This Week@WesternU, June 24-28, 2019
From the College of Veterinary Medicine:
WesternU College of Veterinary Medicine holds laparoscopy training courses
The College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) at Western University of Health Sciences recently held multiple laparoscopy training courses for fourth-year students and practicing veterinarians. CVM is unique among veterinary schools in offering laparoscopy training to fourth-years.
CVM held two sessions, on May 9-12 and May 16-19, 2019, for 17 fourth-year CVM students. The students participated in lectures and gave presentations on laparoscopy surgery techniques and procedures. They trained on simulators and were tested on their knowledge and skills. They then performed a laparoscopic spay on live dogs to close the session. In keeping with CVM’s “reverence for life” philosophy, the patients were shelter dogs who were returned to local shelters for adoption. CVM held a Continuing Education course for clinicians June 1-2, 2019.
Click here to read the full story and to view a slideshow.
Kudos on accomplishments
CVM Assistant Professor Rhea Hanselmann, DVM, MPVM, PhD, received an intramural grant for her proposal, “One Health Research in Costa Rica: Anthropogenic Effects on Antibiotic Resistance, Vector Distribution and Waterborne Diseases.”
CVM Professor Malika Kachani, PhD, DVM, recently spent a month in Kenya accompanied by four Class of 2019 veterinary students – Marianne Dominguez, Christina Trabanco, Amanda Liggett and Christina Petersen – as part of a fourth-year Global Health Rotation. The group spent the first week at the Veterinary School at the University of Nairobi, then traveled to the Masai Mara where they assisted with a One Health Intervention project in Oloisukut, Narok County, Marawest, and returned to Nairobi to analyze the collected samples. The purpose of the project was to estimate the prevalence of diseases that affect people and animals and implement control measures to reduce the burden they inflict on the community. The team consisted of veterinary and medical professionals, researchers and students from the U.S. and from Kenya. Samples were collected from various animal species to screen for infection and disease. A second phase of the project will involve collecting and testing samples from the people. Disease transmission factors will be identified and control measures will be implemented to address these health issues in people, animals and the environment. The Oloisukut Conservancy is part of the greater Serengeti-Mara ecosystems and includes indigenous Maasai landowners, domestic animals and a very diverse wildlife. The conservancy offers a perfect site to conduct One Health activities.
The rotation is a life-changing experience for any veterinary student wishing to gain a richer understanding of issues faced by developing countries, Dominguez said.
“I am confident that Dr. Kachani and Mr. Eberhard Zeyhie will be able to provide a truly valuable learning experience that cannot be replicated in a classroom setting,” she said. “This is not a safari vacation to Africa, and only culturally sensitive and open-minded students who have demonstrated a strong work ethic should consider participating.”
From the Graduate College of Biomedical Sciences:
Kudos on accomplishments
Graduate College of Biomedical Sciences Associate Professor Fanglong Dong, PhD, in collaboration with Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (Dr. Neeki and colleagues), had one clinical paper accepted for publication. The paper examined burn injuries associated with honey oil vs methamphetamine in regard to mortality, total burn surface area, and hospital and ICU length of stay.
Dr. Dong, also in collaboration with various ARMC groups, had 18 poster presentations at ARMC Research Day. One of his projects won a first-place award in the poster presentation. Four of his posters were submitted to an international EM conference.
From the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific:
Kudos on accomplishments
COMP Assistant Professor Jeremiah Scott, PhD, published a research article titled “Macroevolutionary effects on primate trophic evolution and their implications for reconstructing primate origins” in the Journal of Human Evolution. The article appears in the August issue, available online here.
From the College of Dental Medicine:
Kudos on accomplishments
The cover article in the Sound & Communications May 2019 edition details WesternU’s innovative technology solution in the Dental Sim Lab at the WesternU College of Dental Medicine.
Click here to read the story.
