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Sometimes academia can be rough. We have real challenges with staffing shortages, equipment needs, and turnover without the ability to be fully nimble in our responses. But there is something. Something in our many missions that compel faculty and staff to stay and discover, educate, and reach out. And there is something about the brick-and-mortar community of a college campus that continues to endure, lift up, and inspire new generations of students. In my previous life, when people asked me why I chose academia, and, later, why I stayed, my answer was always easy and honest: program building. Being surrounded by smart, creative people with a breadth of interest and expertise that can flex and make our discoveries better, that can leverage a One College approach to life’s questions.
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Here is an example from this past week of a true One College effort that culminated in a publication highlighting the strength of our teams. The group, led by Dr. Eric Sheldon in the School of Molecular Biosciences, leveraged basic genetic and transcriptomic science techniques to interrogate canine cancer using the expertise of Dr. Janean Fidel and Dr. Rance Sellon in the Veterinary Clinical Sciences department and the pathology diagnostic expertise of Dr. Laura White in the Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology department. But it gets even better. First authorship was shared by Lydia Lam, a molecular bioscience graduate student, and Dr. Tien Tien, a veterinary resident — how often does that happen? The work was supported by our genomics core and core staff, Mark Wildung. These comparative, collaborative projects get funded through our WSU College of Veterinary Medicine intramural grant program and, in this particular case, the Marge Crowley Canine Cancer Research Endowment (yeah donors that support research!). AND graduate student Lydia Lam was partially supported by a NIH graduate student training grant. Training grants are highly competitive, they take focused faculty effort, and are only funded by the NIH when there is a critical mass of faculty with a deep commitment to science and to mentoring the next generation of scientists. That is us.
This type of research that crosses scientific disciplines and species benefits companion animals and also can inform human health. We know this is a strength for academia in general, but especially for an integrated college of veterinary medicine like ours that hosts undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, in addition to veterinary residents. Go Cougs!
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College, Education, and Student News
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Mark Strother (’83 DVM) was a skilled mountaineer who had his sights set on summitting the tallest of peaks on the globe. He had recently graduated from WSU, married and purchased a small animal practice in Western Washington.
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But in 1986, on a fateful climb to Mt. Robson, the highest point in the Canadian Rockies, Strother’s life was tragically cut short. Not long after his death, his family established a scholarship to honor his legacy and support veterinary students. More than three decades later, the fund is still helping Cougs achieve their dreams. Read Decades after tragic death, DVM alum still helping others | College of Veterinary Medicine.
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Dr. John Augustine (’70 DVM) retired roughly two years ago after practicing for half a century. During that time, he provided unmatched and dedicated care to countless animals and their owners, while also serving as an example and mentor for those who worked alongside him and dreamed of their own careers in veterinary medicine – like Dr. Steve Martinez.
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The College of Veterinary Medicine has been awarded a National Institutes of Health T32 grant that will provide $2.1 million over five years to continue support of an infectious disease and microbial immunology post-doctoral training program.
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Maurice Cottman recently became the first director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the College of Veterinary Medicine. Cottman officially joined the college on July 11 working in a remote capacity from his home in Philadelphia, where he had served as director for the Student Center for Diversity and Inclusion at Drexel University for the past five years.
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A year away from earning his doctorate in Molecular Biosciences at WSU, Seth Schneider finds himself in select company. Schneider, who also earned his bachelor’s in genetic and cell biology, is one of 551 selected for the Presidential Management Fellows Program. Read Science leads Coug to prestigious government fellowship.
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The college’s student ambassadors were announced. The ambassadors play a crucial role in promoting the college’s programs, research, and services. Read Fall 2022 Ambassador Spotlight.
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Originally from Wenatchee, Peter Yunker is a junior in Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience pursuing a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience with a pre-medicine track. Peter has spent recent summers in Alaska working as a commercial fisherman, but when he graduates in the winter of 2023, he hopes to head to medical school. Read Q&A with neuroscience student Peter Yunker.
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Dr. Margaret Wild joined the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology in the College of Veterinary Medicine in 2018 to lead Washington’s elk hoof disease research efforts. She recently took some time to discuss her research. Read Meet our researchers – Dr. Margaret Wild.
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Staff awards were presented during the college’s annual barbecue. Since 1997 the awards have recognized staff members who have excelled in the performance of their duties as well as promoted teamwork and inspired excellence in others. Staff are nominated by their department and selected by an advisory committee. Read Staff recognized at annual college barbecue.
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In 2021, Dr. Terry Brown (‘74 DVM) unexpectedly passed away. Within months, the community of those whose lives he touched established the “Dr. Terry J. Brown Memorial Scholarship” as a tribute to his legacy.
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Drs. Marybeth Porter, Barbara Gores, and Matt Schmidt, all friends of Brown, were three of many who made contributions to honor their colleague and mentor. They recently discussed how Brown impacted their lives. Read Mentor, businessman, and friend inspires new scholarship.
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Sarah Wright is a microbiology major in the School of Molecular Biosciences who is on track to graduate in the spring of 2023. Like many students in the college, she has taken advantage of the unique opportunity to gain experience in the laboratory setting as an undergraduate.
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She recently discussed that and her experiences at WSU. Read Q&A with microbiology student Sarah Wright.
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Dr. Heather Koehler joined the college in January as an assistant professor in the School of Molecular Biosciences. Her research interests include programmed cell death pathways that dictate infectious outcomes, innate immune sensing pathways that drive activation, and viral-host interactions and the competition that shapes infections. Read Meet our researchers – Dr. Heather Koehler.
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Newly discovered genetic commonalities and differences among the most prevalent types of canine soft tissue sarcomas, a common and potentially deadly tumor, could pave the way for more accurate diagnosis and better treatments in the future, according to new research by a team of WSU researchers.
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Roughly 15% of the human population is considered malnourished, and population increases in the coming decades will only exacerbate that issue. Professor Jon Oatley covered the growing problem and how genome engineering may help feed the planet.
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His talk, titled “The Human-Animal Genomic Bond,” was presented during a webinar hosted by Technology Networks. Read Gene editing technology may help address world hunger.
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Veterinary Teaching Hospital
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Neurology resident Dr. Carlos Valerio-Lopez recently received the 2022 “Outstanding House Officer” award, an award he also received in 2021. The House Officer Award is selected by fourth-year DVM students and is based on excellence in teaching, mentoring, acting as a role model, and demonstrating compassion for clients and patients. Read Despite obstacles, veterinarian has forged his dreams into reality.
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Dr. Nickol Finch (’01 DVM) has been providing exceptional care for wildlife and exotic pets at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital for more than two decades. In 2011, she was promoted to the head of the hospital’s Exotics and Wildlife Department.
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She recently took the time to discuss her experiences at the hospital and other thoughts. Read Meet the Veterinary Teaching Hospital Team – Dr. Nickol Finch.
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Fourth-year veterinary student Nicholas Vanderholm plans to work predominantly with dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and other small animals when he graduates from WSU this spring. Read Meet the Class of 2023: Nicholas Vanderholm.
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If you’d like to know more, you can always read the latest stories from the college on our news site. And follow us on Facebook and Instagram for even more news and stories about our students and the college. And we now have a TikTok page!
Be safe, healthy, happy, and stay hopeful.
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Dori Borjesson, Dean
WSU College of Veterinary Medicine
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