Development & External Relations

Your Gifts Tell the Story

Behind every gift to WSU's College of Veterinary Medicine is a story. The detection of a new disease helps save lives. A scholarship makes veterinary or graduate school more affordable. A beloved animal's life is saved from cancer. From everyone at the college, you have our sincere gratitude for your generous support.

Gifts in Action 2011

VMP Clinical Associate Professor Awarded the First Ed McLeary Distinguished Professorship
 

Dr. Kevin Snekvik, clinical associate professor in the Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology department (VMP), has been named the first Ed McLeary Distinguished Professor in Aquatic Health. The Ed McLeary Distinguished Professorship enhances WSU programs in fish health research, diagnostics, certification, and graduate education. Dr Snekvik, DVM, Ph.D is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and the Aquatic Animal Health section head for the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL).
 
"It is an honor to be recognized in this way," said Dr. Snekvik, who specializes in veterinary pathology and fish infectious disease. "This award not only recognizes the role we have played in ensuring fish health but also highlights the need for the fish health program to expand its current fish disease research and to establish the training of the next generation of fish disease experts."
 
The fish health program, a collaborative effort between the VMP and WADDL, was created 15 years ago to independently confirm the fish health status at aquaculture facilities in Washington for export out of the state.  Since that time the program has expanded to include certification testing and disease diagnosis in freshwater and marine facilities throughout the western United States.  Dr. Snekvik and his staff also work with state, national, and international regulators to ensure the timely interstate and international movement of aquaculture products.
 
"Based on the current needs of the regional aquaculture producers, the awarded funds from the Ed McLeary Distinguished Professorship will be used to support the research and pathology training of graduate students and post-DVM anatomic pathology residents to better understand fish diseases and in turn enhance the health of fish," said Dr. Snekvik. 
 
The Ed McLeary Distinguished Professorship in Aquatic Animal Health is a unified effort among Pacific Northwest aquaculture producers to ensure healthful fisheries that can compete in any of the world’s marketplaces and contribute to enhanced sport fishing.  Troutlodge, founded in 1945 by Ed Mcleary and Ken Drew, pledged a lead gift to match dollar-for-dollar all gifts up to a total of $250,000.  This generosity established the Ed McLeary Distinguished Professorship in Aquatic Animal Health, a very prestigious professorship that positions WSU to become a national leader in this field.
 
"Kevin is a relatively junior faculty member, but he has taken on national responsibilities and serves in leadership positions on many national committees," said Dr. David Prieur, chair of the department. "His peers in the fish health arena value his knowledge, insights, and judgments."

 

WSU Alumna Helps Veterinary Students Practice Abroad
 

Performing surgery by the light of cell phones would be unthinkable to most people, but that was just part of the experience of an externship to Malaysia for Felicia Lew (DVM '12), a recent Susan Bradish Travel Grant recipient.

During Lew’s externship, she and the rest of a surgical team were preparing a pet chicken for surgery.  Just as they were about to insert a breathing tube, the power went out. Quickly the team had to improvise.

"Everyone was a little stunned at first, but then they just kept working," Lew said. "Everyone had a cell phone on them, so we all whipped out our phones and tried to light the airway enough to put the tube in."

Lew said that no one panicked, but she isn’t sure what they would have done if the power did not come back after about ten minutes. During her externship, Lew worked in very different veterinary conditions, but she said that the experience was extremely valuable.

"International externships give students opportunities to gain experience when they wouldn’t otherwise," Lew said. "It exposes them to other cultures, and makes them adapt to new situations."

She explained that one major difference is that many diagnoses in the United States are made by using a simple blood test, but that is not available to many people in Malaysia. Instead, they often treat animals without a definitive diagnosis.

"A lot of clients can’t afford testing, so many diagnoses came from guessing based on symptoms," Lew said. "It was good to work with them to see how they work with less."

Lew said that the travel grant made this externship possible because it helped with travel expenses.

The Susan Bradish Travel Grant is awarded to WSU veterinary students who are interested in gaining veterinary experience abroad, preferably to developing countries. It assists students with $1,000 for externships that are at least three weeks long and include on-site veterinary work. Students must also be active members of the WSU International Veterinary Student Association. Lew was the IVSA president for 2010-2011 school year.

Susan Bradish (DVM ’97), a veterinarian in Nicholasville, Kentucky, started this grant to help students gain an understanding of the daily challenges people face in most of the world. Bradish herself spent four weeks in India during veterinary school. She found that the culture was wonderful, but realized how fewer resources can affect the daily lives of the people. Because she wants more students to gain this type of international experience, she assists them with their expenses by offering this grant.

 

Nicolas Paulson ('12 DVM) Receives the First Class of 1961 Professionalism Award

 

The WSU Veterinary Class of 1961 presented a $1,000 scholarship at their 50th class reunion to DVM student Nicholas Paulson, the first recipient of the Class of '61 Professionalism Award.

The DVM Class of '61 established the award to recognize the high degree of professionalism among veterinary students at WSU. The class and their spouses raised $39,500 for an endowment that will be used to provide scholarships to students completing their third year of the DVM curriculum. Paulson is grateful for the scholarship as these funds are helping him with his final and most involved year of the DVM curriculum.

"It was a big honor, and it was nice to recognized," Paulson said. "The award makes you want to continue to work hard, remain professional, and treat your peers well."

This is a unique award. DVM students in their third year vote for a fellow classmate to be the award recipient. The awardees should exemplify professionalism, knowledge and competency, and respect and care with classmates. Paulson's classmates recognized these attributes in him and expressed that by choosing him for this award.

Paulson's interest in veterinary medicine grew from his undergraduate studies in wild life biology when he gained hands on experience working with animals. As he worked more closely with these animals, his interests began to shift from the purely scientific aspects of the program to providing care.

"There was a lot of hand raising of these animals, where you were working with them directly and getting them used to a human presence," Paulson said. His work included nursing, hand feeding, and giving the animals medical care.

Now, Paulson is spending most of his time gaining clinical experience at the WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital. After graduating he hopes to take his experience into private practice, either working as a partner or having his own practice. At that time he hopes to give back too.

"I have gotten a lot from my experience at the College of Veterinary Medicine, and I hope to give back someday," Paulson said. "I would like to see my class get involved in supporting the college in a similar way in the future."

 

Radiology Received $90,000 of equipment from Esaote Europe
 

Radiology services has two new portable ultrasound machines thanks to Esaote Europe, maker of the MyLab One ultrasound.  The versatile machines are being used to train veterinary students in small and large animal imagining techniques.  Students can perform imagining on the abdomen, heart, equine and food animal reproductive systems, and equine musculoskeletal systems.
 
Drs. John Mattoon and Greg Roberts in radiology services had been working jointly with Mr. Calin Marian of Esaote Netherlands to develop a tutorial for normal equine tendon and ligament ultrasonography as part of the portable ultrasound machine software package.  The program was designed to educate equine practitioners and students.  The tutorial package has recently been released as part of the MyLab One portable ultrasound software package, which is distributed worldwide.
 
"These machines are truly portable and versatile," said Professor John Mattoon, a board certified veterinary radiologist and chief of WSU's diagnostic imaging section. "We will be able to provide the most up-to-date ultrasound training to our veterinary students."
 
*Mr. Henry Moore Jr. of the WSU Biomedical Communications Unit in the college took the adjacent photo and all the photos for the ultrasound training tutorial package.