Graduation ceremonies held

The college held its commencement for professional students on May 13, 2015, and 128 students received their DVM degrees. Clinton Lewis Jr., executive vice president and president of International Operations at Zoetis, was the commencement speaker. The university also conferred 177 undergraduate degrees in Biomedical Sciences, 35 master’s degrees, and 4 doctoral degrees at a ceremony on May 15.

VET Returns Home from Deployment

Join me in welcoming our Veterinary Emergency Team home from deployment to Wimberley and surrounding areas affected by flooding. All of those deployed were fulfilled by giving, yet tired and emotionally drained. On May 24 they deployed to support Texas Task Force 1 search and rescue canine teams, and to help animals affected by the flooding. Upon deactivation of Texas Task Force 1, the VET relocated to San Marcos at the request of Texas Task Force 2 to provide veterinary support for their search and rescue canine teams. The team also provided care for resident animals affected by the flooding in that location as well. Thanks for all you do VET, we are proud of you.

Abbott honored with Piper Professor award

Dr. Louise Abbott has been named a recipient of the 2015 Piper Professor award, a prestigious faculty honor bestowed by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation. Ten awards of $5,000 each are made annually to professors for superior teaching at the college level.

Center for Educational Technologies hosts meeting with Zoetis leadership

Mr. Clint Lewis, executive vice president and president, International Operations; Dr. Michael McFarland, Group Director, CAD Veterinary Operations; and Dr. Harvey Crumm, Veterinary Academic Liaison, all at Zoetis, participated in a series of hands-on demonstrations of the new Veritas continuing education product lines recently launched by the center.

Small Animal Hospital plan presented at College Hour

Drs. Green and Levine discussed the college's needs and the plan to address those needs in the 32-year-old Small Animal Hospital. The plan has three phases: Phase 1, to correct space, comfort, and safety issues for our clients and patients, is underway and scheduled to be completed by the end of the summer. Phase 2 is a $30 million project for additional space for surgery, anesthesia, and associated services for the hospital. This campaign will attempt to raise the funds from private donors to accomplish this goal, and plans for donor events are underway. Phase 3 will be a $65 million project to tie phases 1 and 2 together into an essentially new Small Animal Hospital.

Equine Initiative organizes trip to Kentucky Derby

A group of about 55 equine enthusiasts gathered in Kentucky to tour historic Thoroughbred breeding farms and attend the Kentucky Derby on a trip organized by the Texas A&M Equine Initiative. The trip culminated in “the greatest two minutes in sports,” as the group cheered the field on and applauded American Pharaoh’s hard-won victory in the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby.

Aggie veterinarian on call at Kentucky Derby

Aggie 2001 DVM graduate Dr. Keith Latson DVM, DACVS, steps up to be the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) On Call Veterinarian for the 2015 Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes. Latson is in private surgical and performance equine practice, focusing on Thoroughbred racehorses in Southern California. He also provides professional and surgical services for non-profit Thoroughbred retirement and retraining organizations in the region. The AAEP On Call Program was formed by AAEP to ensure that the public receives accurate information and a consistent message whenever an equine athlete at a major televised event is injured. Equine Welfare is of major importance to the AAEP, the CVM, and the public.

State FFA Veterinary Science Competition held at the college

The college and the PEER program hosted the 4th annual State FFA Veterinary Science Competition. In total there were 216 students from 57 schools around the state who came to the college to compete. They were tested on their skills identifying organs, veterinary equipment, breeds, and parasites, as well as a written exam and a skills practicum, where they were tested on venipuncture sites. The students had to qualify to come to this state-level event, and this competition will allow students to participate in the National FFA Veterinary Science Competition later this year.

Fiechtner appointed to the System Employee Benefits Advisory Committee

Mr. Les Fiechtner will serve as an appointed, non-voting member of the System Employee Benefits Advisory Committee (SEBAC) for a two-year term effective September 1, 2015 through August 31, 2017. He will work with the committee to address the complex benefits issues affecting Texas A&M employees.

Communications team honored with IABC Bronze Quill awards

Members of the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) Communications, Media, and Public Relations team were honored with seven awards by the Brazos Valley chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) at their annual Bronze Quill event on May 7, 2015.

One Health Team Present at James Steel Conference

The One Health team presented a poster at the 65th Annual James Steel Conference on Diseases in Nature Transmissible to Man held in Galveston, Texas May 20-22. The poster, titled Spreading the Message: Communicating the Texas A&M One Health Program, provided an overview of the research, educational, and outreach programs of the One Health program at Texas A&M.

Building Strategic Partnerships through China-US Relations

Several CVM (as well as other colleges) faculty members including Drs. Clay Ashley, Christine Budke, Thomas Ficht, Allison Ficht (College of Medicine), Maria Esteve-Gassent,Larry Johnson, Rosina “Tammi” Krecek, Paulo Lima-Filho (College of Science), Linda Logan, Yanan Tian, and Guan Zhu—attended the sixth China-US Relations Conference on “Global Infectious Diseases: Prevention, Preparedness and Response,” held in Houston May 11-13. The conference was very well organized, informative, with stimulating panels and roundtable sessions. The venue and program were well suited to provide ample opportunities for exchange with colleagues from China, the United States, Texas A&M, and globally.

Threadgill honored at reception

A reception to honor Dr. David Threadgill as a university distinguished professor was held on May 27 in the foyer of the research building. We are honored to have such an outstanding professor in our college. Threadgill joins past recipients: Dr. James Womack, Dr. Stephen Safe, Dr. Fuller Bazer, Dr. Tim Phillips and Dr. Ian Tizard, in the acceptance of this prestigious award.

Veterinary technicians honored by graduating DVM class

Each year, veterinary technicians from the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital are honored by the graduating DVM class. These dynamic veterinary technicians have exhibited outstanding dedication to being an active, vital part of the veterinary students' education.

Heifer International Benefit Banquet raises $7800

The 2nd Annual Heifer International Benefit Banquet raised $7,800 from ticket sales, a silent auction, and donations—$300 more than the organizers’ original goal of $7,500. The amount is being matched by a Heifer International donor for a grand total of $15,600 that will go to support sending animals and animal training to Central and South American countries.

Follow the Progess of the VBEC Online

You can view the latest state of the new Veterinary & Biomedical Education Complex online. The webpage allows for a time-lapse video of construction.