College of Veterinary Medicine Western University of Health Sciences

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C V M F a c u l t y P r o f i l e s MIGUEL D. SAGGESE, DVM, MS, PhD, was born and raised in Buenos Aires,Argentina. He obtained his veterinary degree at University of Buenos Aires and worked in Argentina for many years in small animal practice as well in avian, exotic and wildlife medicine before coming to the U.S. He chose his career well before finishing high school, coincidently with the start of another of his great passions: ornithology, birds of prey and wildlife conservation. During the early years at vet MIGUEL D. SAGGESE school, Dr. Saggese conducted biological studies on Harpy eagles in the northeastern Argentine forests and Patagonian raptors in southern Argentina. Given his studies and interests in ornithology, infectious diseases, wildlife conservation and veterinary medicine, his path in this career was clearly early determined. After working for many years as a veterinarian in his country, in 2001 Dr. Saggese migrated to the U.S. to start his master’s in avian infectious diseases and a residency program in avian medicine, rehabilitation, anesthesia and orthopedic surgery at The Raptor Center - University of Minnesota. During his tenure in Minnesota Dr. Saggese saw the terrible effects of West Nile virus on bald eagles, great horned owls and many other species of raptors admitted at this center and affected by this virus. Seeing the pain and suffering of these birds helped him to decide his master research project: investigate the efficacy of three different West Nile virus vaccines in avian models. Shortly after finishing his master’s degree (two days after, the time needed to drive from Minnesota to Texas along Hwy 35!) Dr. Saggese and his family moved to Texas A&M University. His new home was the Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center-College of Veterinary Medicine, where he obtained his PhD in veterinary microbiology investigating the molecular epidemiology, pathology, diagnosis and treatment of avian mycobacteriosis. His current research interests range from investigating the role that diseases and environmental pollutants have on the endangered South American crowned eagle populations and osprey migration to the southern hemisphere to investigate the molecular epidemiology of avian tuberculosis and the use of avian models for studying mycobacterial infections in humans and domestic animals. Dr. Saggese joined the College of Veterinary Medicine as an assistant professor of avian, exotic and wildlife medicine and veterinary microbiology in August 2007. He enjoys working with students, especially during PBL sessions where he can watch them learn and progress day after day. He is actively involved in several organizations like the Raptor Research Foundation, Association of Avian Veterinarians and the Eagle Conservation Alliance, among others. He lives with his wife, Stella, a psychologist, and Misha, a 5-year-old tricolored female cat in Los Angeles, but they are currently considering moving closer to WesternU. He has one son, Renzo (22), currently studying law school and anthropology at the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina. Birding in Californian beaches and mountains, playing electric guitar with his friends, collecting books about raptors and traveling with his wife along the U.S. (has visited 37 states already) are his main hobbies. JENNIFER L. BUUR, DVM, PhD, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology, joined Western University of Health Sciences in July 2007 as Assistant Professor of Pharmacology. Beyond bringing her expertise in clinical and basic pharmacology, Dr. Buur also brings a diversity of experience including small animal private practice, exotic animal practice, wildlife rehabilitation, zoo and Jennifer L. Buur shelter medicine. She currently serves as a PBL facilitator, discipline content expert in pharmacology, module leader, and 4th year rotation administrator. She is also the College of Veterinary Medicine’s faculty representative on the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at WesternU. Dr. Buur was born and raised a few miles from campus in Upland, Calif. She has subsequently pursued a career of being an out of state student starting with the completion of her pre-veterinary course work at Washington State University in Pullman,Wash., continuing with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1999 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and ending with the dual residency in veterinary clinical pharmacology (completed in 2006) and Doctor of Philosophy in Comparative Biomedical Sciences (completed in 2007) at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C. Dr. Buur’s research interest is in comparative pharmacokinetics. Current research studies include the description of the pharmacokinetics of a variety of drugs used in exotic animals such as ceftazidime in Koi and in the genetic basis for adverse drug reactions in canine cancer patients. Dr. Buur’s overall focus is on the applications of physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models to problems encountered in veterinary medicine. Her research goal is to use these models to improve the individual dosing of patients receiving chemotherapeutic agents. Beyond her research goals and passion for teaching rational drug use, Dr. Buur also has an active interest in cycling. She currently commutes via her bicycle twice a week and has a goal of commuting every day by this fall when the weather will be cooler. ♥ 10
RESEARCH In Brief Josep Rutllant, DVM, PhD Associate Professor, Anatomy Dr. Rutllant’s research goal has been to develop an understanding of sperm transport in female genitalia and events related to fertilization for domestic livestock species. Mechanisms involved in successful sperm transport and fertilization may then be utilized to understand why fertilization failure occurs and to answer unpredictable problems of sub-fertility and infertility.This information is also critical for the development of new contraceptive technologies and new approaches to provide accurate systems of estrus detection. A better knowledge of the required processes involved in sperm physiology that are necessary for fertilization, such as epididymal maturation and sperm capacitation, can help us find unknown answers to problems of infertility and improve the methodology for male genome preservation. Congratulations to Dr. Carmen Fuentealba, former CVM faculty member (now at University of Calgary), current CVM Associate Dean Robert Mason, and University Vice President of Advancement Dr. Shirley Johnston, on publication of their paper: Fuentealba C, Mason RV, Johnston SD: Community-based clinical veterinary education at Western University of Health Sciences. J Vet Med Educ 35(1):34-42, 2008. “A novel approach to documentation and tracking of clinical skills acquisition by veterinary students.” was presented at a poster presentation by Dr. Wendell Cole and Dr. Peggy Schmidt for the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges’ Educational Symposium in Washington, D.C. on March 13-17, 2008. Dr. Maisie Dawes made a presentation entitled,“Biosecurity and the Caprine Producer,” at Tuskegee University’s 43rd Annual Veterinary Medical Symposium held March 26-29, 2008. Dr. Miguel Saggese presented “Survey of Lead Toxicosis in Free-Ranging Raptors from Central Argentina,” at the Ingestion of Lead Spent Ammunition: Impacts on Wildlife and Humans Conference convened by The Peregrine Fund in Boise, Idaho on May 12-15, 2008. Dr. Teresa Morishita and Mr. Jonathan Padilla will offer a poster presentation,“Comparative Microbiological Ecology of the Intestines in Poultry Species,” at the American Veterinary Medical Association Annual Convention in New Orleans, July 18-23, 2008. Dr. Carlos Crocker will make a poster presentation: Portz, D.E. and Crocker, C.E.,“Holding-duration-associated stress of Green Sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris) at South Delta Fish Collection Facilities, California,” at the American Fisheries Society Meeting in Portland, OR in July 2008. Noah Pavlisko, DVM ’10, has been selected for the summer Veterinary Research Fellowship program at MIT, an NIH-funded summer externship for veterinary students with an interest in biomedical research. The main focus is on laboratory research and comparative pathology. Kimberly Bridges, DVM ’11, and Alice D’Amore, DVM ’11, were awarded stipends by the Morris Animal Foundation’s Veterinary Student Scholars Program. The Program provides veterinary students an opportunity to become involved in short-term clinical or basic veterinary research that enhances the health and welfare of companion animals and wildlife. CONGRATULATIONS to the following CVM students who successfully pursued WesternU Student Summer Research Grants for summer 2008. Leah Baksh, DVM ’10: Survey of Endoparasites and Ectoparasites in the Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizzii) Jennifer Boardman, DVM ’11: Morphometric Study of Gastrointestinal Nematodes of California Sea Lions Brandon Boren, DVM ’10: Radiographic Atlas of the California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) Tamera Chan, DVM ’11: Experimental Assays in Assessing Presence of REV Specific IgY in the Attwater Prairie Chicken Gabrielle Galgoul, DVM ’11: Identification of Cancer Associated Canine Genomic Intervals Using Bioinformatics and Comparative Genomics Erin Goodwin, DVM ’09: Measuring Oxidative Stress and Protein Nitrosylation after Exposure to Methamphtamine in FIV Infected Astrocytes Brett Grossman, DVM ’11:An Epidemiology Survey of Papilloma Virus in captive Snow Leopards in North American Zoos Audrey Hoholm, DVM ’11: Statistical Analysis of SNPs in Linkage Disequilibrium Inheritance with Oncogenes in the Domestic Dog Kelly Hughes, DVM ’11: Clinical and Pathologic Findings of Feline Renal Shut Down: Initial Description of a Unique Lesion Jessica Jennings, DVM ’10:A Comparison Between Dry Cow Management in Southern California and New Zealand and its Impact on Hypocalcemia Avery Krein, DVM ’11: Pharmacokinetics of Ceftazidime in koi (Cyprinus carpio) after Single Dose Intramuscular or Intracoelomic Administration Jessica Robin Leach: Histological Investigation of the Skin Vasculature of Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) and their Possible Roles in Thermoregulation Vanessa Rizzo, DVM ’10: Ice as an Enrichment Device in Swine Diane Hazel Go Tang, DVM ’11: Survey of Medical Problems in Captive Snow Leopards at North American Zoos Prior to 2003 Jae Yoo, DVM ’11: Genetic Variation of Serotonin Transporter Gene in Humans and Dogs 11
Page 1 and 2: Outlook the College of Veterinary M
Page 3 and 4: GRADS IN THE FIELD We are pleased t
Page 5 and 6: First Avian Conference Soars at CVM
Page 7 and 8: PRECEPTOR PROFILE Curtis Eng, DVM,
Page 9: C V M S t u d e n t P r o f i l e s
Page 13 and 14: Post Grad 2008 Plans NAME IMMEDIATE
Page 15 and 16: Reasons to name a seat: • Leave y

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