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Dr. Glen Hoffsis addresses a crowd of well-wishers, including faculty and staff from the UF CVM and administrators from the University of Florida.

College names Glen Hoffsis as new deanBy Sarah Carey

Glen F. Hoffsis, D.V.M., has been named dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of

Florida, UF administrators announced Aug. 7 at a special meeting held at the college’s Veterinary Academic Building.

Hoffsis addressed a room packed with college faculty and staff as well as other well-wishers who had gathered in anticipation of the announce-ment.

“I’m extremely honored and I wanted to be here personally to accept this position,” Hoffsis said. “The University of Florida has placed a lot of confidence in me and I will not betray that confidence.”

Recognized for leading the College of Veterinary Medicine at The Ohio State University to national prominence, Hoffsis was chosen after a nationwide search, according to Douglas Barrett, M.D., senior vice president for health affairs, and Jimmy Cheek, Ph.D, senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources.

“During his tenure as dean at Ohio State University, Dr. Hoffsis oversaw a remarkable expansion in the college’s research and academic output, expanded its clinical teaching hospital and moved the college forward in peer rankings to become one of the best in the

country,” Barrett said. “He knows how to build and grow a college, and he’s extraordinarily enthusiastic about this oppor-tunity.”

Hoffsis officially began his new job Oct.1, when he became the college’s fifth permanent dean.

“Dr. Hoffsis brings an incredible amount of expe-rience and commitment to this position,” Cheek said. “He’s done everything from researching cattle diseases and directing a veterinary teaching hospital to signifi-cantly expanding develop-ment efforts and leading the veterinary services division of a major corporation.”

Hoffsis called UF’s veteri-nary college “a top tier school of veterinary medicine” but said he knew many were interested in advancing to the top five in the country.

“I like that, because it shows a desire to advance beyond the status quo,” Hoffsis said. “We will capitalize on our clinical science, research and

student-program strengths. With a strong outreach program and fundraising effort, I expect to see robust growth.”

Hoffsis mentioned the small animal hospital fundraising effort and noted the emerging pathogens initiative as a key

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Drs. John and Liz Yelvington are the college’s first parent-child alumni.

Uniquely Bonded

3

Alumi ProfileDr. Linda George finds adventure every day in Paraguay.

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Deriso Hall DedicatedThe college’s food animal reproduction and medicine service has new digs. 4

Service Dog RecuperatingA service dog speeds toward recovery — with a little help from his friends

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University of Florida • College of Veterinary Medicine • Fall 2006

� Florida Veterinarian

Florida Veterinarian is published by the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine for alumni and friends. Suggestions and comments are welcome and should be emailed to: Sarah Carey, Florida Veterinarian editor, at: careys@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu.Check out the college website at: www.vetmed.ufl.edu

Dean Glen F. Hoffsis D.V.M., M.S.

Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies Charles H. Courtney D.V.M., Ph.D.

Associate Dean for Students and Instruction James P. Thompson D.V.M., Ph.D.

Senior Director of Development and Alumni Affairs Zoë Seale

Director of Development and Alumni Affairs Karen Hickok

Director of Public Relations Sarah K. Carey M.A., A.P.R.

Small Animal Hospital (352) 392-4700, ext. 4700

Large Animal Hospital (352) 392-4700, ext. 4000

College Admissions (352) 392-4700, ext. 5300

Deans Office (352) 392-4700, ext. 5000

Public Relations (352) 392-4700, ext. 5206

Development and Alumni Affairs (352) 392-4700, ext. 5200

strength of the college.“Many agents used by terrorists are

animal pathogens,” he said. “More people are becoming concerned about the bird flu. These are avenues for us to demonstrate what we have to offer and to make a contribution.”

After a long career at OSU culminat-ing with 11 years as dean, Hoffsis joined Iams, a Procter & Gamble company, as associate director of veterinary services. As such, he has led a group that imple-ments academic programs in colleges of veterinary medicine in the United States and overseas. “At this point, I’m looking forward to combining my experience in academia with my new perspectives gained in the corporate world and putting them to good use at the University of Florida,” Hoffsis said. “I see the UF veterinary college as a top-ranked college with a bright future.”

Hoffsis noted Florida’s strong agricul-tural, equine and small animal industry constituencies are valuable resources for UF’s veterinary college and would continue to be assets in the future.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the fine College of Veterinary Medicine at UF to a new level of excel-lence,” he said.

The OSU College of Veterinary Medicine progressed from a limited accreditation status with the American

Veterinary Medical Association during Hoffsis’ term as dean to a ranking of sixth among veterinary medical schools in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

In the meantime, sponsored research at the college doubled, the budget nearly tripled and a major fundraising effort resulted in the acquisition of nine new endowed chairs and professorships, including the endowed deanship. Three new buildings were added at the college.

Hoffsis is an established and visible leader among veterinary medical school deans, having served as a former president of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, UF admin-istrators said. Furthermore, he has also been president of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners and chairman of the Food and Drug Administration’s veterinary medicine advisory committee.

Hoffsis received his veterinary medical degree from Ohio State in 1966 and completed an internship in large animal medicine at Colorado State University in 1967. He is a board-certified veterinary internist. He replaces former dean Joseph DiPietro, D.V.M., who served nine years in the job and left in February to become vice president for agriculture at the University of Tennessee.

Glen and Lana Hoffsis visit with CVM faculty and staff after a meeting in the college’s Veterinary Academic Building during which Hoffsis formally accepted the position of dean of the college.

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Dr. Liz Yelvington, ’06, right, with her father, Dr. John Yelvington, ’81, during the senior awards banquet held at the Gainesville Hilton in May. The Yelvingtons are the college’s first parent-child alumni.

Florida Veterinarian 3

Father/daughter alumni work as team in mobile food animal medicine practice

Alumni profile : Dr. Liz Yelvington

By Sarah Carey

For Liz Yelvington, ’06, the road less traveled is fre-quently a bumpy one, taken practically every day in

a fully stocked mobile veterinary truck on her way to beef cattle or horse farms in South Florida.

The ride, however, is “as good as it gets,” says Liz, one of a diminishing number of veterinarians who have chosen to practice food animal medicine in a country where the overwhelming number of today’s veteri-nary students opt for work in small animal practice. The dwindling supply of food animal veterinarians has become a national concern within the profession in recent years, with many veterinary colleges and animal health-oriented businesses initiating or contemplating efforts to reverse the trend.

“With the American public more focused than ever on food safety and security, the role of the food animal veterinarian has never been more important,” said Dr. Lyle Vogel, director of the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Animal Welfare Division in articles published in June by the Journal of the AVMA (JAVMA.) “Needless to say, we can’t afford to have a shortage of large animal veterinarians. It would be catastrophic for the industry and for society.”

As for Liz, she’s doing her part, but not with a sense of sacrifice. The food animal profession always seemed to call her name. She loves working with large animals, has always wanted to be a food animal veterinarian and in fact, for the business is a family affair.

“Why was food animal for me? There is no doubt that not many veterinary students pursue a career in this,” Liz said. “But I was raised in a rural setting. I raised many steers for our county fair and ran barrels with my quarter horses as a teenage. This setting combined with a love of the beef industry as a child was just the beginning of my career choice.”

Immediately following her graduation from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in May, Liz joined her father, John Yelvington’s all-mobile veterinary practice in Lake Placid.

“My first week of practice was quite interesting,” she added. “My father took a much-needed vacation to the Bahamas with my mother. This was great, except he scheduled me to ultrasound 1,100 beef cows for pregnancy in four days, make numerous horse calls, perform emergency duty and on top of that, to answer the business phone.

“Yes, he threw me into the fire. I loved it! This is what I’ve been waiting for,” said Liz, adding with typical humor: “I quickly learned my right arm was not physi-cally prepared for that many rectums.”

Prior to Liz joining her father’s home-based business, he had never had an associate, she said. Her mother, Kim Yelvington, serves as in-house cook, cleaning person, secretary, office manager “and general life saver.”

“She essentially runs the business and we do the labor,” Liz said. “Without her, life would be rough.”

John Yelvington graduated in the UF College of Veterinary Medicine’s Class of 1981. When Liz graduated, the two became the college’s first parent-child alumni team.

John, obviously a proud dad, has many stories to tell about his daughter’s excellent adventure in veterinary school.

“When Dr. Patrick Colahan (professor of large animal surgery at UF) realized that Liz was the daughter of a former second class graduate, he announced to the class that he was feeling quite old and that he thought he should go home for the rest of the day,” John said. “Dean James Thompson remembers holding Liz as an infant at many of our Friday afternoon sporting activities.”

That’s not all: Liz always enjoyed the outdoors with “critters,” her dad said.

“One evening, my wife, Kim, was busy cooking dinner,” John said. “Liz, who was then about 5 years old, pushed a bucket into the kitchen to show her mother what she had collected. At least 20 large frogs began hopping out of the bucket. At about that same age, I stopped Liz, in the nick of time, from taking our cat’s temperature with a 10-penny nail.”

Liz grew up in the small town of Parrish, Fla., with her three brothers. Her father opened a mixed animal clinic, where he practiced for 17 years.

“I volunteered in his clinic as much as possible, but especially enjoyed every opportunity to ride along when he made his ranch visits,” she said. “He would allow

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4 Florida Veterinarian

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Cutting the ribbon at the dedication ceremony for Deriso Hall at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine are, left to right: UF Provost Janie Fouke; professor emeritus Paul Nicoletti; FARMS chief Owen Rae; Senior Vice President of Food and Agricultural Sciences Jimmy Cheek and large animal clinical sciences department chair Eleanor Green.

University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine faculty who

provide on-site veterinary assistance to Florida beef and dairy cattle farms now have a bright new place to call home.

Food Animal Reproduction and Medicine Service personnel joined campus administrators, agriculture industry representatives and other friends of the college May 17 for the official dedication of Deriso Hall.

“As long as we’ve existed, we’ve never had everything together,” said Owen Rae, D.V.M., FARMS service chief and a longtime CVM faculty member. “What this building will do is give us a home base that will provide us with everything we need to function: a reception area, office space, a large seminar room with video projection capabilities, a large teaching area and two full-sized labo-ratories.”

Graduate students and residents with the FARMS program will be located in the same cubicle office area, rather than separated as in years past.

Located on Shealy Drive, Deriso Hall is across the street from the main college complex on Southwest 16th Avenue.

Deriso Hall is the direct result of a public-private part-nership that began with an estate gift to the college from Bob and Evelyn Deriso, a Tampa couple who had interests in cattle. Many years ago, the Derisos asked their attorney,

Deriso Hall, new home to FARMS service, opens doors

the late Dan Brown, how they could contribute in a mean-ingful way to help the cattle industry.

A longtime friend of Paul Nicoletti, D.V.M., a professor emeritus of infectious diseases at the college, Brown told the Derisos about Nicoletti’s contributions in the area of brucellosis, a deadly disease that affects livestock. Brucellosis was a major concern to cattle owners in the 1960s and 1970s.

The couple eventually donated half the value of their estate, around $1.3 million, in honor of Nicoletti’s contri-butions. The Deriso gift was subsequently matched and supplemented with additional state dollars.

me to accompany him on these visits with caution, as 200-plus beef cows in a small space made for dangerous conditions for an 8-year-old daughter.”

Liz recalled how her father used to set her up on the highest spot in the cow pens or on the back of a gentle horse and would have her write down records.

“I was thrilled to be in that setting and watched, as everyone respected his work,” she said. “I knew that would be me someday. My father truly inspired me to pursue my goals.”

When all four Yelvington children were young, they would spend time with their father during after-hours trips to his clinic or following along during emergency calls.

“Liz in particular was more involved with my treat-ments than the three boys,” John recalled. “She especially loved the cattle work.”

Following her high school graduation, Liz and her family moved to Lake Placid, where her father built a clientele of 80 percent bovine and 20 percent equine patients. Liz then headed to Gainesville to pursue a degree in animal science from UF.

“I was positively influenced by the animal science department, specifically Dr. Tim Marshall, Dr. Todd Thrift and Dr. Maarten Drost (a professor emeritus of therio-genology at the UF CVM.) These professors inspired me further and gave me an even greater passion for Florida’s beef industry.”

Once in veterinary school, she was able to work with Drost on various embryo transfer workshops and developed strong relationships with the many food animal and equine professors.

“Dr. Owen Rae was my mentor,” Liz said. “I made frequent stops into his office to pick his brain.’

She said she chose to pursue food animal medicine because of the entire Florida beef cattle industry and the families that depend upon that industry for a livelihood.

“I cannot describe in words how genuine and down to earth these rural families are,” Liz said. “I am dedicated to food animal health and public safety. I am able to help provide a safe product for consumption, help maximize production for the client, provide quality veterinary care and enjoy the beautiful outdoors all at one time.”

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$100,000 or more The Batchelor FoundationJean S. BidwellFlorida Veterinary Medicine Faculty Assn.Northern TrustOxbow Racing LLCFolke H. Peterson (d)George M. Steinbrenner III

$75,000-$99,000White Oak Conservation Center

$50,000 - $74,999Hill’s Pet Nutrition

$25,000 - $49,999 Calder Race CourseThe Community FoundationFlorida Thoroughbred CharitiesGulfstream Park Racing Assn.IntervetAlan & Barbara Pareira

$10,000 - $24,999 ASPCATine W. Davis Family FoundationFlorida Veterinary Medical Assn.Florida Veterinary SpecialistsGreater Miami Jewish FederationHagyard-Davidson-McGee AssociatesMasterfoods USAMay Management ServicesNestle Purina PetCare Co.The Oxley FoundationScott & Maureen F. PierceHelene B. RobersonSCAVMA of FloridaSchering-Plough Animal HealthTerraTakashi Uemura

$5,000 - $9,999AAVDAckerley Brothers FarmAGSDCFAmerican College of Vet. DermatologyJames B. Ball, Jr.Andrew BellCaloosa Veterinary Medical SocietyDade County Veterinary FoundationLarry G. DeePaul R. DouglassThomas Fastiggi, Jr.Ferguson & Associates Equine HospitalFlorida Atlantic Securities Corp.Fort Dodge Animal HealthThomas T. Frederick

Barry GoldbergHarold Morris Trust FundThe Iams CompanyNovartis Animal Health U.S.Carol J. PalmerPfizer Animal HealthProcter & Gamble Quail Roost Animal HospitalJon J. Rappaport ’82Shands at the University of FloridaMace SiegelDelores SpotoThe Trico Foundation

$1,000 - $4,999Anonymous (3)Acousti Engineering Co. of FloridaAffiliated Engineers S.E.Airport Road Animal ClinicAmerican Greyhound CouncilAmerican Veterinary Medical FoundationBanfield, The Pet HospitalBayer Animal HealthBiostar ConsultingBloomingdale Animal HospitalBoyette Animal HospitalBrevard County Veterinary Medical AssociationThe Brunetti FoundationWayne BuchananBurch & Burch, D.V.M.Linda A. BurgerButler Plaza Animal HospitalCamelot FarmsFrances Carter ’84Bill CasnerCircle C RanchCom-Ind PropertiesCompass BankCoral Springs Animal HospitalLourdes C. CormanCoronado Animal ClinicStephanie S. Correa ’96Kiki L. CourtelisRobert G. CoveDavid W. CromerCrossroads Animal Hospital at KendallCurren Electric Co.Jerry Dakin DairyMark S. DeGrove ’83Desoto Veterinary ServicesJoseph A. DiPietroWalt Disney World Co.Christopher S. Eich ’92David W. EichFlagler Animal HospitalFlorida Poultry FederationJeffrey S. Godwin ’80Eleanor M. GreenRonald J. Greshake ’93

Gulf Gate Animal HospitalThe Hartless FoundationHillsborough Animal Health FoundationJames A. HimesThe Humane Society of the United StatesIDEXX LaboratoriesIDEXX PharmaceuticalsIsland Animal Hospital of VeniceJohn & Martha Carter FoundationMichiko KadonoKelly Foods Corp.Knowles Animal ClinicKenneth W. Korey, M.D.James H. LiberatoreScott ’89 & Kristy ’89 Lund Margo L. MacPhersonMoody C. McCall ’86Andrew R. Mercak ’89MerialMobile Pet VetSusan Mularski-DismukeNoah’s Ark Animal HospitalNutramax LaboratoriesJames M. O’Brien ’83Jennifer S. Pallozzi ’99W. M. Palmer Co.Nanette P. Parratto-Wagner ’85Pasco Florida Kennel ClubPatterson CompaniesPembroke Lakes Animal HospitalCharles Perry ConstructionPet Food Ltd.PETsMARTPinellas Animal Hospital & Bird ClinicPowell Family FoundationQuail Hollow Animal HospitalAllison H. Rogers ’90Royal Canin USARichard Rubinstein ’92Saint John’s Veterinary ClinicSalzburg Animal HospitalNancy J. SaxeSebring Animal HospitalSegrest FarmsSimmons & AssociatesRussell & Jeanette SnyderSouthside Animal ClinicLaurence & Vonnie SteinbaumSteuart LaboratoriesMark R. Sullivan ’83Kin A. SweetNancy J. SzaboKaren M. Tinkham ’06United Way of Alachua CountyU.S. ArmyVeterinary Centers of AmericaLink V. Welborn ’82Westlab PharmacyWildlife Care Center

Margaret M. Yarborough

$500 - $999Alafaya Trail Animal HospitalAnimal Medical ClinicThe Bay Branch FoundationBayonet Point Development Corp.David K. BergCharles R. Billings ’86Steve BlicblumBoehringer Ingelheim VetmedicaJames & Pat BrandtBriarwood Animal HospitalColin F. BurrowsNatalie J. CofferCynthia A. Cole ’94Companion Animal Hospital of JaxLouise H. CourtelisCoyote Hills Kennel ClubPaul A. Curasi ’85Patricia L. Curtis-Craig ’83Steven C. DahlDairy Production SystemsElizabeth G. Davis ’96Kristin R. Dietrich ’91Dream Lake Animal HospitalMichael J. Dugan ’91Linda J. EadsEast Orange Animal HospitalEast Orlando Animal HospitalPeter T. FernandesFaustino D. GarciaGardens Animal HospitalShawn P. Gorman ’01Grand Bay CommercialGrandbay HomesGreater Orange Park Dog ClubHernando Animal HospitalLaurie R. Householder ’86Jonesville Animal HospitalRichard Z. Kane ’84Paul M. Kaplan ’82Dale S. Kaplan-Stein ’81Marilyn Kostolich ’81William R. Kroll ’83Murry L. LangfittKatherine R. LaurenzanoLaw Offices of Andrew W. HornKeith E. LernerKathleen D. LintonLeslie J. LottGeorgia A. Lyon (d)Anthony J. MangelFiliberto MartinezMichele Mauro-Demino ’95Mark E. Mazaleski ’93Jonathan E. Murray ’84My Pet’s VetEdward J. Noga ’82North Orange Veterinary HospitalOakhurst Veterinary CenterOcala West Training Facility

THE COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINEHonor Roll of Donors for 2005-2006

The 2005-2006 University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine Honor Roll of Donors is a way of recognizing generous gifts to the college. The students, faculty and staff are most appreciative of this support. This year’s honor roll includes names of all donors of $25 or more between July 1, 2005 and June 30, 2006. Your name should appear in alphabetical order among donors who made gifts of similar amounts. Many alumni choose to make gifts to the college in the name of their veterinary practice and the practice name is listed. We have included a list of Bequest Society members from the College of Veterinary Medicine. These members have documented a bequest of $10,000 or more specifically for the College of Veterinary Medicine. In spite of our efforts, omissions and errors sometimes occur and we want to know about them. If you have questions or corrections concerning your listing, please contact the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 100125, Gainesville, FL 32610-0125, telephone (352) 392-4700, ext. 5200.

Ocean’s Edge Veterinary ClinicOkaloosa Kennel ClubOlive Road Animal HospitalJames E. Pennington ’65Pet Care ClinicPfizerLesley L. PhillipsJeanne M. Pittari ’87Richard H. PollakPonte Vedra Animal HospitalEarl & Christy PowellPPI Construction ManagementMarc A. Presnell ’86Francis M. Ramirez ’01Laura B. Raymond ’82Reflex Trading Corp.Brian K. Roberts ’96William G. RodkeyRose Family StableHoward M. Rosenblatt, J.D., C.L.U.Royal Caribbean InternationalC. Michael Rudegeair ’84Santa Fe Animal HospitalRobert K. SchneiderSeminole Boulevard Animal Hospital & Bird ClinicShores Animal ClinicStudent Chapter of A.A.E.P.Martha Y. SullivanSunrise Animal HospitalSunset Lakes Veterinary ClinicTampa Feline Medical GroupChester W. Taylor III ’82Trivest Partners LPLynn M. TweedieVeterinary Center of SarasotaVetoquinol USAVillage VeterinaryDebra T. Wilson ’87Col. Gayle E. WoodingJohn V. Yelvington ’81Kelly A. Zeytoonian

$250 - $499Virginia AltmanAnimal Clinic of WindermereAurora Dairy-Georgia Bayshore Animal HospitalMichael L. Berard ’91Richard B. Bressman ’00Carlos R. Campos ’02Capital Plaza Animal HospitalThe Cat NetworkAlbert Cichra BuildersCollege of Veterinary Med. Class of 2009, CVMCompanion Animal HospitalKaren G. Connary ’94Ronald W. Cooper ’89Coral Reef Animal ClinicKevin T. Cronin ’97Alphonso J. DiPietroMark I. Dorfman ’87Deidre C. DuBissette ’85Laura Dvorak ’98Laura D. Earle-Imre ’89Gary W. EllisonEllis & Mary GreinerDavid R. Hale ’84Halifax Veterinary ClinicPatricia A. Hamilton ’99Michael W. Harris ’89Norma L. Haupt ’89Mary Hernandez

Karen R. HickokHenry D. HirschInnovative Veterinary ProductsSharon A. Jansky ’89Chantal G. Jones ’86Drew P. KallioJiro J. Kaneko ’87Lakeland Veterinary HospitalLantana-Atlantis Animal HospitalPhillip W. Lanzi ’87Jim LewkLund Animal HospitalDavid H. MacMahon ’89The Maneely FundDavid R. McCaigueJohn M. McDermott ’88Midwest HayNorthwood Animal HospitalOsceola SupplyJohn H. ParksChristina P. Pellicane ’86Play It Again SportsAndrew Rappaport ’84Marilynne RedmanBradley B. RidingerHarvey L. RubinSabal Chase Animal ClinicSan Antonio Animal HospitalLinda C. Sanchez ’03Gerold L. SchieblerJoAnn R. SmithSouth Florida Pediatric SurgeonsSoutheast Dairy Co. Spanish River Animal HospitalJennie R. Stewart ’89Laura E. Stubbs ’92John R. Taber ’87Aaron W. Taylor ’03Carol J. Tillman ’80Frances R. Vaujin ’90Donna M. Vermaas-Hekman ’95Volusia Animal Emergency ClinicJames P. Waller, Jr. ’96Henry A. Weinberg ’85Barbara L. WhitcraftTurner A. Wiggins IIIJo Ann WinnGeorge P. WolffTeresa D. Yoder-Mottern ’84

$100 - $249Jane AdamsClifford M. Addison ’86Alachua County Humane SocietyAll Animal ClinicKevin J. AndersonTodd E. Anderson ’94Animal Medical CenterDavid B. AronsonJ. Gayle ArringtonJanice M. Barnhart ’93Douglas J. BarrettJon A. Batcheller ’81Patricia A. Bennett ’93Kate D. Berger ’05Best Friends Veterinary HospitalBeville Animal HospitalBlack Creek Veterinary HospitalChet Blackey ’84Holly K. Blair ’92Robert P. Boswell ’85Howard P. Bouchelle III ’03Arlene P. BowdenCynthia L. Branch ’84

Mary A. Brannon-Vasbinder ’95Briarcliff Animal ClinicBriarcliff Animal HospitalBrick City Cat HospitalMark C. Brigham ’81Steven P. Brinsko ’85Karl B. Brock ’81Timothy P. Brooks ’90Jeffrey S. BrownCathryn A. BuchkoBurke’s Botanical GardensMichael A. Burke ’91Marie CampbellJeremy P. CampfieldHeather D. Caplan ’06Care Animal Hospital of BrandonMia S. Cary ’99James L. CastnerGregory H. CelaniJimmy G. CheekChurch of all NationsRobert ClarkClass of 2005, CVMJoe H. Clements IICoconut Grove Arts FestivalCaptain James G. Coisman ’04Jean M. ConnollyBettina L. ConradLisa A. Conti ’88Kirsten L. CookeCoquina Ridge Animal ClinicHenry M. CothranCountry Oaks Veterinary ClinicCharles H. CourtneyCreekside Veterinary HospitalWyland S. CripeOlivia CrisseyJohn K. CrottyPatrick J. CullenDaniels & Daniels Veterinary Svcs.Silver J. DanielsJessica K. De La RosaNancy D. DenslowDavid B. DeParleDestinaire FarmGerardo J. Diaz ’90H. Bruce DieslDeborah S. DiPietroCherry D. Douglas’ 97Dunn Avenue Animal HospitalEast Tennessee Clinical ResearchEducational ConceptsEdwin R. ElyBarry L. FaskeFast Forward AssociatesDavid Feitsma III ’99Alan N. FinkelsteinWilliam J. Fisch ’04Matthew P. Fox ’83Ruth Francis-Floyd ’83Marianne R. FreemanGainesville Canine AcademyManuela K. Garner ’92Dennis E. Geagan ’84Giant Schnauzer RescueJames C. GiebeigWilliam C. GillLeslie W. Gillette ’98Arthur J. Goebel ’80Jeffrey A. Goldberg ’85Lisa C. Goldburg ’02Julia A. Golden ’06Joseph L. Goodman, Jr.Grand Bay Community Properties

Arnold GreviorThomas A. Griffith ’81Joan A. HadrabaRosalie C. HallbauerKent HarozDavid S. Harris ’85Darrell F. HartmanTheresa M. Harty ’89John W. HarveyTracey F. HayesHealthy P.A.W.S. Medical CenterLarence J. Helm ’89Dawn M. Hoh ’90Thomas J. HoltBrian C. Hurley ’94Mandelyn C. HutchersonShirley J. HutchinsonJaffe Animal ClinicRobin R. Jenkins ’96G. J. Johnson ’83Debra A. Kamstock ’96Keystone Heights Animal HospitalKiger InsuranceKimberly Crest Veterinary HospitalMandi E. KlemanMargaret B. KlemanPaul G. Koch ’84Richard D. KosobuckiWendy J. Kozak ’97Denise D. Kraemer ’91Gail A. KunkleMarlene J. La FleurLabrador Retriever Rescue of FloridaMary S. LandisPamela S. LangfittCynthia LewisLinda G. LipfordLloyd Animal Medical CenterDominick A. LongoCarol S. LorenceLoving Touch Animal CenterArthur E. Mallock ’86Mary Ellen Markunas Feick ’86Joan T. Marshall ’85Laura J. Martin ’88Danise S. Martinez-Walsh ’84Cynthia D. Massey ’91Eugene M. MathisElizabeth E. McGrath ’89Steve & Lois MeadorJoelen K. MerkelAlfred M. Merritt IIMiami Metro ZooJudith A. Milcarsky ’86Monument Road Animal HospitalBruce G. Moore ’81James W. MulfordJames P. MurphyEileen Naaman ’81Richard L. Nancarrow ’87Joel B. Navratik ’93Kenneth C. Nayfield ’80Nicholson Insurance AgencyConstance F. NicklinVirgil E. NoenningWendy M. NormanMaura G. O’Brien ’87Mario Obstbaum ’87Donald K. OdamaRobert M. Odama ’98Elizabeth J. Olson ’02June PabstDerek B. Parkin

Karen M. Perry ’84Pet Calls Animal HospitalPet Medical Center of Vero BeachPiedmont Animal HospitalPiper’s Riverdale Animal ClinicMark D. Planco ’91Ponikvar & AssociatesJoshua B. PoweDestiny L. Prezzano ’05Linda S. Prime ’98Puget Sound Veterinary Referral CenterKathy A. Purcell ’84Purchasing ServiceBarbara H. RearkTerri L. RegottiJoe & Sue ReinaJulia ReynoldsJulia J. Reynolds ’85Michael P. RileyAmy L. RobinsonRegino Rodriguez FloresLinda F. RoseSteven P. RosenmutterJoseph K. Rosentel ’03Emily Rothstein ’88Julia A. Runnfeldt ’93A. Fleet Ryland III ’81Safe Haven Veterinary HospitalMichelle L. Sands ’03Susan M. SarnaVirginia L. Sayre ’85Michael SchaerJohn Schleig, Jr.Robin L. Sego ’99Donna L. Shamrock ’88Barbara S. Sheffield ’84Commander Stephen T. ShepherdJacqueline D. Sherrod ’90Robert G. ShimpShores Animal HospitalJohn G. Simms, Jr.Janet L. Simowitz ’96Scott F. SlotterbeckJustin S. SobotaSherilyn K. SolanickSouthland Animal Hospital & BoardingJulie M. Stephens DeValle ’91Carolyn R. StrongLee B. Stuart ’86W. Preston StubbsSugar Hill FarmsBruce Sullivan ’92Roberta J. SwakonSandra M. Taboada ’84Tardy Te FarmsCol. Robin L. Taylor (Ret.) ’82James P. Thompson ’81Timuquana Animal HospitalTomoka Pines Veterinary HospitalCathryn E. Turner ’88Suzanne G. Van GalderHolly V.H. Vance ’98Darren L. VandermolenVeterinary Cancer SocietyMarie L. VivesStacie M. Wadsworth ’85Alvin C. WarnickRobert P. WehrWeston Road Animal HospitalJanet R. WhitlockRichard B. Williams ’81Donald L. Wolfersteig ’80

Jennifer A. Woolf ’95Allen F. WysockiDana N. Zimmel ’95Karen M. Zimmerman ’87Stewart A. Zimmerman

$25 - $99 Gary D. AcordAnne B. AffatatoArthur R. Alleman ’95Michelle B. AllenShari Allen-GaetzmanDavid R. AllredLeah C. Altvater ’85Julie L. Andersen ’97Susan E. Anderson ’83Anne F. AndrewsAnimal Health Assoc. Veterinary ClinicAnimal Place Veterinary HospitalAnimal Medical Clinic of Port CharlotteSharon A. AnsellApproved Financial Corp.Evelyn N. AudlerDonna M. AveryRoberto BachmanMaxine R. BakerC. Eric BallardLinda A. Banks ’90Milan E. BarabasRobert A. BarclayErin C. BarneyDean R. Kirby BarrickDiana F. BarrieTammy BarrineauSarah J. Bartlett ’06Vonne M. BattistiniKate M. BaumannBay Vet ConsultingCheryl L. Beck ’89Matthew BeckAlexander G. BellRonald A. Bell ’91Dina BendeleJames J. BenjaminMark L. BennettLaura T. Betts ’00Margaret A. BieleckySandra L. Black ’91Lauren L. Blaeser ’98Emily A. BordenPamela S. Borderieux ’03Judith A. BousquetDavid S. Bradley ’87Kristen L. Brauer ’02Nancy I. BraytonPatrick BredelMatthew BreedKimberly M. BrodieLinda M. BurgerMike BurgessNancy L. BurnsSheri C. Candeletta ’92Canton Animal HospitalEmmanell H. CarterHenry I. CastenLinda D. Chalker ’90Charles R. Chase ’99Mark A. Cheadle ’01ChickrankFrancesca M. Chiulli ’03Citrus Animal ClinicRichard A. Claus

Cole Animal ClinicNancy ColemanRichmond V. ColemanBernard CooneyJesse CortezNatassia K. CouillardDonald D. CoxPatricia CoxCreative Spirit StableCrestview Animal ClinicJanet CrowleySusan D. Crumpton ’03Douglas S. CunninghamMichele A. CupplesNoretta C. D’AlboraMaximilien D’EstriesMichael J. DalyBob Danner Trucking Mary Ann DantesRajeeb L. DasJames M. DavidsonJennifer F. DavisIrene DavisonGina M. DeChant-Temple ’98Clare L. Deming ’01Pedro A. DiazEstelle DieboldFelice DimascioLuisa A. DiPietroDennis W. DotyEric S. Dubbin ’88Katherine A. DubeWaltraud I. DunnMichelle C. Duval ’89Jennifer L. Duvall ’04Michelle M. Duvall-RubinOfil EchevarriaJodi E. Ehrlich ’89T. R. EitelCharles E. EngelNancy D. EricksonKristina E. EsmiolCarol EsserAlexander FariborzianLisa L. Farina ’99Holly L. FaustJanie M. FielderMartha C. FinchJoanne FinneganRobert R. Fisher ’88Forest Hill Animal HospitalDonald J. ForresterEdward G. FranceschinaNatalie C. FreemanG. Robert FisherRoger F. GabeleinLew E. GammonRacheal GarayRichard GardonPaula J. GaudioDennis D. GerheimWilbert W. Giese, Jr.David A. GillDennis E. GirodRicardo A. GonzalezWilliam GonzalezThomas R. GoodwinBurton C. Gordon, Jr.Great Road Veterinary HospitalKaren M. GreatonVirginia D. GreeneTyler GroveKeven P. GulikersGwinnett Animal Hospital

Amy F. Hall ’03Colleen T. HalleyKimberly S. Hankamer-Sauer ’90Linda J. HannaThomas E. HartnettPatricia E. HartsockElaine HauckKathleen A. HayesJanice L. HeckelWilliam R. HeckmanBarbara E. HendersonJack HendersonJorge A. HernandezHernando County Kennel ClubJill H. B. HerndonCarol HighsmithPatricia W. HiscockBruce W. HoffmanElizabeth J. HoffrichterWilliam M. HopeJean C. HowlettMarian L. HummelRamiro Isaza ’93Arthur W. JackmanMelissa M. Jackson ’98Elliott R. JacobsonShelly L. JensenRichard D. JohnsonRobert L. Johnson, Jr.Stephanie JohnsonBurges JokhiJason W. JonesKenneth E. KeiserSusan A. KelleherLeslie W. Kernan, Jr.Kilauea Veterinary ServicesTom KlamerLindsay A. Kuester ’05Peter B. KunaszIan B. KupkeePatricia KutaRoger P. La PrairieJeffrey S. LavineMichelle M. LeBlancSean LeonardAmanda LevyJulie K. LevyMichael LomaxJohn J. Long, Jr.Gary A. Lukacs ’84Sandra MagliacaniMarathon Veterinary ClinicPamela G. MartiniCarolyn K. MathenyTonya MathenyC. Wiley McCraryL. P. McGinnessRita M. McGinnis ’84Dawn P. McLane ’83Bradley W. MillerShelia F. MillerKenneth R. Mishler, Sr.Pamela A. MoffettCat MongerMelissa M. MontgomeryThomas V. MorganGary J. MorrisKathy M. MossbruckerJohn V. Mounger ’80Donna MulfordJillyn MyersKerry NeelyJohn T. NeilsonChristine L. Neubauer

Paul NicolettiJoseph T. NigroLarry NoveyNovey Animal HospitalSally J. O’ConnellCathleen O’Donnell ’01Francis OssmannJeffrey W. PeacockMarvin J. PetersFrederica B. PetersonScott C. PhillipsPamela M. PickensVira H. PickettD. J. PlutaDave PodrugChristina L. Poulin ’01Marti PriceKaren E. Prymak-Oldick ’94Tegan C. RaleighRichard H. Rauschenberger ’04James M. Ray ’85S. Terry RayDavid J. ReeseSusan R. Reiger ’89Renee G. Rember ’05Gerald L. RengertDonna Repeta-Schuster, D.V.M. ’93

Laura J. RicciCarolyn B. RicePaul A. RobellThomas J. RodenSevero RodriguezBrian RogersMichael C. RossHeather A. Rosson ’06Debra S. RothSharon D. RushChristy M. RutanS. J. Stables LLCSaint Francis Animal ClinicSainte Genevieve Veterinary ClinicAllison Rorterts Sateren ’02William A. SchaffhausenJerrold A. Scheck ’94Pamala ScheffMitzi L. Schepps ’90Richard E. SchmankeTeri A. Schroeck ’04Thomas J. SchwandaLoreen M. SchwenkerDiana ScocciaJulie A. SculthorpeZoe H. SealeStephen C. Shacoski ’93

Myra R. ShapiroWendy S. ShaveSheriff-Hancock CountyLinda L. SiglerJules SilverMarclyn S. Sims ’04Skyway Animal HospitalMaureen M. SlavinPam SmithMark D. SollEileen R. SpinosaKirk L. StarkDenielle D. StasaJulia A. Stege ’84Richard StelfoxSheree L. Stern ’82Tammie M. StewartPenny F. StouteSamuel S. Strauss ’82Paula J. StricklerKristen S. Sullivan ’00Helen C. SuttonRobert J. TanzolaJennifer Perry ThalheimerChristopher L. ThompsonJoel C. Timyan

Patricia TisdaleBarbara J. TreshLois K. TrumballMark E. TurcotteTerri TuttleEdward M. UjczoVictor E. O. ValliJames H. VarnellJill W. VarnesWilliam M. VieserVincent Andrews Mgmt. Corp.Cherly K. VochkoConstance J. VorachekRonald WassermanMary A. WebbGayle D. WedgwoodTamara L. White ’99Whitehouse Veterinary HospitalCarolyn WhitsittBob WilliamsLaura L. Wolfe ’00Karen E. Wolfsdorf ’92Linda WoodardKathy WoodwardM. J. WrightPenelope S. Young

College of Veterinary Medicine Gifts-in-KindListed below are friends of the college who have given a gift-in-kind in fiscal year 2005-2006.

Bacardi U.S.A.Metta L. Baxter (d)Romero BrittoBurch & Burch, D.V.M.Café AbracciCalder Race CourseRobert ClarkCoconut Grove Arts FestivalCottages of Suwannee Preserve

Gustavo DelgadoDog MasterFlorida MarlinsFaustino D. GarciaFlorida MarlinsGrove’s GalleryGulfstream Park Racing Assn.Hill’s Pet NutritionIams Company (Proctor and Gamble)

Jim LewkMiami Metro ZooMiami SeaquariumJohn E. MoranBarbara A. PareiraParrot Jungle IslandChristy A. H. PowellRoyal Canin USASchering-Plough Animal Health

Southernmost House Grand Hotel & MuseumSouthern Wine & Spirits of South FloridaMonty P. TrainerTrattoria LunaTurnberry AssociatesJames D. Wilson

College of Veterinary Medicine Bequest SocietyListed below are friends of the college who have provided documentation that they have included the college as a beneficiary in their wills. This is a cumulative list rather than a fiscal year list.

Anonymous (11)Fredrick Hugh W. AshfordMelanie V. Barr-AllenJean S. BidwellPhillip & Sally BohrRobert & Pauline BoucherLeland W. BrannanAdele Bucci-MachataMichael A. Burke ’91Sarah K. CareyEdward & Jeanette Cole ’94Edna Croland (d)Jacqlin M. CrottyRichard C. DeKokerJoseph E. Dorsey

Florence W. DunbarAnne C. FlemingJosephine P. FletcherMark E. Gendzier ’87Karl & Roxann HartJeannette M. Hastings (d)Amy A. HeimannCarey A. HeinrichArthur & Kathleen HornsbyScott & Vicki HuntMarilyn N. KeehrDorothy R. KlickJames M. KosmasMorton & Carol Levine

Fran MarinoMichael J. McNamaraVictoria L. MeehlMarilyn MiddletonSusan Mularski-DismukeGeorge (d) & Marge Nieves Madeline S. PearsonScott & Maureen PierceGeorge H. PollackKathleen M. PollackVirginia Quelch ’87Barbara A. RaganBarbara H. RearkJoseph & Marilyn Renton

Diane ReserSusan K. Ridinger ’87Wayne H. Riser (d)William P. RobertsRob RoknickRobert D. Romine, Jr.Donna B. SachsSuzanne J. SchwertleyWilliam & Brenda SelphJoseph G. SlickMark & Nancy ThorltonHelen TolmachGerri VollerMichael & Diane Ward

(d) = Deceased

Florida Veterinarian 5

Dr. Linda George, class of 2000, examines a ram following a herd loss due to a photosensitivity reaction.

International mission work takes alumna to ParaguayBy Sarah Carey

When she was a student at UF’s College of Veterinary

Medicine, Linda George, D.V.M., and her husband — then a crime analyst, now a pastor — felt a calling toward international mission work. George, a graduate of the college’s class of 2000, and her husband solidified this com-mitment after each took independent mission trips, her to Mexico and him to East Asia.

“Our eyes were opened to the overwhelming needs outside of the United States, both physically and spiritually,” said George, who moved with her family to Paraguay, South America in June. The move followed a six-week orientation in Virginia and then a nine-month stint in Costa Rica learning Spanish at a language institute.

“We had never heard of Paraguay before, but were open to help and serve in any way possible,” she said.

The agency responsible for sending the couple to Paraguay is the International Mission Board, which is funded by a group of Southern Baptist Churches through a coopera-tive program. The group currently has about 5,000 missionaries scattered throughout the globe.

George and her husband receive a small salary, but no remuneration for student loans or other debts. This was a huge issue for George, who graduated from veterinary school owing $90,000 in student loans.

“My current salary would be consumed by a monthly loan payment,” George said. “I could not leave until I got my loans resolved.”

Enter Project MedSend, a program that offers student loan repayment grants to healthcare professionals who are headed for career medical missions service under the authority of a recognized missions sending agency, according to MedSend’s Web site.

Established by Christian medical

Alumni profile: Dr. Linda George

and dental associations, MedSend was formed because many were having difficulty recruiting replace-ments and coworkers due to the high cost of health care education. The resulting student loans were prevent-ing or delaying prospective mission-aries from reaching their fields of service.

MedSend agreed to pay George’s monthly student loan payments in exchange for her performing veteri-nary work in a foreign country.

“I am the first veterinarian approved and accepted by this group,” George said. “Basically, I made contact with them and they asked me to be their test pilot for vet-erinarians. In other words, they had already been sending doctors, nurses, dentists, etc., but I was the first vet-erinarian they had approved.”

B.J. Newcomer, D.V.M., a graduate of the UF veterinary college’s class of 2001, recently became the second, having received approval to do mis-sionary work in the Central African Republic. Since then, several other veterinarians have received MedSend support.

“They have been very generous and have paid my loans since we left in July 2004,” George said.

Her new assignment involves a three-year commitment to serve in the field. She and her husband

expect to be back in the states from September 2007 to March 2008.

Needs for both people and animals in Paraguay are huge, George said.

“I’m in the process of making veterinary contacts and having my veterinary license authenticated here so I can work here legally,” George said.

Among the animal health issues she sees constantly are canine leishma-nia, specifically the skin form of the disease.

“There is also some pressure to eradicate rabies. One fairly well pub-licized human fatality was noted last year when the youth received the first post-exposure injection, but refused the others. She later died.”

George has developed a relation-ship with a local veterinarian, whom she asked about the presence of heartworm disease in dogs.

“Being a native Floridian, I was curious,” George said. “She says she doesn’t know if they have it or not. I discussed with her that this is a mosquito borne disease and with the prevalence of dengue fever and leishmania, most likely dirofilaria is present as well but that I understood that it could be a lower priority con-sidering the high zoonotic potential of the other two infections.”

George didn’t have the heart to tell her new colleague that for her senior project at UF, she also found dirofilar-ial incidence in cats.

“I think that would be more than she could handle right now,” George said.

George said her missionary assign-ment entailed giving up many things — her family’s house, their jobs, their familiar culture and other family members.

“However, we feel we have been blessed tenfold and would never want to go back or close our eyes to the rest of the world,” she said.

For more information about MedSend, go to www.medsend.org

6 Florida Veterinarian

Service dog speeds toward recovery following successful surgery at UFBy Sarah Carey

A service dog named Eagle, whose unusual orthopedic

problem threatened his ability to help his disabled owner, is speeding toward recovery after successful surgery June 20 partly funded by NASCAR champion Tony Stewart.

The Tony Stewart Foundation supplemented efforts already under way by the Orange City-based animal assistance group H.E.L.P. Animals Inc. to fund the cost of Eagle’s operation − performed at the University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center − and the travel expenses of a visiting veterinary surgeon from Missouri.

The 3-year-old golden retriever is owned by Michael Ray, of Deltona, who was paralyzed in a road-rage incident when he was 27 years old. Ray said the dog was a godsend, moving in with him more than three years ago, a few years after his wife died of cancer.

“I am in a wheelchair and I’d never had a service dog,” said Ray. “I knew my shoulders were going bad, as I’d been pushing a chair since 1978. I decided a service dog might be right up my alley.”

Now it was Eagle who needed Ray’s help.

The dog began showing signs of weight-bearing lameness of the front left leg last year. Although hind leg lameness is commonly seen and treated by veterinary orthopedic specialists, front leg lameness is rarer and frequently difficult to definitively diagnose and treat.

The problem persisted despite a regimen of exercise and rest, so UF veterinarians recommended surgery. Daniel Lewis, D.V.M., a professor of small animal surgery at UF, and Jennifer Fick, D.V.M., a veterinary surgery instructor who was part of Eagle’s care team, noted that they could move Eagle’s left shoulder to a

markedly greater degree than his right shoulder.

“This was a finding that suggested possible medial shoulder insta-bility, which can cause front leg lameness,” Fick said.

UF veterinarians discussed their assess-ment with Ray and mentioned that James “Jimi” Cook, D.V.M., Ph.D., had recently published an article on medial shoulder insta-bility. Cook, the William C. Allen endowed scholar for orthopaedic research and director of the Comparative Orthopaedic Laboratory at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, pioneered the procedure to treat this problem. He flew to Gainesville to perform the surgery and train UF veterinarians in the technique.

“I’m very happy with the end result,” said Cook, who repaired two small tears in Eagle’s shoulder and removed a small chip of bone from the dog’s elbow. “The shoulder was the primary problem but I’m glad we got the elbow taken care of before it grew worse. We have now addressed all of the problems that would be making Eagle’s limb lame.”

Cook said Eagle’s prognosis is very good.

“Time will tell, but he’s a motivated patient,” Cook said.

The surgery was made possible thanks to the generosity of many. Ray, whose sole income is from Medicare, had been concerned about finances. Surgery alone was estimated to cost approximately $2,500. Then there would be the additional costs associ-

ated with traveling to Gainesville and Eagle’s postoperative care. Ray shared his dilemma with several friends -- including an assistant manager at a supermarket where Eagle had become very popular.

“There are no quick trips to the grocery store,” Ray said. “They have kind of adopted him.”

One day when Ray and Eagle were at the store, the assistant manager approached them and told Ray her mother volunteered for an organiza-tion called H.E.L.P. Animals.

“Next thing I knew, the H.E.L.P. Animals group contacted me and said they would try to fund Eagle’s surgery,” Ray said.

The group posted Ray’s story and a plea for financial assistance on its Web site, www.helpanimalsinc.org.

Soon an anonymous donor gave $1,800 to Eagle’s cause. Other funds were raised through a motorcycle run. Then a call came from the Tony Stewart Foundation.

Faculty spotlightClinical update

Research update

Michael Ray of Deltona and his golden retriever, Eagle, relax at a Gainesville hotel prior to Eagle undergoing surgery at UF’s Veterinary Medical Center.

Florida Veterinarian �

Faculty spotlight

Research updateMorris Animal Foundation grant boosts pacemaker study

A University of Florida study aimed at discovering better

ways to place pacemakers in dogs with complete heart block has received a $100,000 boost through a grant from the Morris Animal Foundation. The study, under way at UF’s Veterinary Medical Center, already has six dogs enrolled.

Complete heart block occurs when normal rhythms between cells within the heart are blocked so that normal impulses are not delivered. Other cells overcompensate to “rescue” the heart and keep it beating, but work ineffectively, leading to clinical signs of fatigue, exercise intolerance and even congestive heart failure

“In traditional treatment, one lead is placed within the right-sided ventricle to electrically control the heart rhythm,” said Amara Estrada, D.V.M., an assistant professor of veterinary cardiology at UF’s VMC. “Occasionally, an additional lead will also be placed within the right atrium as well. Looking back over the last 20 years of pacing therapy, we now realize that this approach is less than ideal and in fact can lead to worsening heart disease in about 10 percent of the dogs and people treated in this way.”

The new study will focus on the relative effectiveness of placing pacemakers within the right and the left ventricles as well as from both ventricles simultaneously.

“Someone had sent something to us soliciting our help,” said Pam Boas, Stewart’s mother, who helps manage the organization. “Knowing Tony’s heart, I called them. He loves animals and that’s why our foundation was formed, so we could actually do a better job of donating money to the

things that really touched Tony and also touched kids and animals.”

At that point, Ray contacted Cook and asked if there were any way he could assist in Eagle’s case. Cook e-mailed right away and a plan was hatched to bring him to Gainesville. He agreed to donate his services

and H.E.L.P. Animals covered the surgeon’s additional travel costs.

“This was the best possible scenario for everyone,” Fick said. “Eagle got the best treatment and we benefited from learning the procedure from Dr. Cook. Everybody wins.”

“We’re trying to get as close to natural cardiac physiology as possible,” Estrada said. “Pacing equipment has gotten so advanced that we can get very close to imitating what happens normally in the heart.”

Estrada said UF’s study will be “slightly ahead” of what’s currently being performed clinically in human cardiology to treat complete block in people and will hopefully provide information that will be crucial not just for veterinary patients but also for human patients requiring pacing therapy.

“The actual surgical procedure is no different than what we’re doing now,” Estrada said. “We’re just placing more leads.”

The UF veterinary cardiology team has already flown out to Minneapolis-based Medtronic, a company that manufactures pace-makers, to learn the new techniques for pacing. In addition, UF veterinar-ians have visited Cornell University to teach veterinary cardiologists there the clinical technique, and plan to demonstrate the technique to Texas A&M University veterinary col-leagues in the future as well.

“We hope to include 36 dogs in the study and will evaluate them both in the short term and in the long term for any potential clinical benefits of this new pacing technique,” Estrada said.

Symptoms of complete, or third degree, heart block include exercise intolerance, collapse episodes, abdominal swelling and coughing. The VMC’s cardiology service sees one or two cases of dogs with complete heart block every month, Estrada said, adding that letters are being sent to referring veterinarians in an effort to recruit additional study candidates.

The study will cover all costs to patients associated with the procedure, and follow-up care during the three-year study period. Study candidates will be screened and if they qualify, treatment includes a two-day hospital stay and rechecks.

For more information about the study, contact the cardiology service through the VMC’s main number, 352-392-4700, ext. 4700.

Dr. Amara Estrada

College of Veterinary Medicine P.O. Box 100125 Gainesville, FL 32610-0125

Address Service Requested

Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDGainesville, FLPermit No.94

Calendar

Student news

Veterinary student receives Hill’s “Big Win” AwardSarah Judd, a junior veterinary student at the University

of Florida, has won the Hill’s Big Win Scholarship Challenge, sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. Judd will receive a scholarship for one year’s tuition to the UF College of Veterinary Medicine, worth approximately $25,000.

The announcement was made in June at the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine’s annual meeting in Louisville.

“This is very exciting,” Judd said. “I would like to thank Hill’s for the scholarship and my fellow students for going online to vote. Because of this great honor, I am now in a better position to begin my career as a veterinary professional after my graduation next year.”

Students from veterinary schools throughout the United States who participated in the Scholarship Challenge took a short-answer quiz and winners had their school name posted on a Hill’s Web site. Fellow students could then go online and cast

their vote for their school. UF received the most votes, which resulted in Judd’s winning the scholarship.

“Winning the Hill’s scholarship is a great honor for Sarah and for UF,” said James Thompson, D.V.M., interim dean of the UF veterinary college. “Because of generous programs like The Big Win, Sarah’s senior year tuition is taken care of and she can concentrate on becoming an amazing veterinary professional. What a gift!”

Sarah Judd receives Hills Big Win AwardFrom left to right are Dr. Karen Padgett, Hill’s Chief of VeterinaryBusiness Channels, Sarah Judd and Dr. Hein Meyer, Hill’s Director of Academic Affairs.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners will hold its annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas. For more information, go to www.aaep.org. or email sbaker@aaep.org. The UF College of Veterinary Medicine will hold an alumni reception Dec. 4 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Marriott River Center Hotel in conjunction with the con-ference. For more information, contact Genevieve Perez at (352) 392-4700, ext. 5010 or email perezg@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu.

The North American Veterinary Conference will be held in Orlando. For more information, go to www.tnavc.org. The UF College of Veterinary Medicine’s annual alumni reception will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. January 14 at the Marriott World Center hotel. For more information, contact Jo Ann Winn at (352) 392-4700, ext. 5013 or email winnj@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu.

The UF College of Veterinary Medicine’s annual Open House, sponsored by the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association, will be held from 10 a .m. to 4 p.m. For more information, contact Sarah Carey at (352) 392-4700, ext. 5206.

December 2-6

January 13-17

April 14

items for Florida Veterinarian

Samuel, a 2-year-old camel, is shown with his caretaker, Susan Cox, Sept. 1, prior to returning to his home in Palm Harbor. Samuel received successful surgery at UF Aug. 31 to remove a mass from his neck.

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o by

Ray

Car

son

Over the Hump