Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Department of
Date of this Version
2007
Abstract
The first class of twenty· five Nebraska students began their DVM degree program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The new program provides for students from Nebraska to complete their first two years of the professional school at UNL. The second two years of training will be completed at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University. Under the agreement, the students will pay Iowa State resident tuition rates all four years.
To prepare for the new program, an anatomy teaching laboratory, classroom and microbiology laboratory were develop by renovating space in the Animal Science Complex. New faculty members hired to teach the courses that make up the first two years of the professional curriculum include Dr. Jennifer Wood and Dr. Tom Burkey, veterinary physiology; Dr. John Kammermann, veterinary anatomy; Dr. Jay Reddy, veterinary immunology; Dr. Gary Pickard, neurobiology; Dr. Doug Hostetler, veterinary surgery. Faculty searches are underway for a veterinary parasitologist, veterinary pathologist and veterinary epidemiologist. In addition to these positions, Dr. Jeff Ondrak join the faculty at GPVEC as a Beef Cattle Clinical Veterinarian.
The Department completed its CSREES and UNL S·year review during the year and the feedback from the review team was very favorable. The department is encourage to maintain its research focus in the area of infectious diseases and biomedical research and commented on the positive addition of the 2 + 2 Program and how it complemented the program.
The Veterinary Diagnostic Center prepared for its five year AA VLD accreditation visit. The report was prepared and the site visit is schedule for early January 2008. We are concerned regarding the crowded conditions within the laboratories. In addition, this will be the first time the accreditation process will focus on Standard Operating Procedures within the laboratory.
The undergraduate program has had steady growth since a low point in 2003. Much of this growth is credited to the creation of the Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine. The graduate program remains solid, as does the extramural research funding. To strengthen our extension program, Dr. Richard Randle was hired to focus on beef cattle extension activities.
Additional activities include discussion with the Department of Animal Science and the Dean's Office to strengthen collaborative efforts in student recruitment and clarify some of the confusion related to Pre-vet students.