Vet Cetera magazine 2015

A Brighter
Operation
SMALL ANIMAL SURGERY
GETS NEW LIGHTS
Thanks to the generosity of grateful clients,
alumni and referring veterinarians, all
three small animal surgery suites at OSU’s
Veterinary Medical Hospital look brighter
with brand-new lighting.
“Our current lights were circa 1981, and this upgrade gives us state-of-the-art
operating room lighting,” says Dr. Mark Neer, director of the hospital.
“In addition, each new light has a camera attached so that teaching,
videotaping surgeries and surgery resident training will all be enhanced.”
The donors who made this possible are David Traub, M.D.,
of Tulsa, Avis and Phil Scaramucci of Oklahoma City, and Drs.
Bob Shoup and Steve Weir of Catoosa, Okla.
In February 2014, Traub brought his German shepherd,
Samantha, who had knee issues, to the small animal clinic.
After suffering an ACL rupture, Samantha needed surgery.
Small animal surgeons leveled the dog’s tibial plateau to
prevent her tibia from sliding, giving her a more stable joint
even without her cruciate ligament.
“I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have an animal care
center of such excellence for my dogs,” Traub says.
The Scaramuccis have been friends of the veterinary center
since 2008. Three of their seven farm dogs have visited
the hospital — Frosty, an English pointer; Milla, a German
shepherd; and Sadie, a mixed breed. Their love for their dogs
inspired them to consistently donate to small animal needs
at OSU’s Veterinary Medical Hospital, including a recent gift
to the underwater treadmill project.
Having earned their DVM degrees from OSU, Shoup (’82)
and Weir (’80) know the value of the hands-on experience
students gain during their fourth year of veterinary college.
To ensure that tradition continues, these veterinarians refer
cases to the hospital and support scholarships and equipment
needs.
The gifts from these donors totaled $40,000, approximately
half of the total project cost of $90,000 to remove the old surgical
lights and install the new, more efficient lights.
“We cannot thank our donors enough,” says Neer. “We perform
approximately 725 small animal surgeries a year — just
think of the animals and owner lives that these gifts will touch
in the days to come. Thank you so much.”
To support the Veterinary Medical Hospital or the
Center for Veterinary Health Sciences as a whole,
contact the OSU Foundation at 405-385-5607.
“… JUST THINK OF THE ANIMALS
AND OWNER LIVES THAT THESE
GIFTS WILL TOUCH IN THE DAYS
TO COME. THANK YOU SO MUCH.”
PHOTOS / OSU VETERINARY MEDICAL HOSPITAL
Generous donations replaced these
old lights in small animal surgery.
— DR. MARK NEER
2015 Oklahoma State University 7