text: Fall / Winter 2000 College of Veterinary Medicine • University of Missouri-Columbia M E D I C A L R E V I E W In this Issue Radio Veterinarians Genetic Surgery Technology in the Veterinary Classroom New Intensive Care Hollywood Animation Technology Evaluates Lameness in Horses VETERINARY MEDICAL REVIEW is published twice a year by the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia Editorial Office W-203 Veterinary Medicine Building University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO 65211 College of Veterinary Medicine Dean M E D I C A L R E V I E W Dr. Joe Kornegay Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Dr. C.B. Chastain Editor Inside Randy Mertens this Photography Don Connor, Randy Mertens, Rob Hill, Howard Wilson Issue Design Fall/Winter 2000 Sandy Whitter Volume 17, Number 2 T e a c h i n g MU Printing Services Telephone H e a l i n g (573) 884-2215 D i s c o v e r y Web Page Address www.cvm.missouri.edu www.vmth.missouri.edu Center Stage Horses 9 P e o p l e Information Technology 16 Genetic Surgery 19 Quilting as Sport? 8 S e r v i n g A l u m n i t h e a t P a s t C o m m u n i t y L a r g e P r e s e n t New Intensive Care 13 F u t u r e Dr. Vroegindewey 22 Swine Efficiency 14 Radio Vets 24 Message from the Dean 3 Big Dawgs, Little Dawgs 20 MU does not discriminate on the basis of race, Class Notes 27 Around the College 4 color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, disability, or status as a disabled veteran of the Vietnam era. For more information, call Human Catching Up With... 28 Resource Services at (573) 882-4256 or the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights. Flashback! 30 D R . J O E K O R N E G A Y , D E A N O F T H E C O L L E G E 3 On September 1, the College of Veterinary Medicine lost a teriology set a high standard, leading to his appointment as combined 351 years of experience, as nine faculty and four Director of Graduate Studies for the College in the 1980s. staff members took advantage of an early retirement pro- Ted Green joined our faculty in parasitology in 1980 and gram offered by the University. The program is intended to made important contributions in teaching and research. I save salary dollars, as theoretically, higher-salaried individuals suspect Ted will treasure the special relationship he had with can be replaced with "up and comers" at lower cost to the students most. He was particularly effective in undergraduate University. parasitology instruction and advising, receiving awards in Of course, the program has a substantial downside. How both areas. The year 1980 was a good one for MU's overall do you replace all of that experience, especially when you research program, as Ron McLaughlin also joined the Uni- lose such a large number all at once? Let's have a look at who versity to direct our laboratory animal medicine program. A Time of we're losing. You'll notice that the list is essentially a "who's who" of the College of Veterinary Medicine. Ron played a key role in directing the graduate program in this discipline for a number of years and, in addition, held To start with, the pathobiology department and our diag- leadership positions in laboratory animal medicine at the Change nostic laboratories are collectively losing seven faculty, Drs. John Berg, Ted Green, Harvey Gosser, Reuel (Bob) Hook, national level. And, finally, the "youngster" among the group, Harvey Gosser, came to MU in 1988 as a faculty member in Ron McLaughlin, Jim Thorne, and Joe Wagner and three key pathology and as Director of the Veterinary Medical Diag- and staff members, JoAnne Adams, Sylvia Bradfield, and David Wendell. While the other two departments are each losing nostic Laboratory. This represented another homecoming, as he had received his PhD from MU in 1970. Harvey has only one faculty member, they're key people, Bob McClure been a great ambassador for the College, interacting closely Reflection in Biomedical Sciences and Al Hahn in Medicine and Surgery. The dean's office, alas, was not spared, as we will lose with state veterinarians and serving as President of the MVMA. Delores Melloway from our staff. And while fewer in number, the four retiring staff have all The nine faculty have held important positions in every played important roles in the College. As the saying goes, "As phase of the College's programs, extending back to 1960, faculty and students come and go, the staff runs the show!" when Bob McClure came to MU. Bob was known as "an Delores Melloway has been at MU since 1963, serving in the Nine College anatomist's anatomist" because of his excellent grasp of the microbiology department and ultimately becoming the Exec- subject material. He also chaired the Department of utive Staff Assistant to the Associate Dean for Academic Anatomy throughout the '60s. Bob Hook joined the Uni- Affairs, and, more recently, the Director of Student and Faculty and Four versity's Sinclair Research Farm in 1968 and later was Alumni Affairs. Delores has had an extremely positive impact appointed to the College of Veterinary Medicine faculty. He on our students throughout her tenure. Sylvia Bradfield has played a key role in the comparative medicine program at been with the College since 1972, filling key staff positions Staff Opt for Early MU, holding a faculty appointment at the School of Medi- within the pathology department and the RADIL program. cine and contributing to the Research Animal Diagnostic She has been a steadying influence as we have progressed, and Investigative Laboratory (RADIL). Joe Wagner was over the years, through several administrative changes. David appointed to the faculty in 1969 and went on to have one of Wendell has served in the pathology department and diag- Retirement the most distinguished academic careers in the annals of the nostic laboratory as a research laboratory technician since University of Missouri. Joe chaired the Department of 1975. JoAnne Adams joined the diagnostic laboratory four Pathology, founded the RADIL program, and was awarded a years later, in 1979, as a medical technologist in clinical Curator's Professorship in 1989. At that point, only seven pathology. Through their efforts and those of other staff, the such awards had been made in the 150-year history of the laboratory has remained at the cutting edge of diagnostic University. procedures. Interestingly, Al Hahn actually beat Joe and the two Bobs Fortunately, most of these quality folks have committed to to Missouri as a student. He received his DVM from MU in continue their association with the College. They will be 1958, and, fortunately for us, came home to join the faculty involved principally in teaching, where their loss would oth- in 1969. Al was involved in research and clinics and also erwise be felt most critically. As a result, we'll have a bit of somehow found time to serve in several key administrative "breathing room," in advance of completing recruitments positions, most recently Chair of the MU Faculty Council. for several of these positions. Jim Thorne is another Missouri graduate, receiving his DVM And, while we selfishly fret about how to fill the void their in 1961. He gained valuable experience in private practice retirement will leave, let's celebrate the contributions these and at the University of Georgia before returning to MU as a faculty and staff have made to the College and wish them faculty member in Medicine and Surgery in 1974. Jim's inter- well in the future. I'm sure they'll continue to make substan- ests extended from clinics to more basic research, with expert- tial contributions in a wide range of activities. Hey, gang, ise in epidemiology being at the heart of each. John Berg while you're at it, remember to also have some fun. You was appointed to the microbiology department faculty in deserve it! 1972. His research and graduate student mentorship in bac- VMR Around the College CVM Part of University Plan For attract additional research of bone cancer. visitations on anxiety, depres- Comprehensive Cancer Center funding and more efficiently The University hopes to sion, fatigue, and the sense of The MU College of Veterinary coordinate discoveries and achieve the NCI ranking by coherence among patients Medicine is a partner in a Uni- resources. 2005, and believes the designa- undergoing radiation therapy versity plan to create an The plan would seek desig- tion will raise new money for for cancer. "And this is just the umbrella organization for can- nating the consortium as a research, including private beginning of the broad collabo- cer research. Comprehensive Cancer Center foundations. The cancer center ration between our veterinary Under the plan, University from the National Cancer Insti- is also one of the entities that college and MU's health sci- resources involved in cancer tute. There are 36 such centers MU officials hope to see funded ences center and law school." treatment and research, includ- in the country, mostly on the when state lawmakers decide Both human and veterinary ing the College's veterinary west and east coasts. NCI com- how to divvy up the state's $6.7 medicine are shifting "more oncology program, will coordi- prehensive cancer centers con- billion tobacco settlement. and more to preventative medi- nate on funding proposals and duct programs in treatment, cine," he notes. "And for the collaborate on research. The prevention, and research. Veterinary Pet Insurance First veterinary profession, this sig- University's reactor, medical MU is well suited for such a to Endow Emerging Animal nals a significant paradigm and nursing schools, and Ellis center as collaborative efforts Wellness Center shift. Our next logical step is to Fischel Cancer Center are have already begun between The emerging Center for the move from 'fire engine' medi- among the other members of veterinary and human medicine Study of Animal Wellness at the cine to preventing problems in the team with Ellis Fischel serv- and the research reactor. One MU College of Veterinary Med- the first place. For veterinari- ing as the organization's hub. such effort resulted in the icine got off to a sound start ans, this involves educating MU officials believe the can- radiopharmaceutical with a $250,000 grant from clients how to make a differ- cer research consortium will Quadramet that eases the pain Veterinary Pet Insurance, the ence in the length and quality nation's oldest and largest of their pets' lives. We'll be cre- Dr.Richard Meadows, clinical assistant professor of veterinary medicine and surgery and director of the MU provider of medical insurance ating a model program of well- Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital's Community Practice section, accepts two gifts from Dr.Jack Stephens for pets. ness-centered veterinary and Skeeter.Skeeter is Veterinary Pet Insurance's top dog and chair of pet relations. The Center is designed to practice and integrating well- facilitate collaborative scientific ness concepts into the veteri- research on the mutual benefits nary curriculum." of the human-animal bond and In addition to the gift to the preventative medicine. Wellness Center, Veterinary Pet "Veterinary Pet Insurance is Insurance and the Skeeter the first company to step up to Foundation pledged $25,000 in the plate and provide funding, scholarships. The scholarship and it's doing it in a very gener- recipient will be either a third- ous way," says the Center's act- or fourth-year veterinary med- ing director, Dr. Richard ical student who exemplifies the Meadows. "Not only is this a human-animal bond and the giant step toward getting the essential role veterinarians must Center up and running, but this play within it. grant will serve as an impetus The bond with Skeeter, a for further corporate funding." Miniature Pinscher, inspired He says University research- Stephens to found the Skeeter ers such as Rebecca Johnson, Foundation. "Skeeter may be PhD, RN, of MU's Sinclair small, but he's had an enor- School of Nursing, are starting mous impact on my life," says by examining the effects of dog Dr. Stephens. "As a cancer sur- A R O U N D T H E C O L L E G E 5 vivor, I know first-hand the The College currently has P E O P L E powerful, positive effects of the three programs aimed at help- human-animal bond and how it ing disadvantaged students: After Watching the College Grow Up, can truly impact the health and Gateways to Veterinary Medi- Melloway Retires After 38 Years well being of a human. That's cine, Threshold to Veterinary When the letters of congratula- clinic. In those days the entire Col- why this endowment for the Medicine, and Merck-Merial tions and 'thank yous' began lege support staff consisted of Center for the Study of Animal Career Assistance Program. arriving in the wake of the Delores and one other person who Wellness to study and promote Gateways to Veterinary announcement that Delores Mel- served pathology upstairs and the human-animal bond is a Medicine is an exploration pro- loway, Dean's Office administra- microbiology next door. personal joy for me." gram for college students inter- tive assistant, was retiring after 38 The College was small, rela- Skeeter and Stephens intend ested in veterinary medicine. It years at the College, they came tively new at only 10 years old, to return later in 2000 for the is designed to introduce stu- from current and former students, and friendly. The rapidly growing formal dedication of the Ani- dents to all areas of veterinary staff, faculty, and various adminis- College seemed to need a little mal Wellness Center. medicine, including diagnostics, trators. organization. Delores decided to Founded in 1980 by Dr. Jack clinical aspects, and teaching. But while the letters were provide some organization and Stephens, MU DVM '72, with Nine students participated this many, the themes were few: What not enter the classroom. the support of 750 independent year. will the Dean's Office do without Delores's position grew with veterinarians, Veterinary Pet Hands-on experience is the you? You were so patient and pro- the College. The first big change Insurance, Anaheim, Calif., is feature of the program that fessional. came when the College could the nation's number-one med- Gateways participant Kandis You always afford to provide each department ical insurance for dogs and cats. Ingram found most beneficial. "I could help with a secretary. Delores went Veterinary Pet Insurance poli- learn best from hands-on experi- me. You with Microbiology and Dr. Harold cies cover more than 6,400 ence and that's what I really always had a McDougle who was replaced later medical treatments for accidents enjoy about this program," she smile. with Dr. George Shelton as Micro- and illnesses, with optional cov- said. During the program, One fac- biology Chair. When Dr. Shelton erage available for preventive Ingram's hands-on experience ulty member became associate dean, Delores and routine care. Policies are included everything from taking summed it came back to the Dean's Office to licensed in all 50 states and the blood samples from sheep to up this way: stay through the associate dean- District of Columbia. Exclu- volunteering in the hospital's Delores Melloway "I've been ship of Dr. Ken Niemeyer. Delores sively endorsed by the American intensive care unit. involved with the College since was a veteran of the College when Humane Association, Veteri- "This exploration program is 1983. I'm not sure, but I think I've C.B. Chastain, the current associ- nary Pet Insurance enjoys an 82 an excellent opportunity for lived through four deans and three ate dean, graduated from the DVM percent renewal rate and has getting volunteer hours and an department chairs. Each time one program in 1965. In fact, Delores issued more than one million edge on others who are trying of them left, I wondered if things watched James Thorne, associate policies. VMR to get into veterinary medical would be different with the professor of veterinary pathobiol- school," said Gateways partici- replacement, but I knew deep ogy, receive his DVM degree in Programs Introduce Veterinary pant Shaunita Sharpe. "The MedicineTo Students Who May down that things would go on as 1961, start a career at the College, program shows all of the differ- Not Have Role Models usual. None of those changes are and then retire this year. Ditto for ent avenues to choose from in Last summer, the College as potentially traumatic to me or Bonnard Moseley. the veterinary medical field." opened its doors to disadvan- to the College as your pending More than any other person, Threshold to Veterinary taged college students from over retirement. It will be sad as well as Delores saw the College grow. Medicine is a program that the United States to explore the a little scary to see you leave." She watched the Veterinary Med- helps college students get into a field of veterinary medicine Not a bad tribute for someone ical Building go up across the college of veterinary medicine. through specially-designed pro- who originally saw the College as street from the airplane hangar. It also enables students to grams. Students from certain a short-term job until a teaching She was there for the ground- observe and gain experience in ethnic groups or low economic position opened up. breaking ceremony for the Veteri- a current research project at status, who are considering vet- Delores was born and raised in nary Diagnostic Laboratory, and, MU's College of Veterinary erinary medicine as a career, can Columbia, and came to the College of course, Clydesdale Hall. In Medicine. The program is be at a disadvantage due to a of Veterinary Medicine's Dean's nearly four decades of service she designed for college students lack of sufficient role models in Office in 1960 just after marriage has assisted almost 4/5th of the who have already attended the the field. and graduation from the MU Col- entire student body. Gateways to Veterinary Medi- The College is making a spe- lege of Education, with only some Delores' plans after the College cine program and helps stu- cial effort to help these students practice teaching between her and consist of a little traveling and dents prepare for the veterinary feel at home, said Barbra A.B. her teaching certificate. boating in the Lake of the Ozarks. medical college entrance exam. Horrell, director of student In that year the CVM was Still, there will be one last chore The Merck-Merial Career recruitment and retention. squeezed into Connaway Hall and this autumn of helping Dr. Everett Assistance Program is designed "These are very bright kids; the Veterinary Science building— (Finny) Aronson, director of stu- to enhance and enrich the we're just enriching what they a used aircraft hangar that served dent and alumni affairs. VMR future careers of veterinary already have." as the small and large animal medical students from one of F A L L 2 0 0 0 / W I N T E R 2 0 0 1 V E T E R I N A R Y M E D I C A L R E V I E W 6 A E S S N D H E D M R O U A G E T F R O CM O LT LH EE G E E A N the nation's other 26 colleges of College Orthopedic Technique meniscal material. The mate- animal surgeon and orthope- veterinary medicine. The pro- Makes Its Way to Human Use rial, named porcine small intes- dics specialist; Dr. James L. gram is a research and clinical A technique to regenerate torn tinal submucosa (SIS), is Tomlinson, associate professor investigation externship for stu- meniscal material first tried at absorbed by the meniscus, facil- and orthopedics surgeon; John dents who are preparing for the MU College of Veterinary itating regeneration. As the M. Kreeger, associate professor post-graduate internships or Medicine has made its way meniscus has only a small at the Veterinary Medical Diag- graduate school programs. across the MU campus to help a blood supply, it has little ability nostic Laboratory; and Cristi According to Horrell, the man injured in an auto accident. to repair itself. Normally, dam- Reeves Cook, radiology clinical College's programs certainly are The man, rear-ended by an age worsens as the injured instructor. VMR working. "A large percentage of 18-wheeler truck, suffered meniscus wears away, damag- the students from previous pro- major trauma to both shoul- ing cartilage, and leaving bone grams are now attending vet ders, specifically the rotator DNA "Fingerprints" Help Trace to grind against bone. Deadly E. coli Bacteria school or a graduate program at cuffs. Conventional techniques The first clinical use of SIS MU or somewhere else in the offered little pain relief. occurred about four years ago E. coli bacteria can be deadly. US," Horrell said. Using a technique first used at the MU College of Veteri- Tracking an outbreak can be as One of the factors that makes at the MU Veterinary Medical nary Medicine on an animal mind boggling as tracing an these programs at MU unique is Teaching Hospital, initial with an Achilles tendon injury. unknown criminal suspect in a that nearly all College faculty results look promising for the About a year ago, dogs with large city. members participate and none accident victim. knee injuries were also treated Evidence from fingerprints get paid for the extra work and In injuries that involve dam- and began to show signs of can help police track down their time they contribute to their age to the meniscus, a spongy improvement only one week suspect. A MU College of Vet- pupils. The College has a diverse material that provides a cush- later. erinary Medicine researcher has student body and six minority ion where two bones meet, MU The principal investigators found a way to use DNA "fin- faculty members. "It's a labor of veterinary surgeons used a on the project, internally gerprinting" to determine the love and a true commitment to technique that surgically places funded by the College and source of fecal coliform inclusion," Horrell said. VMR biomedically-modified pig DePuy Orthopedics, Inc., were microbes, such as E. coli, found intestines against the damaged Drs. James (Jimi) Cook, small in lakes, streams, and reservoirs. The test determines the origin P E O P L E of micobial pollutants in water, says Dr. C.A. Carson, MU veteri- nary microbiologist. The test Mission Accomplished for College's determines whether a microbial $10 Million Endowment Campaign: source is from human or one of a $17,913,603 in total impact variety of non-human sources such as migratory birds, house- The College's $10 million 50th Anniversary Endowment Campaign that hold pets, or production animals. began in July 1996,ended June 30,2000 with committed campaign funds The test uses enzymes to cut standing at $11,733,603. The four-year campaign was designed to paral- apart strands of DNA in bacte- lel the four-year journey that the first graduating class made,entering the ria cultured from submitted College in 1946 and graduating in 1950. s This figure does not include water samples. The fragments the value of $2,750,000 in state matching funds committed through the are separated in a gel slab that Missouri Endowed Chairs and Professorships Program,said David Horner, is placed in an electric field. The College development officer who directed the campaign.In addition,new process results in DNA patterns bequest intentions are expected to bring the College an additional resembling bar codes on gro- $3,430,000 not counted in the campaign total,he said.Thus,the total cery store products. These pat- impact will be $17,913,603. s The leadership and major gifts portion of terns are as individual as the campaign concluded with Mrs.Thelma P. Zalk giving the College fingerprints and can be $800,000 to fund two new endowments:$550,000 to establish a profes- matched with fecal coliform sorship in tumor angiogenesis,and $250,000 to create an endowment for DNA from suspected hosts. the study of animal wellness.This amount is in addition to a $300,000 gift One of the first uses of the Mrs.Zalk presented to the College last year to establish an endowment for new test involved water samples financially-needy veterinary medical students. s That new professorship from Long Branch Lake, near was one of five endowed through the campaign.The others were the Ral- Macon, Mo. to determine if an ston Purina Professor of Small Animal Nutrition,the Tom and Betty Scott odd taste and smell were caused Mrs.Thelma Zalk of St.Louis. by human, livestock, wildlife, or Professor of Veterinary Oncology,the E.Paige Laurie Professor of Equine Lameness,and the Charles and Charlene McKee Professor of Microbial Pathogenesis. s The College's development staff continue to other sources. VMR finalize leadership level solicitations started during the campaign.These gifts/pledges,once finalized,will be added to the endowment campaign totals. s The last phase of the campaign,a friends and alumni general solicitation,was begun in October.The goal of this campaign is to acquire 8,000 new donors with an average first gift of $50 to the College. VMR F A L L 2 0 0 0 / W I N T E R 2 0 0 1 V E T E R I N A R Y M E D I C A L R E V I E W A R O H C O G E M E S S A G EU N F DR OT M E T H E L DL EE A N 7 Post-Doctoral Training Offered unique capabilities to con- in Comparative Medicine tribute in comparative medicine Program research, he said. In-depth The MU College of Veterinary research training and experi- Medicine is currently accepting ence are necessary to assure applications for post-doctoral that these veterinary specialists training positions in Compara- can initiate competitive inde- tive Medicine, the study of dis- pendent or collaborative eases that afflict humans and research careers and realize animals in the same manner. their full potential as research The Comparative Medicine leaders. training program combines one The University of Missouri year of residency training in training program in Compara- clinical, administrative, and tive Medicine has been in exis- diagnostic laboratory animal tence since 1967. Under the medicine with two or more direction of Dr. Joseph E. Wag- years (dependant on degree program) of in-depth research ner, professor of veterinary Vet Tech of the Year pathobiology, the program training in state-of-the-art labo- became one of the elite Compar- ratories. The training is Lisa Boland, senior veterinary technician at the MU Veteri- ative Medicine training pro- designed to prepare individuals grams in the country, Dr. nary Medical Teaching Hospital, earlier this year was named for a variety of careers in com- Franklin said. The program has the MU Veterinary Technician of the Year. This award, spon- parative medicine research. an outstanding record of trainee sored by the College student bookstore and selected by the Both MS and PhD programs productivity throughout its his- are offered. Candidates must senior class, is given to honor an outstanding VMTH techni- tory as evidenced by its 70 grad- have a DVM degree. uates who have held important cian who the senior class feels has had the most impact on "Comparative Medicine is positions and made significant their clinical experience. Boland has been employed at the the cornerstone of advances in contributions to Comparative College since October 1993 and was an animal surgical biomedical and behavioral sci- Medicine research. technician at the Animal Sciences Center from 1983 until ences that employ complex ani- For more information, con- mal models in increasingly 1993 when she took the position of senior veterinary tech- tact Dr. Franklin, at the College sophisticated experimental par- of Veterinary Medicine, (573) nician in the VMTH's ophthalmology section. She graduated adigms," said Dr. Craig 882-6623 or at franklinc@mis- from the Animal Health Technology Program at Truman Franklin, director of the com- souri.edu. VMR State University, Kirksville, in 1981. parative medicine training pro- gram. "Advances in comparative medicine are essential to improvements in Accolades the quality of biomedical and Dr. Stan Casteel, associate professor of veterinary pathobi- Dr. Marie Kerl, visiting clinical assistant professor, received the Daniels behavioral animal experimenta- ology, was an invited speaker at the Western Veterinary Con- Award from the Society of Comparative Endocrinology for "excellence in tion through characterization of ference in Las Vegas. He presented: New Therapies for Old advancement of knowledge concerning small animal endocrinology."The the complex interactions inher- Intoxication, Mycotoxin Problems in Small Animals, Six Thou- award was given to Dr. Kerl for her recent publication entitled: Dose ent in animal-based experimen- sand Years of Lead and Other Metals, and Case-Based Diag- Response Relationship Between Plasma Concentrations of Adrenocorti- tation, and through nostic Toxicology. He also was the invited speaker at the Solubility/ cotropic Hormone and Cortisol and Incremental Doses of Cosyntropin for development and refinement of Bioavailability Research Consortium sponsored by DuPont. He presented ACTH Stimulation Testing In Dogs. animal models and experimen- Utility of Juvenile Swine Model for Metal Biokinetics. Dr.Heide Schatten, associate professor of veterinary patho- tal methods. It is here that vet- Dr. Harvey Gosser, professor of pathobiology and director biology, traveled to Santotini, Greece to co-chair a session at erinarians, with their broad of MU's Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory,assisted in the 13th International Conference on Humans and Space.She knowledge of organismal biol- Cornell University's accreditation. also presented:The Effects of Altered Gravity Conditions on ogy, have a unique potential to Dr.Allen Hahn, professor of veterinary med- Cytoskeletal Organization and Mitochondria in Cultured Cells. icine and surgery,presided at a meeting on Vet- She then traveled to Berlin to collaborate on the preparation of an contribute." erinary Medical Databases at Purdue University. international NASA grant proposal at the University of Berlin. Dr. Franklin said there is also Dr. Carolyn Henry, assistant professor of Dr. Richard Tsika, associate professor of veterinary biomedical an existing need to prepare vet- veterinary oncology,moderated a forum at the sciences and biochemistry, was the invited speaker at the Basic erinarians as leaders in compar- annual meeting of the American College of Veterinary Inter- and Applied Myology Conference. ative biomedical research. By nal Medicine. Dr. Wade Welshons, associate professor of veterinary bio- virtue of their multidisciplinary Dr. Philip Johnson, associate professor of medical sciences, was the featured speaker at a conference background in the biology and veterinary medicine and surgery, chaired the hosted by Johns Hopkins University's Center in Urban Envi- medicine of numerous animal session Pathophysiology and Therapeutics:Equine Gastroen- ronmental Health.He presented:Biological Activity of Bisphe- species, veterinarians possess terology at the annual meeting of the American College of nol A in Mice at Levels of Current Human Exposure. Veterinary Internal Medicine. F A L L 2 0 0 0 / W I N T E R 2 0 0 1 V E T E R I N A R Y M E D I C A L R E V I E W 8 V E T E R I N A R Y P E O P L E Is the Sports Page Ready For Competitive Quilting? When not helping to discover diseases at the Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Dr. Sue Turnquist enjoys a creative outlet and success in a little-known competition tional and consists primarily Fair. Look- of art-style quilts designed ing at the to be hung on the wall like sewing a painting. These art quilts machines, Guess Who's Coming are relatively new to the she began for Dinner? quilting world. While tra- to think that making quilts Boones- ditional quilts are typically would be a fun pastime. lick Trail Quilters' Guild, of constructed of repetitive Entering the competitive which Dr. Turnquist is a mem- blocks sewn by hand or world of quilts only began in ber, has a membership of more machine, art quilts April with a quilt entitled than 200. The AQS has more encompass a larger vari- "Decisions, Decisions." A fish- than 50,000 members and is ety of style including pic- eye look at whether to bite a one of several organizations Decisions, Decisions. torial scenes or hook and worm or fisherman's worldwide. In fact, Dr. Turn- landscapes. In the five years toes, the quilt won third place quist points out, quilting is the that she has been making in an AQS competition—an s It hasn't arrived on ABC- largest specialty group repre- quilts, about the first dozen almost unprecedented showing TV's Wide World of Sports yet, sented on the Internet. were traditional. The remain- for a new competitor. but quilting can be a competi- Dr. Turnquist's quilt style ing 40 or so other quilts have Competition is usually tive international sport. Just typically incorporates thread- been nontraditional. They vary intense in these contests—best ask Sue Turnquist, DVM, PhD, painted motifs. This technique in size between under a square of show can win $18,000 and clinical assistant professor, and is used extensively in Australia foot to 75 x 75-inches. enters the permanent collection pathologist in the MU Veteri- and some European countries, Dr. Turnquist, who regularly in the Museum of the Ameri- nary Medical Diagnostic Labo- but is still in its infancy in the peers into microscopes looking can Quilt Society in Paducah, ratory. U.S. How does she design and for microbes, didn't discover Kentucky. Recently, she designed a make one? After an idea is her creative side until she wan- Quilting as a hobby and quilt that took second place in chosen, she draws the image dered into the commercial ven- competitive sport is also larger the Museum of the American on a paper that is then ironed dor area of the Missouri State than most people realize. The Quilter's Society's (AQS) Storm onto a piece of fabric. Using a at Sea-themed "New Quilts standard sewing machine, the From An Old Favorite" con- image is outlined and then test. Entries were to be inspired "painted" with colored rayon, Dr.Sue Turnquist polyester, or cotton threads. by the classic Storm at Sea tra- and one of her ditional quilt. quilts depicting a The finished motif is appliquéd Dr. Turnquist's quilt "Red country mill to the chosen design. Sky at Morning, Sailor Take theme. With a third and second Warning" was sandwiched place showing, there is an between the first-place quilt obvious next goal to achieve from the United Kingdom and for Dr. Turnquist. That effort the third-place quilt from will be championed this fall by France. There were 55 entries the quilt Guess Who's Coming from 26 states and five other for Dinner? that features a countries. large Bengal tiger looking Most of Dr. Turnquist's through a window. VMR work is considered non-tradi- Photos by Howard Wilson R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M S 9 Hollywood Animation Technology Has Another Use— Scientifically Evaluating the Lameness of Horses Center Stage Horses h ollywood has embraced mators use. Instead of these techniques pass digital animation technol- recasting the image into a from the research phase, ogy to create dazzling spe- cinematic character, prospects are good that cial effects. Lifelike figures researchers study the future veterinarians will falling from a sinking image and precisely meas- have a tool that they have ocean liner are, in reality, ure the movements and wanted for centuries—a digital images created in a relationships between crit- system to objectively powerful computer. A dev- ical body parts such as the measure lameness in ilish space alien starts out head, trunk, limbs, and horses. as an actor being video- joints. With data, Heading up this taped. Those images and researchers can precisely research effort is a team movement are then ren- calculate movement limi- of MU's equine surgeons, dered into a moveable tation caused by hip dys- led by Dr. Kevin G. Kee- wire-frame computer plasia or neurological gan, associate professor of model that can be manipu- dysfunction, the effect of equine medicine and sur- lated to do whatever the medicine on polio victims, gery, and Dr. David A. screenwriter can dream up. or evaluate the effective- Wilson, associate profes- This powerful hard- ness of prosthetic devices. sor and co-director of the ware and software imag- At the MU College of College's teaching hospi- ing technology is finding Veterinary Medicine, this tal. Using much of the its way into medical uses. technology is being used same hardware and soft- Researchers are videotap- in the ancient art of evalu- ware of Hollywood ani- ing a person's movements ating lameness in horses. mators, they are and converting the data It is one of a few veteri- conducting motion analy- into the same computer- nary research programs in sis studies of horses that ized wire-frame model the world using this form are accurate to one-half of that the Hollywood ani- of motion analysis. When one millimeter—precision 10 R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M S lege. During those years he in the same way that evaluations have centered became interested in evalu- mechanical engineers study around the force plate, a ating horses as intricate how a machine works, device that measures the machines that can be meas- with precise data that can impact of the body. Results ured and scientifically eval- be scientifically measured of force plate evaluations uated using precise and and repeated," Dr. Keegan on medical subjects are less accurate mathematical and said. intuitive and therefore less engineering laws. That training met the readily understandable for Historically, equine vet- high-speed equine treadmill the average medical profes- erinarians had only subjec- installed in Clydesdale Hall sional or layperson. On the tive visual methods to in 1993. This device was other hand, high-speed evaluate lameness. Two purchased with the assis- motion analysis directly veterinarians watching the tance of a Columbia, Mo. measures adjustments same lame horse may inter- family, Bill and Nancy Lau- made by the body in pret differently the source rie and daughter Paige. The response to pain. A lame of trouble. Treatment, family had come to know person or horse may con- based on subjective visual the MU equine team tinue to run or walk, but that the team hopes will analysis, could also vary through treatment of some may compensate by throw- provide clues to better greatly. Dr. Keegan thought of their Crown Center ing the head to one side or understand the dynamics of that there had to be a more Farm horses. Told about the other to remove weight a lame horse. objective, scientific way. the idea of a high-tech from the painful limb. This led not to veteri- approach to studying "A horse trotting at a A Bioengineering nary school, but to the equine lameness, the Lau- comfortable pace is a very Background engineering school and a ries helped purchase the efficient machine where After graduation from master's degree at the Uni- camera, hardware, soft- movement is repeatable and the MU College of Veteri- versity of Illinois where he ware, and image animation symmetrical," he continued. nary Medicine in 1983, Dr. studied stress analysis, technology the College "When the horse is afflicted Keegan spent seven years in instrumentation, and bio- needed to develop an with lameness or neurologi- a surgical residency and mechanics. "I became equine performance labo- cal dysfunction, it upsets private equine practice interested in the idea of ratory. With this system, this efficiency and symme- before returning to the Col- analyzing how horses move Drs. Keegan and Wilson try, and this can be meas- finally had a way to ured. These results can be precisely capture more easily extrapolated to and measure the subjective visual evaluation movement of a run- and are therefore more use- ning horse in a way ful for teaching and training never before avail- doctors and students in the able. art of lameness recogni- The process the tion." researchers chose to use is called kine- The System matic motion analy- The College's setup to sis—a process evaluate a running horse is different from the not unlike that used by force-plate analysis Hollywood to gather visual familiar to many images to begin an anima- equine researchers. tion project. Here, how- In this process, the ever, it's a horse that takes motion of the entire center stage on the equine horse is studied. treadmill and begins to trot "High-speed or run. motion analysis is A bank of strobe lights, relatively new even emitting only visible red Placing the light reflecting elements on the horse is a precise endeavor given the image capture system's ability to measure to the human field light, begin to blink at 120 movement in increments as little as one-half of one millimeter.Researchers Drs.David Wilson and Kevin Keegan prepare a subject of medicine," Dr. times per second. This red on the College's equine treadmill. Keegan said. "More light reflects off dozens of traditional biome- markers attached to easily chanical medical recognized landmarks on R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M S 11 the horse such as the head, two concepts of the utmost degree of lameness. With feet, joints, and trunk. Five importance in scientific such a standard, more pre- cameras, positioned analysis. Recent develop- cise and consistent treat- around the horse, record ments in computer technol- ment can be administered. 120 images per second of ogy have made it possible The second objective is the light reflected off each to efficiently digest such to establish a method to marker. This results in large amounts of data in a quickly diagnose the spe- more than 15,000 pieces of horse movement data per way not possible before. The large amounts of con- cific limb of the horse that is causing the problem. Up to 16 specially-designed second—almost a million sistent data have also Quick diagnoses here can pieces of data during a 60- allowed detection of more mean a more effective second trot. intermittent problems that treatment sooner. These cameras capture the motion The computer animation may be showing up only two objectives combined software then goes to work periodically, perhaps occur- into a clinical process and produces a wire model ring only every third or would provide equine vet- that is later rendered on the figure of the horse and its fourth stride. In addition, erinarians with a better movement, rendered into a recent developments in way to evaluate and treat movie, based on the move- technology have made their patients, as well as a computer.The cameras ment of the markers. high-speed motion analysis better ability to accurately Because the data are com- much more precise and monitor treatment puter generated from many camera angles, the horse's accurate." The resulting highly-pre- progress. Some of this work has see and emit only red light. movements can be viewed cise numbers are the part already begun. Dr. Keegan from any direction, includ- of the project that is and the equine team are ing looking straight down important, Dr. Keegan using motion analysis on the horse. pointed out. "That's what process to see how effective While the moving wire we're doing here, analyzing a commonly used drug model can reveal much precise data in ways that really treats navicular dis- about the horse's actions to have not been analyzed ease. an observer, it is the num- before." "Our last objective is to bers generated by the move- Important things to look utilize our high-speed ment of the markers that for in the numbers are motion capture ability in are most important. With parameters of stride; combination with sophisti- these, relationships of ground-reaction forces; cated, data processing movement between the kinetics of the hip, knee and computer techniques, horse's parts can be com- ankle; moments of forces; such as neural networks, pared, usually on a series of and joint powers. expert systems, fuzzy graphs. The graphs can In addition to looking logic, etc.," Dr. Keegan reveal, for example, if the for odd movement and said. "These complex horse's left rear limb moves relationships, these charts computation techniques more fluidly than the right, can also compare the have the ability to if the horse alters its head action to a previous run of 'learn' and have recently movement slightly when the horse or to the move- been used as highly-accu- one hoof touches the ment of a "model" or rate decision making rules ground, or if the horse "perfect" horse. in all sorts of practical seems to compensate for a Dr. Keegan and other applications—in the insur- painful fetlock with a researchers can then corre- ance industry to predict longer stride with one limb. late data with standard risk, in handwriting and "With a combination of clinical techniques, such as voice recognition analyses, the treadmill and high- radiographic images, to get and recently in the medical speed motion capture capa- a better idea of the possible industry to assist in com- bility, several consecutive mechanisms underlying the plex diagnoses. It is our lameness problems even strides can be collected lameness problem. hope that this combination further, perhaps to be able from each patient under There are three immedi- of the data-rich, high-speed to tell exactly where the highly-controlled condi- ate objectives to this study, motion analysis and com- pain is within the joint, just tions," Dr. Keegan said. Dr. Keegan said. First is to puter algorithms capable of by analyzing motion. Only "This translates into lots of establish an objective learning may be useful to the future and continued data with low variability, measurement of the horse's routinely narrow down study will tell." VMR F A L L / W I N T E R 2 0 0 0 V E T E R I N A R Y M E D I C A L R E V I E W Human Uses of Motion Analysis In the last few years human medicine has used motion analysis to study gait problems caused by orthopedic disease or neurological dysfunction. The s military uses motion analysis for research to prevent muscle overuse injuries. Physical therapists use it to eval- uate prosthetic devices and rehabilitation programs. Other researchers use the data to devise strength-train- ing procedures to improve the movement of cerebral palsy victims. s Motion analysis can also be employed to track degenerative changes caused by congenital dysplasia of the hip. A similar pro- gram looked at the changes in gait of polio sur- vivors. Here, nine healthy subjects and seventeen post-polio patients were compared. Significant increases in the knee extension and the ankle plantar flexion of post-polio patients were observed during the weight acceptance phases of their gait. Polio patients also exhibited highly noticeable excessive hip flex- ion during the swing phase of their ambulation.This caused the post- polio patients to walk in a significantly-less-stable way.These weaknesses in lower extremity muscles of polio patients were found to be an important factor that affected stable ambulation. By study- s ing the unique alterations of posture and gait caused by Duchenne muscular dystrophy, an X-linked recessive disease with a fatal outcome, researchers are finding that motion analysis techniques can help them determine ways to delay the pro- gressive muscle weakness and keep the patient mobile for a longer period of time. s Coaches have used the system to determine if ath- letes are operating at their best efficiency. S E R V I N G T H E C O M M U N I T Y 13 One design requirement for the new ICU was to allow teams of caregivers to treat two emergency cases Clydesdale's ICU simultaneously. Is Given It's Own Intensive Care When plans were drawn for Clydesdale Hall's inten- care and to accommodate the roles of a modern ICU. sive care unit in the late 1980s, they were made Dr. Tony Mann, associate professor of veterinary according to an older concept that ICUs were an medicine and surgery and director of small animal extension of the anesthesia service. emergency and critical care, noted several goals: add During the 1990s, the new cages and runs for roles and capabilities of larger animals; reorganize veterinary ICUs expanded. cage placement so that all Clydesdale's ICU changed patients can be more easi- with the times and institut- ly monitored by ICU staff, ed the latest forms of closer to where it would advanced treatment and store equipment needed in patient monitoring. But as an emergency; and the caseload increased rearrange space so that from 9 cases per night to multiple clinicians, techni- 10 to the current average cians, and students can of 13, the seven-year-old work simultaneously in facility needed more than Dr. Paige Langdon, small animal medicine resident (left) and Dr, Marie Kerl, visiting the ICU. a band-aid to keep up. clinical assistant professor (right) works with Class of 2001 student Amanda Another new feature: Beginning in February (Mandy) Spencer to aid a dog suffering from smoke inhalation. glassed-in cages to isolate and ending in May this year, Clydesdale's ICU under- animals that have undergone radiation and went its own intensive care in the form of a rehab. chemotherapy. Now, these animals, whose compro- Unfortunately, the location of load-bearing walls mised immune systems make them vulnerable to meant there would be little additional floor space, but infectious diseases, can be isolated even though they what was available was redesigned for better patient are close to other animals and caregivers. VMR F A L L / W I N T E R 2 0 0 0 V E T E R I N A R Y M E D I C A L R E V I E W 14 S E R V I N G T H E C O M M U N I T Y A New Field Study Shows Ways To Streamline Swine Production While Enhancing Labor Efficiency The market has been brutal to Missouri pork producers. Product prices have slid, and are staying, at historic lows. Worse, the rich labor market in the cities has lured away many farm workers. The challenge of increasing production efficiency while decreasing the amount of labor to grow baby pigs to market-ready hogs was undertaken last year in a field study by the Continuing Education- Extension section of the MU College of Veterinary Medicine. In a soon-to-be-released report, the project has identified a system called "Wean to Finish" designed to streamline production while making better use of human resources. An added benefit is a more comfortable, happier pig who goes to market a few pounds heavier than his conventionally-raised sibling. The study was funded by the National Pork Producers Council and the University of Missouri's Animal Health Formula Fund. Heading the effort was Dr. Thomas Fang- man, diplomate in swine health management and com- mercial agriculture swine focus team coordinator for the University's Outreach and Extension division. "Our goal was to establish a simple and practical way to enhance the comfort of the pigs and the people who work with them," Dr. Fangman said. "We hope to positively impact both productivity and quality of life issues to help Missouri pork producers stay competitive in a market with low producer prices and a highly-competitive labor market." Less Stress, Happier Pigs In traditional swine agriculture, baby pigs are birthed in a farrowing house and moved to a nurs- ery. At about 10 weeks of age, they are loaded into a truck for the trip to the grow-to-finish barn where they will stay until marketed. That movement, sometimes up to 100 miles, not only confuses and scares the animals, but upsets their estab- lished society. As social animals, baby pigs establish a peck- ing order that is disrupted by the move. It can take a week to become acquainted with new surroundings and pen mates, dur- ing which time the pigs are not eating as much and not gaining as much weight. Stressed, they are also more susceptible to any disease F A L L / W I N T E R 2 0 0 0 V E T E R I N A R Y M E D I C A L R E V I E W S S S M E R V IA NG GE R E T Y TF H EO MC O T MH M U DN EI A N 15 Eliminating the job of cleaning the nurs- ery not only saves the cost of two days' labor, but prevents one very nasty job. Dr. The Bottom Line Fangman said it is important for family Dr. Fangman and team conducted the farms, in particular, to do anything possi- test in northern Missouri using 2,000 ble to enhance an employee or family barrows. Half of the group was weaned member's job satisfaction to help that per- into a conventional nursery while the son stay on the farm. The elimination of other half went directly to the wean-to- the truck ride also saves a few dollars, and finish barn. The two facilities stood side- reduces the animals' risk of injury or stress by-side and were maintained by the during transport. same personnel to minimize test vari- At a visit to one of the model production sites in northern Missouri, Skipping the nursery also creates the one financial disadvantage to the model. In the ables. All pigs were given the same feed Dr. Fangman briefs College Dean Joe Kornegay about some of the methods used to increase efficiency. wean-to-finish barn, each baby pig enjoys a and water ration. spacious 8-sq.-ft. area compared to only The conventionally-raised group 2.4-sq.-ft. in the smaller nursery. While the reached an average market weight of that may be lingering in the new environ- additional space makes the pigs happier 260 pounds in 192 days. The wean-to- ment. Like people, pigs are wary of through less social tension and more exer- finish group reached an average market strangers and become tense until they cise, and the increased airflow helps with weight of eight pounds more in 180 become familiar with their new friends. disease prevention, the additional space days. Moving the pigs also leaves a huge mess costs the producer more to maintain and Serum and tissue samples taken from behind in the nursery. Contrary to popular heat. both groups indicated that the wean-to- thought, pigs prefer a sanitary environ- Heating the space is an important consid- finish group was somewhat healthier ment. For the next generation to grow eration as baby pigs like to be toasty warm than their conventionally-raised kin. In healthier and more disease free, the nursery while sleeping. Accommodating the pigs in the conventional group, 228 pigs needs a thorough cleaning that is one of a nursery is easy as one heating lamp works required individual treatment in the first the least desirable jobs on the farm. It can for each smaller pen. For the larger space of four weeks of the project, versus 171 take almost two days of hard and dirty the wean-to-finish pen, zone heating is wean-to-finish pigs during the same work to prepare the nursery room for the employed—two 125-watt heating lamps are period. next batch of weaned pigs. placed over a soft rubber mat that the pigs Dr. Fangman said it is difficult to put an Under the model studied last year in naturally use as their sleeping area. estimated savings on the new techniques northern Missouri, baby pigs skip the nurs- In the center of each pen is the continu- as the results would vary from operation ery and go to a wean-to-finish barn—a ous feeding and watering device. The conventional grow-to-finish barn with a to operation. Still, the results indicate there device is automatic, so it saves a bit on few modifications. Here, the pigs live and are practical ways to increase productivity labor. As the labor market becomes even grow until they are ready for market. and yield—important considerations for tighter, Dr. Fangman said, any labor sav- ings will become increasingly important. pork producers who have been stressed VMR themselves in today's brutal market. Rollins Society Inducts Three Vet Med Students Sean Byrd, Wanda Gordon, and Steven Root, all College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2000, were accepted earlier this year into the Rollins Society, a MU organization designed to recognize outstanding professional school students who contribute to university extracurricu- lar activities. The three join a number of College of Veterinary Medicine students so honored. Last year, Nathan Voris and Kelly Rosenkranz of the Class of 1999 were accepted into the society. In 1998, Mary Lynn Higginbotham and John Peacock were accepted. In 1997, Melissa Brook- shire, Robert Espey, Denise Schnitker, and Erik Siebel-Spath joined the organization. The first veterinary medical school student named to the society was Melissa "Missy" Dollar, Class of 1996. The Rollins Society, founded in 1994, was named for James Rollins. As a member of the of the 1839 Missouri Legislature, he helped pass legislation that established the University of Missouri and also played a role in the selection of Columbia for its location. In 1872, the MU Board of Curators recognized Rollins as the Father of the University of Missouri. Steven Root,Wanda Gordon, and Sean Byrd, all College of In accord with Rollins' efforts, the Rollins Society is designed to foster the value he placed Veterinary Medicine Class of 2000, were accepted into the Rollins on community and leadership. VMR Society. F A L L / W I N T E R 2 0 0 0 V E T E R I N A R Y M E D I C A L R E V I E W 16 V E T E R I N A R Y E D U C A T I O N It's impossible to avoid the computer. Few people live a day without using an ATM, grocery store scanner, or the Internet. The computer, with its immediate ability to access and use vast amounts of data from anywhere in the world, has also dramati- cally impacted education. How about the ancient art of veterinary medicine? Some of the members of the College's Information Technology Team: John (Zarchary) March, clinical instructor; Don Connor, College artist; and Dr. Gary Allen, assistant professor of veterinary pathobiology and director of information technology at the CVM. Computers and the Veterinary Medical Classroom At the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, computers live in virtually every nook and cranny. Each office has one, as does every rounds room, lounge, and stu- dent gathering point. Everyone is con- nected through e-mail. Each classroom is set up for computer-generated presenta- tions, and computer labs are available 24 hours a day. And there are central servers, with a team of people to run them, con- necting everything. But, while the machines are everywhere, the fundamentals of delivering a quality veterinary medical education haven't changed. Students still memorize anatomy, attend lectures, view slides, ask questions, and read books and journal articles. The computer's role is what it does best: find, access, use, and share information quickly and efficiently. This means professors can introduce more information faster, pack- age it in a more logical way, add movies The Machine isn't replacing and sounds, and organize everything to do more in the limited time of an instruc- traditional education— tional period. The challenge to put technology in the it's just helping through the College's toolkit of College educators has fallen on the College's Information Technology unit. In its first year of formal existence, the Information Technology Team unit has already helped shape the College's technology use. F A L L / W I N T E R 2 0 0 0 V E T E R I N A R Y M E D I C A L R E V I E W V E T E R I N A R Y E D U C A T I O N 17 Changes in Vet Med Education When prompted, the student can click the Probably the most noticeable change, to computer's mouse on areas of the radi- a graduate before the computer age, is the ograph thought to contain a lesion. Imme- traditional lecture. Chalk and blackboard diately, a pop up text box tells the student have been replaced by computer-generated if the choice was right or wrong, and any presentations that, to the uninitiated, look additional information that the instructor like slide shows. But, in addition to illus- thinks necessary. The program can also trative still photos, the instructor can also keep score and let the student know if his add written key concepts, sounds, movies, or her work is adequate. graphs, and animations, said Zac March, "This is not a radically-different method clinical instructor and coordinator of edu- of education, but another tool for the Current College Courses cational technology. March heads the Assisted by instructor to make delivery of the material effort to help teachers use technology. The Informational Technology Team faster and more efficient," March said. Each tool gives the instructor another These techniques naturally lend them- opportunity to communicate material, Veterinary Microscopic Anatomy selves to testing. In addition to electroni- March said. For example, a surgical or CNS Pharmacology cally-scored multiple choice questions, endoscopic procedure, how a horse students can be evaluated through their Veterinary Toxicology exhibits lameness, or an epileptic seizure responses to movies, animations, and may best be shown with a short movie. Veterinary Immunology other graphics. This creates, March said, a The progress of a disease could be shown Veterinary Virology more authentic testing environment that with a series of still photos. Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics also reiterates important concepts and Enhancing a lecture with appropriate Veterinary Parasitology knowledge. Tests can be scored automati- visuals and sounds has several advantages. cally, allowing the instructor to focus on Presenting the information in several ways Preventive Veterinary Medicine, teaching instead of grading. Results can Zoonoses and Food Safety also be statistically evaluated, letting the increases the likelihood that one will com- municate to the student's strongest learn- Veterinary Systemic and Special Pathology instructor know if certain questions were ing style. Most people are visual learners, Veterinary Clinical Pathology too easy or hard. Computer-administered March said. With visuals, you'll communi- Companion Animal Medicine tests also have the ability to provide imme- cate faster, with greater understanding, diate feedback through e-mail to the test Small Animal Surgery and with more accuracy by showing rather taker. Online testing at the College is not than telling. Equine Medicine coming too soon. This year the veterinary Computer presentations also mean a lec- national board exams will be given online. ture is not limited to a specific classroom ing students a better chance of achieving "By exposing students to this new testing at a specific time. Students can access lec- their highest degree of understanding. paradigm, we feel we are preparing them ture materials before class for clues to key Busy vet students can better tailor their for success with the national boards," points and the context of what is to be schedules around course material available March said. learned. Students who miss a class have a at any time. way to catch up. Students struggling with The old textbook, too, has been Learners as Researchers and Teachers a concept can repeat the material until updated. Faculty at the MU College of Technology also enhances an ancient understanding is reached. Some instructors Veterinary Medicine have been given per- concept of teaching by asking learners to have gone that next step by building a mission to electronically publish, within research a subject and deliver a presenta- course website where the entire semester's the College's network, an immunology tion to the class. Before technology, this curriculum is accessible. Here, high-qual- book that students can read online or method resulted in either a written paper ity, WWW-based course materials, join lec- print interesting pages. Hyperlinks, elec- or student lecture. ture notes and visuals. A course on tronic pointers that move the computer to Last year, a CVM student studied the lat- medical ethics, for example, can be hyper- another document or program, are pro- est data on equine lameness, specifically linked to the latest information at the vided at key concepts so students can navicular disease. As he gathered results, American Veterinary Medical Association. access other data or web pages. Keywords he chose from a wide array of options to Last year, there were only a handful of can be clicked to reveal their definitions. communicate what he found. Where text web courses at the MU College of Veteri- This technique transforms the old-fash- best communicated a concept, the written nary Medicine. This year there are about ioned textbook into a sophisticated word or graphs were used. Visual proce- 15. March estimates that number may resource where students with diverse dures were presented with photos, movies, triple in another year, a trend supported expectations can quickly find and access CT scans, or radiographs. Audio interviews by student demand. information important to them. with recognized practitioners could have Humans learn at different rates, March This interactivity with immediate feed- been added. When done, all was bundled pointed out. Classroom lectures paced to back is a powerful educational tool, into an interactive presentation on a $2 the majority of the class may leave quick March said. Another example is how stu- CD-ROM where viewers could click but- students bored and slower students con- dents are taught to identify radiographic tons to navigate through the information. fused. Supplemental computer material lesions. Here, the student opens a com- March points out that this technique can be studied at an individual pace, giv- puter program showing the radiograph. allows people to be creative in how they F A L L / W I N T E R 2 0 0 0 V E T E R I N A R Y M E D I C A L R E V I E W 18 V E T E R I N A R Y E D U C A T I O N Computers in the Veterinary Help For Instructors the SWAT Team Classroom...from page 16 Technological growth, and its educa- tional implications, can stagger the minds explain difficult concepts to audiences of instructors trying to keep pace with with varying degrees of understanding. advances in their subject area. To help get "Veterinary medicine needs team players teachers started with educationally-sound who know how to communicate in many technology, the College has created the different ways," says Dr. Gary Allen, a fac- SWAT team-Student Wizards Assisting ulty member in veterinary pathobiology Teaching. Here, six tech-savvy students and Director of the CVM Information help instructors augment their curriculum Technology unit. "Collaborative projects through technology. Funded by an USDA help students to work with people of dif- grant, SWAT team members are usually ferent backgrounds, talents, and tempera- pre-vet students—an added bonus in ments." exposing future DVM candidates to their Such assignments also help teach stu- career choice. dents critical thinking skills. "Just because The more sophisticated work occurs in a it is on a web page doesn't mean that it is multimedia lab next to the College library. credible or accurate," March said. "Stu- Here, students and instructors use soft- dents need to evaluate the content of ware/hardware to create animations and sources for applicability and authenticity. digitize images or capture, edit, and digi- A good-looking website doesn't necessarily tize VHS video. The lab also offers the mean the information in it is relevant, ability to communicate data through web unbiased, or accurate." pages or CD-ROM. Across the hallway is Both Dr. Allen and March point out the main computer lab with 36 computers. there is an explosion of data worldwide A help desk is close by. that no one can memorize. Skills to obtain Professors are involved as much as they information effectively, and then quickly wish in the technical parts. Some drop off Dr. Joe Kornegay in his laboratory at Dalton utilize it, are more important today than scribbled pencil notes on legal pads while Cardiovascular Research Center. the days when a small library could essen- their more adventuresome colleagues dig tially contain all that was known about into the software with guidance from the veterinary medicine. Knowledge of this technology is good in its own right as today's graduates will live in a world where instant, worldwide SWAT team. A College artist and multi- media specialist/photographer are also available to polish the presentation or modify an imperfect image. Corrected research, consultation, and client interac- All electronic courses are reviewed and tion will be commonplace. Also, practi- tioners in rural areas will have as much access to the latest information as their big-city counterparts. approved by faculty before implementa- tion to assure accuracy, effectiveness, and quality. Courses are then loaded onto the College's server where they're made avail- Genetic "These are the tools of the new knowl- able to any computer in the CVM. edge-based economy," Dr. Allen said. "People who know how to use them effi- ciently will have an advantage over those Testing security is tight and usage is closely monitored. The system is capable of limiting students' access and time allo- Defect in Dog who don't." cated for exams, March said. The server These tools are scattered around the Col- tracks students as they complete assign- lege and the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, and students use them routinely. "The technological tools exist today to dra- ments, scores the tests, and communicates information or grades via e-mail. Security is maintained through a multi-layer system May Shed matically change our concept of educa- with password protection to keep the Light on tion," Dr. Allen said. "Imagine a world unauthorized out. where a lecture given by a renown expert in In all, there are 15 members of the Col- a university classroom in Europe is shared lege's Information Technology unit to via the Internet with a classroom here at the assist the more than 600 faculty, staff, and College. The rounds in our Veterinary Med- student users. VMR Possible Cure ical Teaching Hospital can be shared through video and audio links with other institutions where anyone can watch, ask questions, and participate in the discus- sion." F A L L / W I N T E R 2 0 0 0 V E T E R I N A R Y M E D I C A L R E V I E W R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M S 19 immune responses and, so East Wales Institute (in Great cleotide, directly into a shin far, hasn't shown long-lasting Britain), where research team muscle of a 6-week-old golden benefits in animal studies in member Dr. Glenn Morris retriever with a genetic defect muscular dystrophy. also does neuromuscular dis- that leads to Duchenne mus- "This pioneering work rep- ease research. cular dystrophy in dogs. resents a new era of hope, a When asked how long the Eleven months later, the promising area of investiga- genetic correction could be injected muscle continued to tion that ultimately could expected to last, Dr. Korne- show a significant amount of lead to treatments for hun- gay said, "Theoretically, it normal dystrophin, the pro- dreds of genetic diseases," would be permanent." The tein missing or seriously said Dr. Leon I. Charash, body, he said, doesn't appear flawed in Duchenne muscular chairman of the MDA Med- to mount an immune dystrophy. ical Advisory Committee. response to genes corrected "It potentially avoids some "Much more needs to be this way, and, once the gene of the complications of gene learned about this innovative is corrected in a cell, that therapy that have been seen approach that's now been cell's progeny will inherit the recently with the adenovirus College of Veterinary Medicine used to repair individual correction. (When a gene is [virus used to deliver large muscles in dog and mouse added, the new gene can be genes like dystrophin to models for muscular dystro- diluted out when cells cells]," Dr. Kornegay said. is part of International phy. But the idea of stimulat- divide.) Dr. Kornegay also noted, ing genetic repair without Team leader Dr. Richard "The greatest challenge is causing an immune response Bartlett, a molecular biologist that we're still only at the Scientific Team Conducting is provocative, indeed." affiliated with MU's College individual muscle level. It's Duchenne muscular dys- of Veterinary Medicine and not correcting the genetic trophy is the most common the National Institutes of defect in a generalized "Genetic Surgery" Studies childhood form of muscular Health, described the tech- sense." For that, he said, "a dystrophy. It affects males nique as "genetic surgery" to systemic method of delivery Two researchers with the MU almost exclusively and results correct an existing gene will probably have to be College of Veterinary Medi- from a mutation in the gene mutation using a synthetic found." cine were among a team of for the muscle protein dys- oligonucleotide [a short Both scientists said the American and British univer- trophin. Approximately one strand of nucleic acid]. genetic mutation in the dog is sity researchers who recently in 3,500 male babies is born "The oligonucleotide tar- a type called a point muta- published a new approach to with mutations in this gene, gets the mutation in the dys- tion, a genetic "typo" that achieve long-term repair of a which was first identified by trophin gene and pairs with doesn't involve missing DNA. genetic defect that causes MDA-funded scientists in the chromosome, creating a This type of defect, they say, Duchenne muscular dystro- 1986. The disease causes pro- hybrid molecule that is recog- represents a small percentage phy, the Muscular Dystrophy gressive loss of muscle func- nized by DNA repair of the mutations that affect Association (MDA) tion during childhood and enzymes which correct the humans with the disease. announced this summer. adolescence, and usually mutation based on the However, the strategy, once The strategy used by the results in death by the 20's sequence defined by the perfected, might be expanded scientific team, whose results from respiratory and cardiac oligonucleotide," Dr. Bartlett to help in treating patients were reported in the June muscle degeneration. said. No other gene therapy with diseases caused by issue of Nature Biotechnol- The new technique, has lasted this long, he genetic deletions (where a ogy and presented at the according to Dr. Joe Korne- explained. piece of DNA is missing from American Society of Gene gay, dean of the MU College "This is permanent. The a gene). Bartlett underscored Therapy Meeting in Denver of Veterinary Medicine and a other thing is that these this point by explaining that attended by some 4,000 sci- veterinary neurologist and oligonucleotides are not the dogs in his study have entists from around the pathologist, "relies upon an immunogenic. If we chroni- muscular dystrophy because globe, differs from previous innate system that the body cally treat, keep putting more a portion of the normal mes- gene therapy experiments. It has to correct genetic lesions and more in, it could have an senger RNA for dystrophin is focuses on repairing an exist- [mutations]." additive effect and you could omitted, not unlike the omis- ing gene, rather than insert- Dr. Kornegay was part of a get more and more repair." sion typically found in ing a new gene. Inserting new team that also included scien- The researchers injected the humans affected by genes into muscles generally tists from the University of oligonucleotide "patch kit," a Duchenne muscular dystro- requires the use of viruses, Miami, Ohio State University paper-clip-shaped molecule phy caused by genetic dele- can provoke unwanted in Columbus, and the North called a chimeric oligonu- tions. VMR F A L L / W I N T E R 2 0 0 0 V E T E R I N A R Y M E D I C A L R E V I E W 20 S E R V I N G T H E C O M M U N I T Y one vet student has a class, the other stu- be any adult over age 18 who will act as a Big Brothers, Big Sisters dents pitch in. friend and role model to a child. This new program, officially sanctioned Positive role models have never been S am Lane, class of 2002, had a prob- lem. He wanted to establish a MU College of Veterinary Medicine Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) program to help area single-parent kids. The need was by the national organization, took on a unique name, too: Big Dawgs, Little Dawgs. Founding members Lane; Andrea Hambach, class of 2002; Stacey Lubin, class of 2003; and Stacey Meyer, class of more important than today, Lane pointed out. Many area streets have drug dealers who will pretend to care about a kid in exchange for a sale. Even once-safe venues such as television and movies can sometimes certainly there. Like any other community, 2003; started the program earlier this year tout a destructive lifestyle. A positive and mid-Missouri has several hundred kids working with eight other volunteer vet stu- caring adult role model can play a pivotal needing assistance and not enough adult dents and a dozen kids aged 9-12. role in helping young people negotiate volunteers to go around. "Our kids are not necessarily from poor around these hazards. "All kids benefit from The problem was the crushing schedule backgrounds, but from single-parent having a mentor in their life," Lane said. of a veterinary medical student. With homes with a working parent who may not studying, classes, and clinics, it was diffi- have sufficient time to nurture and guide Big Brothers, Big Sisters cult to make the commitment of a typical the kids. They are typically 'in need' of The concept that led to BBBS started in BBBS program—one adult working with someone, a mentor, to help increase their 1904. In 1945, Big Brothers of America one child for several hours, two to four self-confidence, motivation, and better was formally established in Philadelphia, times a month, for at least a year. their lives with a gift of time," Lane said. and was chartered by Congress in 1958. In Lane's solution was to slightly modify All children involved in the program have 1970, Big Sisters International was incorpo- the typical program to fit into a vet stu- expressed an interest in having a role rated. The two groups merged to become dent's hectic schedule. Here, a team of MU model and voluntarily participate. A "Big," Big Brothers Big Sisters of America in 1977. vet students work with a group of kids. If as the volunteers are sometimes called, can Since 1904, BBBS has matched millions LITTLE DAWGS A big day for the Big Dawgs, Little Dawgs: a trip to the St. Louis Zoo. Vet College Students Help Area Kids With Time Left For An Education F A L L / W I N T E R 2 0 0 0 V E T E R I N A R Y M E D I C A L R E V I E W S E R V I N G T H E C O M M U N I T Y 21 of children through one-to-one, profession- have self-funded their program with addi- The Impact of 'Bigs' all- supported relationships with caring tional financial help from the Dean's office. In 1992 and 1993, 959 boys and girls in eight states, ages adult volunteer mentors. Research shows The local BBBS helps with coordination 10 through 16, entered into an experiment.Half the that children with Big Brothers or Big Sis- assistance. children were matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister, ters are less likely to use drugs and alcohol, while the other half were assigned to a waiting list, or skip school, and exhibit violent behavior. Having Fun control group.On average, the matched children met Currently, there are 514 BBBS chapters What activities do Big Dawgs, Little with their Big Brothers or Big Sisters about three times a operated under a uniform set of standards, Dawgs become involved with? In short, fun month for at least a year. procedures, and training programs—seven ones. And the results? Researchers found that 18 months are in Missouri. The Columbia chapter "On a Saturday or Sunday we'll go roller later, the Little Brothers and Little Sisters were: assists with the MU CVM effort. Currently skating, visit the library or the College of in Kansas City, there are over 500 volun- Veterinary Medicine Open House, go bowl- • 46 percent less likely to begin using illegal drugs teers matched with area children with as ing, or see the circus. Anything will do that • 27 percent less likely to begin using alcohol many as 8,600 more children in need of promotes interaction. Kids need an older • 53 percent less likely to skip school, and 37 percent services. role model, someone in addition to parents less likely to skip a class BBBS receives about 20 percent of its and friends, who can share life experiences • More confident of their performance in schoolwork operating income from the United Way and and help guide them in the right direction," the rest from private donations. Bigs are Lane said. "It is the gift of time and support • Less likely to hit someone, and get along better financially responsible for the cost of the that is the most valuable thing you can give with their families activity—the organization urges that low- any child." cost activities be chosen such as bicyling, Other typical activities include playing volleyball, or going to museums. sports, seeing movies, cooking, going over So far, the veterinary medical students schoolwork, visiting museums, washing the The Impact car, taking walks, volunteering in their The MU CVM program is too new to communities, or just hanging out. Each see any dramatic results, yet. The parent month a special event, like going to the St. organization has commissioned studies, Louis Zoo, is planned. however, that show that intervention by a "Animals are always an exciting thing to caring adult—someone to confide in, relax kids," Lane said. "It's a great teaching tool with, and look up to—can have powerful in teaching responsibility. results with children. Kids involved with a "When kids are working with animals mentor do better in school and at home, there is an excitement and chance to expe- and largely avoid violence and substance rience something that many of them had abuse. never had before—petting a cow, having a But there are inklings of the future in photo of them taken with a python Columbia. In the first five months of the wrapped around their neck, or feeding a MU CVM program, the program has goat," Lane said. "A lot of kids, who may proven a big hit and the kids who love have trouble expressing themselves, find it being with the vet med students. There's easy to relate to the animals, and that's seldom an empty seat at a Big Dawgs, Lit- sometimes a good start." tle Dawgs event. Just hearing the exciting stories of chal- "The kids keep asking us if we will start lenges met and won by a veterinary med- a larger Big Brothers Big Sisters program so ical student is enough to emphasize the they can spend more time with us one on importance of going to college, without one," Lane said. "With our educational ever sounding preachy. time constraints, we haven't yet found a "Volunteers enter into the life of a way to make those time commitments." young person at a pivotal time when even Still, Lane pointed out, the College's small changes in behavior, or choices made, program is in its infancy and the group is can change the course of that young per- seeing what works and what doesn't. son's future," said Thomas M. McKenna, Three veterinary medical students have Big Brothers Big Sisters Association taken the next step by becoming involved national executive director. one-on-one in a typical Big Brothers Big This was not Lane's first effort to help Sisters program. kids. Before veterinary medical school, he In the meantime, the emphasis is on hav- worked for three years at a St. Louis agency ing fun being either a Big Dawg or Little with youths at risk for drug abuse and Dawg. VMR dropping out. He later helped run summer camps for St. Louis high school students. F A L L / W I N T E R 2 0 0 0 V E T E R I N A R Y M E D I C A L R E V I E W 22 A L U M N I A T L A R G E In the remote villages where military veterinarians are most needed, far away from filling stations and convenience stores, local transport is often the best way to get around.Here, Dr.Vroegindewey arrives for work in an Ecuadorian village. Dr.Robert Lane, MU DVM '71, assists with the health needs of cattle in Equador in a The ancient art of cattle wrangling of the American West still lives in Guatemala, with assistance from Dr.Steven Kleiboeker, U.S."nation-building" mission. MU DVM '89. A New Challenge for Dr. Vroegindewey After 21 Years of Successful Practice in Missouri, A New Mission Trades Scrubs for an Army Uniform What do you do when you That new challenge began to emerge in Mo. firm, to go on active duty with the achieve your life's goals? Gary one of the many other projects that Dr. Veterinary Corps and the new challenge. Vroegindewey, DVM '78, was Vroegindewey had become involved with Today, Col. Vroegindewey is the second-in- asking himself that question in over the years—the U.S. Army Veterinary command of the Veterinary Corps, the the mid-1990s. Corps. Veterinary Corps Reserve Units Assistant Chief, and has a pivotal role in Like any other new DVM on were evolving from a once-a-year-deploy- making its missions successful. graduation day, his goals were ment and a few weekends' drill to a critical lofty: own and operate a chain of element in a new national strategic policy The First Goals veterinary medical clinics in mid- of working with developing nations to Graduating from the MU College of Vet- Missouri to help animals and strengthen their economies and develop erinary Medicine in 1978, Dr. Vroegin- their owners through excellent service. In political stability. With this, it is hoped, dewey's first job was with Columbia's ten years he had achieved his goal. these countries will pose less of a potential Rolling Hills Veterinary Clinic. In under In the course of achieving this goal, Dr. military threat. Talk about a challenge. two years, he was a partner, and two years Vroegindewey and his wife Linda also After all the necessary deliberation after that, he purchased the practice out- achieved the fruits of the good life, but the required to leave a comfortable life and right. Later, a Hallsville, Mo. practice and challenge of establishing a difficult goal and established businesses, Dr. Vroegindewey another clinic joined the group. Another doing what it took to make it happen was took a three-year leave of absence from his addition came quickly: an equine medical missing. It was time for something new. practice, with Linda selling her Columbia, practice with Dr. Robert Foss, DVM '81 F A L L / W I N T E R 2 0 0 0 V E T E R I N A R Y M E D I C A L R E V I E W A L U M N I A T L A R G E 23 and Dr. Tom Rose, DVM '88, yield a $5 increase in milk pro- now the managing partner. Fur- duction. ther expansion included an out- Another example: The Army patient clinic, and the addition Vet Corps performed emergency of endoscopy, ultrasound, lab vaccinations in the Philippines testing, and other services. after an outbreak of rabies that Soon, Dr. Vroegindewey was killed 14 people. After the Army's leading a team of seven veteri- arrival, only one additional death narians in a highly-respected was counted. Dr. Vroegindewey mid-Missouri practice. observed that there is learning on Military service for Dr. both sides of these missions. The Vroegindewey began when he scrawny black and brown pigs of was still a MU undergrad. He An important mission of the Veterinary Corps is education.Dr.Vroegindewey addresses his fellow the Caribbean look poor in com- veterinarians and animal owners in Ecuador. joined the Missouri National parison to fat American pigs, Guard as a combat medic with the rank of make things happen. until you realize that the muscular animals private. Upon his DVM graduation, he was In these missions, American soldiers are may have to sometimes walk 10 miles to commissioned as a reserve officer in the often greeted by hostility or indifference by market. Veterinary Corps. the people receiving the help. "Foreign" Dr. Vroegindewey and team make these Life was fairly predictable in the veteri- troops, no matter how helpful, can be seen visits at the request of the host government. nary corps in those days. Military vets as a cultural or military threat. Almost So far, he has been overseas 15 times. watched over the health of service animals always, however, the veterinary part of this Typically, veterinary medical teams con- of the military and various federal agencies. mission is welcomed for its immediately- sist of three to 12 people who are deployed The service also ensured safety of food positive impact on the population, Dr. for about three weeks. Army teams have eaten on military bases. As with all Vroegindewey said. responded to people in devastation after reservists, Dr. Vroegindewey sandwiched in Military veterinarians are viewed as a hurricanes, or administered common dog unit training and stateside veterinary med- precious resource as many of these devel- and cat vaccinations in poor rural coun- ical support when he wasn't running his oping nations still depend heavily on ani- tries. "In some developing countries, our practices. mals for their livelihoods. Military visits are the biggest event in ten years, and In 1988, things began to change and the veterinarians bring rare skills and services the people come pouring out to watch," Veterinary Corps was given its dramati- that are immediately understandable and Dr. Vroegindewey said. cally-new international mission. While valuable. Often, a government reluctant to Often, the veterinary teams work with Army Engineer construction units were accept other military aid will welcome a their human medical colleagues and public often the primary military operation in this veterinary medical team. health experts to provide a diverse range of regard, the Vet Corps was seldom far "In some of these countries, losing an community health assistance. At any time, behind. Suddenly, Egypt, Jordan, Germany, animal is like losing their job, savings, the veterinary corps has about 410 officers Belize, Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala, retirement program, cashflow, and social on active duty all over the world, plus Honduras, Bolivia, and Ecuador, became identity," Dr. Vroegindewey said. "The another 145 reserve officers. destinations for Vet Corps personnel. Dr. Veterinary Corps can almost automatically Vroegindewey began going on these mis- build good will through a common bond Other Challenges sions and, seeing the positive impact, con- with the animals. With this trust, we can In addition to overseas deployments, Dr. sidered leaving his comfortable life in help the people to help themselves." Vroegindewey's other duties are to develop Missouri to tackle these new challenges. In One example of this work occurred a teaching program describing the role of November 1998, Dr. Vroegindewey and when Ecuador asked for help in increasing the veterinarian in international disaster Linda made the decision to go on active milk production. The U.S. military veteri- response. duty where he was tapped for the second- nary medical team, lead by Dr. Vroegin- There are more challenges, too: head a in-command spot at the Army's center for dewey, joined with local experts and farm working group to evaluate, select, and test medicine, Fort Sam Houston in San Anto- owners to investigate the problem and find off-the-shelf food safety technology for use nio, Texas. a solution. by field units; work with NATO veterinari- The country had great genetic stock but ans to coordinate food safety and animal From Missouri Clients to Nation Building poor output. With some detective work care programs; and coordinate distance Nation building, the quick way of from Dr. Dave Hardin, director of the Col- learning programs for the Army's Masters describing this new military mission, is not lege's veterinary extension and continuing degree in Public Health. an easy business. It requires the culturally- education team back in Missouri, it was To Dr. Vroegindewey, who achieved his sensitive skills of a diplomat rather than a determined the country's cows had a diet goals of establishing and running a success- sharp aim with a rifle. While not a tradi- deficient in calcium, energy, and protein ful business, this challenge was difficult to tional military assignment, America's caused by the banana-based feed. The US ignore and requires every people and clini- armed services are often best equipped to soldiers then used their educational skills cal skill, and more, that he developed over deploy overseas, organize logistics, put to show the farmers that a $1 investment the years. VMR qualified people where they're needed, and in more conventional protein feed would F A L L / W I N T E R 2 0 0 0 V E T E R I N A R Y M E D I C A L R E V I E W 24 A L U M N I A T L A R G E Dr. Caroline Gilje, DVM '84, hosts a weekly call-in program on KMOX-AM in St. Louis. Classmates John Williams and Phil Brown, DVM '72, have weekly call-in shows on KFRU-AM in Columbia and KWTO-AM in Springfield, respectively. Dr. Bruce Whittle, DVM '94, has a bi-weekly five-minute radio program on KTTN-FM Classic Country, Trenton, Mo., where he reports on the latest news in ani- mal care. So, what's it like to be a radio veterinarian? Phillip Brown Phillip Brown as a captain in the U.S. Army facilities in Missouri. He later They have three children: Kalyn, DVM Class of '72 and spent two years in the was involved with other veteri- who attends Ozark Technical KWTO, 560 AM, pathology program at Fitzsi- nary medical facilities in south- Community College in Spring- Springfield, Missouri mons Army Medical Center. He west Missouri. After several field; Jonathan, who is a soccer, Ask the Vet practiced emergency medicine years of mixed animal practice, basketball, and track varsity Friday, 8:30 – 9:30 am and did relief veterinary medical he now specializes in pocket athlete; and Jennifer, who plays work in Denver before relocat- pets, reptiles, and birds at the club and school basketball, and Dr. Philip Brown was born in ing to Springfield. Animal Care Center in Spring- is a cheerleader and concert Wurzburg, Germany, and has Dr. Brown operated ANEM field. band member. resided aboard as well as in the Pet Emergency Hospital, one of Dr. Brown has been married U.S. After graduation, he served the first dedicated emergency to his wife, Gloria, for 30 years. E M E S S A G A L FU RM O N MI T H E L D E A N A T A R G E 25 John Williams Bruce Whittle DVM Class of '72 KTTN-FM 92.3 Classic KFRU, 1400 AM, Columbia, Country, Trenton, Missouri Missouri Four years ago, Bruce Whittle, The Pet Place with Dr. John DVM '94, joined with three Williams other veterinarians to host a Saturday, 7-8 am bi-weekly five-minute radio Dr. John Williams is a 28-year program on KTTN-FM 92.3 veteran of small animal prac- Classic Country, Trenton, Mo. tice in Columbia, Mo. Origi- Today, Dr. Whittle alone nally from Adair County, he researches and writes the pre- graduated from MU's College recorded program called The of Veterinary Medicine in Human-Animal Connection 1972. After graduation, he (that alternates Friday after- practiced for one year in Web- noons with a program from ster Groves, Mo. before return- the local animal shelter). His ing to Columbia to begin a radio script is also published as private practice at Horton Ani- a column in Trenton's daily mal Hospital. Since 1973, newspaper, the Republican Horton Animal Hospital has Times. expanded from a single facility Dr. Whittle's topics cover to three, full-service veterinary whatever he thinks his listeners hospitals, a boarding/grooming are interested in. Favorite top- kennel, and a dog-training ics include zoonotic diseases, facility. Of the nine full-time equine and cattle problems, veterinarians on staff, Dr. and common maladies of com- Williams is the senior partner panion animals. Probably his and CEO. biggest topic was the outbreak Dr. Williams also serves as a of epizootic hemorrhagic dis- veterinary consultant for a ease (EHD) in cattle. The pos- national publication, Cats sibility of EHD alarmed food John Williams Magazine, where he authors a producers because cattle with monthly question and answer the disease, caused by an insect column. bite, normally show no intial Caroline Gilje Dr. Williams has been mar- signs. Infected deer often die as DVM Class of '84 ried to his wife Sally, a a result of the virus. KMOX, 1120 AM, St. Stephens College graduate, for "There was a lot of misin- Louis, Missouri 28 years. They have three chil- formation about hemorrhagic Ask the Vet dren, John, a first year medical disease and a lot of people Weekday afternoons resident at the University of were scared," Dr. Whittle said. "I hope my program educated Dr. Caroline Truss, Wisconsin Medical Center; the public on what was really class of '84, has been Michael, a first year medical happening and what to look associated with the student at the University of for." Barrett Station Veteri- Missouri; and Jessica, a sopho- Dr. Whittle said he stayed on nary Clinic near St. more business major at DePaul with the program because he Louis since 1990. In University in Chicago. The enjoys researching a topic and April 2000 she married Williams family also has two trying to communicate its Mark Gilje who has cats, Truman and Billy. importance in a short time. "If two daughters Brittany you want to learn something, and Madeline. try to teach it," he said. Dr. Gilje is an active speaker on veterinary medicine and animal health issues at local elementary and high Caroline Gilje schools and dog and cat organizations. She is actively involved with St. Louis-area grey- hound rescue groups and leads several volunteer programs for young people interested in pursuing a veterinary medical career. F A L L / W I N T E R 2 0 0 0 V E T E R I N A R Y M E D I C A L R E V I E W 26 A L U M N I A T L A R G E Talking Veterinary Medicine Williams, Gilje & Brown—"What's It Like to Be a Radio Star?" Veterinarians are nothing if not adaptable. When not practicing their chosen profession, they're writing books, conduct- ing research, helping in community projects, or starring in their own radio programs. For some College alumni, the lure of the microphone and connecting to the public has led them to a part-time career fielding questions about animal care and treatment, animal behavior, and, occasionally, how to build a birdhouse. ? How and why did you get started in Q broadcasting? ventive care for their family. Many are retired while others tune in between busi- ness calls or while they are at work. Some radio veteran once told me to never "beat up" or mock a caller. It lowers listeners' respect for you and it detracts from the Williams It was strictly a matter of being fax in their questions so they can listen to substance of the show. I always remind in the right—or wrong—place at the my response. myself that the caller has a real problem, right—or wrong—time. I'd been asked on Gilje KMOX is a clear channel station and even though it may come across the occasion to appear as a guest on the local which means it can reach into 44 states—a airways as silly, the caller is looking for talk radio station to discuss animal-related big coverage area for any radio station. help and advice. topics and take phone calls. As these The Spring 2000 Arbitron ratings indicate Gilje The most frequent question is how appearances became more frequent, I that my audience is mostly comprised of can I keep my cat from peeing in the became acquainted with the station's pro- adults 25-54 years old with between house? gramming and management personnel. 15,000 and 20,000 listening at any one Brown Over time, the same questions keep They approached me with the idea of a moment. That's not far from the average popping up. We get the most calls on weekly call-in show on pets and related St. Louis ratings of Rush Limbaugh and behavioral issues and training; although, topics. My initial reaction was to decline, the St. Louis Cardinals. depending on the season, parasites are but the challenge of doing something for Williams Arbitron ratings suggest that often discussed. Callers share an earnest which I was totally untrained, and most of my listeners are middle-aged and sincerity in seeking help with their pet's unskilled, intrigued me to the point where older—so my lifelong desire to be a "teen problems. It's important to listen for the I decided to try it for a few weeks. That idol" has yet to be fulfilled. Most have nuances of the question and give everyone was over ten years ago. pets, and I think, tune in to hear questions individual, professional, and respectful Brown A client of mine had a problem answered that relate to their "four-legged" attention when discussing their concerns. with his pet and told me how difficult it family member. Curiously, I've also met was for average owners to find good pet health care information. Through a series of conversations, we concluded people people who don't have pets, but tune in every week. It must be for the news/sports Q really helped a situation ? Can you recallsomeone? where you breaks that are interspersed into the show. could be better caregivers with informa- Gilje A blind couple had two dogs and one tion through a regular and informal ques- was stealing food from the kitchen tion and answer format tailored to their individual needs. An hour radio broadcast Q question that you get? What was ? What's the most frequently askeda counter. They asked me how to determine which dog was the thief and how to rectify really dumb question and how did the problem. I recommended a different can do that. you handle it? sounding bell on each dog's collar. Then, I Gilje Five years ago I was asked to appear as a guest on Doug McElwin's KMOX Williams The most frequent questions are recommended "baiting" the dog with food radio show. We were so well received (as behavioral problems—cats not using litter tied to empty soda cans. When the moved evidenced by the ratings, something care- boxes, destructive dogs, housebreaking soda cans made a noise, with the individ- fully watched by radio station manage- questions, etc. The real challenge in ual bell, the culprit was revealed. ment) that he asked me to return often. answering these questions on the air is not Williams One situation involved a call from Almost two years ago he was promoted to coming up with a remedy for the problem, an owner whose cat had been sick for a morning drive time radio and I was asked but to make the answer interesting and week. She described various symptoms, to step in to host a program called "Ask different sounding from the last time this some quite graphic for morning radio. As I the Vet." question was posed. On one show I had questioned her, it occurred to me that this the same behavioral question called in cat could be suffering pyometritis. I Q why comprises your ? Whodo they tune in?audience and three times within an hour! (The "call described this condition and suggested that screener" was out that day.) It's almost she seek out a veterinarian as soon as pos- impossible to characterize any question as sible. As luck would have it, one of my Brown The bulk of the KWTO "Ask the being dumb—although it may sound associates was her regular doctor. He Vet" audience is made up of educated peo- dumb in the way the caller phrased it. A examined the cat that morning and per- ple from all age groups who want to become more knowledgeable about pre- W I N T E R / S P R I N G 2 0 0 0 V E T E R I N A R Y M E D I C A L R E V I E W 27 formed surgery later that day. The patient recovered and is doing well. The following week, the owner was nice enough to call Class Notes rently the executive director of Dr. Miller is a Wildlife Disease the radio show and publicly thank me for helping. That was a good day. 50's the Orthopedic Foundation for Specialist at the US Geological Warren Schilb, DVM '50, cele- Animals in Columbia, Mo. Services National Wildlife Brown For someone to take the time and brated his 50th year practicing Randy Elkins, DVM '74, and Health Center in Madison, effort to pick up the telephone and call in veterinary medicine. He contin- his wife Marisa St. Claire Wisconsin. with a question usually implies an interest ues to work at his practice Elkins (MS '95 in veterinary Kelly Pizzo, DVM '91, and her in increasing their healthcare knowledge in seven days a week, he reports. medicine from MU and DVM husband David, announced the order to help their pets. I consider all ques- tions important and try to devote adequate 60's '90 from the University of Min- nesota) announced the birth of birth of a son, Vincent, born January 30, 2000. The couple's Thomas Noyes, DVM '62, a son, Sean, on May 10, 2000. first child, Anthony, was born time to each caller. Often, people call to retired from his Kansas City- The family lives in Adamstown, April 16, 1998. The family lives reassure themselves that they are doing all area Eagle Animal Hospital Maryland. Dr. Elkins was pro- in San Diego. that they can for their pets. Sometimes, practice after 36 years. James moted to Associate Director, they need a little nudge to do something. Sparks, DVM '90, and James Brent Herrin, DVM '92, was Division of Intramural Re- Often, a listener will call back and thank Cupp, DVM '84, purchased the praised in a newspaper letter to search, National Institute of me and let me know that the pet had been practice from him and estab- the editor by a client. The letter Allergy and Infectious Diseases, lished a scholarship in his appeared in the Barry County helped. and was also promoted to Cap- honor at the MU College of Advertiser, Cassville, Mo., and tain, Commissioned Corps, US noted Dr. Herrin's prompt Q does your radio perspective, ? Fromthe public think about what Veterinary Medicine. Royal Ranney, DVM '64, was Public Health Service. In June, he received the Public Health response to a telephone call after hours, precise diagnosis, veterinarians? installed as president of the Service Outstanding Service and compassionate concern for Gilje The public admires veterinarians Western Veterinary Conference. Medal from the National Insti- the client/animal bond. The He was president of the Mis- tutes of Health. sometimes more than MDs. They see us as Border collie, diagnosed with souri Veterinary Medical Asso- more compassionate, friendly, and approachable. Of course, my program ciation in 1987. He moved to 80's poisoning, recovered. Scott Bormanis, DVM '94, was Rolla, Mo. in 1966 where he Dana Walker, DVM '86, will gives me an opportunity to support this established a practice now promoted to the rank of major receive a PhD in Immunology, image and the image of my fellow veteri- owned by his son, Mark Ran- with a minor in biotechnology, in the US Army Veterinary narians. ney, DVM '82, and Jenny Web- Medical Corps. He lives in Sil- from North Carolina State Uni- Brown I feel the public views veterinarians ster, DVM '96. The Western ver Spring, Maryland. versity in December. as the primary source that they can talk to Veterinary Conference is one of David Ihrke, DVM '95, and his concerning their pets. Veterinarians are the largest continuing educa- 90's wife Amber (Badillo) Ihrke, seen as pet and patient advocates with ani- tional organizations for veteri- Deborah and Patrick Richards, DVM '96, announced the birth mal welfare as our main concern. Pet own- nary medicine. both DVM '90, traveled in July of their daughter, Elizabeth, ers appreciate how veterinarians Jonathan Wilson, DVM '66, 1999 to China to adopt their born April 21, 2000. The fam- second daughter, Alicia. The ily lives in Lockport, Ill. understand the human-animal bond, and recently expanded his Animal how he or she wants to help people help Medical Center in Kennett, family's first daughter, Amanda, Janet Linton, DVM '95, and their pets with the best care. Mo. to include a pet store and was adopted from China in her husband David, announced grooming room. 1996. The family lives in Bliss, the birth of their daughter, Williams One misconception that the pub- Idaho. Anna Jane Linton, born lic has about the veterinary profession is that veterinarians have expertise in all ani- 70's Kimberli Miller, DVM '91, and November 15, 1999. The baby Greg Keller, DVM '73, was her husband Paul announced weighed 6 lb. 2 oz., and was 19 mal species. I've received serious on-air inches long. The family lives in named a trustee of the Morris the birth of a daughter, Elena calls about rabbits, deer, bluebirds, and Belleville, Ill. Animal Foundation. He is cur- Nicole, born July 8, 1999. how to build a "martin house." If you think about it, it's flattering that people would think that the profession provides care to all animals. I've been gratified over In Memoriam the years to see the respect and affection Walter William Bone, DVM '56, died after an illness on March 7, 2000 in Anderson, Mo. that listeners have for the profession. I He was a World War II veteran who served in the Philippines and was a frequent winner of think that veterinarians are seen as the most approachable of all medical profes- the Missouri State Fiddler's Contest. He is survived by his wife, Berry Bachelor Bone, and sions, and a radio format expands the four children. potential for this familiarity. Whether deserved or not, the displays of apprecia- Heather Smith, DVM '84, died February 15, 2000 in Jamaica Plain, Mass. She worked pri- tion by listeners toward me and my family marily in small animal medicine in Connecticut and held the office of treasurer of the Con- have been overwhelming. VMR necticut VMA. Dr. Smith held federal and state wildlife rehabilitation licenses and was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. F A L L / W I N T E R 2 0 0 0 V E T E R I N A R Y M E D I C A L R E V I E W 28 C A T C H I N G U P W I T H . . . From VMDL—RADIL Dr. Morehouse not only grew the VMDL, but produced an offshoot from the VMDL tree. In 1969, he recruited Dr. J.E. Wagner from the Veterans Administration Hospital in Kansas City. Drs. Wagner and Morehouse would perfect a new concept: A diagnostic, research, and teaching pro- gram in laboratory animal medicine. This has grown into its own internationally known unit, what's today known as RADIL—the Research Animal Diagnostic and Investigative Dr. Morehouse and Dr.T.D.Wylie with the first copies of their three volume book entitled Mycotoxic Fungi, Laboratory. Mycotoxins, and Mycotoxicoses in Animals, Plants, and Man, published in 1977. A dozen years after retiring from the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Larry Morehouse is considering retiring again. Little wonder since retirement has been as busy and intense as his work establishing the College's Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. Consider any other time in my life," he said. "It's amazing the wonderful things that can happen when the stress of conventional 'work' leaves the body. Still, I always seem to be doing something. I'm about ready to retire again." Retirement is one major thread that runs through the this list of retirement work that Dr. Morehouse has activities: pursued after leaving MU. He s C hairing th recognized early that the old nostic la e national vete boratory rinary m concepts of retirement three ye accredita ed ars. tion com ical diag- are obsolete, and has s S erving a mittee fo s r ments o a consultant to flung himself into the f agricult several s s S erving a ure. tate dep pursuit of reinventing s art- ative to secretary-treas this time of life for him- the board urer and ciation o U f Veterin of directors of th S represent- self and others. ary Labo e s S erving a s ratory D World Asso- "Previously, many peo- of Nursin a consultant fo iagnostic ians. ple were worn out at 65 g r America 's project to en the MU Sinclair ns. hance th S s S erving a e lives o chool years of age and had only a s vice pre f older few years left," he said. Retirees Associati sident and pres "Today, you can feel great, s C hairing th on. ident of the MU Columb e plannin live, and contribute much ia g comm wrecking 's historic Misso ittee that saved more than any other previ- ball and uri Thea center fo re te r symph modeled the b r from the ous generation. Look at me, After Inventing VMDL, s H elping o onic mu uilding a I've been retired half as long sic. s the Senior G rganize voluntee as I've worked at MU, and a rs bicycle ra mes as a basketb at the Missouri ce cours a S one-third as long as I've s C hairing a e marsh ll goalkeeper an tate al. d worked in the veterinary med- churche committee serv s. ing 85 M ical profession. s C ompletin issouri tracing h g a gene "Today, if you retire at 65 is alogy stu soldiers. roots back to tw dy of his family years, you have an 80 percent o Ameri s E diting an can Revo chance of living until you are 80, lution reflectio AVMA Journal a 45 percent chance of living to be ns of reti co s H elping sta red vete lumn regarding 90, and a 10 percent chance of rinarians Freshma rt the MU Hon . Reinventing the Concept of Retirement n progra m. ors Colle ge's Ado living to 100," he said. "People working today need to consider pt-a- this carefully in planning for retirement, especially in their Dr.Morehouse in front of the building that he helped build, the Veterinary Med- And this list financial plans." ical Diagnostic Laboratory.The car is his 1975 Mercedes 450SL roadster.Previous vintage cars included a VW Karman-Ghia and Microbus, and Volvo 940 turbo doesn't mention his hobby of vin- If his post-retirement life has station wagon. tage cars. been busy, it may be because of "I'm 75 and I feel better than at the enormous tasks that he tack- C A T C H I N G U P W I T H . . . 29 led and won in establishing a establish a doctoral program; and cerned about too many applica- agent of contagious equine metri- first-class veterinary medical investigate the etiology, pathogene- tions for advanced degree pro- tis, a venereal disease of horses diagnostic laboratory even sis, epizootiology, prevention, grams. The program survived (only the second time so recog- though there were no funding treatment and control of salmonel- three rigorous reviews by the Uni- nized in the Western Hemi- opportunities in sight. losis, swine dysentery, transmissi- versity. Dr. Morehouse was the sphere). This prevented a federal ble gastroenteritis, colibacillosis, effort's first chair. Within two statewide quarantine of horses. Growing VMDL and rota viral diarrhea in swine. decades, the program conferred Regulatory officials said the On a cold and snowy January 1, As if this workload wasn't 43 PhDs with 17 more in training. prompt diagnosis by the VMDL 1964, Dr. Morehouse assumed enough, by the late 1960s, the Col- The joint program also yielded saved the state's animal industry responsibilities of chair of the MU lege was exploding with new pro- research into mycoplasmology at least $10 million. VMDL Department of Veterinary Pathol- grams, research projects, and new and mycotoxicology, and a three- became equally important to the ogy. He came with an impressive curricula. To Dr. Morehouse and volume book by Dr. Morehouse state's cattle, swine, and poultry resume: acting director of the U.S. his team, a 40-hour workweek and Dr. T.D. Wyllie entitled industries—an estimated $2 bil- Agriculture Department's Animal seemed like a vacation. Mycotoxic Fungi, Mycotoxins, lion industry. Health Division Diagnostic Ser- "It was apparent to everyone and Mycytoxicoses in Animals, In 1982, VMDL generated vices, National Animal Disease that the Department of Pathology Plants, and Man. more than $1 million in research Laboratory, Ames, Iowa. He was couldn't do all of these things," Dr. The late seventies also saw the grants and diagnostic contracts, also discipline leader for the depart- Morehouse said. "We either had to realization of a dream for Dr. and had established itself as an ment's pathology and toxicology grow the diagnostic work into its Morehouse—the construction of essential part of the College, Uni- branch. The MU veterinary pathol- own department or close the lab. the VMDL building. That dream versity, and State. ogy department that he came to So the dean asked me, well, do you began its journey to reality when In 1988, Dr. Morehouse was modest at best: four faculty want to start a Veterinary Medical the plans, after they had cleared all retired as VMDL's director, members and one graduate student. Diagnostic Laboratory?" of the local hurdles, were included replaced by Dr. Harvey Gosser, While the department was small, in the construction appropriation recruited from the University of the tasks were large. The depart- Many Challenges, Little Money of the College in 1973. Georgia's VMDL. In that year, ment was responsible for teaching Dr. Morehouse tasked himself "All of our activities or pro- the 20th anniversary of the lab, undergraduate courses in animal and his team to develop a fully- grams had one thing in common," several thousand necropsies and hygiene, and professional and grad- accredited lab that served its vet- Dr. Morehouse said. "They were some 300,00 lab tests were being uate courses in pathology and clini- erinary clients as well as support undertaken with insufficient fac- performed annually. With income cal pathology. Continuing a professional teaching program ulty, insufficient funds, and insuffi- of more than $1.5 million, lab education and extension was that would soon double (not to cient facilities." faculty were teaching 10 gradu- another job of the department, as mention provide the support By 1977, when the new build- ate courses and four professional was inspection of carcasses of food- needed for the new "block" ing was ready for occupancy, courses, and would publish 59 producing animals slaughtered in teaching program) while figuring VMDL had grown from the orig- scientific articles and make 45 the University abattoir located adja- out a way to pay for it all. inal four faculty to 10 members scientific presentations at state, cent to the Veterinary Clinic build- It took three years of planning and 15 supporting staff. The national, and international meet- ing. In their spare time, the small that came to fruition in 1968 facility was building a reputation ings. Dr. Morehouse received the team was also providing diagnostic when the department scratched for research and service. In 1979, Distinguished Service Award of services to the teaching hospital, together $143,000 in start-up the lab received the thanks of the College, and was recognized Missouri veterinarians, herd own- funding (including $14,000 from Missouri when Dr. William Fales, by the Missouri legislature. ers, and regulatory officials who the College) for salaries and facil- chief of the baceteriology section VMR looked to the pathology depart- ities. With that, Dr. Morehouse of the lab, identified the causative ment for assistance in animal dis- and team formed the Veterinary Dr.Morehouse leads a pathology seminar in Connaway Hall in the late '60s.In the audience was faculty member ease diagnosis. And, of course, Medical Diagnostic Laboratory Dr.Harry Berrier, and a young graduate student Harvey Gosser (far right).Gosser would later become the second there was the research compo- as its own interdisciplinary unit. director of the MU VMDL. nent—faculty member Dr. H.H. The new VMDL was housed in Berrier worked on the differential three "temporary" trailers behind diagnosis of animal diseases by lab- the teaching hospital—trailers oratory tests, and colleague Dr. that remained in use until the late Bonnard Moseley studied attenu- 1990's. Dr. Morehouse was the ated rabies in dogs. first director and continued as the "Talk about all-nighters," Dr. chair of the pathology depart- Morehouse said. "For that first ment. spring and fall semesters, I often In their spare time, members of worked into the early morning the department and new VMDL hours every Tuesday and Thursday established a doctoral program in to prepare for my teaching duties on pathology—a joint effort between Wednesday and Friday. Sunday was the veterinary pathology, the the day you prepared for Monday." human medical pathology depart- Slowly, however, the department ment, and plant pathology. The began to grow and would soon effort came at a time when the train its first 10 graduate students; University was becoming con- 30 F L A S H B A C K ! East Campus Hangout A Piece of Vet College History In early July, a For Sale sign was pounded into the ground in front of a his- toric part of the MU east cam- pus neighborhood. The Lee Street Deli, a fixture for generations of hungry vet students, is being sold by its sixth owner. The unique deli, little more than an old two-story house's basement, for decades was often the only place where east campus students could grab a quick lunch. Largely unknown to the current genera- tion of veterinary medical students who enjoy The Zou, the College's in-house deli since 1995, Lee Street still serves a loyal clientele from nearby fraternity houses and agriculture departments and the vet- east campus residents who don't care to erinary medical college, is bereft of a single cross busy College Ave. Whether the oper- McDonalds, Burger King, or KFC. educational process—breakfast helps get ation remains a deli will be the choice of That's okay with east campus. At The students ready for a hard day's studying, the new owner. Zou, the deli on the northwest part of the and a fast lunch keeps students alert on • • • Veterinary Medicine Building, food is fast, clinical duty. While the main and health sciences cam- hot, tasty, and served by people who Things were tougher in the old days. puses have always boasted a bevy of quickly become friends. Its proximity has The Zou's predecessor, known today only restaurants, east campus, home of some made it an essential part of the College's to a few graybeards, is blocks away at the F A L L / W I N T E R 2 0 0 0 V E T E R I N A R Y M E D I C A L R E V I E W F L A S H B A C K ! 31 The Juicy Burger has been a Lee Street daily special for more than 30 years.• The house above the Lee Street Deli has hardly changed in 73 years, save for different colors of paint. • The inside is small and functional.Most diners chose to sit under the umbrellas or picnic tables outside. Gilbert used the base- summer as the heat from the refrigerator ment of a two-story compressors made the basement unbear- house to sell school sup- ably hot. In 1989, Pat Gerke, who now plies, candy, and home- runs The Zou, bought Lee Street, remod- made ice cream in the days eled it, and installed air conditioning— when vet science was a much to the delight of vet students who department of the ag studied all year long. school. In the early 90's, the university food ser- Mrs. Max Shivley bought vice's vet college snack bar slowly dwin- it in the 1930's, and sold the dled away, and Gerke found herself house in the 40's to a group delivering more sandwiches to the College. of vet students. They lived on When the snack bar finally closed in 1995, the first floor, rented the sec- Gerke was asked to open a satellite branch ond, and operated the store of Lee Street at the College. For two years, when they had time—closing she shuttled between the two restaurants, it when they went to class. In and in 1997 sold Lee Street to its current the 50's, when the vet depart- owner, John Leigers, and made the Zou ment became a college and her sole operation. The Zou has been a expanded, the Owens family wonderful success for her, she said, typi- purchased Lee Street and began cally, serving 300 people per day. to make sandwiches. In 1964 Harvey and Millie Rathert • • • bought what had become a Leigers said that the new owner could neighborhood deli. keep Lee Street open as a deli. While few It was probably Millie who vet students make the two block trek first cooked Lee Street's signature there, the deli still does a fair amount of dish, the Juicy Burger. In those business with the nearby fraternity houses. days, virtually all restaurants were Still, it's tough to justify such a small busi- family owned and served some- ness in an age of relatively high wages and thing unique to attract customers. a tight labor market. The Juicy Burger, a sloppy joe vari- So, if you need at least one last Lee corner of Lee and Wilson streets. For ant made of ground chuck, taco Street Juicy Burger to revive old veterinary decades, Lee Street Deli was about the seasoning, tomato sauce, and sugar school memories, you may want to get only eatery east campus had before The cooked in a crock pot and served on a bun there soon. VMR Zou opened. with pickles, has been a Lee Street daily Lee Street began operation the year special for more than three decades. Lindbergh flew the Atlantic. Charles The Ratherts closed Lee Street each F A L L / W I N T E R 2 0 0 0 V E T E R I N A R Y M E D I C A L R E V I E W Dr. James Nave The Class of 1950 The Class of 1950 shares the stage with the class of 2000. The First and the Latest. The College's 2000 Commencement represented the 50th time that veterinary medical college graduates from the University of Missouri had graced the stage at historic Jesse Auditorium. What better way to celebrate than to invite the surviving members of the first class, the Class of 1950, to share the festivities with the Class of 2000. The commencement speaker was Dr. James Nave, class of '68 and president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID M E D I C A L R E V I E W COLUMBIA, MO. PERMIT NO. 31 College of Veterinary Medicine W203 Veterinary Medicine Building College of Veterinary Medicine University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO 65211 University of Missouri is an equal opportunity institution