F o r A n d A b o u t A l u m n i A n d F r i e n d s O f T h e U G A C o l l e g e O f Ve t e r i n a r y M e d i c i n e
• Spring 2001
New surgical technique used at CVM to spay lion
new minimally invasive surgical
technique was used recently at
the College to spay Kariba, a
three-and-a-half-year-old lion from
Zoo Atlanta.The procedure resulted
in less trauma to the animal, hastened
recovery, reduced post-operative
complications, and lessened the need
for pain medication.
Kariba was a candidate for laparoscopic ovariohysterectomy because
of a hip deformity which gave her a
slight limp.
A
Zoo officials were concerned this
trait might be inherited by Kariba’s
offspring. Lifelong use of birth control
implants was not an acceptable alternative since it might increase her risk
of mammary tumors.
Surgery was done by Dr. Clarence
Rawlings, professor of small animal
medicine at the College of Veterinary
Medicine, and Dr. Ronald Kolata,
research fellow at Ethicon
Endo-Surgery. “They deserve primary
Kariba, the young lion, is shown receiving the professional attention of Drs. Maria Crane (l.), Ronald Kolata, and Clarence Rawlings.
GI Service for
small animals is
expanded
The College of Veterinary
Medicine has a stronger presence in gastroenterology with
the addition of a new faculty
member with experience in gastrointestinal endoscopy. Bente
Flatland, DVM, is taking GI consults for companion animals with
symptoms of chronic vomiting
and diarrhea.
“Dr. Flatland is maintaining our
expertise in liver diseases and
endocrinology with the
Continued on page 2
Food animal production is focus
of new program
Improving the profitability of beef,
dairy, and swine industries throughout
the Southeast and educating future
food animal veterinarians is the mission of the College’s new Food Animal
Health and Management Program.
Large animal veterinarians also
will profit from this program, according to Dr. Jim Moore, head of the
Large Animal Department. “If veterinarians encounter problems in the
field involving food animals —problems they’re having trouble identifying — they can contact us. One of
our faculty will do an investigation on
the farm with the veterinarian who
requests help.”
Focus of the program will be on
bread-and-butter disease and management problems of food animal
producers. Another important goal is
to increase the number of our graduates who have the abilities producer
groups are demanding.
The program will train three postgraduate master’s degree students to
become leaders in food production.
“We don't have these positions yet,”
says Moore,“but we’ve requested
Dr. Bente Flatland
funding for them from the legislature.”
“These post-graduate trainees will
have a lot more hands-on experience,
more exposure to dealing with herds
rather than individual animals, and will
be involved in making management
decisions.Their training program will
be focused, concentrated, day in day
out, living, breathing, and sleeping food
animal medicine,” says Moore.
“We’ve got some really top-notch
faculty in Athens and the Coastal Plain
Experiment Station in Tifton working in
this program,” he adds.“They’re working with producers and practitioners,
speaking to Cattleman’s Association
meetings, putting on CE courses.”
In addition, Dr. David Hurley, a
bovine infectious disease researcher,
and Dr. Dana Cole, an epidemiologist
interested in dairy production, will
be joining the program in the next
six months.
Continued on page 2
In This Issue:
A yen for planes and ponies
Page 2
Why did the eagles die?
Page 3
Cloning is the keynote
Page 4
Top 12 reasons for attending the alumni reunion
Page 5
What is your diagnosis?
Page 6
Alumni spotlight
Pages 7
Learn while you earn
Page 8
2
This alum combines vet medicine with
airplanes and race horses
GI service for small
animals is expanded
Continued from page 1
"I came to Lexington to learn a little bit
more about horses, but I guess I didn't
learn enough, because I'm still here."
says Dr. Fred Arnold, Class of 1958.
After graduating cum laude,
Arnold went into practice with a
Dr. Fred Arnold
prominent equine practitioner, but
led a double life. Nights and one
weekend a month he was a parttime pilot for the Air Force.
"It was hard on my family because
I was either in the cockpit of a jet
fighter or I was treating a horse," he
remembers.
His flying career began with flight
training at the end of WWII, and he
hardly missed a war after that. He
flew during the Korean War, the
Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam
War. In fact, flying helped pay his way
through veterinary college. "I've
owned four planes," Arnold says. "I
love it. It's my golf game."
Race horses were a close second
to his passion for flying. "I've done a
bit of racetrack work," says Arnold,
"at Keeneland, Churchill Downs, and
the Red Mile, among others." Most of
his work was on horse farms around
Lexington, and most of those farms
have racing stables.
Then he found the ideal way of
combining his three main interests:
veterinary medicine, race horses,
and flying. He served -- or flew -- on
a committee which inspects yearlings
submitted for sale at Keeneland.
Piloting his Cesna 421 all over the
country, he inspected yearlings for
confirmation and movement to
choose the best of the best.
"Buyers who came from Europe
and Asia could feel confident that the
yearlings they were bidding on had
the potential to be good racing candidates," he says.
Arnold claims he's trying to retire,
but adds quickly, "I'm still a little active
with thoroughbred yearlings." About
three years ago he added a very active
new dimension: research.
"I got interested in the bone
lesions that we find when these yearlings are radiographed.You'd be sur-
can affect the price adversely. And
yet, "those of us who have worked
with these horses on the racetrack
know that some horses can run as
well with lesions as without,” he says.
Arnold looked at several thousand radiographs and statistically
rated lesions in joints off specific
bones.When his data was presented
at a meeting, it sparked interest and
funds for a study at Colorado State
University.
The idea is to classify these
lesions as to size, shape, and location,
and then follow the horse through its
racing career to statistically evaluate
its performance.
Results may show that certain
lesions don't affect a horse's racing
ability, or that surgery will allow the
horse to perform up to its potential.
retirement of Dr. Larry
Cornelius. In addition, she is
expanding our capabilities in gastroenterology, specifically
endoscopy,” says Jeanne
Barsanti, DVM, Head,
Department of Small Animal
Medicine.
“She trained in this area under
Dr. Mike Leib at Virginia Tech and
further advanced her capabilities
during her years in private practice,” Barsanti adds.
Flatland earned her DVM at
The University of Georgia,
served her internship at
Colorado State University, and
her residency at Virginia Tech,
where she learned endoscopy
under Dr. Leib’s tutelage. She is
board certified in internal medicine and will be doing clinical
research projects involving liver
disease.
Well said
Acquiring a dog may
Dr. Fred Arnold and friend
prised at the number of lesions we
find in ankles, knees, all the joints.
"Thoroughbreds are so active,
they're always running, they're competitive. It's that competitive spirit
that gets them hurt quite often," he
points out.
Some buyers pay several million
dollars for these horses, and lesions
"I think the information we can
get from this study will help our colleagues evaluate yearlings for sale or
soundness, because they will have
statistics to back up their decisions.
We are right in the middle of the
study, and have great hopes it's going
to help," Arnold says.
be the only opportunity a human ever has
to choose a relative.
—Mordecai Siegal
New surgical technique used at CVM to spay lion
Continued from Page 1
credit,” says Dr. Rita McManamon,
senior veterinarian of Zoo Atlanta,
“for applying an advanced technique
to an endangered animal.”
Kariba is a hand-reared 300pound lion who was rejected by her
mother when Kariba was two days
old. She was transported to the
College’s operating suite in a zoo van
after receiving only a mild sedative,
and was awake during the ride.
“She’s used to being transported
and is much more comfortable and
familiar with people than most zoo
lions. She usually just goes to sleep,”
says Dr. Maria Crane, Class of ’94, an
associate veterinarian at Zoo Atlanta,
who is responsible for Kariba’s care.
The laparoscopic procedure
resulted in only three small incisions
no more than an inch long, compared
to 6- or 8-inch incisions typical of
traditional methods. “That’s why you
can anticipate less discomfort for the
animal,” Crane says.
Only two drops of blood resulted
from the surgery, according to
Rawlings, because a harmonic scalpel
was used for cutting and controlling
bleeding.This scalpel vibrates at the
speed of sound —vibration which
causes the blood vessels to weld
together and close after they are cut..
The scalpel and other specialized
equipment were provided by Kolata,
a former faculty member at the
CVM. Kolata was one of the pioneers
in this surgical technique and assisted
with the surgery.
“Kariba was back to normal the
next day.We couldn’t tell that she felt
bad at all or had any problems,” Crane
reports.“Usually ibuprofen is sufficient,
but we didn’t even have to give that
much medication.”
It is particularly important to
have few problems during recovery
with an exotic animal like a lion,
Crane points out.
“With a domestic cat you can do
a lot of comforting.You can look at
the incisions and treat them. But with
a lion you obviously can’t do that.”
Besides, exotic cats tend to hide
pain, she says, because they don't want
predators or any other animal to know
they’re sick.Any sign of weakness or
disability might let another lion take
advantage of their condition and move
past them on the social ladder.
Almost all the veterinarians who
participated in the surgery were
associated with the UGA College of
Veterinary Medicine, Rawlings points
out. Dr. Christine Egger, assistant professor in the Small Animal
Department, performed the anesthesia, and Drs. Rawlings, Crane, and
Kolata also have ties to the College.
The most rewarding part of the
procedure, according to McManamon,
is “a healthy, happy animal that has
undergone minimal abdominal surgery
and has a minimal scar.
“The University of Georgia, Zoo
Atlanta, and Ethicon Endo-Surgery
had the foresight and skill to do the
presurgical care, the procedure itself,
and the post-surgical care,” she adds.
“The procedure required all three to
be successful.”
3
What’s killing all those eagles?
Wildlife disease researchers at the
College of Veterinary Medicine are
spearheading efforts to find out what
causes a mysterious brain disease that
killed 13 bald eagles and several other
birds last fall and winter in Georgia.
Since eagles are a threatened
species, 13 eagles comprise a fairly significant portion of the eagle population
in the area.
“It’s unusual to find one dead bald
eagle,” says John Fischer, DVM. “Two
would be a concern and 13 of them is
a lot. It indicates there could be even
more dead birds out there that have
not been found.”
The primary suspect is Avian
Vacuolar Myelinopathy or AVM, a disease that destroys a bird’s coordination and ability to walk, swim, or fly.
AVM has been confirmed in eight
bald eagles, two Canada Geese, a
great-horned owl, several coots, and a
killdeer recovered at Clarks Hill
Reservoir last November and
December. Five eagles were too
decomposed to provide useful diagnostic information.
Test results are pending on other
birds that were examined in the laboratories of the Southeastern
Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, a
teaching, research, and field service
unit at UGA, which focuses on disease
and health management of wildlife
populations in 15 southeastern states.
“Under the microscope an affected
eagle’s brain looks like lace,” says
Dr. John Fischer
Fischer, director of SCWDS and associate professor in the College of
Veterinary Medicine. “It looks delicate
but it’s devastating.”
While the diagnosis of AVM has
been made in four states, the cause of
the disease has not yet been determined, despite intensive diagnostic and
research investigations at SCWDS, the
National Wildlife Health Center, and
other wildlife health institutions.
made toxin. But we can't rule anything
out until we’ve determined the definitive cause of the problem.”
“Right now we think parasites or
infectious agents such as bacteria and
viruses are not involved,” Fischer says.
“That would suggest that a most likely
cause of AVM is a natural or man
Anyone who finds a dead or diseased eagle is urged to contact
SCWDS at 706/542.1741.
College launches global program
Broadening and strengthening the curriculum in international veterinary medicine
is the goal of the College’s new multidisciplinary international program.
This international effort was
launched first because the new university mission statement emphasizes the
need for globalizing education.
Secondly, ”I think its critical that we
internationalize our profession,” says
Dr. Corrie Brown, Professor of
Pathology. “It’s a growth area in veterinary medicine and, if we ignore it, we
could be in trouble.
In the jungles of southern Mexico, veterinary students Gaby Flacke (right) and
Trish London (2nd from right) worked with veterinarians and students from other
countries on projects designed to protect endangered native animals.
“I tell my students, ‘There are two
ways you can get famous when a foreign disease comes into the U.S. —
one is to recognize it and the other is
to miss it.’”
In addition, pharmaceutical companies — many of which are international
corporations — are hiring European
veterinarians because American veterinarians don't have the background to
function in this area.
“We want to make sure that we’re
preparing our students for these international jobs,” says Brown, senior coordinator for international activities..
The new program consists of an
international certificate program and a
course in international veterinary medicine, taught for the first time last
February.“Students can earn the certificate along with their DVM. We’re the
first veterinary college to do this, ”
Brown says.
Requirements are: to take the
course in international veterinary medicine; to spend some time doing some-
thing international; passing a proficiency test in a foreign language; and taking
an additional 6 or 8 credit hours of
related course work.
Students will go to different parts
of the world with a digital video camera. “They’ll learn about everything
from malaria in India to veterinary
practice in Europe or Nairobi.When
they come back, they’ll create training
modules online about their experiences,” says Dr. Julie Moore, assistant
professor, Parasitology, and junior
coordinator of the program.
About 60 students are involved
currently in the program. “Because
everything we do is tied to the internet, it’s available to other schools and
veterinarians worldwide,” Moore
points out. For more information, see
the program’s website at
www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/ia.
4
38th Annual Veterinary Conference
and Alumni Reunion April 6-8, 2001
Animal cloning expert is
conference keynote speaker
Dr. Steven Stice, a Georgia Research
Alliance Eminent Scholar in the UGA
Animal and Dairy Science
Department, will talk about animal
cloning, enhancements, and genetic
selection.
Stice has over 14 years of animal
cloning experience. His research
focuses on developing innovative animal cloning techniques and stem cell
therapies.
He also is founder and chief scientific officer for ProLinia, Inc., a
company developing cloning technology for production of pharmaceutical
proteins and organ transplantation.
Stice produced the first cloned
rabbit in
1987, the first
cloned transgenic calves in
1998, and
holds the first
U.S. patents
on cloning
animals and cattle embryonic stem
cells. He was recently named one of
the top forty entrepreneurs under
forty years old in Georgia.
Dilmus M. Blackmon, Class of '56, will be
the speaker at the Reunion Banquet. He
joined the Large Animal Medicine and
Surgery Faculty in 1962. Blackmon was chosen Teaching Hospital Chief of Staff for Farm
Services in 1979, and served as head of the
Department of Large Animal Medicine from
1985 until his retirement in1995.
Mark Richt, the Bulldogs' head football coach,
will address the Fellowship Breakfast. A former
quarterback for the Miami Hurricanes, Richt
was named head coach earlier this year. In his
15 years as a collegiate coach, he sent five
players to the NFL and worked with two
Heisman Trophy winners.
Highlights of the conference
Keynote address
Large Animal Medicine
General Interest
Animal Cloning, Enhancements, and Genetic
Selection,
Dr. Steve Stice
Anthelmintic Resistance in Goats,
Dr. Lisa Williamson,‘81
Sheep and Goat Medicine,
Dr. David Pugh,‘81
Bovine Foot Problems,
Dr. Ellen Belknap,‘86
Interesting Bovine Case Studies,
Dr. Ellen Belknap,‘86
Equine Laminitis,
Dr. Jim Belknap
Practical Field Surgery,
Dr. Earl Gaughan,‘81
Wounds that Expose Bone and Joints,
Dr. Earl Gaughan,‘81
Current Information on Equine Frozen Semen,
Dr. Barry Ball,‘81
Management of Twin Pregnancy in the Mare,
Dr. Barry Ball,‘81
Obstetrics and Fetotomy in the Mare,
Dr. Barry Ball,‘81
Controlled Substances Regulation,
Dr. Doug Kemp
Toxicity of Plants and Herbal Products,
Dr. Mary Schell
Management of Common Household Hazards,
Dr. Mary Schell
Toxicology of Pesticides,
Dr. Mary Schell
Practice Management,
Fritz Wood
Small Animal Medicine
Avian Emergencies,
Dr. Cheryl Greenacre, ‘91
Endocrine Diagnostic Services,
Dr. Ellen Behrend
Feline Hyperadrenocorticism,
Dr. Ellen Behrend
Diabetes Mellitus,
Dr. Ellen Behrend
Feline Emergencies,
Dr. Douglass Macintire
Management of Severe Parvoviral Enteritis,
Dr. Douglass Macintire
Overview of Hip Dysplasia,
Dr. Randall Thompson, ‘86
Special Events
CVM Open House
G-Day
Presentations by CVM faculty
Symposium on Veterinary Technology and Its Impact
on Veterinary Practice in Georgia
Breakfast for members of the University Partners
and President’s Club
Fellowship breakfast
5
Be a winner, help a student
It’s not too late to make a contribution to the ninth
annual Veterinary Class Campaign. Not only will you
be helping your class come out on top in the competitions, but you’ll be helping fund a scholarship for a
student or equipment for the Hospital, among other
worthwhile causes.
The goal of the campaign is for members of
reunion classes to contribute $20 for each year since
their graduation. All contributions made since July
1will count toward that goal.
The five classes that are winners in
five categories will be
announced at the
Reunion Banquet on April 7.Winning classes will be
those that:
• Contribute the most money
• Have the highest percentage of class members
contributing
• Have reached the highest percentage of their goal
• Have the largest number of President’s Club
members
• Have the largest number of Partners members
Please make out checks to The University of Georgia
Foundation.They’ll be accepted until shortly before
the banquet.
Top twelve reasons
for attending the
2001 reunion
12. Hear a superstar animal scientist, Steve Stice, our first keynote
speaker, and superstar alumnus
Dilmus Blackmon, who will amaze
and amuse you at the banquet.
11. Get the word on what’s going
on at other veterinary schools all
around the country from your fellow alums.
10. Catch up with former classmates and alums from all other
classes at the banquet.
9. Find out who won the
Distinguished Alumnus,Young
Achiever, and Distinguished Service
awards. (Could it be you?)
8. Get the inside story on the
Dawgs’ next season from the new
coach, Mark Richt, at the Saturday
morning breakfast.
7. Tour the impressive new
Diagnostic Laboratory which
opened recently.
6. Receive 15 CE credit hours for
attending courses about poison
control, emergencies, practice management, and many other hot topics
you want to know more about.
5. In addition to reunion festivities,
enjoy G-Day, our CVM Open
House, fraternity activities, and a
symposium on the economic impact
of veterinary technicians on veterinary practice — all on the same
weekend.
4. Visit with former professors and
marvel at how — like you — they
look younger than ever.
The way we were
If you can identify any of these students, please let us know. Email
Dot Sparer, Aesculapian dsparer@vet.uga.edu
Doggie Dash and more on the weekend
Alums and their families can enjoy the College’s annual
Open House on Friday April 6.
Activities will include exotic animal displays, working dogs, horse shoeing, sheep shearing, endoscopy, a
petting zoo, a dog show, and — on Saturday — the
traditional Doggie Dash walk/run for charity.
Last year almost 2,500 children and adults attended
demonstrations and tours showing the variety of
career choices in veterinary medicine.
The Hospital, classrooms, and teaching labs will be
on view to touring visitors, as will scientific exhibits
and demonstrations.
3. Stock up on t-shirts, hats, and
other must-have CVM regalia.
2. Take advantage of your last
chance to contribute to the class
campaign so your class will win the
coveted award.
1. In short, enjoy more activities
than we’ve ever had in the past.
6
Teamwork at its very best
by Kathy Bangle
People have asked me, “Why
should I join University Partners
when I know the College doesn’t
receive all of my gift?”
It’s true. Joining University
Partners means the College
receives $1,500 of a $2,500 gift,
while the remaining $1,000 goes to
the President’s Venture Fund.
Does that mean joining
University Partners is not a good
way of supporting the College?
I asked Dr. Larry Corry, a
Partner’s member, that question,
and asked him to explain why he
chose to join Partners even though
not all of his gift goes to the
College.
Here’s his answer.
“I joined Partner’s to support
the College and the University. In
my opinion, one cannot be successful without the other.The College
of Veterinary Medicine needs the
University’s financial and leadership
support. Conversely, UGA is very
fortunate to have a College of
Veterinary Medicine.
“I also know the College does
get a return on gifts to the
President’s Venture Fund.This year
it applied for and received $7,500
to help support the new
International
Veterinary
Certificate
Program — a
tremendous
boost to a
beginning program.
“I’m glad to
give to University Partners because
I’m convinced the College is benefiting from my direct as well as my
indirect gift.
“A gift to University Partners
helps make President Adams aware
of our College’s needs and encourages him to support those needs
with his Venture Fund money. It’s
teamwork at its best, and I encourage everyone to give the fund
wholehearted support.”
Dr. Corry owns Centerville Animal
Hospital and is a member of the
Class of 1966
For more information, contact
Kathy Bangle, Director of
Development, 706/583-0154, kbangle@vet.uga.edu.
What’s your diagnosis?
A seven-year-old male neutered boxer
presented with a two-week history of
anorexia, lethargy, pale mucous membranes, and a low PCV rate— about
16 or 17%. He seemed depressed.
A veterinarian had done tests and
given the dog antibiotics to improve
his hematocrit. He was treated for
anemia and tapeworm disease, but
nothing had any effect.
When he came to the CVM
Hospital, Drs. Craig Greene and Sarah
Silver were in charge of his case.They
first observed the dog in ICU. He was
anemic, but there was no evidence of
any bleeding. It was evidently not
immune mediated anemia.
Abdominal ultrasound showed no
evidence of masses, but abdominal radiograph revealed a large spleen.When it
was aspirated, the pathologist saw a red
blood cell parasite which was signet-ring
in shape.The diagnosis: babesiosis, caused
by Babesia gibsoni, a small species of
Babesia rarely found in the U.S.
The disease can’t be cured but it
can be controlled with diminazine, a
drug that is approved for use only in
Asia, but was available in the Hospital
for research.The drug improved the
dog’s hematocrit and he went home a
few days later.
“What made this case so interesting,” says Silver, “is that Babesia is so
uncommon in the U.S., and that even-
tually five of the 22 rescue dogs in the
owner’s household were diagnosed
with Babesia gibsoni.
“It’s pretty amazing,” says Silver.
“We don't even see five cases a year
in the Hospital, let alone five cases in
the same house.”
Neither Greene nor Silver know
how the disease was transmitted from
one dog to another. In other countries
the disease is transmitted by a tick, but
that tick is not found in the U.S.
Besides, the dogs were mainly indoor
pets living in an area with little grass
and few trees.
All five dogs fought with each other,
so transmission by infected blood or
tissue was suspected. But attempts to
inoculate the parasite experimentally
have so far been unsuccessful.
The Hospital is looking for funding
now to test all 22 dogs in the household.
“The main thing we learned,” says
Silver, “is if you have a case that looks
like IMHA but doesn’t respond to
treatment, look for a parasite in the
blood sample and send a sample to
the North Carolina State Diagnostic
Laboratory for testing. Babesia gibsoni
is something we all need to start
being aware of.”
Have you had any cases of Babesia gipsoni?
Tell us about it in a letter to the editor.
Subjects needed for three studies
Behavior study on the attachment of dogs to their owners
Purpose
Historically studies of the human-animal bond have focused on the human
side of the equation.This is the first
extensive study focused on the dog’s
side of the equation.
This behavioral study is designed to
explore the attachment of about 200
dogs to their owners —how dogs with
different types of attachment behave
towards their owners and towards
strangers.
Expected outcome
Information derived from this study is
expected to help veterinarians manage
their cases by enhancing their understanding of the human-animal bond, as
well as the relationship between their
patients and their clients.
analysis. Dogs will then enter the 14day, twice daily oral dosing treatment
phase of the study. Clients will receive
treatment and evaluations of their dogs
at no cost and will be compensated
$500 if they complete the study.
Eligibility
Male or female dogs 1-12 years old
weighing between 50 and 99 pounds
can take part in the study.They should
be in good health except for clinical
lameness or gait abnormality related to
osteoarthritis of the hip.
Contact
For details contact Dr. Steven
Budsberg, 706/542.6574,
Budsberg@vet.uga.edu, or Lynn Reece,
706/542.5822, lreece@vet.uga.edu.
Clinical trial of dogs with a
cranial cruciate ligament
rupture
Method
Purpose
Owners will be asked to fill out a short
questionnaire.A videotape will be made
at the College of the dog’s behavior
toward strangers and his behavior when
the owner is in and out of the room.
Some videotaping also will be done in
the owner’s home.
To evaluate an agent that will modify
the progression of cartilage degeneration after surgical repair.
Eligibility
Indoor dogs 2-8 years old can participate in the study if they have been with
their current owner since they were
four months old. Participants should
live no more than one hour’s drive
from the College.
Contact
For details contact Dr. Sharon CrowellDavis, 706/542.8343,
scrowell@vet.uga.edu.
Clinical trial of dogs with
osteoarthritis secondary to
hip dysplasia
Purpose
To determine the efficacy of a non-opioid, centrally acting analgesic
Method
Each dog will have a complete orthopedic evaluation, including force plate
Red blood cells invaded by Babesia gibsoni
Method
After surgery, dogs will be enrolled in
the study and must receive 4 weekly
subcutaneous injections from their veterinarian. At weeks 6, 12, 24, and 48
after surgery, dogs will return to the
College for evaluations consisting of an
orthopedic examination, force plate
analysis, and sedated radiographs.
Eligibility
Male or female dogs of any breed 1 to
10 years old weighing 33 to 110
pounds.They should be in good health
except for acute hind limb lameness
associated with a rupture of the cranial
cruciate ligament in the knee.
Contact
For details, contact Dr. Steven
Budsberg, 706/542.6574,
Budsberg@vet.uga.edu or Dr. Heather
Streppa, 706/542.3361,
hstreppa@vet.uga.edu.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
The College honors its black alumni
The first black students enrolled in the College of Veterinary
Medicine in 1973. The recollections of the five black alumni
pictured here point to considerable progress in race relations
since that time.
While the College still does not receive enough applications from qualified black applicants, today students
of all races and backgrounds are encouraged to
apply and are welcomed by students, faculty,
and administrators.
“We were a smart class, but
we also had a great time.”
Dr. Andrea C. Dunnings, ‘93
“We were a smart class — we all managed to have pretty good grades — but
we also partied quite a bit and had a great time,” Andrea C. Dunnings, Class of
’93, remembers. “A lot of us were really good friends and have kept in contact.” She’s now doing relief work in the Atlanta area. “I’m trying to get a feel
for how other practices are run, because I want to open my own practice
within the next year.”
It was challenging and rewarding. I
made friends that will last a lifetime.
Dr. Esco Hall, ‘73
“I was one of the first AfroAmericans to go to the College,” Dr.
Esco Hall, Class of ‘73, remembers.
“There wasn’t any black faculty.The
only other Afro-Americans were the
janitors. And I never got an invitation
to join a fraternity. But I survived
because everybody was quite professional except for a few. It wasn’t all
that good at first, but it got better.
Hall took a week off after graduation,
bought a mixed animal practice in
Baxley, “and I’ve been here ever
since,” he says.
Dr. Lenus Hall, ‘95
“It wasn’t all that good at
first, but it got better.”
“The College prepares you for what you’re going to do
later on by letting you know you’re in a profession that
requires a lot of ability,” says Dr. Lenus Hall, Class of
‘95.“My experience in the College was challenging and
very rewarding. I made a lot of friends that will last me
a lifetime.We keep in touch quite often,” says Hall who
opened an animal hospital in Gray, Georgia together
with a classmate about 18 months ago.
Dr. Ron Tolbert, ‘83
“I really would love to see
more African Americans
at the College.”
“I was the only Black in my class of 88 students,” says Dr.
Ron Tolbert, Class of ’83. “Although the administration
made me feel welcome, I had a few problems with some of
my classmates. It was difficult at first, but there are many
classmates I call my best friends and see as often as I can.”
Aside from his work in his mixed animal practice in
College Park, he is a single parent devoted to his two children and spends a great deal of time in community service.
Dr. Jan Egins, ‘86
“I really would love to see more
African Americans at the
College,” says Dr. Jan Egins, Class
of ‘86. “There were only two of
us in our class.There were times
when there was some discomfort, but there were so many other times when no difference was made between white and black and the majority of the time was that way. I
made some of my best friends in veterinary school,” says Egins, a small animal practitioner in Marietta.
“At the time I was the
only Black in my class of
88 students.”
NEWSMAKERS
Alumni & faculty honors
Continuing education courses
Alumni Honors
Faculty Honors
Update on Small Animal Therapeutics: April 2-May 20
Dr. Becky Schwiebert, (DVM '89),
Academic Coordinator of the UCLA
Division of Laboratory Animal
Medicine, successfully completed the
certifying examination and was elected to membership in the American
College of Laboratory Animal
Medicine in July 2000.
Dr. Delmar R. Finco, professor,
Department of Physiology and
Pharmacology, received the 2000
Osborne award from the
International Renal Interest Society
for an outstanding record in the field
of veterinary nephrology.
Dr. R. Bruce Hollett, associate
professor, Department of Large
Animal Medicine, and Director of
Continuing Education, received the
first Distinguished Service Award
from the American Association of
Equine Practitioners for providing
exemplary service to the profession
of equine veterinary medicine.
38th Annual Veterinary Conference and Alumni
Reunion: April 6-8
Feline Elimination Problems and Canine Aggression: A
Master Course: June 3
Introduction to Veterinary Botanical Medicine: July 9August 12
Canine Health Symposium: August 4.
Athens Diagnostic Laboratory Seminar: August 19.
GEPA Fall Conference: October 13.
Small Animal Medicine-Cardiology: October 13-14.
Small Animal Surgery: November 3-4.
The first 50 years
To celebrate the 50th
anniversary of the College of
Veterinary Medicine, Drs. J. Robert
Duncan and J.T. Mercer compiled a
history of the College’s first 50 years.
To order the book, which
includes photos of all graduating
classes, please mail a check for $18
payable to The University of Georgia
Foundation to: Sandi Kilgo, College
of Veterinary Medicine, Room
240,The University of Georgia,
Athens 30602-7371. Questions?
Email skilgo@vet.uga.edu or call
706/542.1451.
Dr. Roswell S. Bowersett Sr.
(DVM '55), July 15, 2000
Dr. Robert C. Lawrence, Jr.
(DVM '51), December 2000
Dr. Dennis "Chock" Sikes,
UGA research professor and
veterinarian biologist,
November 2, 2000
Dr. Paul A. McDonald
(DVM '50), September 13, 2000
Dr. Richard Hawe
(DVM '75), November 18, 2000
Dr. Clark H. Shingler
(DVM '56), January 12, 2001
Dr. Julie Clark Keller
(DVM '88), October 9, 2000
Kathy Reid Bangle,
Director of Development
Donna Decker,
Director of Alumni
Relations
Dot Sparer,
Director of Public Relations
Elizabeth Molyson,
Editorial Assistant
Greg Robertson,
Design
Chris Herron
Stephanie Raines,
Photography
Belinda Wells,
Administrative support
Send all news items and
correspondence to:
AESCULAPIAN
Published periodically by the
College of Veterinary Medicine,
University Of Georgia
Dr. Edward A. Mahaffey,
Associate Dean for Public
Service and Outreach
Psychopharmacology for Veterinarians — Knowing
Which Drug to Use and How to Use It:
November 17-18.
Small Animal Medicine Oncology: December 1-2.
For more information, contact Dr. Bruce Hollett,
Director, Continuing Education,
706/542-1451, bhollett@vet.uga.edu
Special offer to CVM alumni
In Memoriam
Dr. Keith W. Prasse,
Dean
Behavior Problems in Parrots: November 17.
Dot Sparer, Editor
Aesculapian
College of Veterinary
Medicine
The University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia 30602-7371
dsparer@vet.uga.edu
706 / 542.1446
Photo of Mark Richt by UGA Sports
Communications
Enhance the beauty of your home or
office with this limited edition print of
the College of Veterinary Medicine .
Officially licensed by The University
of Georgia, this full color, detailed
lithograph print is made from an original watercolor by artist Jill E. Leite.
Each print is signed and numbered by
the artist.
Available unframed or double-matted and framed (18.5” x 22.5”) with
superior craftsmanship and quality
materials, the print is ready to hang. A
history of the College of Veterinary
Medicine is attached to each print.
Prices for this limited edition of
950 prints are: $160 framed or $40
unframed, plus shipping and handling.
15% of the proceeds will benefit the
Foundation for the College of
Veterinary Medicine.
For inquiries or orders contact:
Jill E. Leite Studio
800/541.7913 ext. 04 or
706/549.4442
jillleite@aol.com
Nonprofit
organization
U.S. postage
paid
Permit No. 390