Vetscan Imagyst Accomplishes Even More
Zoetis Inc. expanded the Vetscan Imagyst platform to include blood smear analysis and digital cytology applications using cloud-based artificial intelligence. “Following the AI read, as with all Imagyst AI applications, there is the opportunity to digitally submit the slide to a clinical pathologist for expert review within two hours,” Zoetis reported.
AVMA Schedules Legislative Fly-In
The American Veterinary Medical Association is inviting AVMA and student members to attend the annual Legislative Fly-In. The event will take place April 17 to 19 in Washington, D.C. “Veterinarians play an essential role in our society, and a strong turnout during the fly-in will inform lawmakers of what they can do to help advance veterinary medicine,” the AVMA stated. Details are at bit.ly/3yjqAus.
Texas A&M Gets $20 Million for New Hospital
Texas A&M University graduates Linda and Dennis Clark pledged a $20 million lead gift to support construction of the Next-Generation Small Animal Teaching and Research Hospital. According to Texas A&M, “The cutting-edge facility will replace the current Small Animal Teaching Hospital and enable students, faculty and staff in the university’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences to further elevate its already world-renowned veterinary medicine program.”
Dr. Christine Navarre Is Veterinarian of the Year
Christine Navarre, DVM, MS, DACVIM-LA, was named the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association’s 2023 Veterinarian of the Year. Dr. Navarre is treasurer of the North American Veterinary Community board of directors, an extension veterinarian at the Louisiana State University AgCenter and a coordinator for Louisiana Beef Quality Assurance.
Ceva Establishes Wildlife Research Fund
Ceva Animal Health created the Ceva Wildlife Research Fund to support applied research into the health of wild animals. “Seventy-five percent of new infectious diseases affecting humans today are of animal origin, and they originate mainly in wild animals,” according to Ceva. “It is urgent to act to better understand how these zoonotic diseases affect animals, and better treat them to avoid their spread to humans.”
Virginia VMA Honors Mentor of the Year
Roger Ramirez-Barrios, DVM, MS, Ph.D., was named the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association’s 2023 Mentor of the Year. He is a clinical associate professor of veterinary parasitology at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. “For me, being a professor is not standing in front of a classroom repeating what the slide says — it’s more than that,” Dr. Ramirez-Barrios said. “Every time that I enter a classroom and I see all the students, I don’t just see students who need to learn. I see faces, I see human beings, and I know that behind those faces are dreams, goals, fears, insecurities.”
Pet Poison Helpline Ranks Toxic Trends
Lilies and chocolate took the top two spots on Pet Poison Helpline’s Toxin Trends dashboard, an analysis of five years of call data. “Our new Toxin Trends tool … identifies where in the United States and Canada pets are most at risk,” said Dr. Renee Schmid, a senior veterinary toxicologist at Pet Poison Helpline. Learn more at bit.ly/3ZocO5Z.
SignalPET Assists Worldwide Veterinary Service
SignalPET is supporting two international training centers operated by the animal welfare group Worldwide Veterinary Service. “This state-of-the-art solution will help WVS to improve its diagnostic capabilities, providing more accurate and efficient diagnoses for companion animals in need,” SignalPET reported. “It will also provide WVS with a valuable tool for enhancing their diagnostic capabilities and accuracy, which will directly benefit the training and education of local veterinary professionals and students.”
NAVTA Starts Infection Prevention Certification
The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America partnered with Virox Technologies to launch the Infection Prevention Leader Certificate Program. The online, four-module course offers five continuing education credits. More information is at bit.ly/3Jg4SOi.
Massachusetts Veterinarian Loves Her Community
Dr. Diana Watkins opened 143 Veterinary Services, a concierge-style practice in Cohasset, Massachusetts. “I’ve always wanted to be a small-town veterinarian, integrated into the lives of our patients and their families,” the 2010 Tufts University graduate said. The 2,500-square-foot clinic features separate exam rooms for dogs and cats, a surgical suite, digital full-body and dental X-ray, and in-clinic blood, urinalysis and cytology testing. “143” is named after Minot Ledge Lighthouse, which flashes 1-4-3 as code for “I Love You.”