2013 PVM Report - Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine

PVM Launches Poultry
Medicine Residency
When One Poultry Princess Isn’t Enough
by Becky Hershey
When it comes to poultry medicine, nobody does it better than
Dr. Pat Wakenell, Purdue Veterinary Medicine associate professor
of avian diagnostics and avian diagnostic pathologist with the
Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. Since 2008, when
Dr. Wakenell joined the PVM faculty, awareness of and interest in
poultry medicine at Purdue University has increased markedly. As
Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s lead poultry specialist, Dr. Wakenell
has demonstrated an infectious enthusiasm for her field, and a flair
for catching peoples’ attention.
How does she do it? Just ask visitors to a previous Indiana State
Fair, where Dr. Wakenell wrapped key points about poultry health
and food safety around a “Poultry Veterinarian Fashion Show.” A
bona-fide “Poultry Princess,” Dr. Wakenell has no shortage of chicken
dresses and poultry purses with which to regale an audience. She’s
even been known to try to talk colleagues into helping model the
fashions. And don’t expect to meet her without being introduced
to her chicken purse named Opal. But spend five minutes with
Dr. Wakenell and you will realize this persona is not a put-on; it’s a
genuine reflection of her deep and abiding passion for her specialty,
and her desire to meet the challenges facing the poultry industry by
encouraging more veterinary students to follow her calling.
There is a tremendous need for poultry veterinarians. With the rise
in popularity of the general public running hobby farms, there is a
lack of knowledge and skills needed to address health and wellness
of poultry and other livestock. Now Dr. Wakenell’s enthusiasm, wit
and expertise are being linked to the financial backing necessary
to make the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine the
first to offer a fully endowed teaching program in Poultry Medicine.
Funded by an anonymous donor, this program supports one or
more graduate students in a training and residency program in the
College’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology.
Purdue Veterinary Medicine can now provide a solution to the
shortage of poultry veterinarians by integrating poultry medicine
into the block schedule for fourth-year DVM students. This past year,
three Purdue DVM Class of 2012 graduates went on to pursue jobs in
the poultry industry; and two of those made their decision to work in
the poultry industry after taking the poultry medicine block with Dr.
Wakenell.
The residency program will focus on all the major areas of an
active practice such as diagnostic pathology and farm visits. The
program also incorporates a training curriculum designed to lead
to board certification in either the American College of Veterinary
Pathologists or the American College of Poultry Veterinarians.
Purdue’s first resident in the program, Dr. Yuko Sato, DVM Class
of 2012 graduate, started in August 2012 and will continue for three
years, with completion in July 2015. A second resident will start in
July 2013.
“One of the goals of this program is to graduate a poultry
veterinarian every year” says Dr. Wakenell. There is also great
support from Indiana’s state organization, the Indiana State Poultry
Association, which is providing financial assistance with travel for
residents who are working with clients around the state. Additional
private fundraising is being sought to further grow the endowed
teaching program.
About Dr. Pat Wakenell
Education:
•DVM, Michigan State University, 1977
•Ph.D., Michigan State University, 1985
Professional:
•Served on the UC-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine faculty
(beginning in 1990) as associate professor of poultry medicine in
the Department of Population Health and Reproduction
•Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Pathologists
(1988)
•Past president of the American Association of Avian Pathologists
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