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News from VA-MD Vet Med

On June 4, VA-MD Vet Med’s new dean, M. Daniel Givens, held a livestreaming town hall todiscuss his ideas around the values that shape the college, his service in the dean’s role, andhis plans for engaging faculty, staff, students, alumni, and college partners in his decision-making process. In closing, Dean Givens answered questions submitted by the community.

Get to know Dean Givens →

Around the College

InclusiveCVM blog in the worksAs the VA-MD Vet Med community continues tostrive to make the college a welcoming andaffirming environment for all, we’re in theprocess of building a blog that collects a varietyof resources. To ensure that the blog is adynamic space for learning and sharing, yourvoice is needed. Please share your thoughts,experiences, and resources by emailinginclusivecvm@vt.edu (with subject line:"InclusiveCVM blog").

Molecular profiles revealsimilarities between gliomasA team of researchers, including JohnRossmeisl, the Dr. and Mrs. Dorsey TaylorMahin Professor of Neurology andNeurosurgery in the Department of SmallAnimal Clinical Sciences, analyzed tumorsamples from dozens of gliomas in adults,children, and dogs, and discovered aremarkable degree of similarity between canineand human tumors. The team’s originalfindings appear in the journal Cancer Cell.

Researchers establish a reversegenetics system to facilitateCOVID-19 researchWith funding from the the Fralin Life SciencesInstitute at Virginia Tech, Department ofBiomedical Sciences and Pathobiologyassistant professors James Weger-Lucarelliand Nisha Duggal are creating a geneticssystem — the foundation for vaccine designstudies — to examine the viral mutationsassociated with COVID-19 severity and viraltransmission.

Meng contributes to WorldKnowledge Forum"Prevent Future Pandemics by AddressingRoot Cause" by X.J. Meng, UniversityDistinguished Professor of Molecular Virologyin the Department of Biomedical Sciences andPathobiology, has been featured as part of apre-event for the 2020 World KnowledgeForum, for which he is an invited speaker.“Scientists have been warning for years that apandemic like this is destined to happen,"Meng writes.

Balogh named JoAnne S. O'BrienProfessor of TheriogenologyOrsolya Balogh, associate professor in theDepartment of Small Animal Clinical Sciencesand a diplomate of the American College ofTheriogenologists, has been named theJoAnne S. O’Brien Professor of Theriogenologyby the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. Prior tojoining the veterinary college last year, Baloghserved as a senior clinician and researcher atthe University of Zurich for nearly a decade.

Kent Scarratt honored withemeritus statusIn recognition of exemplary service to theuniversity, Kent Scarratt, associate professor oflarge animal medicine, has been conferred thetitle of associate professor emeritus by theVirginia Tech Board of Visitors. As one of theoriginal faculty members of the newly foundedCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Scarratt hasbeen a key contributor to the college’s successand advancement since 1982.

Promotions and tenureAt its June 2 meeting, the Virginia Tech Boardof Visitors approved promotions and tenure forthe following VA-MD Vet Med faculty: SherrieClark-Deener, professor of theriogenology,Large Animal Clinical Sciences; Lara Bartl,clinical associate professor of communitypractice, Small Animal Clinical Sciences(SACS); Julie Cecere, clinical associateprofessor of theriogenology, SACS; andMichael Nappier, clinical associate professor ofcommunity practice, SACS.

The future of cancer care and research at VA-MD Vet MedVA-MD Vet Med’s oncology clinicians share highlights of the college's brand-new Virginia TechAnimal Cancer Care and Research Center (ACCRC) in Roanoke, Virginia. Preparing to open topatients, this state-of-the-art center will provide comprehensive animal cancer care andresearch, including advanced diagnostic imaging, surgery, chemotherapy, and the region's onlyradiation oncology service for pets. A vital part of the Virginia Tech Carilion Health SciencesCampus, the center will integrate researchers investigating human and veterinary biomedicalinterests that seek to advance cancer treatment in pets and people alike.

Learn more about the ACCRC ➝

Vet Med Alumni

MPH alumni contributions inresponse to COVID-19From a preventive medicine officer at the U.S.Military Academy to a program manager at avaccine institute to a veterinary epidemiologistwith the Centers for Disease Control andPrevention, Virginia Tech Master of PublicHealth (MPH) alumni are helping in theresponse to COVID-19 across the country andbeyond.

Alumna profiled by ABC NewsA COVID-19 survivor, Erin Kulick (DVM '10),who works in general practice at Long IslandCity Veterinary Center in Queens, New York,shares the challenges of providing veterinarycare during the pandemic. Also, in audiodiaries she recorded, Kulick discusses how thecoronavirus has directly impacted her and hercommunity, and how she has continued toperform essential veterinary procedures in themidst of a pandemic.

Alumna establishes and expandsBlackDVM NetworkAs one of only five Black students in a class of127, Tierra Price (DVM ’20, MPH '20) createdan Instagram page in 2018 to bring togetherBlack veterinary students. When she beganreceiving messages seeking Blackveterinarians to shadow or work for because ofdiscrimination faced, she created a websitewith a directory of Black veterinary studentsand professionals. Now, the network, whichcontinues to expand its services, is thriving.

Alumna featured as front-lineworker in video campaignAlison Rhoades (DVM '97) appears in a videocampaign from NBC12, a Richmond, Virginia,news station, thanking front-line workers duringthe pandemic. "NBC12 wanted to showcaseour heroes in a new way — with just a little bitof attitude, to show we can all 'rise up' duringthis tough time," said the station. Veterinariansare always heroes in our book!

Alumna launches resourcewebsite for veterinariansStacey Ward Cordivano (DVM '08), of ChesterCounty, Pennsylvania, has established awebsite and podcast to help veterinariansbecome happier, healthier, wealthier, and moregrateful for the life they have created. For thesecond episode of her podcast, Cordivanointerviewed fellow Vet Med alumna Cara Wright(DVM '09), an equine veterinarian, to discussmaking time for oneself, among other topics.

In memory Beloved Southwest Virginia veterinarian andwildlife advocate Diane D'Orazio (DVM '85),who treated countless local wildlife and zooanimals as the first veterinarian for theSouthwest Virginia Wildlife Center and alsoworked with the Carilion Clinic Hospice "PetPeace of Mind Program," died May 28 after acourageous battle with breast cancer.

In memoryJoseph P. Garvin (DVM '87) died at home inSperryville, Virginia, on June 14, following abrief illness. After joining the VirginiaDepartment of Agriculture and ConsumerServices' Division of Animal and Food IndustryServices as a veterinarian in Meat and PoultryServices in 1988, Garvin was promoted toveterinary diagnostician for the Office ofLaboratory Services (OLS) in 1990 and then toOLS program manager in 2003.

Vet Med in the NewsNew Hope For Dogs With CancerTODAY'S VETERINARY PRACTICE

The Scientist, the Air and the VirusTHE NEW YORK TIMES

Health experts on NBA's restart plan: 'Haven’t seen anything that’sthis comprehensive'USA TODAY

Addressing the dismal lack of diversity in veterinary medicineDVM 360

How to choose the best dog bed, according to expertsNBC NEWS

Perfectionists, meet vet school: do's and don'tsVETERINARY PROFESSIONALS’ NEXT GEN

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