Wisconsin Alumni Association

Message from Dean Buss
to UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine Alumni

Welcome to the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine’s alumni e-newsletter! Periodically, we’ll keep in touch to let you know what’s happening at your alma mater. In this issue:

WHAT’S NEW AT THE SCHOOL?

SVM Annual Report Available Online

The School’s annual report (2008-09) is now available online. Click here to get a sampling of the SVM’s major accomplishments during the past fiscal year. As we find new ways to improve animal health, educate future veterinarians, and share new discoveries with the public, we continue to serve an important role in the state of Wisconsin, the nation, and the world.

Cancer Treatment & Imaging Center Construction to Begin

On October 23, 2009, Miron construction company was selected as the contractor for the school’s Cancer Treatment & Imaging Center addition project, which will house a new TomoTherapy cancer treatment unit. Construction is expected to begin mid-November, with completion in the fall of 2010. TomoTherapy will allow the VMTH to offer improved cancer radiation treatment to cancer patients.

The AAEP Alumni Reception Returns

After a hiatus of several years, the alumni reception at AAEP will return this year, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Boehringer Ingleheim, Bayer and Merial and the persistence and assistance of Scott Spaulding (1991). We will meet at the Border Grill in Mandalay Bay on Monday, December 7, at 6 pm. We look forward to seeing you there! Please contact Kristi Thorson, Director of Alumni Relations, at kvthorson@vetmed.wisc.edu for more information.

Going to North American Veterinary Conference?

If so, please join us for an Alumni Reception on Sun. Jan. 17 at 7 pm at the Marriott World Center in Orlando. Visit with Dean Buss, fellow alumni and other friends and enjoy light hors d’oeuvres, desserts and beverages.

Mark Your Calendar for Next Alumni Reunion

Save the date! Our next alumni reunion, featuring the Classes of 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005, will be on June 26, 2010 in Madison. Updated information will be posted at www.vetmed.wisc.edu/alumni. Please note that all alumni are welcome and can register online (beginning in April), but only alumni from the reunion years will receive paper invitations. If you graduated in a non-reunion year but would like to receive a paper invitation please contact Kristi Thorson at kvthorson@vetmed.wisc.edu.

Holiday Card for Animal Lovers

It’s a gift that gives twice. You can recognize colleagues, friends, or family in your life with fund-raiser holiday cards from the School of Veterinary Medicine. Proceeds from the sale of these cards benefit the school, allowing us to update facilities, obtain new equipment, or conduct clinical trials to benefit animal health. Click here to see this year’s offer.

Join SVM Staff for Berbee Derby?

Going to be in Madison over Thanksgiving? Consider joining the SVM team for the annual Berbee Derby on Thanksgiving morning. Options include a 5K walk, 5K run, and a 10K run. Contact Dr. Jennifer Ginn at jginn@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu if you’re interested. (She says it’s worth it, because it allows you to eat at least 2 extra plates of food later in the day…)

CLINICAL TRIALS

CCL Rupture Study Opened to More Dogs

The VMTH’s Small Animal Orthopedic Service is seeking dogs that have ruptured the ligament in one stifle with their opposite stifle being stable, and dogs that are suspected of having a unilateral or bilateral stable partial CCL tear and stifle arthritis. For details, click here.

CONTINUING EDUCATION UPDATES

Need continuing education? Click here to see what’s being offered through the School’s Office of Continuing Veterinary Medical Education.

PERSONNEL CHANGES

Heidi Kellihan, DVM, DACVIM-Cardiology has joined the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital as a clinical assistant professor in cardiology. Previously, she served as a clinical instructor following completion of her cardiology residency in 2006.

Jason Soukup, DVM, DAVDC, has joined the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital’s dentistry and oral surgery service as a clinical instructor. He completed his residency in May.

Tim Stein, DVM, PhD, DACVIM-Oncology, has joined the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital as an assistant professor of oncology. He recently completed his oncology residency, and also completed a PhD in the school’s Comparative Biomedical Sciences program.

Masatoshi Suzuki, DVM, PhD has joined CBS as an assistant professor, where he will join the gross anatomy teaching team and continue his research on possible applications of stem cells for cell-based therapy for neurodegenerative diseases (such as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease). He earned his degrees from the University of Tokyo in Japan, and most recently was an associate scientist at the UW’s Waisman Center. He was hired as part of the UW Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine cluster hire.

Three technicians in the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (Kate Lafferty, Jessica Wendt, and Denise Young) attained specialty credentials in October and are now Veterinary Technician Specialists in Anesthesia. Click here to read more.

If you have specific requests for information, we’d love to hear them. Just hit “reply” and let us know what’s on your mind.

Daryl D. Buss, Dean
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of Wisconsin-Madison
alumni@vetmed.wisc.edu