Summer 2004 - University of Minnesota College of Veterinary ...

NEWS NEWS NEWU of M Veterinarians Care forSled Dogs at Iditarod, Yukon QuestJustine Lee, D.V.M., assistant clinical professor, traveled toAlaska in March to work as a trail veterinarian at the IditarodTrail Sled Dog Race.She was one of 40veterinarians fromaround the world whowas responsible forsafeguarding theJustine Lee, D.V.M., worked as a trail veterinarianat the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in March.health of approximately85 teams of 16sled dogs – a total ofmore than 1,300 animals– signed up toparticipate in theannual race.The Iditarod Trailruns more than 1,000 miles, from Anchorage in southeasternAlaska to Nome in the far north. In addition to pre-race checkups,each dog undergoes an exam at each of 26 checkpoints alongthe way.At each checkpoint, veterinarians insure that every dog is in goodcondition to continue the race. Among the problems they see aresore, swollen, or injured joints, muscles, and tendons, foot padcracks and abrasions, stress diarrhea, and dehydration. Dogs thatare not running well or are experiencing problems that do notrespond to treatment arepulled from the race andflown to Anchorage for treatmentif necessary. The rest oftheir team then continues therace without them, takinganywhere from 9 to 20 daysor more to finish. Lee was onthe trail for two weeks, duringwhich she worked at severalcheckpoints.Gregg Phillips, D.V.M., worked at theYukon Quest in February.Lee also worked at the 1997,2002, and 2003 Iditarods, and always comes away with a sense ofadmiration for the dogs. “They’re great dogs,” she says. “Greatathletes.”Lee wasn’t the only representative of the College to work withsled dogs this past winter. In February, Gregg Phillips, a fourthyearveterinary student, worked at the Yukon Quest, a 1,000-milerace between Fairbanks, Alaska, and Whitehorse, Yukon. Part ofa team of 11 veterinarians, Phillips was on the trail for 16 days,driving to some checkpoints and flying to others in bush planes.“It was a phenomenal experience I’ll never forget,” he says. “I’mgoing back next year.”Alumni NotesDale J. Kressin, D.V.M., 1983 alumnus,received veterinary dentistry and oral surgeryboard certification. Congratulationsto Dr. Kressin for his certification into thiselite group of colleagues.Patricia Olson, D.V.M., 1970 alumna,was named executive director of theMorris Animal Foundation.16Merry C. Crimi, D.V.M., 1978 alumna,received the American Animal HospitalAssociation Practitioner of the Year Awardat the association's 71st Annual Meeting.Given for outstanding contributions to theprofession and the community, the awardis the association's highest honor.Andres Gil, Ph.D., 1993 alumnus, was awinner of a 2004 DistinguishedLeadership Award for Internationals, aUniversity of Minnesota award for thosewho have distinguished themselves as leadersin their professional careers. His thesison foot and mouth disease was creditedwith assisting in the eradication of the diseasefrom Uraguay, his native country. Dr.Gil is currently head of the epidemiologicalunit at the Ministry of Livestock,Agriculture, and Fisheries in Montevideo,Uraguay, as well as the head of theBiostatistics and Informatics Departmentat the Universidad de la Republica.