

RETIRED MAJOR GENERAL PAYS TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO SERVED<br />

Retired Army Maj. Gen. James Ron Sholar<br />

spoke at OSU’s 2014 <strong>Vet</strong>erans Day event.<br />

The cold, windy weather on <strong>Vet</strong>erans<br />

Day in 2014 may not have been perfect<br />

for an outdoor event, but it worked for<br />

OSU’s Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Sciences Dean Dr.<br />

Jean Sander, who noted that service members<br />

don’t always have the choice to be where it is<br />

dry and warm.<br />

Guest speaker retired Army Maj. Gen. James<br />

Ron Sholar was up for the challenge.<br />

“Any ceremony that honors our veterans —<br />

those who have served so selflessly in whatever<br />

period of time — is special to me,” Sholar<br />

told the small crowd at the Military <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Honor Court by McElroy Hall. “I am honored<br />

to be here with you.”<br />

Sholar talked about words used to<br />

describe those in a military uniform<br />

— dedication, integrity, perseverance,<br />

honor and service.<br />

“While service can be found throughout society<br />

in firefighters, policemen, nurses and even<br />

professors, I would submit to you that you can<br />

find it in greater abundance perhaps with our<br />

military men and women than in any other<br />

walk of life,” he said.<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erans Day honors everyone who has worn<br />

the uniform of any U.S. branch of service.<br />

“Heroes from any branch and any era are<br />

all around us,” continued Sholar. “Here in our<br />

own Stillwater community, two World War<br />

II veterans were recently recognized by the<br />

French government. Both OSU emeriti professors,<br />

Ron duBois and J.Q. Lynd received the<br />

French Legion of Honor. It is so gratifying to<br />

me to know that after 70 years, the French people<br />

still appreciate what the American liberators<br />

did for them and are still honoring them.<br />

“It is not limited to World War II, though.<br />

Just today I was reading about First Lt. Nathan<br />

Peterson. I don’t know if you are familiar with<br />

Nathan. He was an outstanding football player<br />

at OSU — All Big 12. He decided to join the service<br />

and in 2008 after he graduated, he went to<br />

Marine Officer Candidate School. He was commissioned,<br />

went to Afghanistan twice and was<br />

a platoon leader. Now he’s an assistant football<br />

coach here at OSU. We are surrounded by<br />

heroes of one sort or another.”<br />

War is still fought in the human dimension,<br />

despite improving technology, he added.<br />

“We still have to send our young men and<br />

women into harm’s way and God bless them.<br />

We owe them a debt of gratitude. I’m just<br />

proud that our community has not forgotten<br />

that. I’m glad this school has not forgotten. We<br />

have not forgotten that veterinarian Lt. Col.<br />

Daniel Holland, class of 1988, gave his life in<br />

2006. We must never forget. Military personnel<br />

have acted on our behalf and we owe them<br />

a debt of gratitude that simply cannot be paid.<br />

God bless our veterans who have served and<br />

who will continue to serve.”<br />

26 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


PHOTO / CENTER FOR VETERINARY HEALTH SCIENCES<br />

ROTC PROFESSOR LAUDS OKLAHOMA’S MILITARY TRADITION<br />

Army Lt. Col. Troy C. Bucher, professor<br />

of military science for the Oklahoma<br />

State University Army ROTC program,<br />

presented “Service to Our Nation” at the <strong>2015</strong><br />

Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences’ <strong>Vet</strong>erans<br />

Day observance.<br />

“In the United States today, there<br />

are 22 million veterans who have<br />

served both in peace and war,” he says.<br />

“That’s about 6 percent of the population. In<br />

Oklahoma, that percentage is higher with 9<br />

percent of the population being veterans. Oklahoma<br />

has a rich tradition of military service. I<br />

would like to think that is because people in<br />

Oklahoma tend to feel a stronger sense of duty<br />

and obligation.<br />

“Oklahomans have served honorably in nearly<br />

every unit of every branch in the military, from<br />

World War II to Korea to Vietnam to Iraq and<br />

Afghanistan. Oklahoma can definitely be proud<br />

of its sons and daughters, many of whom have<br />

paid the ultimate price for freedom.”<br />

Bucher says cadets usually list one of three<br />

main reasons for serving in the military.<br />

“Those who serve in the military want to be<br />

part of something bigger than themselves; to<br />

be able to look back some day and say that<br />

when it came right down to it, they were willing<br />

to put their life on the line to defend their<br />

country, and that they were part of something<br />

that made a difference both here in the United<br />

States and abroad.<br />

“Second, they want the opportunity to give<br />

back to the people who made them what they<br />

are — their teachers, parents, friends and communities.<br />

Many have a parent or another relative<br />

or role model who served, and they want to<br />

live up to that image and become a role model<br />

for the next generation.<br />

“Finally, they serve because of their peers.<br />

The military is a really close-knit community.<br />

After a short time in the service, soldiers, sailors<br />

and airmen come to understand that there<br />

is a bond between them like no other place in<br />

society. This is the reason most continue their<br />

service through deployment after deployment.”<br />

Bucher notes the sacrifices military personnel<br />

and their families willingly make.<br />

“When you see a military person or veteran,<br />

thank them for their commitment to keeping<br />

our country safe, thank them for their willingness<br />

to put their life on the line to protect<br />

your family, thank them for putting the needs<br />

of the country above their own, and something<br />

equally important, thank a military spouse for<br />

his or her sacrifices as well. God bless our veterans,<br />

their families, the state of Oklahoma and<br />

the United States.”<br />

Lt. Col. Troy C. Bucher spoke at<br />

OSU’s <strong>2015</strong> <strong>Vet</strong>erans Day event.<br />

“OKLAHOMA HAS A RICH TRADITION<br />

OF MILITARY SERVICE. I WOULD LIKE<br />

TO THINK THAT IS BECAUSE PEOPLE IN<br />

OKLAHOMA TEND TO FEEL A STRONGER<br />

SENSE OF DUTY AND OBLIGATION.”<br />

— ARMY LT. COL. TROY C. BUCHER<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 27


STRATTON STAFF AWARD<br />

GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

DENNIS CLARY<br />

Clary helps ‘keep the place running’<br />

It’s the little things that make a work environment pleasant. It’s the behind-thescenes<br />

work that often keeps that operation running smoothly. And it is employees<br />

like Dennis Clary, the <strong>2015</strong> Stratton Staff Award recipient, that make both of these<br />

things happen at OSU’s Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences.<br />

Clary grew up in Stillwater and<br />

worked at Mercury Marine before<br />

coming to OSU. In the five years<br />

that he has worked in the center’s<br />

facilities maintenance department,<br />

he has proven to be a great asset.<br />

“Dennis has a vast knowledge of<br />

the CVHS facilities and is never<br />

afraid to tackle any project,” says<br />

Jim Hargrave, facilities maintenance<br />

supervisor. “He also regularly<br />

attends continuing education<br />

courses to continue to expand his<br />

knowledge base. Dennis has a<br />

great attitude and is always willing<br />

to help anyone who needs it. He<br />

takes care of business, is efficient<br />

and keeps me informed.”<br />

Clary enjoys working at the veterinary<br />

center because “everybody<br />

is nice to you.” He describes a typical<br />

day as being pretty busy.<br />

“We do everything from replacing<br />

light bulbs to repairing water<br />

lines to helping people move office<br />

furniture,” Clary said. “We help<br />

people whenever they need it. It<br />

is a team effort. Basically, we keep<br />

the place running.”<br />

Hargrave says Clary is the first<br />

one to volunteer to come in early,<br />

stay late or work weekends or holidays<br />

to lessen the impact and<br />

downtime on the center’s critical<br />

building systems. And when he’s<br />

not working, Clary enjoys spending<br />

time hunting and fishing.<br />

“Receiving the Stratton Staff<br />

Award is a big honor,” says Clary.<br />

“It means you are doing something<br />

right.”<br />

The Stratton Staff Award was<br />

established upon the retirement<br />

of Dr. Louie Stratton in 1989. The<br />

former director of OSU’s <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Medical Hospital wanted this<br />

award to honor outstanding staff<br />

members for their dedicated service<br />

and many key contributions.<br />

Nominations are accepted from<br />

any employee of the center and<br />

selected by an ad hoc committee<br />

appointed by the dean.<br />

28 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


Western <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Conference<br />

recognizes two from OSU<br />

Oklahoma State University Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences<br />

alumnus Thomas Reece, DVM, MS, MPH, DACVPM, and veterinary<br />

student Kristen Ward were recognized at the <strong>2015</strong> Western<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Conference for their achievements.<br />

PICASA PHOTO<br />

GENESSE PHOTO<br />

DR. THOMAS REECE<br />

KRISTEN WARD<br />

Thomas Reece (OSU CVM ’80) received a Special Recognition Award from<br />

the board of directors for his three years on the Food Animal Incentive Award Committee.<br />

The award was presented by WVC President Dr. George Dyck. Reece owns and operates<br />

Bovine Production Medicine Services and teaches at Cameron University in Lawton, Okla.<br />

Kristen Ward (Class of 2016) was one of 33 veterinary students who received a Dr.<br />

Jack Walther Leadership Award. Given to third-year veterinary students, the award<br />

includes $1,000, complimentary conference registration, lodging, airfare and a daily stipend<br />

to attend the group’s 2016 conference. Recipients also have one additional complimentary<br />

registration to a future conference to be used within five years following graduation. Ward<br />

is a second lieutenant in the Army. While earning her DVM degree, she also serves as a student<br />

ambassador, the Oxbow student representative, Hill’s Depot team member, Society<br />

for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Surgery and Anesthesiology vice president, and the Zoo, Exotics and Wildlife<br />

Club secretary.<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 29


PHOTO COURTESY / ASVCP<br />

Dr. Ron Tyler (left) and Dr. Rick Cowell were nominated by Dr. Amy Valenciano for the award.<br />

An Honor for a Dynamic Duo<br />

COWELL, TYLER RECEIVE 2014 ASVCP LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD<br />

DRS. RICK COWELL AND RON TYLER SR. have been colleagues for decades, starting in veterinary college at Oklahoma State University in<br />

the 1970s. Tyler graduated in 1977 and Cowell in 1978. They both completed their residencies in pathology at OSU, and both are board certified as<br />

clinical pathologists by the American College of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Pathologists. Tyler is also certified as an anatomic pathologist and toxicologist. Cowell<br />

earned a master’s degree while Tyler earned a doctorate at OSU. And both men spent time on the faculty of OSU’s College of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medicine.<br />

So it’s not surprising that the two were honored with the 2014 ASVCP LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD together.<br />

Together Cowell and Tyler published classic texts — Diagnostic Cytology and Hematology of the Dog and Cat (1989), Diagnostic Cytology and<br />

Hematology of the Horse (1992), <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Clinical Pathology Secrets (2004) and Atlas of Canine and Feline Peripheral Blood Smears (2014). Cowell<br />

and Tyler are known the world over through their publications, professional presentations, research and more.<br />

“They are probably best known for their cytology<br />

textbook, which was the first comprehensive<br />

organ-based veterinary cytology text,” says<br />

James Meinkoth, DVM, Ph.D., Diplomate<br />

ACVP and former interim head of the Department<br />

of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Pathobiology at OSU. “It has<br />

undergone four editions and has been translated<br />

into Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Korean,<br />

French and Portugese. Both have served on the<br />

ASVP certifying exam committee, published<br />

numerous diagnostic clinical pathology manuscripts<br />

and book chapters, and made many<br />

continuing education presentations. Both have<br />

served in academia as well as private diagnostic<br />

labs. Ron, of course, also has extensive experience<br />

in the pharmaceutical industry. More<br />

importantly, both are just good people, the<br />

kind you enjoy being around. They are humble<br />

and down-to-earth people best known for<br />

an ever-present smile, infectious laughter and<br />

a firm belief that life is to be enjoyed.”<br />

The American Society for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Clinical<br />

Pathology Lifetime Achievement Award<br />

recognizes members who have contributed to veterinary<br />

clinical pathology. Pathologists are nominated<br />

for their research, teaching or outstanding<br />

contribution to the field as well as through their<br />

work on behalf of the ASVCP.<br />

30 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


REGENTS DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AWARD<br />

<strong>2015</strong>: Lyndi Gilliam, DVM, Ph.D.<br />

Lyndi Gilliam, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM-Large Animal and associate<br />

professor of equine internal medicine at OSU’s <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical<br />

Hospital, is the Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Science’s <strong>2015</strong> Regents<br />

Distinguished Teaching Award recipient.<br />

“It’s pretty exciting,” Gilliam says.<br />

“The Regents award was something<br />

that I thought would be amazing<br />

someday but I didn’t have it in my<br />

sights at this point. Dr. Michael<br />

Lorenz encouraged me to submit<br />

my application to the college.<br />

The college then chooses who they<br />

want to send forward to the main<br />

campus. One recipient from each<br />

college is then selected.”<br />

The application process<br />

includes submitting a current vitae,<br />

teaching evaluations, and letters<br />

of recommendation from current<br />

and past students, colleagues, the<br />

department head, and the dean of<br />

the college. Applicants also have to<br />

submit a statement on their teaching<br />

philosophy. Gilliam’s philosophy<br />

statement makes it clear she<br />

practices what she writes.<br />

Gilliam says she strives to bring<br />

clinical medicine to the students as<br />

early as possible.<br />

“I work to integrate myself in<br />

teaching in all four years of the<br />

curriculum. I remember how easy<br />

it was in veterinary school to lose<br />

sight of that final goal during the<br />

first three years of coursework.”<br />

Being a veterinarian is a passion<br />

that many students have harbored<br />

since childhood.<br />

“I strive to keep that passion<br />

alive and take students from having<br />

a dream of making animals<br />

well, to having a drive to understand<br />

the pathophysiology of the<br />

diseases affecting animals,” she<br />

says. “I encourage them to explore<br />

new horizons, discover new diseases,<br />

and new cures for diseases.<br />

Their knowledge of health and<br />

disease will impact not only animals<br />

but humans as well. Whether<br />

they choose to enter private practice<br />

in rural Oklahoma or work at<br />

the National Institutes of Health,<br />

the knowledge they will possess<br />

is invaluable.”<br />

Gilliam keeps students passionate<br />

about veterinary medicine by<br />

demonstrating that passion herself.<br />

She shares her private practice<br />

experiences with her students.<br />

Working in the clinic also gives her<br />

real-life examples to show students<br />

how she uses what she is teaching<br />

in the classroom.<br />

“I am very open and not afraid<br />

to share my mistakes or learning<br />

experiences. I want my students to<br />

see me as a real person and to see<br />

how I grew as a veterinarian and<br />

how I continue to grow, as medicine<br />

is a profession where an individual<br />

never stops learning.”<br />

And Gilliam constantly critiques<br />

herself to ensure she is presenting<br />

the material in the best<br />

possible way.<br />

32 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

“AT THE END OF THE DAY, MY STUDENTS<br />

AND THOSE I TRAIN ARE PART OF THE<br />

LEGACY I WILL LEAVE AT MY ALMA MATER.”<br />

— LYNDI GILLIAM<br />

Lyndi<br />

Gilliam<br />

“I hold very high expectations for my students. But<br />

when one of them fails to meet these expectations,<br />

rather than assuming they are inadequate, I ask myself,<br />

did I prepare them to be able to meet my expectations?<br />

While I firmly believe that students must take<br />

ownership of their education, I also believe I must be<br />

willing to assess why an expectation has not been met<br />

and how it can be better met in the future.”<br />

Gilliam tries new techniques and challenges herself<br />

to engage every student.<br />

“I like to spend time thinking about the ways in<br />

which different students learn and trying to cover a<br />

spectrum of teaching techniques to attempt to reach<br />

every student possible. I use videos of the diseases that<br />

we are talking about so that students can see what I<br />

am describing. It brings the words I am saying to life.”<br />

Teaching in the clinic is very different from the<br />

classroom. Gilliam teaches equine internal medicine<br />

to fourth-year veterinary students, interns and<br />

residents — all with different levels of knowledge<br />

and expectations. Gilliam has attended special training<br />

seminars on communication to be able to better<br />

read students’ non-verbal cues and adjust her communication<br />

style.<br />

“For example, very few of my students are familiar<br />

with horses. I need to teach them medical knowledge<br />

as well as husbandry skills, all the while keeping<br />

them safe. Recognizing that a lack of participation<br />

may be due to fear of the unknown has enabled me<br />

to address their fears and get them actively involved<br />

in the rotation,” she says.<br />

“At the end of the day, my students and those I train<br />

are part of the legacy I will leave at my alma mater. I<br />

hope I have built a relationship with them that will<br />

facilitate me being a consultant for them during their<br />

career. I want to be able to say I gave all I had to equip<br />

them to be all they can be.”.<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 33


REGENTS DISTINGUISHED RESEARCH AWARD<br />

PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

<strong>2015</strong>: Carey Pope, Ph.D.<br />

He grew up in Pasadena, Texas, earned<br />

an undergraduate degree from Stephen<br />

F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches,<br />

Texas, and worked as a research technician<br />

at M.D. Anderson. Meet Carey Pope, Ph.D.,<br />

Sitlington Endowed Chair in Toxicology in<br />

the Department of Physiological Sciences<br />

at Oklahoma State University’s Center for<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences.<br />

“While at Stephen F. Austin, I talked to a professor<br />

who asked about my interests,” says Pope. “He mentioned<br />

‘toxicology’ as an important area and a colleague<br />

of his worked in ‘pesticides.’ That conversation<br />

was during the 1970s when environmental awareness<br />

was increasing. Chemicals like DDT and PCBs<br />

were being recognized as worldwide contaminants,<br />

showing up in places like the Arctic Circle and pristine<br />

lakes in the Rocky Mountains. So I decided that<br />

the toxicity of pesticides would be an exciting, relevant<br />

field of study.”<br />

And attention he gave it. After working at M.D.<br />

Anderson for two years, he joined the doctoral program<br />

at the University of Texas in Houston. Pope has<br />

spent the last 29 years researching pesticide toxicology.<br />

OSU recognized Pope twice honoring him with<br />

the Regents Distinguished Research Award in 2005<br />

and again in <strong>2015</strong>. Pope was also appointed a Regents<br />

Professor in 2007.<br />

Carey<br />

Pope<br />

34 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


“To receive the Regents Distinguished<br />

Research Award again in<br />

<strong>2015</strong> makes me appreciate the people<br />

I work with more than anything<br />

else,” says Pope. “I’ve spent a<br />

lot of time trying to foster research<br />

in our college and the university in<br />

general, and I appreciate that my<br />

colleagues recognize my efforts.”<br />

Pope credits one of his earlier<br />

papers for a long-term concept in<br />

his research program.<br />

“Comparing the effects of different<br />

organophosphorus pesticides<br />

led me to think about this<br />

class of chemicals as a set of similar<br />

but unique chemicals, sharing<br />

one toxic mechanism but having<br />

distinct additional actions that<br />

might lead to selective toxicity. In<br />

other words, the organophosphorus<br />

pesticides may share a common<br />

mechanism but they may not<br />

all work through the same mechanisms,<br />

as was commonly believed<br />

at the time,” he adds. “That hypothesis<br />

formed the basis of a review<br />

paper that’s been my most cited<br />

publication to date.”<br />

“I think our work had an impact<br />

on risk assessment of these pesticides<br />

and how chemicals in different<br />

classes are evaluated and<br />

regulated,” Pope continues. “Looking<br />

at mechanisms of toxicity not<br />

just in a linear manner but as a<br />

more complex set of interacting<br />

events helps us better understand<br />

how these chemicals actually work<br />

and how to better protect people,<br />

animals and the environment from<br />

their adverse effects.”<br />

“I’M REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE OPPORTUNITY<br />

I HAD TO BECOME A COWBOY AT OKLAHOMA<br />

STATE’S CENTER FOR VETERINARY HEALTH<br />

SCIENCES, AND CONSIDER THE DECISION TO<br />

COME HERE AS ONE OF MY LIFE’S BEST.”<br />

— CAREY POPE<br />

Pope’s laboratory is working<br />

with a group of scientists on a project<br />

aimed at protecting soldiers<br />

and first responders from another<br />

type of organophosphorus compounds,<br />

the nerve agents.<br />

“This is a very interesting multidisciplinary<br />

project that brings<br />

together the expertise of different<br />

people from different colleges<br />

throughout our campus to focus<br />

on how we can improve the protection<br />

of people from these types<br />

of chemicals.”<br />

And for young researchers just<br />

starting out, Pope has this to offer.<br />

“Basically invest yourself completely,<br />

think about your research<br />

as much as you can and put the<br />

time in. This strategy has worked<br />

for me and most successful people<br />

I know. You have to be extremely<br />

interested in what you are doing or<br />

you’re not likely to succeed. There<br />

are lots of very smart, hard-working<br />

people throughout the world<br />

who are doing research. That’s why<br />

you absolutely have to be über-interested<br />

in your field and dedicated<br />

to what you are doing.”<br />

Pope joined Oklahoma State<br />

University’s Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Health Sciences in 2000 as the Sitlington<br />

Chair in Toxicology.<br />

“Being supported by the Sitlington<br />

Endowment really had a major<br />

impact on my career,” he says. “As<br />

the Sitlington Chair in Toxicology,<br />

I’ve had the opportunity to positively<br />

impact a number of people<br />

who have come through my<br />

lab. I’m really appreciative of the<br />

opportunity I had to become a<br />

Cowboy at Oklahoma State’s Center<br />

for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences,<br />

and consider the decision to come<br />

here as one of my life’s best.”<br />

The Regents Distinguished<br />

Research Award recognizes<br />

research excellence at Oklahoma<br />

State University. Candidates must<br />

demonstrate a distinguished<br />

record of past and continuing<br />

excellence in research and be<br />

clearly recognized nationally<br />

and internationally. Each recipient<br />

receives a $2,000 permanent<br />

annual salary increase and an<br />

award plaque.<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 35


REGENTS DISTINGUISHED TEACHER AWARD<br />

GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

2014: Melanie Breshears, DVM, Ph.D.<br />

It’s easy to understand why Dr. Melanie Breshears received the 2014<br />

Regents Distinguished Teaching Award: She loves her subject matter,<br />

the students, and being at her alma mater.<br />

Breshears is an associate professor in anatomic pathology at Oklahoma State University’s<br />

Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences. Originally from Mustang, Okla., she came to OSU<br />

to earn her undergraduate degree and never left, earning both her DVM and Ph.D. degrees<br />

and completing a residency in anatomic pathology. A Diplomate of the American College<br />

of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Pathology, she has been on the OSU faculty since 2003.<br />

36 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


“WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT TEACHING<br />

IS SEEING THE LIGHT BULB COME ON<br />

WHEN STUDENTS FINALLY GAIN THAT<br />

UNDERSTANDING OF A COMPLEX PROCESS.”<br />

“I teach parts of veterinary histology and a<br />

few lectures in the general pathology course<br />

in addition to general pathology labs for first<br />

year veterinary students,” says Breshears. “I also<br />

teach gastrointestinal pathology and an elective<br />

that’s called Case Studies in Systemic Pathology<br />

to the third years. Then I teach necropsy rotation<br />

to fourth-year veterinary students.<br />

“What I like most about teaching is seeing<br />

the lightbulb come on when students finally<br />

gain that understanding of a complex process.<br />

One of the biggest challenges in teaching veterinary<br />

students today is just the abundance of<br />

information. So, it’s the job of the instructor<br />

to select what’s most important for students to<br />

know. You can’t know everything, so it’s my job<br />

as a teacher to teach them the most important<br />

information so that they can then go forth as<br />

a professional and continue to learn throughout<br />

their career.”<br />

And her students say she is doing just that.<br />

Alex Simpson, a third-year veterinary student,<br />

calls Breshears, “Intelligent, optimistic, driven<br />

and respectful.”<br />

“She presents her material in a concise manner,”<br />

Simpson says. “She uses crazy pictures or<br />

funny word pronunciation to get the material<br />

she believes is most important into your mind.<br />

I’ve also learned from her that even though you<br />

may be a distinguished practitioner or prominent<br />

researcher, there is no reason to act above<br />

others wanting to obtain the knowledge you<br />

behold. She will sit down at any moment, no<br />

matter her task at hand, and help you with any<br />

question you may have; she’s very approachable.”<br />

Breshears also finds her subject matter<br />

extremely interesting.<br />

“What makes pathology the most fun is you<br />

never know what you are going to find,” she<br />

says. “It’s (pathology) always challenging. It’s<br />

really never dull or boring and when you get<br />

that final answer, that’s rewarding.<br />

“One of the most interesting pathology<br />

cases that I remember was a 6-month-old foal<br />

that had salmonella infection in the intestine<br />

or enteric salmonellosis. Because of that,<br />

it acquired a respiratory fungal infection and<br />

then also some problems with the distal limbs<br />

— sort of a distal gangrenous necrosis. It was<br />

a really complex case. It was very interesting<br />

because for each of the lesions you could find<br />

descriptions in textbooks, find clinical examples<br />

or reported cases of the many disease processes<br />

in this one foal. And what made it even<br />

more of a favorite case for me is that I got to<br />

work with a student so she could present the<br />

case and then we also were able to publish it.<br />

It was a really interesting case to work up, and<br />

it had a cool teaching aspect, too.”<br />

“I think part of the reason that I enjoy teaching<br />

so much is that I really loved vet school,” she<br />

says. “I loved the experience of it, just the learning<br />

and the environment. The class becomes<br />

sort of an extended family and you get one-onone<br />

time with professors. You get to know the<br />

people. It’s just a friendly, supportive place to go<br />

through veterinary college. And now, being on<br />

faculty here the best part of my job is interacting<br />

with students and colleagues. That’s what<br />

I think makes the Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health<br />

Sciences a strong veterinary program.”<br />

“Melanie is most deserving of this recognition,”<br />

says James Meinkoth, DVM, Ph.D.,<br />

DACVP (clinical pathology), professor and<br />

former interim department head for the<br />

Department of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Pathobiology. “She<br />

is a dedicated and versatile educator teaching<br />

future veterinarians and mentoring anatomic<br />

pathology residents. Melanie has earned<br />

multiple teaching awards including the Zoetis<br />

(Pfizer/Norden) Distinguished <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Teacher Award (2011), the center’s First Year<br />

Class Teaching Award (2012) and now the<br />

Regents Distinguished Teaching Award.”<br />

“I feel very honored to have been chosen as a<br />

recipient of the Regents Distinguished Teaching<br />

Award,” Breshears said. “But I think what<br />

makes it most meaningful is that some of my<br />

teaching heroes also received this award, so it’s<br />

nice to be following in their footsteps.”<br />

DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR<br />

To watch a video<br />

featuring Dr. Breshears,<br />

visit okla.st/1HtFzNS.<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 37


ZOETIS DISTINGUISHED TEACHER AWARD<br />

GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

“THE BEAUTY OF THIS<br />

POSITION IS I STILL<br />

HAVE MY PATIENTS<br />

AND MY CLIENTS, SO<br />

ALL THAT I HAD IN<br />

PRIVATE PRACTICE I<br />

STILL HAVE HERE, BUT<br />

IN ADDITION TO THAT,<br />

I GET THAT FEELING<br />

OF GIVING BACK TO<br />

MY PROFESSION<br />

AND MY SPECIALTY<br />

BECAUSE I GET TO<br />

TEACH STUDENTS<br />

OPHTHALMOLOGY.”<br />

38 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


<strong>2015</strong>: Margi Gilmour, DVM, DACVO<br />

A<br />

teacher can be defined as a person who shares information or a specific skill.<br />

But Margi Gilmour, DVM, DACVO, a veterinarian and professor at Oklahoma State<br />

University’s Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences, takes the title of teacher to a different level.<br />

“For me, the first thing, I want to have a rapport<br />

with the students and they understand<br />

I see them as colleagues and we are in this<br />

together,” says Gilmour. “Secondly, I want them<br />

to understand the value of what I’m going to<br />

teach them. I explain why it is important they<br />

know ophthalmology and what it means for<br />

them as practitioners and why it is worth them<br />

to invest a lot of time and energy in this course<br />

because I am going to ask them to do that and<br />

then make the subject very relevant.”<br />

She calls her teaching philosophy fairly<br />

simple. She wants her students to walk away<br />

from the class with two things: confidence<br />

and competence.<br />

“The students’ goals for the core (ophthalmology)<br />

class is to be confident and competent<br />

in performing an ophthalmic examination, …<br />

and be able to come up with a diagnosis,” she<br />

says. “But most importantly, the first key is giving<br />

these students the confidence and competence<br />

to do that initial eye exam. You have to<br />

be comfortable with that.”<br />

Gilmour didn’t head straight back to the<br />

classroom after graduating with her veterinary<br />

degree from Michigan State University. Instead,<br />

she worked in private practice for several years<br />

before realizing she missed teaching students.<br />

She found the perfect fit at OSU’s CVHS,<br />

where she has been for 14 years.<br />

“The beauty of this position is I still have my<br />

patients and my clients, so all that I had in private<br />

practice I still have here, but in addition to<br />

that, I get that feeling of giving back to my profession<br />

and my specialty because I get to teach<br />

students ophthalmology,” says Gilmour. “OSU<br />

didn’t have a very developed ophthalmology<br />

department at that time, so the idea of being<br />

able to come in and be on the ground floor of<br />

that was really exciting to me.”<br />

Gilmour realizes not all of her students have<br />

a passion for ophthalmology like she does. She<br />

hopes students realize the importance of eye<br />

exams for their patients.<br />

“Students are bombarded by a lot of material,<br />

and there is so much new information in<br />

the medical fields,” says Gilmour. “I don’t want<br />

them all to be ophthalmologists. I want them<br />

to be very good, solid general practitioners who<br />

can do a good eye exam and know the basics.”<br />

Gilmour was recognized in <strong>2015</strong> for her<br />

achievements and work with students in the<br />

classroom with the Zoetis Distinguished Teaching<br />

Award. Gilmour says receiving the award<br />

makes her feel very humble.<br />

“For students to think that I did that good of<br />

a job for them, that is just amazing,” says Gilmour.<br />

“We all go in, and we all do our best. We<br />

have great faculty here, and everyone is interested<br />

in teaching and doing a good job, and so<br />

to have that honor and to be singled out one<br />

year is really special. Because I am in a sea of<br />

wonderful instructors, I appreciate it so much.”<br />

Since 1963, CVHS has given the Distinguished<br />

Teaching Award, sponsored by Zoetis,<br />

to a professor nominated by the students and<br />

faculty. Winners are selected based on their dedication,<br />

character and leadership.<br />

Gilmour’s influence expands beyond the<br />

classroom, and she keeps in touch with graduates<br />

and practicing veterinarians who have<br />

taken her classes.<br />

“The most exciting aspect for me as a teacher,<br />

is when my students who have graduated call<br />

me or email me or write me notes about using<br />

what they’ve learned in their practice,” says<br />

Gilmour. “That just makes it all worth while<br />

to me. That to me is the best.”<br />

But what’s her favorite part of teaching? She<br />

pauses, her face calm before a sparkle reaches<br />

her eye and a smile grows.<br />

“I always ask my students to give me their goals<br />

for the three-week rotation. In the middle of the<br />

rotation and at the end of the rotation, we discuss<br />

them and make sure the goals are being met,”<br />

says Gilmour. “We figure out a way together to<br />

work on them so that almost everyone achieves<br />

their goals. … That makes me feel good because<br />

they have done what I think they should do as<br />

well as what they want to do, which gives them<br />

that needed confidence.”<br />

BY KAROLYN BOLAY<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 39


ZOETIS AWARD FOR RESEARCH EXCELLENCE<br />

GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

Heart Health for All<br />

Graduate students Farzana Rouf (from left),<br />

Nabil Rashdan, Bo Zhao and Asitha Silva<br />

were part of the research team for Dr. Pamela<br />

Lloyd (second from left).<br />

LLOYD LEADS RESEARCH ON BLOOD VESSEL GROWTH<br />

Blood vessel growth can affect a variety of different<br />

diseases and body parts in both animals and humans.<br />

Pamela Lloyd, Ph.D., at the Oklahoma State University<br />

Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences, is leading the way<br />

to determine exactly how the modulation of this blood<br />

vessel growth could potentially treat these diseases.<br />

“Our lab studies cardiovascular physiology<br />

and what makes blood vessels grow,” says Lloyd.<br />

“This would be beneficial to people if they have<br />

atherosclerosis, where one of their arteries in<br />

their heart is getting blocked and the heart isn’t<br />

getting enough blood. If we can get the blood<br />

vessels to grow around that blockage, then that<br />

could potentially replace a bypass surgery and<br />

could prevent heart attacks.”<br />

40 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


“WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR<br />

HYPOTHESIS OF WHAT YOU EXPECT<br />

TO FIND AND YOU FIND SOMETHING<br />

DIFFERENT, THAT IS NEW AND<br />

SURPRISING AND YOU FEEL LIKE<br />

YOU’VE MADE A CONTRIBUTION.”<br />

— PAMELA LLOYD<br />

Because Lloyd’s research is focusing on identifying<br />

signaling pathways that control blood<br />

vessel growth, several treatments could come<br />

from the results, including treatments for ischemic<br />

cardiovascular disease and cancer.<br />

“The work we are doing, although we are<br />

looking at human disease, if we can understand<br />

this protein, it is actually something that<br />

could be important in diseases that are veterinary<br />

focused as well,” says Lloyd. “Especially in<br />

diseases like cancer, where you have blood vessels<br />

growing where you don’t want them. If you<br />

can block the signaling, then maybe you can<br />

have a cancer therapy.”<br />

Lloyd’s lab is specifically focused on the signaling<br />

pathways that regulate the expression of<br />

placenta growth factor (PLGF), a protein that<br />

stimulates blood vessel growth.<br />

“We are studying one specific protein, placenta<br />

growth factor, and the things that regulate<br />

its expression,” she says. “We are looking at<br />

the effect of flowing blood on the cells in blood<br />

vessels and how that activates the signaling that<br />

causes the protein to produce, which makes the<br />

blood vessel enlarge.”<br />

Because Lloyd’s research can potentially help<br />

both humans and animals, her lab is funded by<br />

a grant from the National Institutes of Health<br />

and has been funded by the Oklahoma Center<br />

for Adult Stem Cell Research.<br />

“They (Oklahoma Center for Adult Stem Cell<br />

Research) are looking at the same growth factor<br />

as us, but in lung disease,” says Lloyd. “In<br />

that situation, the protein we are studying has<br />

a negative role and it actually makes lung disease<br />

worse. That would be another area that we<br />

could look at with the protein.”<br />

Lloyd recently received the Zoetis Award for<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Research Excellence for her work<br />

with blood vessel growth, which is useful in<br />

treating disease in pets and people. Winners<br />

are selected based on research accomplishments,<br />

innovations and contributions to the profession.<br />

“It was really exciting to win this award,” she<br />

says. “I didn’t expect to be chosen for it.”<br />

Lloyd’s influence extends beyond the<br />

researching world. She also teaches cardiovascular<br />

physiology and a course for graduate students<br />

in professional skills.<br />

“In the professional skills class, we talk about<br />

how to write a scientific paper, how to write<br />

grants and how to apply for a position or different<br />

jobs,” says Lloyd.<br />

Students have an opportunity to research<br />

alongside Lloyd and learn techniques and accumulate<br />

their own results and data.<br />

“It is really exciting for me when students get<br />

their own results,” she says. “You learn something<br />

new that nobody knew before and the<br />

research doesn’t always give us the answers that<br />

we thought it was going to but that is kind of<br />

more interesting. When you have your hypothesis<br />

of what you expect to find and you find<br />

something different, that is new and surprising<br />

and you feel like you’ve made a contribution.”<br />

Lloyd also serves as the graduate coordinator<br />

for the graduate college and helps organize the<br />

three-minute thesis contest. She credits Zoetis,<br />

the sponsor of the award she received, for helping<br />

sponsor multiple events for CVHS.<br />

“Zoetis has been really helpful to us,” says<br />

Lloyd. “The three-minute thesis program is a<br />

contest that allows students to explain their<br />

research to regular people and not faculty. Zoetis<br />

has been really helpful with providing us<br />

judges. We really appreciate them supporting<br />

that event.”<br />

KAROLYN BOLAY<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 41


PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

Home is<br />

Where the Heart Is<br />

BURBA JOINS EQUINE VETERINARY TEAM IN RETURN TO OSU<br />

PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

Growing up on a farm in eastern Kentucky, Daniel<br />

Burba dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. He came<br />

to Oklahoma State University in 1986 to complete an<br />

internship followed by a residency. Even though he<br />

left OSU in 1990 upon completion of those positions,<br />

Oklahoma remained a favorite.<br />

Burba has returned — after 24 years in Baton<br />

Rouge, La. — to join OSU’s equine veterinary team<br />

as a professor of equine surgery and is seeing patients.<br />

He was recently named the McCasland Professor in<br />

Biomedical Laser Surgery.<br />

“I knew at a very young age that I wanted to be a<br />

veterinarian,” recalls Burba. “We had horses on the<br />

farm and I always enjoyed working with them. So in<br />

veterinary college, it was a natural for me to focus on<br />

being an equine veterinarian. However, I never really<br />

“HAVING THE ABILITY TO MOLD SOMEBODY,<br />

INSPIRE SOMEBODY, AND GIVE THEM<br />

KNOWLEDGE IS A PROFESSION THAT’S<br />

UNLIKE ANY OTHER.”<br />

— DANIEL BURBA<br />

thought about being a surgeon until my OSU mentor<br />

inspired me to look into equine surgery. I followed<br />

that path and here I am today.<br />

“What I like most about equine surgery is the challenges<br />

it brings,” he continues. “Often you don’t know<br />

what you are going to encounter in surgery. I like<br />

knowing that I am doing something good that will<br />

hopefully make the horse better and fix the problem.<br />

And I love teaching – it’s one of my favorite passions.<br />

I’ve been in academia for more than 24 years. I enjoy<br />

teaching students something they will follow as a<br />

career path. Having the ability to mold somebody,<br />

inspire somebody, and give them knowledge is a profession<br />

that’s unlike any other.”<br />

Burba earned his DVM degree from Auburn University<br />

and is a Diplomate of the American College of<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Surgeons. Most recently, he taught equine<br />

surgery at Louisiana State University. His research<br />

interests focus on orthopedics and laser surgery, specifically<br />

cribbing in horses.<br />

“When I was doing my internship and residency<br />

here, I fell in love with the people and the horses. I<br />

am excited to be back in Oklahoma and for the opportunity<br />

to work with this team. I look forward to new<br />

adventures and new challenges. I hope to make a positive<br />

impact on the program here — both for the students<br />

and for the clients we serve at OSU’s <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Medical Hospital.”<br />

To watch a video of Burba at work,<br />

visit okla.st/1KPijhL.<br />

42 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


NEW AND CHANGING FACES<br />

PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

New<br />

Faculty<br />

Members<br />

JILL AKKERMAN<br />

Jill Akkerman, DVM, Ph.D., is an associate<br />

professor of gross anatomy in the<br />

Department of Physiological Sciences.<br />

Originally from Raleigh, N.C., she earned<br />

both her DVM and Ph.D. from North<br />

Carolina State University. Her research<br />

interests focus on heat shock proteins,<br />

breast cancer and estrogen signaling.<br />

PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

BETSY COFFMAN<br />

Betsy Coffman, DVM, MS, DACT, is an assistant professor of theriogenology in<br />

the Department of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Clinical Sciences. Originally from Albuquerque,<br />

N.M., she earned her bachelor’s and DVM degrees at the University of<br />

Tennessee. She also completed an internship at Tennessee before going to<br />

Ohio State University, where she earned a master’s degree and completed<br />

her residency in theriogenology. Her research interests focus on reproductive<br />

endocrinology with specific interest in the effect of early diestrus PGF<br />

administration in mares and neuroendocrinology of reproduction.<br />

SUSAN FIELDER<br />

Susan Fielder, DVM, MS, DACVP, is a clinical<br />

assistant professor in the Department of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Pathobiology. Originally from Bartlesville, Okla.,<br />

she earned a bachelor’s and a master’s in zoology<br />

from the University of Oklahoma. She earned her<br />

DVM degree from OSU followed by a small animal<br />

internship at Kansas State University. She then<br />

returned to OSU to complete her clinical pathology<br />

residency. Fielder has spent the last seven years as<br />

a clinical pathologist at the Texas A&M <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.<br />

CONTINUES<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 43


NEW AND CHANGING FACES<br />

PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

MARTIN FURR<br />

Martin Furr, DVM, DACVIM, Ph.D., MA, is the head of the Department of<br />

Physiological Sciences. Originally from Tulsa, he earned his DVM degree from<br />

Oklahoma State in 1986. In 1991, he became a Diplomate of the American<br />

College of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Internal Medicine (Large Animal). He earned a Ph.D.<br />

from the University of Maryland in 2000 and a master’s degree in health<br />

professions education from Michigan State University in <strong>2015</strong>. His research<br />

interests focus on equine immunology including neuroimmunology and the<br />

influence of endotoxemia via immunological methods; neurology, equine<br />

neonatology and critical care. Furr comes to the CVHS from the Virginia-<br />

Maryland Regional College of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medicine, where he served as the<br />

assistant department head for the Department of Large Animal Clinical<br />

Sciences, was chief of staff at the Equine Medicine Center and held the<br />

Adelaide Riggs Chair of Internal Medicine in the Marion DuPont Scott Equine<br />

Medical Center.<br />

PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

SHITAO LI<br />

Shitao Li, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department<br />

of Physiological Sciences and an investigator with the<br />

Oklahoma Center for Respiratory and Infectious Diseases.<br />

Originally from China, he earned his Ph.D. from Wuhan<br />

University in 2000. His research interests focus on how<br />

interactions between influenza A virus and host control viral<br />

pathogenesis and innate immunity.<br />

CLINTON JONES<br />

Clinton Jones, Ph.D., is the Sitlington Endowed Chair in Infectious<br />

Diseases and a professor in the Department of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Pathobiology. Originally from Plainville, Kan., he earned a bachelor’s<br />

degree from Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kan., and a Ph.D. in<br />

microbiology from the University of Kansas. His current research<br />

focuses on two viruses that belong to the alpha-herpesvirinae<br />

subfamily — bovine herpes virus 1 and herpes simplex virus type 1.<br />

44 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

SARAH PEAKHEART<br />

Sarah Peakheart, DVM, is a clinical assistant professor in junior<br />

surgery and shelter medicine in the Department of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Clinical Sciences. Originally from Stilwell, Okla., she earned her<br />

bachelor’s degree in animal science and her DVM degree from<br />

OSU. While she is not currently involved in research, her interests<br />

lie with feline medicine, particularly cytauxzoon felis, feline<br />

leukemia and feline infectious peritonitis.<br />

PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

BRAD NJAA<br />

Brad L. Njaa, DVM, MVSc, DACVP, is an associate<br />

professor in the Department of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Pathobiology and a pathologist with the Oklahoma<br />

Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. He earned<br />

a master’s degree in anatomic and clinical<br />

pathology and a DVM degree from the Western<br />

College of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medicine at the University of<br />

Saskatchewan. His research interests include the<br />

pathology of special senses (otic and ophthalmic),<br />

respiratory disease, reproductive disease, diseases<br />

of exotic species and infectious diseases.<br />

REBECCA SAYRE<br />

Rebecca Sayre, DVM, is an assistant professor of<br />

veterinary anesthesiology in the Department of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Clinical Sciences. Originally from Port Costa, Calif., she<br />

earned her DVM degree from Texas A&M University. Her<br />

research interests focus on pharmacology, analgesia and<br />

cardiopulmonary physiology.<br />

CONTINUES<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 45


NEW AND CHANGING FACES<br />

New Staff<br />

PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

PHOTO / COURTESY<br />

KRISTI HOWEY<br />

Kristi Howey joins the CVHS<br />

family as the director of<br />

fiscal affairs. Originally from<br />

Blackwell, Okla., she earned<br />

her bachelor’s degree<br />

in accounting and her<br />

master’s degree in business<br />

administration from OSU.<br />

KAYLIE WEHR<br />

Kaylie Wehr is the veterinary<br />

center’s web designer.<br />

Originally from Stillwater, she<br />

earned her bachelor’s degree<br />

in strategic communication<br />

from OSU. Before joining<br />

the CVHS, Kaylie worked at<br />

Langston University on its<br />

website.<br />

FACULTY PROMOTIONS / TENURE<br />

PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

MEG GROSS<br />

Meg Gross, DVM, MS,<br />

DACVAA, promoted from<br />

clinical associate professor<br />

to clinical professor in the<br />

Department of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Clinical Sciences. Her research<br />

focuses on finding solutions<br />

for clinically related problems.<br />

LARA SYPNIEWSKI<br />

Lara Sypniewski, DVM,<br />

DABVP, CVA, CCRP,<br />

promoted from clinical<br />

assistant professor to clinical<br />

associate professor and<br />

Patricia Henthorne Clinical<br />

Professorship in Small Animal<br />

Medicine in the Department<br />

of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Clinical Sciences.<br />

PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

DIANNE McFARLANE<br />

Dianne McFarlane, MS, DVM,<br />

PhD, ACVIM (Large Animal),<br />

promoted from associate<br />

professor to professor and<br />

Ricks Rapp professor in the<br />

Department of Physiological<br />

Sciences. McFarlane’s<br />

research focuses on aging<br />

and endocrine diseases of<br />

horses.<br />

JARED TAYLOR<br />

Jared Taylor, DVM, MPH, PhD,<br />

DACVIM (Large Animal),<br />

DACVPM, promoted from<br />

assistant professor to associate<br />

professor with tenure in the<br />

Department of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Pathobiology. Taylor teaches<br />

veterinary epidemiology and<br />

public health.<br />

GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

ASHISH RANJAN<br />

Ashish Ranjan, BVSc, PhD,<br />

from assistant professor to<br />

assistant professor and Kerr<br />

Foundation Endowed Chair,<br />

Department of Physiological<br />

Sciences. His research<br />

focuses on nanocarriermediated<br />

targeted drug<br />

delivery, image-guided<br />

therapy and nanotoxicology.<br />

46 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

Keith Bailey<br />

Emily Cooper<br />

OADDL Names New Leadership<br />

NEW LEADERSHIP WAS NAMED FOR THE OKLAHOMA ANIMAL DISEASE DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY (OADDL)<br />

IN LATE 2014. DR. KEITH BAILEY WAS NAMED DIRECTOR AND EMILY COOPER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.<br />

“It is truly an honor to serve as<br />

director of a diagnostic laboratory<br />

at an outstanding land-grant university<br />

and in a state that values animal<br />

agriculture,” says Bailey, who had been<br />

serving as OADDL’s interim director.<br />

Bailey earned his DVM and Ph.D.<br />

degrees from the University of Missouri.<br />

He is also a Diplomate of<br />

the American College of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Pathologists. He joined OADDL in<br />

2010 as a clinical associate professor of<br />

pathology. His research interests focus<br />

on laboratory animal research and diseases<br />

of such production animals as<br />

cattle, swine and poultry.<br />

Cooper has been with OADDL<br />

since April 1999. She started as a senior<br />

research analyst and quality assurance/quality<br />

control coordinator and<br />

was instrumental in initiating OAD-<br />

DL’s membership in the National<br />

Animal Health Laboratory Network.<br />

Most recently she served as OADDL’s<br />

quality manager and development<br />

coordinator, developing and implementing<br />

the Quality Management System,<br />

which includes more than 800<br />

standard operating procedures.<br />

“Because animal owners and veterinarians<br />

rely on the Oklahoma Animal<br />

Disease Diagnostic Laboratory<br />

for answers as to why an animal died<br />

or what is causing a herd to be sick,<br />

it is important for us to provide accurate<br />

and speedy results when samples<br />

are submitted,” Cooper says. “One of<br />

the greatest strengths of OADDL is<br />

that we offer value-added diagnostics.<br />

Our faculty and staff are accessible to<br />

clients and responsive to their needs.”<br />

Established in 1976, the Oklahoma<br />

Animal Disease Diagnostic<br />

Laboratory is fully accredited for all<br />

species by the American Association<br />

of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Laboratory Diagnosticians.<br />

It provides core diagnostic services<br />

including pathology (necropsy<br />

and biopsy), bacteriology/mycology,<br />

parasitology, molecular diagnostics,<br />

serology, toxicology and virology.<br />

OADDL is also a member of the<br />

National Animal Health Laboratory<br />

Network, performing diagnostic tests<br />

for targeted surveillance programs<br />

and emergency response testing for<br />

foreign animal diseases including<br />

avian and swine influenza virus, avian<br />

paramyxovirus-1, classical swine fever,<br />

and foot and mouth disease virus.<br />

“<strong>Vet</strong>erinarians and animal producers<br />

have several options for<br />

diagnostic service providers in<br />

this competitive environment. At<br />

OADDL, we work hard every day to<br />

earn the trust and business of our<br />

clients. Despite a tradition of solid<br />

state support, one of the biggest challenges<br />

facing OADDL is generating<br />

enough revenue to continue to meet<br />

the diverse diagnostic needs of our<br />

clients. We want veterinarians and<br />

producers in Oklahoma to know that<br />

we are customer focused and service<br />

driven,” adds Bailey.<br />

COOPER EARNS<br />

UNIVERSITY<br />

SERVICE AWARD<br />

Emily Cooper, assistant<br />

director of the Oklahoma<br />

Animal Disease Diagnostic<br />

Laboratory, was honored at<br />

the 2014 University Awards<br />

Convocation Ceremony.<br />

She received the University<br />

Service Award, given to<br />

a faculty member, staff<br />

person or administrator who<br />

renders meritorious service<br />

to the university.<br />

Cooper uses her knowledge,<br />

capabilities and capacity<br />

to get things done whether<br />

or not it is in her job<br />

description. She consistently<br />

strives for customer<br />

satisfaction and quality<br />

assurance compliance<br />

throughout the laboratory.<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 47


Q&A<br />

A New Focus on Department Strategy<br />

for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Pathobiology<br />

GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

Dr. Jerry Ritchey, the new head of the Department of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Pathobiology, earned his DVM degree from Oklahoma State<br />

University in 1991 and joined the faculty in 1997. We asked him a<br />

few questions about his vision for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Pathobiology.<br />

What do you teach?<br />

I teach inflammation and wound repair as part of the general pathology curriculum. I teach<br />

cardiac pathology to the juniors. I do a cameo lecture in toxicology (ethylene glycol toxicity).<br />

In the graduate program, I teach inflammation/wound repair and every other semester I am<br />

the instructor of record for a graduate level immunology course.<br />

When I put on my veterinarian hat and attend as a pathologist at the Oklahoma Animal<br />

Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, I teach the senior students who rotate through as part of<br />

their diagnostic rotation.<br />

What do you like most about teaching?<br />

The veterinary students are so smart. They are the cream of the crop; they competed to get in<br />

here. They’re typically more mature. You have to be on your “A” game. So it keeps me sharp,<br />

but what I like the most about it is when I feel like I have encouraged them and have been<br />

a mentor to them and have helped them become better than they thought they could be.<br />

You also do research; what do you like about research?<br />

DR. JERRY RITCHEY<br />

In research, there is a question or a hypothesis. You don’t know how it’s going to turn<br />

out. You do the studies and you get an answer. I just like that mystery, that excitement, the<br />

surprise of it all. It’s fun when it works out the way that you want and other times, sadly<br />

most the time, it doesn’t work out the way you want but I like that surprise of the question.<br />

What do you hope to accomplish as department head?<br />

We have in our department probably two phases of things that we need to accomplish. I’ve<br />

termed these acute and chronic.<br />

In the acute phase are some issues that I consider maintenance items for the department<br />

to take care of related to our evaluations and appraisals, improving our department<br />

communication, updating our web page and our individual faculty pages.<br />

And then looking down the road, a chronic issue is we need a departmental strategic plan.<br />

The reason this is really important for us right now is we have several faculty who have<br />

given decades of service in teaching and research to our department and to the college. I<br />

would estimate in the next five years, we’re going to have several retirements. We need to<br />

circle our wagons now before this occurs so that we can do some planning and figure out<br />

how we are going to fill these huge shoes and what programs do we have that we want to<br />

bolster or shore up or improve. Or are there new programmatic areas that we may think we<br />

want to carve a niche out for ourselves to be successful.<br />

That will be my role as department head to make sure that this strategic plan isn’t just<br />

put on a shelf, that it is actually followed, looked at and evaluated as we move forward as<br />

a department.<br />

48 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


DEVELOPMENT<br />

MAKE YOUR PASSIONS COUNT<br />

NEW DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FINDS DREAM JOB IN HELPING CVHS<br />

“Working for OSU has been a<br />

lifelong dream of mine,” says Jayme<br />

Ferrell, the new director of development<br />

and team lead for the Center<br />

for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences<br />

at the OSU Foundation.<br />

Ferrell grew up in Okarche,<br />

Okla., and earned a bachelor’s<br />

degree in journalism-broadcasting<br />

with a minor in marketing from<br />

OSU. Two years ago, she joined<br />

the OSU Foundation to fundraise<br />

on behalf of the College of Arts<br />

and Sciences.<br />

Ferrell has 10 years of development<br />

experience. Before coming<br />

to OSU, she worked for the North<br />

Texas Food Bank and the American<br />

Cancer Society.<br />

“I look forward to my role with<br />

the Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health<br />

Sciences,” Ferrell continues. “I<br />

love the idea of being a part of the<br />

future of veterinary medicine by<br />

helping to provide student scholarships,<br />

faculty support and the<br />

most advanced technology and<br />

resources for our veterinary medical<br />

hospital. I believe what we are<br />

doing here at the OSU Center for<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences has<br />

such an impact in our community<br />

and globally. It is truly a joy uniting<br />

people with OSU and the Center<br />

for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences<br />

and all of the amazing work of<br />

our dedicated faculty and students.”<br />

When she’s not busy working,<br />

Ferrell enjoys spending time with<br />

her husband, Brian, and their two<br />

children, 5-year-old Leila and<br />

2-year-old Stella. Also at home<br />

are their 8-year-old Weimaraner,<br />

Winston, and 1-year-old cat, Bell<br />

Dinger Muffin Crumbs (named by<br />

Leila). Ferrell likes running, boating,<br />

camping, reading, home renovations<br />

and OSU football.<br />

“I am excited to meet our alumni,<br />

supporters, clients and students,”<br />

she says. “It is an honor to hear<br />

their OSU stories and talk about<br />

the inspiring work happening<br />

right here at the CVHS. I encourage<br />

people to reach out if they are<br />

interested in learning more about<br />

the Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health<br />

Sciences and the work of our faculty<br />

and students. There are so<br />

many ways that people can be<br />

involved. Nothing makes me happier<br />

than helping someone realize<br />

their passion, especially when their<br />

passion is OSU.”<br />

To reach Ferrell, email her<br />

at jferrell@osugiving.com<br />

or call her at (405) 385-0729.<br />

PHOTO / KASI KENNEDY / OSU FOUNDATION<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 49


RETIREMENT<br />

Saying Goodbye<br />

OSU’s Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences is fortunate to attract some of the brightest faculty members,<br />

their careers often spanning decades. We are bidding farewell to those who have retired this year.<br />

BY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR<br />

Kenneth Bartels<br />

DVM, MS, McCasland<br />

Professor of Laser Surgery,<br />

Kerr Foundation Chair<br />

for Biomedical Laser and<br />

Biophotonics Research,<br />

Department of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Clinical Sciences<br />

Dr. Bartels earned his DVM degree from Iowa<br />

State University, served in the Army <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Corps, earned a master’s degree from Colorado<br />

State University and spent five years in private practice<br />

before joining the CVHS in 1982.<br />

He counts among his accomplishments:<br />

• Providing service to the university and<br />

to <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Hospital clients.<br />

• Being elected as chair of the<br />

University Faculty Council.<br />

• Initiating a biomedical laser program<br />

within the CVHS and the university.<br />

• Being named the 2014<br />

Oklahoma <strong>Vet</strong>erinarian of the Year.<br />

“I would like to be remembered as someone who<br />

cared for his patients, his clients, his students, his<br />

colleagues, his soldiers and most of all, his family,”<br />

says Bartels. “Having a family who has stuck<br />

together and worked hard to make both human<br />

and animal lives better is by far the greatest accomplishment.”<br />

(Bartels’ wife, Jan, is a registered nurse.)<br />

As he retires to spend more time with his family,<br />

especially his grandson, to travel, fish and bird hunt<br />

with his new black lab pup, and perhaps continue<br />

working with colleagues on biomedical laser and<br />

photonic research projects, Bartels offers this advice:<br />

“Stay as positive as possible, balance your work life<br />

with your personal life, stay loyal to friends and colleagues<br />

but offer constructive mentorship, exhibit<br />

integrity with humility, get involved and above all,<br />

be proud to be a member of a noble profession.”<br />

GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

50 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

Lurinda Burge<br />

Research specialist,<br />

Department of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Pathobiology<br />

Burge earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Kansas<br />

Wesleyan University and a master’s in zoology from Oklahoma<br />

State University. She has been working for Dr. Robert<br />

Fulton in his laboratory for the past 33 years.<br />

“He’s been a great supervisor — so easy to get along with<br />

and always listens to my suggestions,” Burge says. “He gives<br />

me lots of credit for the lab’s success. I will miss him as my<br />

supervisor and as a friend. I’ve also enjoyed working with<br />

so many other people including numerous faculty, staff, students,<br />

and my husband, Jim Lish.”<br />

Burge hopes to be remembered for trying to do a good<br />

job and getting along with people.<br />

She plans to spend some quality time at home, enjoying<br />

their 20 acres in the country where she can garden, read,<br />

watch birds and hike.<br />

Robert Fulton<br />

DVM, Ph.D., DACM, Regents Professor and McCasland Foundation Endowed Chair<br />

for Food Animal Research, Department of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Pathobiology<br />

Dr. Fulton earned his DVM degree from Oklahoma<br />

State University in 1966 and his Ph.D. in 1975<br />

from the University of Missouri-Columbia in microbiology.<br />

He joined the veterinary center in 1982 and<br />

served as a department head for 15 years.<br />

He is thankful for the “dedication, honesty and commitment<br />

for excellence in the laboratory” of Lurinda<br />

Burge, his research technologist for 33 years who is also<br />

retiring. A grant from the Noble Foundation in 1999<br />

with Dr. Anthony Confer allowed the bovine respiratory<br />

disease program to prosper, permitting significant<br />

advancements in bovine viruses and vaccinology. “We<br />

developed a national and international reputation for<br />

OSU in cattle disease research,” he says.<br />

Most recently, he received the <strong>2015</strong> Academy of<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Consultants Outstanding Service Award<br />

for his contributions to the Academy of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Consultants and to the beef industry.<br />

While he has many accomplishments, these rank among the top:<br />

• Being recognized outside the university for publications on bovine viral diarrhea<br />

viruses, bovine coronaviruses and other respiratory viruses.<br />

• Receiving the <strong>2015</strong> Outstanding Service Award from the Academy of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Consultants and Merck Animal Health.<br />

• Being appointed as Regents Professor and McCasland Foundation Endowed Chair.<br />

He hopes to be remembered for the support<br />

he gave to new department faculty as<br />

they started their careers and that his team’s<br />

contributions to bovine viral research will be<br />

worthwhile to others.<br />

As he retires, Fulton and his wife, Arlene,<br />

who has supported him throughout his career,<br />

will be moving to Broken Arrow, Okla., to be<br />

near their two children, their spouses and the<br />

couple’s five grandchildren.<br />

His advice to new faculty:<br />

“Be a good writer, and document your<br />

scholarship for advancement in academia.<br />

Prioritize your time for scholarship as you<br />

will be known for it over most all other<br />

activities. Be your own advocate. Know<br />

your limitations, and maintain integrity.<br />

Remember what you want on your ‘academic<br />

tombstone.’”<br />

CONTINUES<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 51


RETIREMENT<br />

PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

Eileen Johnson<br />

DVM, MS, Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor, <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Parasitologist,<br />

Department of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Pathobiology<br />

Dr. Johnson earned her DVM (Class of 1974),<br />

master’s and Ph.D. degrees all from Oklahoma<br />

State University. In addition to teaching clinical<br />

parasitology to fourth-year veterinary students,<br />

she provided diagnostic services in the<br />

National Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Parasitology.<br />

Johnson first worked at the veterinary center<br />

from 1977 to 1988 in the same department<br />

she has spent the last 12 years. She considers<br />

these among her favorite memories and<br />

accomplishments:<br />

• Working with Drs. Roger Panciera and Sidney Ewing<br />

on the American canine hepatozoonosis project.<br />

• Helping others in the profession succeed.<br />

• Identifying the vectors for Potomac horse fever, discovering an alternate way<br />

for the transmission of Hepatozoon americanum to dogs, and finding Alaria<br />

mesocercariae in feral hogs in Oklahoma.<br />

Her retirement plans include traveling with<br />

her husband, Dr. Bill Johnson, former OADDL<br />

director, finish clearing some land they own<br />

and attending pottery workshops.<br />

Her advice to others and her parting<br />

comments:<br />

“Work as a team, collaborate and communicate.<br />

This has been an interesting journey. With<br />

the limited resources the CVHS has, we do a<br />

fantastic job, and it is because of the dedication<br />

of the entire staff and faculty. I will miss<br />

all of you.”<br />

52 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

Michael Lorenz<br />

DVM, DACVIM, Regents Service Professor,<br />

Small Animal Internal Medicine, Department of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Clinical Sciences<br />

Dr. Lorenz earned his DVM degree from<br />

Oklahoma State University (class of 1969) followed<br />

by an internship and residency at Cornell<br />

University. He served on faculty at the<br />

University of Georgia, as dean at Kansas State<br />

University and at OSU before returning to<br />

teaching full time. He enjoyed the balance he<br />

had between teaching, clinical duty and administrative<br />

work.<br />

During his 18 years at OSU, he treasures the<br />

many people he has worked with and the students<br />

he has taught. He considers the following<br />

to be some of his top accomplishments:<br />

• Alumni support and respect for the veterinary college.<br />

• Keeping enrollment, tuition and fees reasonable.<br />

“I want to be remembered as a man of integrity<br />

who could be trusted to do the right thing,”<br />

says Lorenz. “A person who enjoyed his job and<br />

valued what each individual brings to the table.”<br />

Lorenz plans to stay connected, continuing<br />

several education projects underway for dermatology<br />

and neurology. He also is committed to<br />

civic service and plans to fish more and travel<br />

with his wife, Velda. To those he leaves behind,<br />

he offers this advice:<br />

“Stay focused on the big picture. Academic<br />

life is wonderful, and one should take advantage<br />

of the opportunities presented every day.<br />

I encourage faculty members to be ‘givers’<br />

instead of ‘takers.’ What counts in the final analysis<br />

is how you treat people.”<br />

CONTINUES<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 53


RETIREMENT<br />

GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

Sandra Morgan<br />

DVM, Associate Professor, <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Toxicologist,<br />

Department of Physiological Sciences and Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory<br />

Dr. Morgan earned her DVM degree from<br />

Oklahoma State University (Class of 1980). She<br />

worked one year as a sole practitioner in northern<br />

Oklahoma before joining the faculty at<br />

OSU where she has worked for the last 34 years.<br />

Her first position was an ambulatory instructor;<br />

her rotation was known as being very hands-on<br />

with visits to the OSU Dairy twice daily to care<br />

for 300-plus head of cattle. She later transitioned<br />

to a position that split her time between<br />

Physiological Sciences and OADDL.<br />

“I would have liked to have kept doing a little<br />

ambulatory work along with the teaching and<br />

diagnostics,” Morgan says. “I enjoyed the students<br />

and getting to know the clients.”<br />

She considers her accomplishment to be<br />

teaching students clinically relevant information<br />

in a way they can remember it.<br />

“I want to be remembered for being a good<br />

teacher and for helping clients diagnose challenging<br />

cases.”<br />

She plans to spend retirement helping her<br />

husband, former faculty member Dr. Gregor<br />

Morgan, care for their farm and cattle, being<br />

with her grandsons Luke and Huck, helping<br />

her father with his garden and going fly-fishing<br />

every chance she gets.<br />

“Younger faculty do need older faculty as<br />

mentors,” she offers. “That way they won’t be<br />

as clueless as I was. I want to thank my family,<br />

all of my wonderful instructors, my classmates<br />

and former students for making the job<br />

so much fun. Thank you to the clients who let<br />

students work on their animals, the diagnostic<br />

lab clients who challenged my brain, and all of<br />

the people I was privileged to work with over<br />

the years in this awesome profession.”<br />

54 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


Alastair Watson<br />

BVSc, MAgrSc, PhD, Professor of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Anatomy, Department of Physiological Sciences<br />

Dr. Watson is a Kiwi, having grown up on<br />

a sheep farm in New Zealand. He earned a<br />

BVSc (DVM equivalent) and a master’s degree<br />

in anatomy from Massey University. After two<br />

short stays in Antarctica, he completed a Ph.D.<br />

in anatomy at Cornell University. He joined the<br />

faculty at OSU in 1986 and spent the next 28<br />

years teaching anatomy and pursuing research.<br />

“I enjoyed offering a broader view,” Watson<br />

says. “Providing electives and graduate courses<br />

on whales and dolphins has been challenging<br />

and rewarding. I was part of a team that had<br />

the pleasure of finding the world’s first six-fingered<br />

flipper in our discovery of a pair of rare<br />

beaked whales (mother and son) in Taiwan<br />

and from Galveston, Texas, a six-fingered bottlenose<br />

dolphin (they normally have five fingers<br />

like humans).”<br />

While Watson is retiring from OSU, he is<br />

merely transitioning to a life cultivating his<br />

passion.<br />

“I’ll be moving back to New Zealand, creating<br />

a veggie garden and enjoying time with family<br />

and friends. I will be doing what I love and<br />

what is important to me, continuing research<br />

and writing about New Zealand’s whales and<br />

dolphins and nurturing my philatelic interests.<br />

I am grateful for this opportunity (at OSU) to<br />

learn so much, to grow, create and to contribute.<br />

I hope my students have gained in their<br />

skills of lifelong learning and open-mindedness.<br />

Thank you very much!”<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 55


GENESEE PHOTO<br />

J.D. Folsom (right) receives<br />

the McElroy Award from<br />

CVHS Dean Dr. Jean Sander.<br />

Folsom named <strong>2015</strong> McElroy Award recipient<br />

J.D. Folsom of Beaverhead,<br />

Mont., received the <strong>2015</strong> Dean<br />

Clarence H. McElroy Award, the<br />

highest honor bestowed upon an<br />

Oklahoma State University veterinary<br />

student.<br />

“It’s an honor to receive this<br />

award,” says Folsom, Class of <strong>2015</strong>.<br />

“What means the most is that it’s an<br />

award voted on by my classmates,<br />

instructors and clinicians. I want to<br />

congratulate all of my classmates<br />

on their hard work and dedication<br />

getting to graduation because<br />

that’s exactly what it takes to get<br />

through this program. And thank<br />

you to the professors and clinicians<br />

for their hard work and patience<br />

with us all.”<br />

Folsom, the son of John and<br />

Tracy Folsom of Jackson, Mont.,<br />

grew up on a cow/calf operation<br />

with horses and dogs. So becoming<br />

a veterinarian was his goal for<br />

as long as he can remember.<br />

“Dr. Patricia Holland in Wyoming<br />

made a big impact on me<br />

at a young age,” he says. “I can still<br />

remember her showing me and my<br />

brothers her instruments and what<br />

they were for about every time she<br />

was around.”<br />

In addition to the McElroy<br />

Award, Folsom also earned a Butch<br />

and Luella Ruth Curtis Educational<br />

Fund award for being a student<br />

in good standing and the<br />

Alfred M. Bradley Memorial Scholarship<br />

for his interest in large animal<br />

medicine.<br />

After graduation, Folsom will be<br />

joining Mountain River <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Hospital in Rigby, Idaho, a mixed<br />

animal practice where he will be<br />

one of three veterinarians.<br />

“I will be spending three-quarters<br />

of my time practicing bovine<br />

medicine, and the remaining quarter<br />

will be split between equine<br />

and small animal.”<br />

For those wanting to pursue a<br />

career in veterinary medicine, Folsom<br />

offers this advice.<br />

“Make sure you spend sufficient<br />

time riding and working with veterinarians<br />

so you not only know<br />

what you’re getting into but you<br />

also have an idea of certain areas<br />

of veterinary medicine that you<br />

enjoy and are passionate about. It<br />

sure makes it easier to spend long<br />

hours studying a topic you are passionate<br />

about.”<br />

Folsom also had the challenge<br />

of balancing family life while<br />

pursuing his veterinary medicine<br />

degree. Married to Micah for eight<br />

years, the couple has a 6-year-old<br />

daughter, Jonnie, a 4-year-old son,<br />

Knox, and a baby due at the end<br />

of <strong>2015</strong>.<br />

“I think what really helped was<br />

that I treated school like a job.<br />

While I was at the school, I was<br />

studying so that when I got home,<br />

I could spend time with my family<br />

without feeling like I needed to be<br />

studying. It also helps when your<br />

wife is a rock star and keeps things<br />

in order at home, which allowed<br />

me to really focus on my studies.<br />

“I really just want to take a second<br />

to publicly thank my wife for all she<br />

has done over the past four years. I<br />

can’t imagine doing this without<br />

her by my side every step of the way.<br />

I’m so excited for the future and all<br />

it has to offer.”<br />

56 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


PHOTO / COURTESY<br />

More OSU<br />

alumni honors<br />

At the 100th Annual OVMA<br />

Convention and Expo, two<br />

more alumni were honored.<br />

Dr. Kimberly Weiss<br />

(’99) received the<br />

Distinguished Service<br />

Award. Weiss owns and<br />

operates Heartland Healing<br />

Hands, a mobile veterinary<br />

practice serving the greater<br />

Oklahoma City metro area.<br />

Dr. Edward Wagner<br />

(’80) received the<br />

Companion Animal<br />

Practitioner Award.<br />

Wagner works at 15th<br />

Street <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Group<br />

in Tulsa.<br />

Dr. Carey Floyd<br />

Graduates of OSU’s Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Health Sciences have many career options<br />

— as personified by <strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma <strong>Vet</strong>erinarian<br />

of the Year Dr. Carey Floyd.<br />

Floyd grew up in Ada, Okla., and knew early<br />

on she wanted to be a veterinarian.<br />

“I don’t ever remember wanting to do anything<br />

else,” Floyd says. “We had about 25 acres<br />

outside of town. My mom was the animal lover;<br />

every stray ended up at our house. My dad<br />

taught biology at Ada High, so every year when<br />

he cleaned out his classroom for the summer,<br />

the snakes and turtles came home with him.”<br />

Floyd earned her DVM degree from OSU in<br />

1985 and returned to Ada.<br />

“I worked in a private veterinary practice<br />

for several years. Then I had an opportunity<br />

to work at the Oklahoma Department of<br />

FLOYD NAMED<br />

VETERINARIAN OF THE YEAR<br />

Agriculture. I was the first woman they hired<br />

as a field veterinary medical officer. … I enjoyed<br />

it and really liked the people I met.”<br />

After 15 years, Floyd moved on to Murray<br />

State College in Tishomingo, Okla.<br />

“I was the director of Murray State’s veterinary<br />

technician program. I loved teaching and was<br />

there for almost 11 years. Then in May 2014, I<br />

decided to try something different. I am now<br />

teaching biology II and anatomy and physiology<br />

at Seminole High School.”<br />

“I really think what I like the most about<br />

being a veterinarian has to be my colleagues<br />

and the people in and around the veterinary<br />

medicine profession,” she says. “I loved my<br />

patients and my clients. And I really love the<br />

kids and teaching. I tell people I am not a typical<br />

high school teacher; I am a veterinarian<br />

who is teaching.”<br />

And because she is not currently practicing<br />

veterinary medicine, Floyd was surprised when<br />

the Oklahoma <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Association<br />

selected her as the <strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma <strong>Vet</strong>erinarian<br />

of the Year.<br />

“It is such an honor to be recognized by many<br />

veterinarians and colleagues in Oklahoma. I<br />

have tried to give back to this profession. I have<br />

done a lot of different things with this veterinary<br />

medicine degree — some things I never<br />

would have been able to do without it. I am very<br />

humbled by this award. It was truly an amazing<br />

honor for me to receive it.”<br />

Floyd is the 36th veterinarian to be honored<br />

by the OVMA. Of that number, 30 (83<br />

percent) have been alumni or faculty members<br />

of the OSU Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health<br />

Sciences.<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 57


GENESSE PHOTO<br />

Judi Baker (left) helped present the Dean Harry Orr Memorial Award, named for her<br />

grandfather, to third-year veterinary student Hilary Ludwig.<br />

Formula for Success<br />

THIRD-YEAR VETERINARY STUDENT APPRECIATES SCHOLARSHIPS,<br />

FACULTY AND COLLEAGUES<br />

For HILARY LUDWIG, a third-year veterinary student at Oklahoma State University<br />

Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences, scholarships have made all the difference.<br />

She recently added the DEAN HARRY ORR MEMORIAL AWARD to her list of honors.<br />

“It was really special to win this award,” says Ludwig. “This award is based on how a<br />

student has done for the first two years of vet school, so it was nice to be recognized<br />

for the hard work I put in during those two years.”<br />

The Orr Award honors the second dean of OSU’s CVHS and goes to the top-ranking<br />

third-year veterinary student.<br />

58 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


Besides the Orr Award, Ludwig has won:<br />

• An Alice J. Levin Endowed Scholarship for her interest in small animal medicine.<br />

• The Gladys Stipe-Myers Endowed Scholarship for her academic performance.<br />

• A Salsbury Scholarship for her academic performance.<br />

• The Subbiah Sangiah Endowed Scholarship in <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Pharmacology<br />

in recognition of her high academic achievement in pharmacology.<br />

“I have a lot of student loans, so I am always<br />

so thankful for every scholarship I receive,”<br />

says Ludwig. “OSU helps so many students<br />

financially, which is great because vet school<br />

is expensive.”<br />

These scholarships have helped<br />

Ludwig work to fulfill her childhood<br />

dream of becoming a veterinarian.<br />

“I’ve always loved animals and our family pets<br />

growing up,” she says. “I also started horseback<br />

riding when I was about 7 years old. A lot of<br />

horse owners are involved in their own horses’<br />

vet care, so I was involved in that a lot growing<br />

up. Seeing that made me think that being<br />

a veterinarian would be something I would<br />

want to do.<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary school also presents many difficulties<br />

for students. Ludwig says the pace of veterinary<br />

school was a major change compared<br />

with her undergraduate work.<br />

“<strong>Vet</strong> school is very fast-paced, and we are<br />

constantly taking exams,” she says. “It is a highstress<br />

environment and adjusting to that has<br />

been challenging.”<br />

Ludwig says the adjustment was made easier<br />

with assistance from CVHS faculty and the<br />

other students.<br />

“The best part of vet school so far has been my<br />

fellow classmates,” says Ludwig. “We always have<br />

the best time together, and you always struggle<br />

a lot in vet school, but we are always struggling<br />

together and having a good time together even<br />

though the tests are difficult.<br />

“Dr. Mark Rochat (formerly a small animal<br />

surgeon at CVHS) has helped me tremendously<br />

since I decided I wanted to do small animal<br />

surgery. I’ve been emailing him, and he would<br />

always chat with me in his office. I email him<br />

all the time for advice. Dr. Jonathan Pucket,<br />

an ophthalmologist, allowed me to write a<br />

case report with him, and we are in the process<br />

of getting that published. I really appreciate<br />

him giving me the opportunity to have the<br />

hands-on experience.”<br />

Of course, these faculty members and others<br />

have seen Ludwig’s work ethic first-hand.<br />

“Hilary is a highly driven and outstanding<br />

veterinary student,” says Dr. Pucket. “From very<br />

early in her veterinary career, she sought out<br />

ways to further her knowledge and prepare<br />

for her career. She will be a great addition to<br />

our profession, and I look forward to being<br />

her colleague.”<br />

Ludwig doesn’t spend all of her time in the<br />

classroom. She is also an energetic student who<br />

is involved in several different activities.<br />

“I was involved in the student chapter of the<br />

American <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Association and<br />

served on the executive board for two years,”<br />

says Ludwig. “I also helped start the Diagnostic<br />

Imaging Club. I’ve gained experience organizing<br />

club meetings, and being involved has<br />

really helped me to meet people and practice<br />

talking in front of people.”<br />

The most memorable part of receiving the<br />

Orr Award for Ludwig took place during the<br />

awards banquet in the spring of <strong>2015</strong>, where<br />

she sat next to Judi Baker, the granddaughter<br />

of Dean Orr.<br />

“I got to sit with Judi Baker at my table, and<br />

she was so nice,” says Ludwig. “I’ve received a<br />

scholarship every year, but it made it so special<br />

to hear the story of this award, and I really<br />

appreciated meeting her. A lot of students work<br />

really hard, and I appreciate her and her family<br />

recognizing the hard work it takes to go<br />

through vet school.”<br />

KAROLYN BOLAY<br />

“FROM VERY EARLY IN HER VETERINARY CAREER,<br />

SHE SOUGHT OUT WAYS TO FURTHER HER KNOWLEDGE<br />

AND PREPARE FOR HER CAREER. SHE WILL BE A GREAT<br />

ADDITION TO OUR PROFESSION, AND I LOOK FORWARD<br />

TO BEING HER COLLEAGUE.”<br />

— JONATHAN PUCKET<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 59


CLASS OF 2019<br />

Welcome, Class of 2019<br />

THE INCOMING CLASS OF 2019 AT OSU’S CENTER FOR VETERINARY<br />

HEALTH SCIENCES SPENT TWO DAYS PARTICIPATING IN THE COWBOY VET<br />

(VETERINARY EDUCATION AND TEAM BUILDING) ORIENTATION. THE PROGRAM<br />

FOCUSES ON LEADERSHIP, SELF-AWARENESS AND COMMUNICATION<br />

CONCEPTS. OUT OF 501 ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, THESE 88 STUDENTS WERE<br />

SELECTED TO BECOME FUTURE OSU COWBOY VETERINARIANS.<br />

ORIENTATION PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHIL SHOCKLEY<br />

WHO THEY ARE AND WHERE THEY ARE FROM<br />

22 MEN 66 WOMEN 88 TOTAL<br />

58 OKLAHOMA RESIDENTS<br />

30 NON-RESIDENTS REPRESENTING ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA,<br />

INDIANA, KANSAS, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI,<br />

MONTANA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW MEXICO, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA,<br />

PENNSYLVANIA, PUERTO RICO, SOUTH DAKOTA, TEXAS AND WISCONSIN<br />

The Class of 2019 enjoys orientation before classes begin at OSU.<br />

60 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


GENESEE PHOTO<br />

BY THE NUMBERS<br />

3.535 CORE GPA<br />

3.534 CUMULATIVE GPA<br />

153 GRE VERBAL<br />

151 GRE QUANTITATIVE<br />

4.0 GRE ANALYTICAL<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 61


Class of 2016:<br />

Movin’ On Up<br />

Members of the Class of 2016 pose around Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences<br />

Dean Dr. Jean Sander (center, second row from the top) during the Transition Ceremony in April.<br />

62 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

Congratulations,<br />

Class of <strong>2015</strong>!<br />

The 88 members of the<br />

Oklahoma State University<br />

Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health<br />

Sciences’ Class of <strong>2015</strong> on<br />

Commencement Day.<br />

GENESSEE PHOTO<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 63


COMMENCEMENT<br />

“ANY VETERINARY<br />

STUDENT CONSIDERING<br />

AN INTERNATIONAL<br />

INTERNSHIP OR<br />

EXTERNSHIP SHOULD<br />

ABSOLUTELY DO IT.<br />

WHEREVER YOU GO,<br />

YOU WILL FIND THE<br />

STYLE OF MEDICINE<br />

A LITTLE DIFFERENT.”<br />

Lessons from Down Under<br />

JASON ANTON STUDIES IN AUSTRALIA<br />

Jason Anton of Lithia, Fla., decided to pursue a career in veterinary medicine<br />

while earning his undergraduate degree in animal science at the University of Florida.<br />

“While I was studying at Florida, I worked with the<br />

veterinarians at the horse teaching unit,” says Anton.<br />

“I have always enjoyed being around animals. I found<br />

it is a great stress reliever. Working with the veterinarians,<br />

I realized that veterinary medicine was something<br />

I wanted to be involved in, and I really liked<br />

the niche market of assisted reproductive technologies<br />

of large animals.”<br />

Anton went on to earn his master’s degree in animal<br />

science with an emphasis in equine reproduction<br />

from Clemson University in South Carolina. He<br />

came to Oklahoma State University in 2011 to earn a<br />

degree in veterinary medicine.<br />

PHOTOGRAPHY<br />

BY GARY LAWSON<br />

64 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


Jason Anton searches<br />

for a bovine embryo on<br />

a plate with wells in it<br />

that allows veterinarians<br />

to search for and wash<br />

embryos.<br />

“The last four years have been a<br />

great experience,” says Anton. “We<br />

spent the first three years basically<br />

in the classroom. The transition to<br />

clinics has been relatively smooth.<br />

Getting your hands on patients<br />

and working with the experts here<br />

in OSU’s <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Hospital<br />

has been great. The knowledge<br />

gained will be beneficial in<br />

the future.”<br />

Anton has taken full advantage<br />

of opportunities available to OSU<br />

veterinary students. He participated<br />

in the student chapter of the<br />

American Association of Bovine<br />

Practitioners, was instrumental<br />

in establishing the OSU student<br />

chapter of the Society of Theriogenologists<br />

and was a member of<br />

the OSU bovine palpation team.<br />

He also participated in research<br />

projects focusing on novel artificial<br />

insemination techniques in<br />

small ruminants.<br />

He found grant money for a<br />

trip to study in Australia the fall of<br />

his senior year. Among the funds<br />

he received was a $4,900 travel<br />

grant from the Humphreys Chair<br />

in International Studies through<br />

OSU’s Division of Agricultural Sciences<br />

and Natural Resources.<br />

“I spent nine weeks at Total Livestock<br />

Genetics in Camperdown,<br />

Victoria, on the east coast of Australia,”<br />

says Anton. “It was during<br />

the equine breeding season, so<br />

we were very busy. However, what<br />

impressed me the most was not<br />

only how hard everyone worked<br />

but how well they worked together.<br />

There was a high level of loyalty,<br />

and they took care of one another.<br />

There was a good work/life balance,<br />

and these highly skilled veterinarians<br />

used practical medicine. They<br />

did a good, thorough job but nothing<br />

over the top.”<br />

Established in 1989 to fill the<br />

need for a professional, independent<br />

collection service, Total Livestock<br />

Genetics has two Australian<br />

locations with about 50 people<br />

on staff. The company specializes<br />

in semen collection, embryo<br />

collection/transfer and live animal<br />

export.<br />

“I was interested in TLG because<br />

they specialize in artificial reproductive<br />

technologies and work<br />

with multiple species,” he says.<br />

“They also handle live animal and<br />

embryo exports. There is a huge<br />

international market for animals<br />

of high genetic merit with an<br />

excellent health status. Farmers<br />

and ranchers can use these animals<br />

to establish or maintain herds<br />

to help feed the world’s growing<br />

population.”<br />

According to Anton, TLG is<br />

responsible for source verifying<br />

each animal and making sure<br />

they are properly vaccinated. Furthermore,<br />

each animal must meet<br />

stringent fertility guidelines before<br />

being shipped to the client.<br />

“TLG handles dairy animals, beef<br />

animals, sheep, and goats,” says<br />

Anton. “The take-home message<br />

for me was the applicability of<br />

assisted reproductive technologies<br />

to international export. These techniques<br />

can be practiced in countries<br />

like Australia or the U.S. to<br />

greatly benefit growing agricultural<br />

markets in countries such as<br />

China. Start with high-quality animals<br />

with superior genetic merit,<br />

and your herd will maintain its<br />

integrity. As a result, these animals<br />

will help keep up with the demand<br />

for food sources.”<br />

Anton earned his DVM degree<br />

in May <strong>2015</strong> and joined Bickett<br />

Genetics of Chickamauga, Ga. This<br />

veterinary practice specializes in<br />

bovine embryo transfer and will be<br />

expanding its services to include<br />

small ruminant embryo transfer.<br />

“Doing an internship at TLG was<br />

wonderful,” he says. “Any veterinary<br />

student considering an international<br />

internship or externship<br />

should absolutely do it. Wherever<br />

you go, you will find the style of<br />

medicine a little different. But<br />

the techniques are transferrable<br />

especially if you are on a production<br />

career path. The food animal<br />

medicine and equine medicine<br />

techniques I learned can easily be<br />

incorporated into the U.S. veterinary<br />

medicine industry.”<br />

Anton is the son of Terrence<br />

Anton of Tahlequah, Okla.<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 65


COMMENCEMENT<br />

DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR / CVHS<br />

Dr. Lisa Good (left, OSU ’83) hooded her daughter,<br />

Carrie Cavett, upon her graduation from OSU’s CVHS in May.<br />

Following Mom’s Footsteps<br />

CARRIE CAVETT CITES IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY IN CAREER CHOICE<br />

In 1983, Dr. Lisa Good earned her DVM degree from Oklahoma State University.<br />

She joined her father’s mixed animal practice in Ponca City, Okla., and has spent<br />

the last 32 years working at Ponca Animal Hospital. On May 8, <strong>2015</strong>, she hooded<br />

her daughter, Carrie Cavett, as she earned her DVM degree from OSU.<br />

66 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


“… MY MOM ALWAYS NURTURED MY INTEREST<br />

IN VETERINARY MEDICINE. THE THING THAT<br />

HAS INFLUENCED ME THE MOST IS THAT SHE<br />

MAKES EVERYONE FEEL LIKE FAMILY.”<br />

“I can’t think of a time when I<br />

wanted to be anything but a veterinarian,”<br />

Cavett says. “The majority of<br />

my earliest childhood memories are<br />

going on calf delivery calls with my<br />

mom and grandfather. I never really<br />

thought I might do anything else.”<br />

“Carrie has always shown an interest<br />

in my work,” echoes Good. “She<br />

loved to watch surgeries or help<br />

her papa (my father) take care of<br />

animals. When she was around the<br />

age of 3, she got her first veterinarian<br />

bag with a stethoscope, thermometer<br />

and bandages. Needless<br />

to say, our poor cat was one of her<br />

first ‘patients.’”<br />

Over the years, Cavett has spent<br />

many hours at her mother’s clinic<br />

helping in a variety of ways from<br />

cleaning kennels to mopping the<br />

floors. She has worked the front desk,<br />

pulled patient records, helped prepare<br />

monthly statements and accompanied<br />

Dr. Good on after-hours calls.<br />

“Without a doubt, Carrie has a<br />

superior work ethic,” Good says.<br />

“She is also extremely dependable<br />

and finishes what she starts. There<br />

is no halfway for her — if she says<br />

she will do it, she will do it on time<br />

and to the best of her ability.”<br />

“My mom’s work made me want<br />

to be a veterinarian,” says Cavett. “I<br />

never felt pressured to be one; my<br />

mom always nurtured my interest in<br />

veterinary medicine. The thing that<br />

has influenced me the most is that<br />

she makes everyone feel like family.”<br />

Family is important to Cavett and<br />

played a role in her selection of a veterinary<br />

college.<br />

“I wanted to attend a great school<br />

that would provide me with a wellrounded<br />

education, and I wanted to<br />

stay close to my family. OSU offered<br />

me all these things, and I can’t wait<br />

until I am able to give back to the<br />

university that has given me so many<br />

opportunities.<br />

“My favorite memory has been my<br />

entire fourth year. I have absolutely<br />

loved every minute of it, from the<br />

never-ending emergency shifts to<br />

sleepless nights and even the paperwork.<br />

I have learned and advanced<br />

my clinical skills and knowledge tremendously<br />

in these last 12 months.”<br />

To those aspiring to become a veterinarian,<br />

Cavett offers this advice.<br />

“Get as much veterinary experience<br />

as possible,” Cavett says. “Challenge<br />

yourself in your coursework<br />

to better prepare for the demands of<br />

veterinary school, and try to maintain<br />

a healthy life/school balance.”<br />

“Carrie will be an asset to our profession,<br />

and I know when I hood<br />

her, I’m going to be thinking of<br />

how proud my father would have<br />

been of her,” Good says. “Our entire<br />

family, my husband, her older sister,<br />

grandmothers and cousins couldn’t<br />

be more proud of our newest OSU<br />

veterinarian.”<br />

“I can’t even express how grateful<br />

I am that my mom was so supportive<br />

of my dreams,” Cavett says. “I<br />

am so lucky to have attended OSU<br />

and learn from the wonderful professors<br />

and hospital clinicians. This<br />

university feels like home, and I am<br />

thankful every day for the opportunity<br />

that OSU has given me to pursue<br />

my career.”<br />

Cavett’s days at OSU aren’t over<br />

yet. She will be staying at OSU<br />

to complete a yearlong small animal<br />

medicine and surgery rotating<br />

internship. After that, she plans to<br />

pursue a residency in small animal<br />

internal medicine or critical care.<br />

Cavett is one of 88 new veterinarians<br />

in the Class of <strong>2015</strong>.<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 67


COMMENCEMENT<br />

DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR / CVHS<br />

Bryce Fritzler (right) was hooded by his mother,<br />

Beverly Fritzler (OSU ’86) upon his graduation.<br />

Like Mother, Like Son<br />

BRYCE FRITZLER SET TO JOIN FAMILY’S CLINIC<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary medicine runs in some families. That’s the case for Bryce Fritzler,<br />

who is following his mother’s footsteps.<br />

Fritzler earned his DVM degree from Oklahoma State University on May 8, <strong>2015</strong>,<br />

29 years after his mother, Beverly Fritzler, DVM, CCRT, CVMA, earned her DVM<br />

degree from the same college in 1986.<br />

68 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


“MY MOTHER IS THE SOLE REASON I<br />

DECIDED TO BECOME A VETERINARIAN.<br />

IT IS AWESOME BEING ABLE TO SEE HER<br />

WORK WITH CLIENTS AND PATIENTS.”<br />

“I didn’t always foresee being a<br />

veterinarian,” admits Bryce Fritzler.<br />

“Throughout my undergraduate<br />

studies at the University of Oklahoma,<br />

I had always envisioned being<br />

a medical doctor.<br />

“My mother is the sole reason I<br />

decided to become a veterinarian,”<br />

says the son, who grew up helping<br />

at his mother’s small animal practice,<br />

Rose Rock <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Hospital<br />

& Pet Resort in Norman, Okla.<br />

“Bryce would clean kennels after<br />

school until he was old enough to<br />

drive,” Beverly Fritzler says. “After<br />

he earned his bachelor’s at OU, he<br />

worked as a veterinary assistant<br />

while he tried to decide if human<br />

medicine was the way he wanted to<br />

continue. He soon realized veterinary<br />

medicine had many more facets<br />

than just the work he had done<br />

growing up.”<br />

“It is awesome being able to see<br />

her work with clients and patients,”<br />

Bryce says. “And going to OSU for<br />

my DVM degree was a no-brainer.<br />

As a resident of Oklahoma, I paid<br />

in-state tuition, and it allowed me<br />

to stay closer to home, which was<br />

important to me.<br />

“My favorite memory of veterinary<br />

college starts with the first<br />

physiology test our freshman year.<br />

I received a 100 on the exam. I was<br />

temporarily labeled the ‘smart person,’<br />

which led to meeting my wife,<br />

Jennifer Devine. Jennifer struggled<br />

with the first exam and sought me<br />

out as a tutor. We developed a friendship<br />

and later a relationship. It also<br />

gave me confidence at the beginning<br />

of this long journey that I had chosen<br />

the right career path.<br />

“If you’re thinking about becoming<br />

a veterinarian, I suggest getting<br />

experience in the field as soon as<br />

possible. Experience working with a<br />

veterinarian is essential to easing the<br />

process of school. It can also help<br />

you determine if it is the career you<br />

really do want to pursue,” he adds.<br />

At commencement, Dr. Fritzler<br />

hooded her son during the hooding<br />

ceremony — a long-standing tradition<br />

at Oklahoma State’s Center for<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences.<br />

“It means more than I can say,”<br />

says Beverly. “I am so proud of<br />

what he has accomplished and that<br />

our dreams are shared. Receiving<br />

my DVM was one of the happiest<br />

moments of my life and has provided<br />

my family with much enjoyment.<br />

I am proud that he watched,<br />

learned and wants to excel in veterinary<br />

medicine.”<br />

“My mother is the person who has<br />

influenced and supported me the<br />

most with my decision to become<br />

a veterinarian,” adds Bryce. “She has<br />

been my mentor these past four<br />

years. Having her hood me will be<br />

an incredible experience.”<br />

Following graduation, Bryce<br />

joined his mother’s practice as an<br />

associate veterinarian.<br />

“I think intelligence and compassion<br />

are Bryce’s greatest strengths.<br />

The intelligence he possesses is so<br />

impressive, and I’m looking forward<br />

to learning more from him,” says<br />

Beverly. “He has a big heart, and it’s<br />

those little things he does that will<br />

make his transition into practice<br />

seamless. I have been looking forward<br />

to slowing down, but there<br />

is so much more I want to do that<br />

I have not accomplished yet. Bryce<br />

seems to share the same goals as me,<br />

so I look forward to him continuing<br />

my work.”<br />

In addition to practicing small<br />

animal medicine and surgery, Beverly<br />

is a Certified Canine Rehabilitation<br />

therapist, a Certified <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Medical Acupuncturist, and has specialized<br />

training in Canine Massage<br />

Therapy. Bryce plans to also receive<br />

additional training in rehabilitation,<br />

acupuncture and endoscopy. Rose<br />

Rock <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Hospital and Pet<br />

Resort employs three veterinarians<br />

(in addition to the Fritzlers) and 30<br />

staff members.”<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 69


COMMENCEMENT<br />

DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR / CVHS<br />

Dr. Rachel Kinser hooded her husband,<br />

Shawn Kinser, in the Class of <strong>2015</strong>.<br />

A Good Word<br />

SHAWN KINSER CREDITS POPE FAMILY WITH VETERINARY INSPIRATION<br />

Shawn Kinser, who grew up in Boswell, Okla., is among the 88 veterinary students<br />

earning a DVM degree from Oklahoma State University in <strong>2015</strong>. He thought<br />

about going to medical school for a long time, but once he started working at<br />

Boswell Animal Kare, the Pope family of veterinarians changed his mind.<br />

70 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


“EVERY DAY IS DIFFERENT AND IT HAS BEEN<br />

SUCH A PLEASURE INTERACTING WITH THE<br />

CLINICIANS AND STAFF AT THE VETERINARY<br />

MEDICAL HOSPITAL WHILE WE SERVE PEOPLE WHO<br />

TRUST THE HEALTH OF THEIR ANIMALS TO US.”<br />

“I fell in love with the work,”<br />

recalls Kinser. “Caring for animals<br />

quickly became my passion, and I<br />

looked for any opportunity to be<br />

around the vet clinic where Drs.<br />

Stanley, Stanna, Corey and Megan<br />

Pope all worked. They taught me a<br />

great deal and mentored me while<br />

I was in high school. They were<br />

very influential in my decision to<br />

pursue veterinary medicine. I attribute<br />

a lot of who I am today to<br />

them and their investments in me.”<br />

“Initially Shawn walked dogs<br />

and cleaned cages,” says Dr. Stanna<br />

Pope (OSU ’05). “He was soon<br />

promoted to small animal assistant,<br />

impressing us with his knowledge,<br />

initiative and determination.<br />

From such a young age, he exuded<br />

a strong work ethic and high moral<br />

values.”<br />

And the Drs. Pope, all OSU<br />

alumni, also influenced Kinser’s<br />

decision on where he would study<br />

his craft.<br />

“OSU always had a glowing reputation<br />

when I heard anyone talk<br />

about its veterinary school,” Kinser<br />

says. “Working with OSU alumni<br />

was definitely a strong factor. I<br />

wanted to be part of all the good<br />

things they told me about OSU’s<br />

veterinary college. A few times<br />

during high school I visited Stillwater<br />

with the Popes and fell in<br />

love with the town and the college.”<br />

He fell in love with more than<br />

Stillwater and OSU, meeting and<br />

marrying Rachel Steinman. The<br />

couple married in June 2013, one<br />

month after Rachel earned her<br />

DVM degree from OSU. Since<br />

graduation, she has been working<br />

in a mixed animal practice with<br />

three other OSU alumni.<br />

“I do primarily small animal<br />

work at Pond Creek <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Clinic,” she says. “Dr. Harry James,<br />

an OSU distinguished alumnus,<br />

started the practice in 1960. His<br />

daughter, Dr. Stephanie Slaving<br />

(OSU ’98) and Dr. Pete Streck, a<br />

classmate of mine, work there as<br />

well. We are the only veterinary<br />

clinic in the county and serve<br />

many surrounding areas.”<br />

“Rachel has been incredibly<br />

helpful since she was two years<br />

ahead of me,” says Kinser. “If I<br />

wasn’t grasping a concept from<br />

class, she was able to explain it with<br />

real-world examples in a way that<br />

made it much easier to understand.<br />

Her experiences during clinical<br />

rotations really helped me prepare<br />

for the fourth year so that I could<br />

keep my head above water.<br />

“My favorite memory of veterinary<br />

college has been working<br />

with clients and patients during<br />

the clinical rotations. Every day is<br />

different, and it has been such a<br />

pleasure interacting with the clinicians<br />

and staff at the veterinary<br />

medical hospital while we serve<br />

people who trust the health of<br />

their animals to us.”<br />

“While Shawn was in college, he<br />

often visited during the summer<br />

months,” says Stanna Pope. “We<br />

had the great pleasure of hosting<br />

him for a three-week preceptorship<br />

this past year. To see the progression<br />

of a high school student<br />

aspiring to become a veterinarian<br />

someday to now a young man that<br />

has met his goal is heartwarming.<br />

I could not be prouder. I am honored<br />

to call Shawn my friend and<br />

am ecstatic that I can call him my<br />

colleague.”<br />

“Seize every opportunity while<br />

in school to maximize your learning<br />

experience,” Kinser advises<br />

future students. “You’re only in<br />

vet school for a short amount of<br />

time. While you’re here, you have<br />

immediate access to a wealth of<br />

knowledge in our clinicians and<br />

professors. It’s easy to start living<br />

from test to test once the busy<br />

schedule sets in. Things like wet<br />

labs and volunteer opportunities<br />

are going to help you solidify the<br />

knowledge gained in the classroom.<br />

Maintain a positive attitude,<br />

and cultivate a habit of working<br />

hard. That will carry you a long<br />

way in vet school.”<br />

On Commencement Day, Kinser<br />

had the honor of hooding her<br />

husband.<br />

“It’s an honor for me. First,<br />

because he’s my husband, and as a<br />

former student, I understand what<br />

completing this degree requires. I<br />

respect him and am proud of his<br />

accomplishment,” she says. “As a<br />

fellow veterinarian, I look up to<br />

him for his knowledge, abilities<br />

and skills that he will bring to the<br />

field of veterinary medicine. Finally,<br />

as an OSU alumna, I feel honored<br />

to be part of such a long-standing<br />

tradition in the hooding ceremony.”<br />

“I have a lot of respect and admiration<br />

for my wife,” adds Kinser.<br />

“She has accomplished so much<br />

in her life and excels at everything<br />

she does. It’s a great honor<br />

to have someone I look up to give<br />

me my hood and an even greater<br />

honor for it to be my wife, whom<br />

I respect so much.”<br />

Following graduation, Kinser<br />

plans to look for a position in northwest<br />

Oklahoma City or near Pond<br />

Creek. Ultimately, the couple plans<br />

to move near Amarillo, Texas, to be<br />

closer to Rachel’s family.<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 71


COMMENCEMENT<br />

GENESSEE PHOTO<br />

Taking a Different Path<br />

LELAND LISTON EARNS HIS DVM DEGREE — AT AGE 49<br />

A career in veterinary medicine requires many years of study. And for<br />

one senior veterinary student at Oklahoma State University’s Center<br />

for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences, that road was much, much longer.<br />

Leland Liston, of Claremore, Okla., earned his Doctorate of<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medicine in May <strong>2015</strong>. It’s not the 49-year-old’s first<br />

career. Originally from Los Angeles, Liston spent 20 years there<br />

repairing cars at a Chevrolet dealership.<br />

72 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


“I DIDN’T WANT TO BE ROCKING MY<br />

GOLDEN YEARS AWAY ON THE PORCH<br />

WITH REGRETS. SO AT AGE 40, I QUIT MY<br />

JOB. … MY FRIENDS HELPED ME REALIZE<br />

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE; YOU’RE NEVER TOO<br />

OLD TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW.”<br />

“I was very successful in my field,”<br />

says Liston. “I was a shop foreman in<br />

charge of 25 guys, making $75,000<br />

a year, but I wasn’t happy.”<br />

Liston always wanted to go into<br />

veterinary medicine but didn’t think<br />

it was something he could make<br />

happen.<br />

“It’s something I always wanted<br />

to do all my life. I didn’t want to<br />

be rocking my golden years away<br />

on the porch with regrets. So at age<br />

40, I quit my job. It was a big risk to<br />

throw away a successful career. My<br />

friends helped me realize it’s never<br />

too late; you’re never too old to<br />

learn something new.”<br />

In 2001, Liston started taking<br />

night courses at a California community<br />

college while working full<br />

time. In 2007, he moved to Oklahoma.<br />

He completed his undergraduate<br />

degree at Rogers State<br />

University in Claremore and applied<br />

to OSU’s College of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Medicine.<br />

“I chose OSU because my parents<br />

live here. I loved Oklahoma once I<br />

moved here. This is the only school<br />

I wanted to go to, and it was the only<br />

one I applied to.”<br />

Liston was one of 83 students<br />

from a pool of 364 applicants<br />

selected as the Class of <strong>2015</strong>.<br />

“I love the challenges of veterinary<br />

college. I like how hard you have to<br />

work because it makes you better<br />

prepared for when you get out in<br />

the real world. My favorite memory<br />

is junior surgery — gloving up and<br />

gowning up and actually getting my<br />

hands in there doing things as a real<br />

doctor for the first time.”<br />

Liston wants to go into a mixed<br />

animal practice.<br />

“I want to stay in Oklahoma; I<br />

really love it here. I have family here<br />

and even own a home in Claremore.<br />

I like cats, dogs, cows and horses. I<br />

would just like to get my hands in<br />

a little bit of everything and have<br />

some variety. I have been in school<br />

for a long time, and I am ready to<br />

get back out there and start working<br />

again.”<br />

And to others thinking about a<br />

career as a veterinarian, Liston has<br />

this message:<br />

“Make sure veterinary medicine is<br />

what you really want to do because<br />

it is a challenging program, and it’s<br />

really going to push you. If anything,<br />

I hope I am an inspiration to older<br />

students or people who want to go<br />

through a career change. It was really<br />

scary to throw away everything I<br />

knew and start over, and I’m so glad<br />

I did. Even if I had failed, at least I<br />

would have tried. If you have friends<br />

and family to support you, anybody<br />

is capable of anything regardless of<br />

your age. If it’s what you want to do,<br />

go for it. Now I feel like I can be part<br />

of something good and help people<br />

and their animals.”<br />

To see a video of Liston,<br />

visit okla.st/1JRbH1H.<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 73


COMMENCEMENT<br />

DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR / CVHS<br />

Holt Tripp (right) was hooded by his dad, Phil Tripp, at his<br />

commencement from OSU recently. Phil Tripp, DVM, is also an OSU alumnus.<br />

Adding a Historic Touch<br />

NEW VETERINARIAN GETS MBA SAME DAY AT HIS ‘FAMILY SCHOOL’<br />

Kentucky’s Holt Tripp comes from a long line of Oklahoma State University<br />

alumni. He recently joined them, adding a historic spin to his accomplishment.<br />

Holt’s father, Phil Tripp, uncle Mike Tripp, aunt Eva and uncle Pat Edmonds all<br />

earned their DVM degrees from OSU. Recently, Holt became the first person to<br />

earn both a DVM and an MBA degree on the same day at OSU.<br />

74 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


“(VETERINARY MEDICINE)<br />

IS A FAMILY TRADITION, AND<br />

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO<br />

WRITING MY PART OF IT.”<br />

“Oklahoma State has a special<br />

place in my heart and in my family’s<br />

heart,” Holt says. “I chose to<br />

come here in part because it is a family<br />

school. My grandparents graduated<br />

from OSU the last year it was<br />

Oklahoma A&M. My dad, aunts and<br />

uncles and cousins have all been<br />

here, so there was a lot of appeal<br />

from that standpoint, and I wanted<br />

to get away from home for a bit, too.<br />

“I made the decision to pursue the<br />

MBA after several long conversations<br />

with my parents. My dad owns<br />

and operates Kentucky Equine Medical<br />

Associates, and my mom helped<br />

run the practice when it was first<br />

started. They know how important<br />

business training is and felt it was<br />

somewhere that my dad had fallen<br />

short in his training. They had the<br />

wisdom and the foresight to recommend<br />

that I not make the same mistake,”<br />

he adds.<br />

“My practice is a racetrack practice,”<br />

says his dad, Phil. “We spend eight<br />

months a year at Churchill Downs<br />

in Louisville, Ky., and four months<br />

at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark. As<br />

a little guy, Holt liked to tag along to<br />

the track when he could. He enjoyed<br />

being around the animals and the<br />

people. Holt has always done well<br />

in school and was able to get some<br />

scholarships. We knew he would<br />

do something in agriculture. OSU<br />

has one of the best animal science<br />

departments in the country. I told<br />

him, ‘It is your education, and you<br />

are only going to do it once, so you<br />

might as well go to the best place.’<br />

Of course, once he came to Stillwater<br />

and the campus, he fell in love<br />

with the people and the university.<br />

He was accepted at both Auburn<br />

University’s and OSU’s veterinary<br />

colleges but decided to stay at OSU<br />

for his veterinary degree.”<br />

“I don’t know if there is any one<br />

part of vet school that I can pinpoint<br />

as my favorite,” says Holt. “The late<br />

nights in the anatomy lab studying<br />

with friends; the early mornings<br />

cramming for exams together — it’s<br />

the friendships and the relationships<br />

that you develop that really make vet<br />

school special and bearable because<br />

it certainly is a challenge.”<br />

For those interested in pursuing a<br />

career in veterinary medicine, Holt<br />

has this advice.<br />

“It is a diverse profession with a lot<br />

of opportunities,” he says. “I would<br />

discourage you from being pigeon<br />

holed into any one portion of the<br />

field because there is plenty of room<br />

for individual interests and pursuits.<br />

Don’t feel restricted in the form of<br />

practice that you pursue.”<br />

During his second year of veterinary<br />

college, Holt teamed up with<br />

Dr. D.L. Step, professor and food<br />

animal extension specialist.<br />

“Holt is an excellent communicator.<br />

He keeps his word and keeps<br />

you informed,” says Step. “We did a<br />

review of vaccines in receiving cattle<br />

and published the results. Holt<br />

is always thirsty for knowledge and<br />

to learn something new. I am honored<br />

to have had the opportunity to<br />

work with him.”<br />

Holt’s father hooded him on<br />

commencement day.<br />

Holt married this summer, and<br />

the young couple moved to Canada.<br />

“I have accepted a position with<br />

G.K. Jim Farms in Alberta, Canada,”<br />

says Holt. “I will be working<br />

as a professional services veterinarian<br />

and director of cattle operations<br />

for a large privately held cattle feeding<br />

company. I’m excited. It’s a family<br />

tradition (veterinary medicine),<br />

and I am looking forward to writing<br />

my part of it.”<br />

To see a video of Tripp,<br />

visit OKLA.ST/1CBTH01.<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 75


2014 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI<br />

Distinguished Alumni Award<br />

DR. ROBERT BAHR<br />

DR. MARY BALLENGER<br />

DR. HARRY JAMES<br />

Robert Bahr, DVM, DACVR, of Stillwater<br />

earned his DVM degree from OSU in 1970<br />

and was nominated for the award by classmate<br />

Dr. Billy Clay.<br />

After graduation, Bahr joined a small animal<br />

practice in St. Petersburg, Fla., for a year before<br />

joining the Air Force, where he was involved<br />

with zoonotic disease control, the small animal<br />

out-patient clinic, and monitoring public<br />

health and food sanitation.<br />

Bahr served a yearlong internship in radiology<br />

at Kansas State University, followed by a<br />

radiology residency at the University of California,<br />

Davis. In 1976, he became a Diplomate<br />

of the American College of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Radiology.<br />

After more private practice experience and<br />

teaching at the University of Missouri, Bahr<br />

joined the faculty at OSU’s veterinary center in<br />

1984 to teach veterinary radiology and retired<br />

in June 2014.<br />

He is a member of the American <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Medical Association and the Oklahoma <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Medical Association, which honored him<br />

with its Practitioner to Faculty Award in 2011.<br />

Mary Ballenger, DVM, of Tulsa and Ulaanbaatar,<br />

Mongolia, earned her DVM degree from<br />

OSU in 1981 and was nominated for the award<br />

by classmate Dr. Genie Bishop.<br />

“Dr. Ballenger loved mission work and was<br />

constantly being mentored by a great missionary,<br />

the late Dr. Keith Flanagan (OSU CVM ’78),”<br />

says Bishop, noting Ballenger’s service on the<br />

Oklahoma Board of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Examiners<br />

and numerous Oklahoma <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical<br />

Association committees and as secretary<br />

for OSU’s <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medicine Alumni Society.<br />

Dr. Ballenger and her husband, Richard,<br />

are missionaries to Mongolia with the Christian<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Mission. Dr. Ballenger works<br />

as a veterinary continuing education adviser,<br />

creating and managing continuing education<br />

programs. She also supervises Mongolia’s veterinary<br />

drug registration and works closely with<br />

herders to help improve animal and human<br />

health in the country.<br />

Harry James, DVM, of Pond Creek, Okla.,<br />

earned his DVM degree from OSU in 1960. Drs.<br />

James Shmidl and Larry Major nominated him<br />

for this honor on behalf of their entire class.<br />

Following graduation, James opened the<br />

Pond Creek <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Clinic, a mixed animal<br />

practice serving rural northwest Oklahoma.<br />

He continues to treat large animals, while his<br />

daughter, Dr. Stephanie Slaving (OSU CVM<br />

’98), now tends to their small animal patients.<br />

“In my career I have seen diseases such as hog<br />

cholera, brucellosis, tuberculosis, screw worms<br />

and scabies come and go,” he says. “Today’s veterinarian<br />

won’t see them outside of a textbook.”<br />

James is an active member of the American<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Association, the Oklahoma<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Association, the American<br />

Association of Bovine Practitioners and the<br />

Academy of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Consultants. He served<br />

two terms on the board for both the OVMA<br />

and AABP. In 1995, he was named the OVMA<br />

Food Practitioner of the Year, and in 2004, he<br />

received the OVMA President’s Award. The<br />

Oklahoma State Senate designated May 2010<br />

as Harry “Doc” James Month for his 50 years<br />

of veterinary services.<br />

76 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


<strong>2015</strong> DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI<br />

DR. MERLIN EKSTROM<br />

DR. SYBIL HEISE<br />

DR. DEMARIOUS KELLER FREY<br />

Merlin Ekstrom, DVM, MS, DACVP, of<br />

Mount Pleasant, Mich., earned his DVM<br />

degree from OSU in 1967. He served more<br />

than 24 years in the Air Force and Michigan<br />

Air National Guard before retiring as a lieutenant<br />

colonel. He was awarded the Joint Services<br />

Commendation Medal and the Air Force<br />

Meritorious Service Medal.<br />

He spent the last 40 years at Detroit’s Wayne<br />

State University, serving as the attending veterinarian<br />

and director of the Division of Laboratory<br />

Animal Resources, which supports the<br />

university’s laboratory animal care and use program,<br />

the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center<br />

and the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit.<br />

DLAR also provides resources and staffing for<br />

a veterinary technology program.<br />

As a board-certified veterinary pathologist,<br />

Ekstrom taught pathology in Wayne State<br />

University’s College of Pharmacy and Health<br />

Sciences.<br />

He has served on many state and national<br />

committees, won several peer-reviewed NIH<br />

grants, been a volunteer member of the Michigan<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Corps and more.<br />

“I am forever grateful for the opportunity Oklahoma<br />

State University gave this North Dakota<br />

native to obtain a DVM degree,” says Ekstrom.<br />

Sybil Heise, DVM, of Guymon, Okla., earned<br />

her DVM degree from OSU in 1971 and completed<br />

a small animal medicine and surgery<br />

internship at the University of California at<br />

Davis. She married Don Heise, DVM (OSU<br />

1969) in 1972. From 1972 to 1979, she worked<br />

at the Liberal (Kan.) Animal Hospital.<br />

In 1979, she and her husband built Town<br />

and Country <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Clinic, in Guymon.<br />

Dr. Sybil handled the small animal medicine<br />

and surgery while Dr. Don handled the livestock<br />

cases. The mixed animal veterinary practice<br />

achieved AAHA certification in the 1980s.<br />

Heise has been a member of the Oklahoma<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Association, the American<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Association and the American<br />

Animal Hospital Association. In 2012, she<br />

received the Companion Animal Practitioner<br />

Award from the Oklahoma <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical<br />

Association.<br />

“I appreciate not only the opportunity that<br />

OSU gave this Louisiana girl to become a veterinarian<br />

but also the timely support I have<br />

received from OSU’s Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Health Sciences over the years,” says Heise.<br />

Dr. Demarious Keller Frey of Corpus Christi,<br />

Texas, earned her DVM degree from OSU in 1963,<br />

one of two women in the class. Following graduation,<br />

she joined Highland <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Clinic<br />

owned by Dr. Roy Brenton Smith (OSU ’62).<br />

She married Martin Frey, DVM (a Kansas<br />

State graduate on staff at OSU from 1959-1963)<br />

in 1964. The couple provided veterinary services<br />

in Ethiopia. In 1965, the couple opened<br />

Alameda <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Clinic, a small animal and<br />

equine practice in Corpus Christi. In 1972, they<br />

opened a second clinic, Padre Animal Hospital.<br />

Keller Frey was the first woman appointed<br />

to the Texas State Board of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical<br />

Examiners serving a six-year term. She also was<br />

a member of the National Board Examination<br />

Committee of the American Association of<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Boards. In addition, she was on the<br />

Texas Racing Commission to bring parimutuel<br />

horse and greyhound racing to Texas.<br />

She has been named Outstanding Woman<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinarian of America and honored by the<br />

YWCA, the Oklahoma State University Woman’s<br />

Council, the National Greyhound Association<br />

and the Texas <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical<br />

Association. In 2009, Keller Frey was named a<br />

Distinguished Alumna of Texas A&M University,<br />

Kingsville, where she gave the commencement<br />

address in 2011.<br />

“I am grateful to both universities and the<br />

professors and clinicians who helped me make<br />

my dreams come true to be a veterinarian,” says<br />

Keller Frey.<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 77


IN MEMORIAM<br />

We honor those who have served the profession,<br />

our distinguished colleagues and friends.<br />

Dr. Don Beavers<br />

Don Beavers, DVM, of Faxon, Okla., died Sept. 23,<br />

<strong>2015</strong>. He was 73.<br />

An Oklahoma native, he was born in Grandfield and<br />

grew up on a farm near Chattanooga. He earned<br />

his DVM degree from OSU in 1967. He owned Beavers<br />

Animal Hospital in Lawton, Okla., for more than<br />

30 years. Dr. Beavers also farmed and raised cattle.<br />

Known for his expertise in ratite medicine, he conducted<br />

seminars across the country and authored the<br />

book Ostrich, Emu, Rhea: Reproduction, Management,<br />

Nutrition, & Health. He also formulated ratite rations.<br />

He was a past president of the Oklahoma Academy<br />

of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Practice and Oklahoma and Comanche<br />

County VMAs and served on the Oklahoma<br />

State Board of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Examiners, Oklahoma<br />

State University College of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medicine<br />

Admissions Committee, and Exotic Newcastle Disease<br />

Task Force. In 1998, Dr. Beavers was named Oklahoma<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinarian of the Year and Don Beavers Day<br />

was declared in Lawton on Jan. 24. He is survived by<br />

his wife, Sally; a son and two stepdaughters; seven<br />

grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Memorials<br />

may be made to Central Baptist Church, 901<br />

S.W. B, Lawton, OK 73501.He enjoyed working with<br />

metal and leather, fishing and photography. He also<br />

enjoyed his wife’s cooking, especially her cherry pies.<br />

SOURCE: LAWTON RITTER GRAY FUNERAL HOME AND AVMA<br />

Jana Black<br />

Many faculty, staff and alumni of OSU’s Center for<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences were saddened to learn<br />

of the sudden passing of Jana Black, 67, of Warr<br />

Acres, Okla., on Oct. 30, <strong>2015</strong>. Ms. Black worked<br />

with many faculty, staff and students in her role as<br />

executive director of the Oklahoma <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical<br />

Association. Her passion for veterinary medicine was<br />

evident in all her activities as the director.<br />

She graduated from Yukon High School, studied at the<br />

University of Oklahoma, then attended and graduated<br />

from the University of Central Oklahoma.<br />

Her enthusiasm for baseball, her grandchildren and<br />

veterinary medicine will be sorely missed by all here<br />

at the Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences.<br />

Jana is survived by her husband, Jim Black; son<br />

Keith (Sherri) Linn; stepsons Chris Black and<br />

Jay (Robin) Black; four grandchildren and two<br />

great-grandchildren.<br />

Memorial donations may be made to the Oklahoma<br />

Animal Care Foundation, formerly the Oklahoma <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Medical Foundation, P.O. Box 14521, Oklahoma<br />

City, OK 73113 (405-478-1002).<br />

SOURCE: OBITS FOR LIFE<br />

Dr. Thomas A. Byrd<br />

Thomas A. “T.A.” Byrd, DVM, of Tulsa, died Nov. 25,<br />

<strong>2015</strong>. He was 91.<br />

He grew up in Madill, Okla., and graduated from Capitol<br />

Hill High School in Oklahoma City. He served in<br />

the U.S. Army during World War II from 1942 to 1945,<br />

attaining the rank of sergeant. He attended Oklahoma<br />

City University and transferred to Oklahoma A&M College<br />

in 1947 to study veterinary medicine. He earned<br />

his DVM degree in 1953.<br />

Dr. Byrd practiced veterinary medicine for a short time<br />

in Antlers, Okla., before moving his family to McAlester,<br />

where he practiced from 1954 until 1985. He<br />

was a member of the Oklahoma <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical<br />

Association (president, 1978-79), the OVMA Executive<br />

Board (1984-1987) and the Oklahoma <strong>Vet</strong>erinarian<br />

of the Year in 1991. He was also active in the<br />

McAlester Rotary Club and the Grand Avenue United<br />

Methodist Church.<br />

He was an avid OSU fan, serving on the veterinary<br />

college’s Admissions Board for many years. He was<br />

honored as a Distinguished Alumnus in 1991. He also<br />

loved OSU athletics, especially football.<br />

Byrd is survived by his son, Gary (Karen) Byrd; daughters,<br />

Jamee Byrd Market; Jan (Jerry) McVicker; Julie<br />

Kathleen “Kathy” (Tom) Cooper; four grandchildren,<br />

four great-grandchildren, several step-grandchildren<br />

and numerous relatives and friends. Memorial donations<br />

may be made to the OSU Foundation, 308 McElroy<br />

Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078.<br />

SOURCE: TULSA WORLD<br />

Dr. Patricia N. Chism<br />

Patricia N. Chism, DVM, of Etna, Calif., died Nov.<br />

19, 2014, after a four-year battle with ovarian cancer.<br />

She was 54.<br />

She earned her DVM degree from OSU in 1995 followed<br />

by an internship and residency in large animal<br />

surgery at the University of Tennessee. While a veterinary<br />

student, she was the U.S. representative to the<br />

International <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Student Association and traveled<br />

to England, Europe and South Africa for meetings.<br />

Dr. Chism worked in California equine veterinary practices<br />

in Santa Ynez and Salinas before setting up her<br />

own large animal practice in Scott Valley in 2006.<br />

She and Dennis Moyles married in 2008. The couple<br />

attended the National Finals Rodeo and AAEP<br />

national meetings, visited the Grand Ole Opry and<br />

enjoyed annual family camping trips. They helped<br />

family and friends move cattle into the mountains<br />

and visited their grandchildren. Dr. Chism loved riding<br />

and camping in the mountains with her husband.<br />

She is survived by her husband, Dennis Moyles;<br />

mother, Vera Looker of Santa Barbara, Calif.; four sisters,<br />

two brothers, three stepsons, a stepdaughter, six<br />

grandchildren, and seven nieces and nephews. Gifts<br />

in memory of Dr. Chism may be made to the American<br />

Association of Equine Practitioners, 4075 Iron<br />

Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511.<br />

SOURCE: SANTA BARBARA (CALIF.) NEWS-PRESS<br />

Dr. James Claude Cooper<br />

Dr. James Claude Cooper of Claremore, Okla., died<br />

April 16, <strong>2015</strong>. He was 90.<br />

Born in Mount Olive, Ark., he moved with his family<br />

to Claremore when James was a teenager. He graduated<br />

from Claremore High School and, with written<br />

permission from his mother, joined the U.S. Marine<br />

Corps at age 17. He served as a navigator and gunner<br />

of a B25 plane and navigator of a Douglas SPD<br />

Dauntless dive bomber plane in the South Pacific<br />

during World War II.<br />

78 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


Following the war, he earned his undergraduate<br />

degree from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah,<br />

Okla., then his DVM degree from OSU in 1955.<br />

He practiced veterinary medicine in Pryor, Okla., for<br />

one year before moving his mixed animal practice<br />

to Claremore. He retired at age 50. A year later, he<br />

became a meat inspector for the Oklahoma State<br />

Department of Health and worked for 15 more years.<br />

Dr. Cooper is survived by his son Dr. James Claude<br />

Cooper Jr. and his wife, Kathy, of Fayetteville, Ark.;<br />

two granddaughters and two great-grandchildren.<br />

Memorial contributions may be made to the Will<br />

Rogers Memorial, 1720 W. Will Rogers Blvd., Claremore,<br />

OK 74017.<br />

SOURCE: CLAREMORE (OKLA.) DAILY PROGRESS<br />

Dr. Virginia Copland<br />

Dr. Virginia Sue Copland, of Juneau, Alaska, died July<br />

25, <strong>2015</strong>. She was 61.<br />

Born in Duncan, Okla., she earned her DVM degree from<br />

Oklahoma State University in 1980. Following graduation,<br />

she worked in a veterinary clinic in Fairbanks,<br />

Alaska, where she met and married her husband, Truman<br />

Middleton. Dr. Copland then completed a threeyear<br />

residency in anesthesiology and critical patient<br />

care at the University of California, Davis.<br />

Following a year in Australia, the couple returned to<br />

Alaska in 1987 and established the Juneau Pet Clinic<br />

(now Juneau <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Hospital). They would fly their<br />

Lake Amphibian plane to provide veterinary services<br />

in the bush. In 1989, Copland was diagnosed with<br />

multiple sclerosis. In 1991, she reluctantly retired<br />

and in 1992, her husband died.<br />

Dr. Copland was an accomplished pianist, choir singer,<br />

English horn player, bush pilot, author, animal lover<br />

and world traveler (Australia, New Zealand, China and<br />

South Africa). In 1994, she met Louis Keller, and they<br />

enjoyed 21 years together.<br />

Dr. Copland is survived by Mr. Keller; his daughters<br />

Debra (Ron) Woodbury; Christy (Greg) Gendron; two<br />

grandchildren; her mother, Martha Copland; one<br />

sister and two brothers; and many other relatives<br />

and friends.<br />

SOURCE: THE JUNEAU EMPIRE<br />

Dr. Hollis Cox Sr.<br />

Dr. Hollis Utah Cox Sr. of Midwest City, Okla., died<br />

June 11, <strong>2015</strong>. He was 71.<br />

After graduating from Jacksonville (Ark.) High School,<br />

he earned a DVM degree from Oklahoma State University<br />

in 1967. He served in the Air Force in Panama<br />

and Vietnam, attaining the rank of captain. In 1973,<br />

Dr. Cox completed a doctorate in microbiology at Louisiana<br />

State University, where he remained on faculty<br />

as a professor of veterinary medicine and head<br />

of the diagnostic laboratory until he retired in 2009.<br />

An Eagle Scout, Dr. Cox remained active in the Boy<br />

Scouts through troop leadership and membership in<br />

the Order of the Arrow. He earned several awards<br />

including the Vigil Honor, the OA Founder’s Award<br />

and the Silver Beaver Award for Exemplary Service.<br />

Dr. Cox is survived by his mother, Molinda Edline Cox;<br />

his children, Lindy Crace, Chris Cox and Lauren Cox;<br />

six grandchildren and many relatives and friends.<br />

Memorial donations may be made to the Boy Scouts<br />

of America, P.O. Box 152079, Irving, TX 75015 or<br />

the <strong>Vet</strong>erans of Foreign Wars, 2311 N. Central Ave.,<br />

Suite 1200, Oklahoma City, OK 73105.<br />

SOURCE: THE OKLAHOMAN<br />

Dr. Richard Dillman<br />

Richard “Dick” E. Dillman, DVM, of Dunnellon, Fla.,<br />

died Jan. 30, <strong>2015</strong>, after bravely fighting a long<br />

illness.<br />

He was born in Ancon in the Panama Canal Zone<br />

where his family lived and worked. He completed<br />

junior college in the Canal Zone, then joined the U.S.<br />

Army, where he served as a medic and competed<br />

on the Army rifle team. In 1961, he earned his DVM<br />

degree from Oklahoma State University.<br />

After graduation, Dr. Dillman moved to Miami, Fla.,<br />

and worked with established practices before opening<br />

his <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Small Animal Clinic in 1965. He<br />

helped introduce inhalation anesthetic throughout the<br />

Miami veterinary community. He is a past president<br />

of the South Florida <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Association.<br />

In the mid-1980s, he underwent several major back<br />

surgeries, leaving him unable to continue his veterinary<br />

practice. Dr. Dillman then turned to volunteer<br />

work, developing animal-assisted programs with the<br />

Dade County Public Schools.<br />

Dr. Dillman worked with Miami Dade College to secure<br />

a W.K. Kellogg Foundation grant to fund many of the<br />

animal-assisted activities. One program provided<br />

horses, instructors and helmets for inner-city youngsters<br />

to learn the basics of horse grooming and riding.<br />

Another taught students how to prepare dogs<br />

and themselves to do therapy visits to nursing homes.<br />

In addition, he worked with teachers and students<br />

using animal-assisted techniques to teach science<br />

and other subjects.<br />

He won several local awards for his volunteer work<br />

and was named the 1997 Volunteer of the Year in<br />

the state of Florida.<br />

Dr. Dillman was an avid birder and nature photographer,<br />

and he loved fishing, particularly fly fishing.<br />

He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Karen; daughters<br />

Pam and Debi and her husband, Steve; four<br />

granddaughters and three great-grandchildren.<br />

On Jan. 30, 2016, the first anniversary of his passing,<br />

there will be a celebration of his life event at the<br />

American Legion Post 58 in Dunnellon.<br />

SOURCE: DILLMAN FAMILY<br />

Dr. Robert Gengler<br />

Robert H. “Bob” Gengler, DVM, of Enid, Okla., died<br />

Jan. 13, <strong>2015</strong>. He was 85.<br />

He grew up in Perry, Okla., and graduated from Perry<br />

High School. He served in the Air Force from 1950<br />

to 1955, attaining the rank of sergeant. He earned<br />

his DVM degree from OSU in 1959.<br />

Dr. Gengler owned and operated Enid Pet Hospital<br />

from 1960 to 1997. He was a member of the Aesculapius<br />

Society of OSU, Enid Chamber of Commerce,<br />

Enid Noon AMBUCS and a life member of the Oklahoma<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Association. He was active<br />

on the Enid YMCA board and a charter member of the<br />

Enid St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, serving<br />

on its parish council and finance committee.<br />

He was a storyteller and master woodworker who<br />

had a sense of humor and adventure and a zest for<br />

life. He enjoyed hunting, cards and nature and was<br />

an enthusiastic birder.<br />

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Vickie<br />

Zerr Gengler. He is survived by his wife of almost 11<br />

years, Kathleen; three sons, Clay and his wife, Sue,<br />

of Redlands, Calif.; Brian and his wife, Cathy, of Victorville,<br />

Calif.; and Tom of Denver; two grandchildren,<br />

a sister and several nieces and nephews.<br />

CONTINUES<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 79


IN MEMORIAM<br />

Memorial gifts may be made to the Altar Society of<br />

St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, the YMCA,<br />

the Salvation Army or the charity of choice with Henninger-Hinson<br />

Funeral Home, 601 W. Broadway Avenue,<br />

Enid, OK 73701 acting as custodian of the funds.<br />

SOURCE: ENID NEWS<br />

Dr. William Glover<br />

William David Glover, DVM, of Edmond, Okla., died<br />

Oct. 25, <strong>2015</strong>. He was 62.<br />

Born in Holdenville, Okla., his family moved to Purcell,<br />

Okla., when he was in the fifth grade. He attended<br />

Wichita State University in Kansas on a football scholarship<br />

and the University of Oklahoma before earning<br />

his DVM degree from OSU in 1981.<br />

After graduating, Dr. Glover ran a mobile large animal<br />

practice out of Guthrie, Okla. In 1995 he built Sooner<br />

Animal Hospital in Edmond, where he treated dogs<br />

and cats almost until his death.<br />

In 2011, he married a high school classmate, Mary<br />

Stephens, who survives him. He is also survived by<br />

his son, William Cody Glover and his wife, Toni Simon,<br />

of Guthrie; stepson, Ryan Morphew and his wife, Lindsey,<br />

of Norman, Okla.; stepdaughter Candace Wheeler<br />

and her husband, Diamond, of Montreal, Canada;<br />

one grandson and many other relatives and friends.<br />

SOURCE: WILSON-LITTLE FUNERAL HOME<br />

GENESEE PHOTO<br />

Dr. Robert “Bob” Lee Hartin<br />

Robert “Bob” Lee Hartin, DVM, died May 26, 2014.<br />

He was 79.<br />

Born in Madill, Okla., he graduated from Madill High<br />

School in 1953. He married Marguarett Emily Standridge<br />

and moved to Stillwater, Okla., earning his<br />

DVM degree from OSU in 1959.<br />

Following graduation, Dr. Hartin established a veterinary<br />

practice in Tishomingo, Okla. In 1962, the family<br />

moved to Amarillo, Texas, and to Edmond, Okla.,<br />

in 1977. He served as the state veterinarian for 17<br />

years. In 1994, the Hartins moved to Murfreesboro,<br />

Tenn., before retiring to Sayre, Okla., in 2000.<br />

Dr. Hartin enjoyed tending his cattle and gardening<br />

with his brother.<br />

Dr. Hartin is survived by his son, Robert E. Hartin and<br />

his wife, Janis, of High Springs, Fla.; daughter, Teresa<br />

Deras and her husband, Carlos, of Albuquerque, N.M.;<br />

granddaughter, Courtney Hartin of Columbia, Mo., and<br />

many other relatives and friends.<br />

SOURCE: WHITNEY FUNERAL SERVICE<br />

Dr. Joseph S. Hayden<br />

Joseph Hayden, DVM, 83, died at his home in Corinth,<br />

Texas, Sept. 27, 2014.<br />

Born in Milton, Mass., he earned his undergraduate<br />

degree in dairy science from Oklahoma State University,<br />

a master’s degree in physiology from the University<br />

of Arkansas and his DVM degree from OSU (’64).<br />

Following graduation, Dr. Hayden served as a captain<br />

in the U.S. Army. He then spent his veterinary<br />

medical career with Ralston Purina. He retired after<br />

26 years as animal health manager for research and<br />

development.<br />

In his spare time, Dr. Hayden loved to sail, golf, travel<br />

and play bridge. For the past 10 years, he volunteered<br />

weekly at Our Daily Bread, a soup kitchen at<br />

St. Andrew’s Church in Denton, Texas.<br />

Hayden is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years,<br />

Betty Lou; daughters Ellen Hayden and her husband,<br />

Jack Luft, of Evanston, Ill.; Anne Hayden Bishop and<br />

her husband, Brad, of Clayton, Mo.; and son Christopher<br />

Hayden and his wife, Michele Rockelein, of<br />

Austin, Texas; five grandchildren and other relatives<br />

and friends.<br />

Memorial gifts may be made to Our Daily Bread, c/o<br />

St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 300 West Oak St.,<br />

Denton, TX 76201 or to the Class of 1964 Endowed<br />

Scholarship, c/o OSU Foundation, Attn: Sharon Worrell,<br />

308 McElroy Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078.<br />

SOURCE: DENTON (TEXAS) RECORD-CHRONICLE<br />

Dr. Louis Heavner Jr.<br />

Dr. Louis Wells Heavner Jr., 83, of Navarre Beach, Fla.,<br />

died May 2, <strong>2015</strong>. Born in Riverside, N.J., he and his<br />

family moved to Tulsa when Louis was 15. He graduated<br />

from Will Rogers High School and earned a bachelor’s<br />

degree in animal husbandry from Oklahoma<br />

A&M followed by his DVM degree in 1958 from OSU.<br />

He is a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity.<br />

After graduation, Dr. Heavner opened Purcell <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Hospital. A year later, he became a partner in the<br />

Norman (Okla.) <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Hospital, where he worked<br />

until 1967. He served on the Oklahoma Board of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Medical Examiners, including as its president<br />

for three years. He and his partner both took flying lessons<br />

and purchased a Cessna 205, which they used<br />

for business and pleasure — a hobby Dr. Heavner<br />

thoroughly enjoyed.<br />

In 1967, he established Aurora Animal Hospital Inc.<br />

in New Orleans, practicing there until he retired in<br />

1999. He was proud to have the second veterinary<br />

hospital in Louisiana to be certified by the American<br />

Animal Hospital Association. He and his partner<br />

opened three outpatient clinics on the Westbank of<br />

New Orleans. Heavner was a founding member of<br />

the Westbank Pet Emergency Clinic.<br />

Dr. Heavner also earned his certification in veterinary<br />

acupuncture from Purdue University in 1976. He<br />

was a member of the Cayman <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Practice in<br />

the Cayman Islands from 1972 to 1982. He was an<br />

honorary member of the American <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical<br />

Association, a life member of the Louisiana VMA<br />

and the Southeast Louisiana VMA, having served as<br />

its president. He was also a hospital director emeritus<br />

of the American Animal Hospital Association.<br />

Upon retirement, Dr. Heavner moved to Navarre Beach<br />

and became a member of the Miracle Strip VMS, serving<br />

as part-time track veterinarian for Ebro Greyhound<br />

Park during racing season.<br />

Dr. Heavner is survived by his wife and high school<br />

sweetheart, Mary Towers Heavner, sons, Louis III and<br />

his wife, Betsy, of Austin, Texas; Will and his wife,<br />

Nancy, of St. Louis; daughter Sandy and her husband<br />

Doug Arnold of Edmond, Okla.; and 11 grandchildren.<br />

Memorial donations may be made to the<br />

Greyhound Pets of America Emerald Coast, P.O. Box<br />

64, Gonzalez, FL 32560.<br />

SOURCE: SCHAUDT-TEEL FUNERAL SERVICE AND CREMATION CARE<br />

Dr. Anita “Sunny” L. Hinshaw<br />

Anita “Sunny” Hinshaw, DVM, died Oct. 17, 2014,<br />

after suffering a massive stroke while working on<br />

the family farm in Tontitown, Ark. She was 64. She<br />

was one of the first female veterinarians in northwest<br />

Arkansas, where she lived most of her life.<br />

Born Anita Louise Hinshaw in Jacksonville, Fla.,<br />

she received the nickname Sunny while in college.<br />

She earned her DVM degree from OSU in 1975. An<br />

old-fashioned vet who would make house calls and<br />

a skilled surgeon, Dr. Hinshaw helped established<br />

the Springdale (Ark.) Animal Shelter and took many<br />

injured or unwanted pets into her home. In 2011, she<br />

retired and sold her practice, Southwest Pet Hospital<br />

in Springdale.<br />

80 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


In retirement, she enjoyed studying to be a master<br />

gardener, playing music and serving as a member<br />

of the Tontitown City Council. Dr. Hinshaw had<br />

been unopposed for re-election in November. She<br />

played the flugelhorn and trumpet at Grace Methodist<br />

Church in Rogers.<br />

Dr. Hinshaw is survived by her mother, Betty Hinshaw;<br />

sister, Cathyrn Hinshaw of Little Rock, Ark.; brother,<br />

Ross Hinshaw of Springdale; sister, Dawn Hinshaw<br />

and her husband, Michael Latham, of Columbia, S.C.;<br />

and many other relatives and friends.<br />

Memorial donations may be made to the Tontitown<br />

Historical Museum, Box 144, Tontitown, AR 72770<br />

or to Washington County Master Gardeners, 2536 N.<br />

McConnell Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72704.<br />

SOURCE: TRIBUTES.COM<br />

GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

Dr. Harold Ivie<br />

Dr. Harold Dee Ivie, of San Mateo, Calif., died peacefully<br />

at home on May 27, <strong>2015</strong>. He was 88. Born in<br />

Sand Springs, Okla., he served in the U.S. Navy during<br />

World War II in the Philippine Islands before earning<br />

his DVM degree from then-Oklahoma A&M in 1952.<br />

After graduating, Dr. Ivie settled in the San Francisco<br />

area, practicing small animal medicine at<br />

White and Morris Pet Hospital, where he became a<br />

partner. Eventually he became the sole proprietor of<br />

White-Ivie Pet Hospital in San Bruno, Calif., until he<br />

retired in 2003.<br />

During his 50-year career, he mentored many aspiring<br />

veterinarians. In 2007, he established the Dr. Harold<br />

Ivie Endowment Fund to benefit the OSU Center<br />

for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences.<br />

Ivie is survived by his longtime companion, Patricia<br />

Richardson; daughter, Charlene; son, David and his<br />

wife, Renee; two stepchildren and their families, Colleen<br />

and her husband Bob Cookson and Daniel and<br />

his wife Debi Lamb, one grandson and an extended<br />

family in the Midwest.<br />

Memorial donations may be made to the Dr. Harold<br />

Ivie Endowment Fund at Oklahoma State University,<br />

308 McElroy Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078.<br />

SOURCE: SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE<br />

Dr. Alana Jenkins<br />

Dr. Alana June Jenkins died Feb. 1, <strong>2015</strong>, following<br />

a battle with cancer. She was 30.<br />

She earned her DVM degree from OSU in 2009 and<br />

completed a yearlong internship in Maryland. She<br />

went on to practice in Spiro, Okla., for a year before<br />

practicing in Frisco, Texas.<br />

Dr. Jenkins was licensed to practice in Maryland,<br />

Oklahoma and Texas and a member of the Oklahoma,<br />

Texas and American <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Associations.<br />

Becoming a veterinarian was a childhood dream of<br />

Dr. Jenkins’; her dad, Dr. Stanley Jenkins (OSU ’81),<br />

owns and operates Town and Country Animal Hospital<br />

in Henryetta, Okla.<br />

She is survived by her parents, Dr. Stanley and<br />

Pamela Jenkins of Henryetta; brother, James Jenkins<br />

of Henryetta; sisters, Erin Jenkins of Stillwater and<br />

Cheryl Boatner and her husband, Joseph, of Okmulgee,<br />

Okla.; paternal grandmother, Thurlene June Jenkins<br />

of Wetumka, Okla., and other family and friends.<br />

SOURCE: THE HENRYETTAN.COM<br />

Dr. Leslie Johnston<br />

Leslie Newkirk Johnston Jr., DVM, of Owasso, Okla.,<br />

died Nov. 4, <strong>2015</strong>. He was 87.<br />

Born in Wilmington, N.C., he graduated from Hanover<br />

High School (Wilmington), attended Wilmington College<br />

and North Carolina State College, and earned a<br />

degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel<br />

Hill. He served in the Air Force and was stationed in<br />

Hawaii. In 1956, he earned his DVM degree from OSU.<br />

Following graduation, he established a veterinary<br />

practice in Tulsa where he practiced for more than<br />

50 years. While he enjoyed both large and small animals,<br />

he focused primarily on small animals.<br />

Dr. Johnston enjoyed the outdoors — bird hunting,<br />

fishing, leading a Boy Scout troop, flying his own<br />

plane or riding his motorcycle. He was a member<br />

of the First Baptist Church of Tulsa for more than<br />

60 years. He considered the members of the Agape<br />

Sunday School Class as some of his closest friends.<br />

Dr. Johnston was a past member of the American<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Association, the Oklahoma <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Medical Association and the Northeast Oklahoma<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Group.<br />

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ada Sue;<br />

daughter, Pamela Sue Johnston of Owasso; son, Dr.<br />

Timothy Lynn Johnston of Cullowhee, N.C.; and two<br />

grandchildren. He loved his role as “Uncle Budgy” to<br />

his North Carolina niece and nephews.<br />

Memorial gifts may be made to the Agape Sunday<br />

School Class, First Baptist Church, 403 S. Cincinnati<br />

Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74103, to further local mission<br />

outreach efforts.<br />

SOURCE: DILLON FAMILY SERVICES<br />

Charlotte Kincaide<br />

Many OSU alumni may fondly remember Charlotte<br />

Kincaide, the College of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medicine admissions<br />

coordinator for nearly 19 years. On April 28,<br />

<strong>2015</strong>, at age 92, Kincaide passed away.<br />

Born in Nowata, Okla., she earned a bachelor’s<br />

degree in education from Oklahoma A&M where<br />

she was a Redskin Beauty and a member of Pi Beta<br />

Phi Sorority. She later earned her master’s degree<br />

from Fort Hays College in Fort Hays, Kan. She taught<br />

at several Oklahoma schools and worked in a physician’s<br />

office before joining the veterinary college.<br />

Upon her retirement, a scholarship called Charlotte’s<br />

Kitty, was established in honor of her service to the<br />

veterinary college.<br />

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church<br />

in Nowata and the Nowata Historical Society Board.<br />

She was an accomplished pianist and loved animals<br />

and nature.<br />

Kincaide is survived by her sons, Stephen and his wife,<br />

Lisa, of Nowata; KC and his wife, Jackie, of Spring,<br />

Texas; a daughter, Lonetta Sprague and her husband,<br />

Robert, of Cleveland, Okla.; four grandchildren and<br />

six great-grandchildren.<br />

SOURCE: BENJAMIN FUNERAL SERVICE, NOWATA, OKLA.<br />

CONTINUES<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 81


IN MEMORIAM<br />

GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY MARKETING<br />

Dr. Brenda Love<br />

Brenda Cheryl Love, DVM, Ph.D., of Plano, Texas, died<br />

June 3, <strong>2015</strong>. She was 49. Born in Oklahoma City,<br />

she earned her DVM degree from Oklahoma State<br />

University in 1990. She went on to earn a doctorate<br />

in veterinary microbiology from the University of California<br />

at Davis.<br />

Dr. Love, an assistant professor at the veterinary<br />

center for nearly eight years, worked as a veterinary<br />

microbiologist at the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic<br />

Laboratory.<br />

She is survived by her son, Sage of Ada, Okla.; mother,<br />

Roberta Winningham of Farmersville, Texas; and<br />

numerous other relatives and friends.<br />

SOURCE: TURRENTINE JACKSON MORROW FUNERAL HOME<br />

Dr. Wade Lyon<br />

Wade N. Lyon, DVM, of Oklahoma City, died Nov. 3,<br />

2014, after a lengthy illness. He was 86.<br />

Born in Geary, Okla., he earned his DVM degree from<br />

OSU in 1954. After graduation, he married Shirley Ann<br />

Smalstig. The couple moved first to El Reno and then<br />

to Oklahoma City in 1956.<br />

Dr. Lyon practiced small animal veterinary medicine at<br />

two clinics before joining Portland <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Hospital<br />

in Oklahoma City. He retired from Portland in 1995<br />

after many years of helping people and their pets.<br />

Dr. Lyon and his wife enjoyed traveling across America<br />

and Europe many times over. He also loved fine<br />

food, antique Ford cars and trucks and antiques in<br />

general. Many vacations were scheduled around swap<br />

meets, antiques and fine restaurants.<br />

His wife preceded him in death. He is survived by<br />

his son, Mark Lyon and his wife, Lori, of Oklahoma<br />

City, two grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and<br />

many other relatives and friends.<br />

Memorial donations may be made payable to the OSU<br />

Foundation with “Dr. Wade N. Lyon 28-85500 <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Medicine General Scholarship Fund” noted in<br />

the memo and mailed to: Sharon Worrell, 308 McElroy<br />

Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078.<br />

SOURCE: THE OKLAHOMAN<br />

Dr. John Montgomery<br />

Former OSU Regent Dr. John W. Montgomery of<br />

Poteau, Okla., died Dec. 5, 2014. He was 97. He<br />

earned his DVM degree from Tuskegee University in<br />

1950 and founded LeFlore County <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Clinic<br />

in Poteau, where he practiced more than 35 years.<br />

He served two terms on the Oklahoma State University<br />

Board of Regents, including twice chairing<br />

the board and helping the efforts to establish OSU’s<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Hospital. Dr. Montgomery was<br />

named the Oklahoma <strong>Vet</strong>erinarian of the Year and<br />

was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2001.<br />

Memorial gifts may be made to Prairie View A&M University,<br />

Office of Development — John Montgomery<br />

Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 519, MS 1200, Prairie<br />

View, TX 77446.<br />

SOURCE: OURNAL OF THE AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION<br />

Dr. Nancy B. Pate<br />

Dr. Nancy B. Pate of Durham, N.C., died Oct. 5,<br />

2014, following a long battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease.<br />

Also called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS<br />

attacks motor neurons, cells that control the muscles.<br />

She was 70.<br />

She earned her DVM degree from OSU in 1969. She<br />

was a veterinary officer in the U.S. Public Health Service,<br />

first with the Bureau of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medicine, a<br />

section of the Food and Drug Administration, then<br />

with the Environmental Protection Agency. During<br />

her career, she was active in emergency response<br />

as a public health service officer and as a disaster<br />

volunteer with the American Red Cross. She retired<br />

as a captain in 2005.<br />

After retirement, she continued to work at the EPA<br />

as an environmental health scientist. Early in her<br />

career, she practiced small animal medicine in several<br />

states. Dr. Pate served as a committee chair for<br />

many years with the North Carolina <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical<br />

Association. She was the association’s 2002 <strong>Vet</strong>erinarian<br />

of the Year.<br />

Active in her community, Dr. Pate was a Wood Badgetrained<br />

Boy Scout leader, serving in many roles in<br />

the organization as well as in training programs for<br />

future leaders. She was a soccer coach and committee<br />

member of the local athletic association, involved<br />

with local environmental organizations and service<br />

areas in her church.<br />

Dr. Pate is survived by her son and grandson. Memorial<br />

contributions may be made to the charity of your choice<br />

or to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, 799 Washington<br />

St., P.O. Box 807, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425.<br />

SOURCE: FAMILY<br />

Dr. Michael E. Sanders<br />

Michael E. Sanders, DVM, died March 5, <strong>2015</strong>, in<br />

Jurupa Valley, Calif. He was 63. Born in Sayre, Okla.,<br />

he earned his DVM degree from OSU in 1979. He had<br />

lived in Antelope Valley, Calif., since 1999.<br />

Dr. Sanders practiced veterinary medicine for 35<br />

years. He was a member of the American <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Medical Association and the American Association of<br />

Equine Practitioners. He was also a faithful member<br />

of the Fifth Street East Church of Christ.<br />

Dr. Sanders is survived by his wife, Sue; daughters,<br />

Krista Sanders and Katrina Verco; son, Michael Sanders;<br />

stepdaughters, Andrea and Shelly Stone; five<br />

grandchildren, two sisters and one brother.<br />

SOURCE: ANTELOPE VALLEY (CALIF.) PRESS<br />

GENESEE PHOTO<br />

Dr. Janet Schroeder<br />

Dr. Janet Yvonne Grantham Schroeder of Gage, Okla.,<br />

died Aug. 7, 2014. She was 76. A lifelong resident of<br />

Gage, she graduated from Gage High School in 1956.<br />

She earned her DVM degree in 1962 from OSU, the<br />

first female Oklahoman to do so.<br />

Following graduation, she married Joseph Lee<br />

Schroeder. Later that year, when her parents moved<br />

to Texas, the newlyweds took over their dairy farm,<br />

and Dr. Schroeder established her veterinary practice<br />

on the farm.<br />

Dr. Schroeder participated in the Home Extension<br />

Club for many years. For more than 40 years, she<br />

worked with the Gage and Ellis County 4-H groups.<br />

She was an active member of the Gage Christian<br />

Church.<br />

She is survived by her five sons: Rex (and wife Linda)<br />

Schroeder of Gage, Eddie (and wife Lorraine) Schroeder<br />

of Roll, Okla., Tony (and wife Shelly) Schroeder<br />

of Gage, Fred (and wife Rhonda) Schroeder of Stillwater<br />

and Wayne (Michelle) Schroeder of Christiana,<br />

Tenn.; 19 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren;<br />

and other relatives and friends.<br />

Memorial gifts may be made to the Gage 4-H Club,<br />

c/o Oklahoma State Bank, 506 N. Main St., Gage,<br />

OK 73843.<br />

SOURCE: SHAW FUNERAL HOME<br />

82 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


Dr. George Thomas<br />

George Michael “Mike” Thomas, DVM, of Ninnekah,<br />

Okla., died Oct. 18, <strong>2015</strong>. He was 74.<br />

Born in Hugo, Okla., he came to Ninnekah as a young<br />

boy and ended up graduating from Ninnekah High<br />

School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in animal<br />

husbandry (1962), a pre-veterinary Sciences degree<br />

(1965) and a DVM degree (1968), all from OSU.<br />

Following graduation, Dr. Thomas joined a veterinary<br />

clinic in Temple, Okla., where he worked with<br />

Dr. Lester Dupler (OSU ’62) for 13 years. In 1981,<br />

he returned to Ninnekah to open a mobile veterinary<br />

practice.<br />

He enjoyed playing sports and coaching his children<br />

and other youth in his younger years. He was<br />

a very family-oriented man and loved spending time<br />

with his family.<br />

Dr. Thomas is survived by his wife of more than 53<br />

years, Barbara; daughter, Michele Flanagan of Lawton,<br />

Okla.; son, Joe and his wife, Valerie Thomas of Gilbert,<br />

Ariz.; five grandchildren, other relatives and friends.<br />

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ninnekah<br />

United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 165, Ninnekah,<br />

OK 73067.<br />

SOURCE: FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME<br />

In 1990, Dr. Valentine received a Distinguished Alumnus<br />

Award from the OSU College of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medicine.<br />

He was also an anchor in the community and a<br />

deacon at the First Baptist Church of Idabel. An avid<br />

horseman, he cherished trail rides with his friends.<br />

Dr. Valentine was preceded in death by his wife and<br />

mother of his children, Dale Valentine. He is survived<br />

by his wife, Linda Valentine; and three children, Jan<br />

Valentine Yates of Powderly, Texas; Karen Valentine<br />

of Edmond, Okla.; and Mark Valentine of Mandeville,<br />

La.; four grandchildren, one great-grandchild and<br />

many other relatives and friends.<br />

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s<br />

Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN<br />

38101-9908 or the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation,<br />

825 NE 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104.<br />

SOURCE: WHITE FAMILY FUNERAL HOME<br />

Dr. Conrad Whitfield<br />

Born in Perry, Okla., Conrad Whitfield earned his DVM<br />

degree from Oklahoma State University College of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Medicine in 1997. Following graduation, he<br />

went into equine practice and worked in Oklahoma,<br />

Texas and New York throughout his career.<br />

He was known for his incredible work ethic, love for<br />

helping horses and great since of humor. Dr. Whitfield<br />

died Oct. 3, 2014.<br />

He is survived by his wife, Jennifer; five sons, Chase,<br />

Colt, Cutter, Crew and Canyon; and one daughter,<br />

Raven.<br />

SOURCE: WHITFIELD FAMILY<br />

GENESEE PHOTO<br />

Washington State University’s College of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Medicine, working in the intensive care unit. Williams<br />

then practiced small animal medicine at the Southway<br />

Animal Clinic in Lewiston, Idaho, before accepting<br />

a campus veterinarian position at the University<br />

of Idaho in 1993. He worked diligently to ensure animal<br />

research was conducted ethically, legally and purposefully<br />

for the benefit of both animals and humanity.<br />

For several years, he also served as the university’s<br />

research compliance officer, overseeing the integrity<br />

of the entire research enterprise of the institution.<br />

He retired in 2014.<br />

Dr. Willams enjoyed spending time with family and<br />

friends, golfing, playing euchre and working on his<br />

computer.<br />

He is survived by his wife, Janet; daughter, Casey<br />

Marie; son, Corey Garrett; his mother, two brothers<br />

and 18 nieces and nephews. Memorial gifts may be<br />

made to Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 1036 West A<br />

Street, Moscow, ID 83843, for distribution to organizations<br />

that advocate for youth through golf.<br />

SOURCE: MOSCOW-PULLMAN (IDAHO) DAILY NEWS<br />

Dr. Jack Williamson<br />

Dr. Jack Ellis Williamson, 81, of Maumelle, Ark., died<br />

Dec. 19, 2014. He grew up in Hammon, Okla., graduating<br />

from Hammon High School in 1952. After earning<br />

his bachelor’s degree from OSU, he continued his<br />

education to earn his DVM in 1959.<br />

Following graduation, he practiced mixed animal<br />

medicine and surgery in Weatherford, Okla., until he<br />

went to work as a USDA veterinarian. His first post<br />

was in Greenville, Mass. In 1967, he transferred to<br />

Dardanelle, Ark., and worked in the poultry inspection<br />

unit there until he retired in 1994.<br />

He is survived by his son, Stephen Williamson, MD,<br />

of Waynesville, Mo.; daughter, Anne Ingle (and husband<br />

Donald) of Arlington, Texas; and three grandchildren.<br />

His wife of 45 years, Shirley Phillips Williamson,<br />

died in 2000.<br />

SOURCE: FORT WORTH (TEXAS) STAR-TELEGRAM<br />

Dr. Lawrence Valentine<br />

Dr. Lawrence H. Valentine, 89, of Plano, Texas, died<br />

June 18, <strong>2015</strong>. He grew up in McCurtain County,<br />

Okla., and entered the Army during World War II.<br />

He was commissioned as a lieutenant and served<br />

in Japan. After the war, he returned to Idabel, Okla.,<br />

and married Dale Farley.<br />

He earned his DVM degree from Oklahoma A&M in<br />

1952, the second class to graduate from the new<br />

School of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medicine. Following graduation,<br />

he practiced veterinary medicine in Wakonda, S.D.,<br />

until 1960. He then fulfilled his dream of returning to<br />

McCurtain County as a veterinarian and worked in a<br />

mixed animal practice there until he retired in 1993.<br />

Dr. Bradley Williams<br />

Dr. Bradley Kenneth Williams, of Moscow, Idaho, died<br />

May 23, <strong>2015</strong>, after a brief illness. He was 54.<br />

Born in New Jersey, his family moved to Ardmore,<br />

Okla., in 1973. Brad graduated from Ardmore High<br />

School in 1978 and earned his bachelor’s degree<br />

in animal science from OSU. After earning his DVM<br />

degree from OSU in 1986, he practiced at the Ardmore<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Clinic, a mixed-animal practice.<br />

In 1987, he married Janet E. Garrett. They moved to<br />

Moscow, where Dr. Williams worked in the Department<br />

of Biological Sciences at the University of Idaho.<br />

In 1989, he was a resident in Louisiana State University’s<br />

laboratory animal program. In 1990, he joined<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 83


CLASS OF 1965<br />

50 years later …<br />

CLASS OF 1965 REUNITES IN STILLWATER<br />

BY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR<br />

When the members of the Class of 1965 graduated with<br />

their DVM degrees, they numbered 34, with 31 men<br />

and three women. In May 2014, 19 of the 29 living class<br />

members returned to Stillwater to celebrate the last<br />

50 years. Here are brief summaries of their varied careers<br />

as OSU Cowboy veterinarians.<br />

GENESEE PHOTO<br />

THE CLASS OF 1965<br />

The Class of 1965 from OSU’s Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences reunited with members: seated (from left):<br />

William Lance, Larry Edwards, Duane Lemburg, Wade Markham, Paul Frith and L.D. Barker.<br />

Center row, standing (from left): John Kirkpatrick, Sandie Olson (widow of Ben Olson), Barbara McAbee,<br />

Dianne Nail, Gail Thiede (widow of Johnnie Remer), Janet Bennett (widow of Dorland Bennett) and Darrell Allison.<br />

Back row standing (from left): Jerry Durham, Starling Miller, Talmage Brown, William Robertson, John Doyle<br />

and Ronald Ford.<br />

For a video of some members of the class, visit okla.st/1hbDm43.<br />

84 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


DARRELL ALLISON, DVM, served as director<br />

of veterinary services in the Air Force <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Corps, worked in mixed veterinary<br />

practices in Oklahoma and Kansas and for the<br />

Hawaii Department of Agriculture. He was<br />

a consulting veterinarian to Laboratory Animal<br />

Services at the University of Hawaii and a<br />

founding member of the chancellor’s animal<br />

care committee, where he was an active member<br />

for 25 years. Allison retired in 2014.<br />

L.D. BARKER, DVM, established a mixed<br />

animal practice in Snyder, Okla. He also began<br />

rendering veterinary services in 1986 for the<br />

Oklahoma National Stockyards, the world’s<br />

largest livestock market. Later in 1986, he purchased<br />

a clinic in Newcastle, Okla., where he<br />

and his two sons, Mark (2005) and Matt (2012),<br />

practice. Barker is also a partner and president<br />

of SolidTech Animal Health, which manufactures<br />

a solid-dose, time-release vaccine for cattle.<br />

DORLAND BENNETT, DVM, served two<br />

years in the Air Force before returning to Hennessey,<br />

Okla. He worked for the USDA and<br />

served on the Oklahoma Board of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Medical Examiners. Bennett died June 26, 2003.<br />

TALMAGE BROWN, DVM, PH.D., served<br />

in the Air Force before becoming a pathologist.<br />

In 1975, he joined the faculty at OSU College<br />

of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medicine. In 1978, he joined<br />

the National Animal Disease Center in Ames,<br />

Iowa, as research leader of the Shipping Fever<br />

and Respiratory Diseases of Cattle Project. In<br />

1981, Brown joined the new veterinary school<br />

at North Carolina University, where he developed<br />

the pathology program and worked until<br />

he retired in 2008.<br />

THOMAS COFFIN, DVM, served in the<br />

Army after graduation. Following discharge,<br />

he practiced in his hometown of Waukomis,<br />

Okla. He later joined Idabel (Okla.) <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Clinic, where he practiced for 25 years.<br />

In 1981, he built Coffin Animal Hospital and<br />

worked there until his 2006 retirement. Coffin<br />

also served on the Oklahoma <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical<br />

Association Board for four years. He died<br />

Dec. 29, 2013.<br />

JOHN DOYLE, DVM, worked in private<br />

practices in Ness City, Kan., and Anadarko<br />

and Perkins, Okla. In 1982, he became the animal<br />

health epidemiologist for the Oklahoma<br />

Department of Agriculture and was director of<br />

the Brucellosis Eradication Program in Oklahoma.<br />

He also served several years on a USDA<br />

Tuberculosis Epidemiology Team traveling to<br />

Mexico before retiring.<br />

JERRY DURHAM, DVM, returned to his<br />

hometown of Prairie Grove, Ark., and established<br />

a mixed animal practice. He sold it and<br />

retired in 2011.<br />

LARRY EDWARDS, DVM, began his career<br />

in Amarillo, Texas. After one year, he moved to<br />

Sherman, Texas, where he established a small<br />

animal practice that he sold, retiring in 2012.<br />

RONALD FORD, DVM, spent two years<br />

in the Air Force. In 1968, he established a veterinary<br />

practice in Lemmon, S.D., where he<br />

works today. Since 1972, he has been raising<br />

roan and grey quarter horses. He stands Guys<br />

Gold Coin, a son of Frenchman Guy, as stud,<br />

shipping cooled semen and breeding on site.<br />

PAUL FRITH, DVM, MPH, served as a<br />

regional health officer for the Alaska Division<br />

of Public Health for 12 years and a compliance<br />

officer for Alaska OSHA for seven years. In 1995,<br />

he joined the Oregon OSHA staff as a training<br />

specialist. In 2005, he and his wife, Nancy,<br />

formed a consulting firm, OSHA Rx LLC, providing<br />

consulting services in the Pacific Northwest<br />

and in Trinidad/Tobago for the next 10<br />

years. They currently reside in Fairbanks, Alaska.<br />

JOEL JENSEN, DVM, enjoyed practicing<br />

veterinary medicine and still provides assistance<br />

to a kennel a couple days a week. He also enjoys<br />

acting and has been part of a community theater<br />

for 35 years and counting.<br />

JOHN KIRKPATRICK, DVM, joined Drs.<br />

Charles Love and Louis Nightengale (OSU ’62)<br />

in a mixed animal practice in Ardmore, Okla.<br />

In 1972, he built his own mixed animal practice<br />

in Shattuck, Okla. In June 1992, he joined<br />

the food animal section at OSU’s College of<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medicine and later served as director<br />

of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Extension and director of the<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical Hospital.<br />

WILLIAM LANCE, DVM, MS, PH.D.,<br />

joined the Air Force and served until 1973. In<br />

1976, he joined the Wildlife Disease Center at<br />

Colorado State University’s College of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Medicine. He worked as a researcher and<br />

earned a Ph.D. in pathology finishing in 1981.<br />

He then founded Wildlife Pharmaceuticals<br />

Inc., which has branches in South Africa, Canada<br />

and Mexico.<br />

DUANE LEMBURG, DVM, worked in Wichita,<br />

Kan., before entering the military. He was<br />

assigned to the Scout Dog Program to prepare<br />

dogs and handlers for their mission in Vietnam.<br />

This assignment included assisting in a scene<br />

from the movie The Green Berets. In 1969, he<br />

moved to Golden, Colo., and opened Applewood<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Hospital in 1970. In 1974, he<br />

and a nearby competitor joined to build Mesa<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Hospital, where he worked for the<br />

next 40 years, retiring in 2004.<br />

WADE MARKHAM, DVM, opened a practice<br />

in Pryor, Okla. Six months later he moved<br />

to Vinita, Okla., and eventually built Vinita <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Center with Dr. Gene Frie (OSU ’68).<br />

He sold his part of the practice in 1980 and<br />

continued to work out of his barn. In 2003, he<br />

was named Craig County’s Citizen of the Year.<br />

BARBARA MCABEE, DVM, worked in or<br />

owned various practices in North Carolina, Virginia,<br />

Colorado, Iowa and Illinois. Her three<br />

goals when she graduated from OSU were<br />

to save the (animal) world, to foxhunt and<br />

to become an expert skier — and she accomplished<br />

all three. She currently does relief work<br />

in Illinois, Iowa and sometimes in Virginia.<br />

STARLING MILLER, DVM, joined a mixed<br />

animal practice in Perry, Okla., where he later<br />

became a full partner. After developing back<br />

issues, he left the practice and went into the<br />

auction and real estate business with his wife.<br />

DIANNE NAIL, DVM, practiced in Oklahoma<br />

City and Tulsa. In 1983, she and her<br />

husband Nick (OSU ’62) built a new hospital,<br />

Arrow Springs in Broken Arrow, where they<br />

worked until they sold it in 2004. She was the<br />

second female president of the Oklahoma <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Medical Association and the <strong>Vet</strong>erinarian<br />

of the Year in 2002.<br />

CONTINUES<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 85


CLASS OF 1965<br />

REX OLSON, DVM, opened a mixed animal<br />

practice in his hometown of Waynoka,<br />

Okla., and served as the veterinarian at livestock<br />

auctions in Seiling and Woodward. He<br />

also served on the Oklahoma <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical<br />

Association’s Board of Directors. After contracting<br />

Brucellosis, which reduced his energy<br />

level, he sold his practice in 1983. With a friend,<br />

he formed Santo Resources Inc., operating oil<br />

and gas wells. Olson passed away Oct. 27, 1997.<br />

JOHNNIE REMER, DVM, bought a small<br />

animal practice in Fort Smith, Ark. His son, Jon,<br />

earned his DVM degree from OSU in 1984 and<br />

joined the practice. At age 59, Remer suffered a<br />

massive heart attack and died March 30, 1993.<br />

WILLIAM ROBERSON, DVM, served in the<br />

Army <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Corps for two years. He then<br />

moved to Little Rock, Ark., where he was part<br />

owner of three AAHA-approved hospitals and<br />

one emergency clinic. He served as president<br />

of the Arkansas VMA and was named <strong>Vet</strong>erinarian<br />

of the Year in 1981.<br />

ROGER WELLS, DVM, practiced in Vinita,<br />

Okla., before establishing a racetrack practice<br />

in Pennsylvania. He spent 12 years at the Penn<br />

National Racecourse in Grantville and at racetracks<br />

in Florida and Ohio. In 1984, he established<br />

a practice in New Hampshire that served<br />

Rockingham Park and Suffolk Downs. In 2005,<br />

he ran for the New Hampshire House of Representatives<br />

and served six years.<br />

THOMAS WELSH, DVM, PH.D., DACLAM,<br />

moved to California to practice at the Firestone<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Hospital. Eight months later, he was<br />

called to join the U.S. Army, serving until 1968.<br />

He went on to complete his Ph.D. and a laboratory<br />

animal residency in Illinois. In 1972 he<br />

accepted a position at Rush University Medical<br />

Center in Chicago, retiring 30 years later<br />

in 2002. He then accepted a position at Northwestern<br />

University as director of its laboratory<br />

animal medicine program. After eight years at<br />

Northwestern, he retired again in 2010.<br />

JAMES ZYSKOWSKI, DVM, practiced at<br />

Edgewood <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Hospital in Tulsa for<br />

one year before opening his own practice on<br />

South Harvard. In the early 1970s, he built<br />

Valley Glen <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Hospital in east Tulsa<br />

and practiced until he sold it to Walgreens. He<br />

built one more practice, leased it for a while<br />

and finally retired in 2007.<br />

DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR / CVHS<br />

86 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


OSU Celebrates<br />

125 Years of Service<br />

As Oklahoma State University celebrates 125 years of excellence, it<br />

is a time to look back on the accomplishments and milestones that<br />

have made OSU America’s Brightest Orange. While the Center<br />

for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences is the youngest of the colleges, the<br />

school has left its mark on OSU history in its 67 years.<br />

The School of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medicine was<br />

officially established March 1, 1948,<br />

with an inaugural class of 31 students.<br />

The school completed its first new building<br />

in 1949 and graduated its first class of 26 students<br />

on May 27, 1951.<br />

June Iben became the first female to graduate<br />

from the School of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medicine<br />

in 1955, paving the way for many more.<br />

As the times changed, so did OSU. In<br />

1957, Oklahoma A&M College changed its<br />

name to Oklahoma State University, and the<br />

School of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medicine became the<br />

College of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medicine. The college<br />

continued to strive for excellence in<br />

the veterinary field. The Oklahoma Animal<br />

Disease Diagnostic Laboratory was dedicated<br />

in 1975, in partnership with the Oklahoma<br />

Department of Agriculture, Food and<br />

Forestry, and the Boren <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical<br />

Teaching Hospital was completed in 1981.<br />

The college also received its first full academic<br />

accreditation by the American <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Medical Association in 1981. The<br />

hospital, which has been accredited and<br />

certified by the American Animal Hospital<br />

Association since 1983, treats all species and<br />

is open to the public.<br />

CVHS boasts many prominent alumni,<br />

including Dr. Leroy Coggins, Class of 1957,<br />

who developed the Coggins test that checks<br />

for equine infectious anemia; it is required<br />

for horses in order to travel or compete. The<br />

college has also made many contributions<br />

through its breakthrough research by faculty<br />

and veterinary graduates.<br />

The college was renamed in 2004 as the<br />

Oklahoma State University Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary<br />

Health Sciences. The CVHS encompasses<br />

the College of <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medicine,<br />

the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic<br />

Laboratory, the Boren <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Medical<br />

Teaching Hospital, the CVHS Ranch, the<br />

Equine Research Park and other laboratories<br />

located within its facilities.<br />

As OSU continues to lead, the Center for<br />

<strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences will continue its<br />

mission to better the lives of animals and<br />

people through education, research and service.<br />

Read more about OSU’s rich history at<br />

www.timeline.okstate.edu.<br />

Now more than ever in<br />

OSU’s 125-year history, it’s<br />

good to be a Cowboy!<br />

KAYLIE WEHR<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 87


ROUNDUP<br />

In 2014, OSU Cowboy veterinarians and guests gathered<br />

at the Payne County Expo for the Cowboy Roundup.<br />

In addition to class reunions, silent auctions raised nearly<br />

$4,200 to support veterinary student scholarships.<br />

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY LAWSON<br />

Class of 1964<br />

From left: Drs. Gloyd Miller, Ben Baker and Laurin Patton<br />

88 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


Class of 1974<br />

Seated (from left): Drs. Brenda Rowe, Julie Clements, Ronald Powell, Ronald Wallis and Gary Glisan<br />

Standing: Drs. Robert Moak, Patrick Thistlethwaite, Donald Whitehead and Bill Schaefer<br />

Class of 1969<br />

From left: Drs. Gary Wallis, Don Heise, Charlotte Dietz, Jimmie Baldwin,<br />

John Goedeken, Richard Shawley and Michael Lorenz.<br />

Alumni and guests enjoyed the sounds of the<br />

band Highway 51, led by Jimmy Bryson.<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 89


Class of 1979<br />

Seated (from left): Drs. Mike McGuire, Carl Propp, Michael Steward and Brad Hildabrand<br />

Standing: Drs. Arlyn Omtvedt, Terry Lehenbauer, Harry Wilson, Timothy Ashley and Ladd Oldfield<br />

Class of 1989<br />

Seated (from left): Drs. Kimberly Carter, Rosemarie Strong, Kristi Darrow and Erica Miller<br />

Standing: Drs. Wyvern Cline and William Hancock<br />

90 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


Class of 1994<br />

From left: Drs. Jamie Augenstein<br />

and Monica Norman<br />

Class of 2004<br />

Seated (from left): Drs. Erin Pruitt, Shanda Geurin, Jennifer Johnson-Neitman, Stacy McLeod and Sandra Tatarynw<br />

Standing: Drs. Zuleika Carballo, Chad Baumwart, Cade Wilson, Jason Risley and Scott Sturgeon<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 91


CORRAL<br />

CRAWL<br />

This year, the Corral Crawl attendees enjoyed a special treat when Drs. Jean Sander and<br />

Jerry Ritchey put their own words to a favorite tune and sang, “Mamas, please let your<br />

babies grow up to be Cowboys” to start the evening off.<br />

Alumni and friends started their holiday shopping early during the SCAVMA Silent<br />

Auction that raised more than $6,500 for veterinary student scholarships.<br />

Thank you to all who attended, those who donated auction items and to all who bid.<br />

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY LAWSON<br />

Items in the silent auction drew bids<br />

from many, including Mrs. William<br />

McClees (left) and others.<br />

92 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


Class of 1970<br />

From left: William McClees, Lyndon Tate, Stanley Kosanke, Thomas Shroyer and Billy Clay<br />

Class of 1975<br />

Seated (from left): Milton Pollard, Jonathan Turner, Vickie Stonestreet and Larry Nieman<br />

Standing: Dennis Henson, Marvin Ellis and Timothy Eaker<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 93


Class of 1980<br />

Seated (from left): Lemac Morris,<br />

Susan Hossenlopp, Dwight<br />

Olson and Steven Weir<br />

Standing (from left): Randy<br />

Lewis, Joel Lenz and Charles<br />

Reavis<br />

Class of 1985<br />

Seated in front (from left): Linda Ford,<br />

Linda Coenen, Judith Roberds,<br />

Fawn King, Heather Cobb and<br />

Kathryn Dunaway<br />

Second row (from left): Kenneth<br />

Abrams, Ronald Smith, Randal<br />

Burris, Harry Traylor, James Rebeie,<br />

Julia O’Carroll, Richard Marrinson,<br />

Eric Wynn and Carl Manske<br />

Standing in the back row (from<br />

left): Gordon Gathright, Jeffery<br />

Sarchet, Andrew Broaddus, Bruce<br />

Omonhundro, Gregory Campbell<br />

and Gary Spodnick<br />

94 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


Dr. Johnathan Turner (left)<br />

and Dr. Tim Woody look over<br />

silent auction items.<br />

<strong>2015</strong> Oklahoma State University 95


Class of 1990<br />

Seated (from left): John Otto,<br />

Kimberley Morey, Randall<br />

Eisel, Terri Wheeler and Patricia<br />

Williams<br />

Standing (from left): Benjamin<br />

Slaybaugh, Barry Whitworth,<br />

Nancy Proctor, Carl Bello,<br />

Shawna McCune, Michael<br />

Thorp and Brad Roach<br />

Class of 1995<br />

Seated (from left): Angela Henzel,<br />

Brenda Stewart, Jason Steinle, Troy<br />

Lindsey and Michael Brown<br />

Standing: Rodney Auffet, Kevin<br />

Fenton, Jennifer Rhodes-Fenton,<br />

Tracy Turner, William Evans, Amy<br />

Gustafson, Kristi Zarges, Jacqueline<br />

Harvey and Julius Brinkis<br />

96 Center for <strong>Vet</strong>erinary Health Sciences


CVHS Dean Dr. Jean Sander<br />

and Dr. Jerry Ritchey entertain<br />

during the Corral Crawl.


Oklahoma State University<br />

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PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETING

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