October 2008

Welcome to the October 2008 edition of Connect to Veterinary Medicine, the latest news and information from the College of Veterinary Medicine at The Ohio State University.

News at the College

For patients who need support through grief

The Companion Animal Listening Line (C.A.L.L.) is a nationally recognized and utilized hotline offered through the College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Volunteers are veterinary students and graduate social work students.

Volunteers are trained by Honoring the Bond Program Coordinator Joelle Nielsen. Training offers volunteers the opportunity to learn about the human-animal bond, develop active listening skills, gain knowledge of some crisis intervention techniques, and work through several case-specific scenarios.

A caller to the listening line can expect to speak with a volunteer who can provide non-judgmental, emotional support and education to companion animal owners. This support is for owners who are grieving the loss of their companion animal or are struggling with difficult treatment and/or end-of-life decisions. The volunteers also have written materials and resources they are able to provide to clients who might need additional help. Not only is this service useful to the callers, but also to the volunteers, many of whom will encounter similar situations in their future practice.

The hotline hours are 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm weekdays, and 10 am - 4 pm weekends at (614) 292-1823. (Coverage is based on volunteer availability.)

Students' trip to Thailand featured on www.osu.edu

Dr. Nong Inpanbutr leads a trip each summer for students interested in international animal welfare, and particularly elephants. Check out the video on The Ohio State University website.

Pathology program notes success

Six pathology residents and graduate students or immediate past trainees have successfully passed the very rigorous American College of Veterinary Pathologists Certifying Examination. Typically, individuals taking the exam pass all four parts only about 20 to 30 percent of the time. The passing rate for the Department of Veterinary Biosciences is the highest in the nation at 75 to 90 percent. New diplomates include:

• Dr. Shane Besier
• Dr. Matthew Buccellato
• Dr. Aaron Sargeant
• Dr. Denise Schwahn
• Dr. Gillian Beamer
• Dr. Prasad Nadilla

Vet Med in the News

Help for House Cats

Dr. Tony Buffington, professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences was featured in early October on KDBC4 News as director of the Indoor Cat Initiative

View Dr. Buffington's feature.

Alumni Updates

Trip to Michigan State brought back a WIN

The Ohio State Veterinary Medicine Alumni Society members who won the Michigan State football ticket lottery, traveled to East Lansing to see the Buckeyes defeat the Spartans, 45-7. The MSU College of Veterinary Medicine hosted a tailgate for those who arrived prior to the game. A special thanks to The Ohio State University Alumni Association for securing the 50 tickets our society received. We hope to travel to Penn State next year, depending on ticket availability. Your opportunity to participate in the lottery is another benefit of your memberships in our Alumni Society and the Alumni Association.

See photos from the tailgate.

American Humane Appoints Dr. Marie McCabe

The American Humane Association named Dr. Marie Suthers McCabe (DVM '82) as vice president of the association's new Human-Animal Bond Division. Dr. McCabe, formerly of Little Rock, Ark., is an acclaimed international speaker on relationships between people and animals, including the positive impact of animal interaction on people and the well-being of animals that are employed in therapeutic interventions, also known as animal-assisted therapy. Currently, she serves on the Council of the International Society for Anthrozoology.

Dr. McCabe most recently served as the director of community education for Heifer International, a non-profit organization dedicated to relieving global hunger and poverty. Previously, she served at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine to develop and direct the Center for Animal- Human Relationships. She received the Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award in 2005 and the Distinguished Virginia Veterinarian Award in 2006. She was the director of the veterinary technology program at Columbus State Community College in Ohio, where she developed an animal-assisted therapy and education certificate program in 1997.

In her new role at American Humane, Dr. McCabe will pursue initiatives to promote awareness and benefits of the human-animal bond at its headquarters in Englewood, Colo. She will also continue the organization's focus on The Link^® between animal abuse and family violence and cultivate American Humane's education and animal-assisted intervention programs.

Information provided by the American Humane Association, founded in 1877, and dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Visit the American Humane Association website to learn more.

Upcoming Events

Continuing Education

This year, the office of continuing education in the College of Veterinary Medicine will offer nearly 40 courses on-site, and by the end of the year, on-line courses will also be available. Check out the website for up-to-date information.