Gail Shea, Minister of National Revenue and Member of Parliament (Egmont), on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, announced on February 17 an investment of more than $860,000 for the Atlantic Johne's Disease Initiative to test Atlantic dairy herds. The three-year project will see 60 per cent of dairy cattle in Atlantic Canada screened for the disease. The test results will be analyzed by Maritime Quality Milk, a research centre at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown,...
The Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association (SCAVMA) at AVC recently hosted its inaugural workshop on disaster preparednesss. The workshop, co-chaired by Lindsay Hynek (Class of 2013) and Christie Yamazaki (Class of 2014), featured presentations by veterinarians who are leaders in the field of disaster preparedness and response.
Dr. Alfonso Lopez (Pathology/Microbiology) was recently recognized by the University of Prince Edward Island for his commitment to university teaching. On February 3, Dr. Susan Dawson, Interim Assistant Director of Faculty Development, and Dr. Shannon Murray, Department of English, presented Dr. Lopez with the 2011 Janet Pottie Murray Award for Educational Leadership. The award, named in honour of Dr. Murray’s mother, recognizes an outstanding leader in education on campus, who...
Third-year veterinary student Shari Raheb, student dog trainer at the PEI Humane Society, recently met Rick Mercer of CBC-TV when he filmed a segment of his national show, The Rick Mercer Report, at the Humane Society. Shari taught Mercer how to clicker train dogs and some other “less pleasant” doggie-related tasks. Mercer also dewormed a puppy under the supervision of shelter veterinarian Dr. Danielle Dunn (AVC Class of 2001). Click...
In November 2011, Dr. Erica Koch of AVC’s Department of Health Management spent a week in the Dominican Republic as part of a veterinary medical team working with Project Samana. Dr. Koch was part of the large animal veterinary team, which castrated, vaccinated, and dewormed horses and donkeys; they also assisted with the spaying and neutering of cats and dogs when time allowed. Established in 1993,...
Dr. Margaret Slater, Senior Director of Veterinary Epidemiology, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, will give two presentations at AVC on Tuesday, March 20, about problems and potential solutions for free-roaming cats. At 12:30 p.m. she will speak to AVC students and faculty about “Saving cats’ lives in animal shelters through data-driven programs.” Dr. Slater will talk about ASPCA research on identification,...
A new research contract company called Bio-valuation Outsourcing Solution (BioVOS) was launched recently by UPEI during a reception at AVC. Headed by Dr. Tarek Saleh, Professor of Biomedical Sciences, the company provides services to the pharmaceutical industry to test new drugs and treatments for neuro-inflammatory, metabolic and cardiovascular disorders, including heart...
The Canada-Wide Science Fair is coming to Prince Edward Island for the first time ever from May 13 to 18, and it will be hosted by UPEI. Volunteers are needed in many capacities—for judging, hospitality, communications, food services, administration, school tours, exhibit set-up, decorating, public viewing, and more. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact John Burka (AVC Biomedical Sciences) at...
Dr. Sophie St. Hilaire (AVC Class of 1994) was recently announced as the new Canada Research Chair in Integrated Health Research for Sustainable Aquaculture at UPEI. Her research into disease prevention, sustainability, and public health in aquaculture settings complements the expertise of the Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology (CVER) and the Centre...
Dr. Don Reynolds, Dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College, will host a reception on Monday, February 20, for alumni and friends of AVC during the Western Veterinary Conference at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Please join Dr. Reynolds from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in Reef D at the Resort. A great opportunity to greet former classmates and get caught up on AVC news! Everyone is welcome!
On behalf of AVC, I wish everyone a very happy and healthy holiday season. 2011—our 25th year as the veterinary college serving Atlantic Canada—was productive and exciting, filled with discovery and learning. We were pleased to have the opportunity to welcome Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, UPEI’s new president, to our College and to say thank you to outgoing president H. Wade MacLauchlan for his support of AVC during his presidency at UPEI. As always, we are thankful for our hard-...
Dr. Jeff Wichtel, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research at AVC, is pleased to announce the publication of a new AVC Research Report, Celebrating 25 years: 1986-2011. The report includes profiles on researchers from each of AVC’s four departments--Health Management, Companion Animals, Pathology and Microbiology, and Biomedical Sciences--as well as snapshots about various research projects and the growth in graduate studies and research at AVC over the past 25 years. Click...
Would you know what to do if a wound on your dog's leg was bleeding badly? Dr. Kathy Ling, AVC Community Practice veterinarian, will give a workshop called “Basic First Aid for Your Pet” on Tuesday, January 31, in The McCain Foundation Learning Commons, Room 287N, from 7-8:30 p.m. Dr. Ling will present basic information about recognizing and caring for emergencies and injuries in dogs and cats. Topics will include primary assessment, handling an injured pet, bleeding, shock,...
More than a decade after they graduated, the Atlantic Veterinary College is, once again, playing a central role in the lives of Drs Tracy and Andrea Matthews (AVC ’02). Dr. Tracy Matthews is now Director of AVC’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. And Dr. Andrea Matthews has joined the College’s Department of Companion Animals as an Assistant Professor of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging.
A promising new medical compound, developed by Dr. Tarek Saleh, Chair of the Department of Biomedical Science, and Dr. Bobby Khan, a past visiting Fulbright scholar to UPEI, has been licensed to Carmel Bioscience in Georgia for pre-clinical testing. Derived from naturally occurring products with proven safety and effectiveness in humans, the compound shows great potential as an anti-...
Dr. Donald Reynolds, Dean of AVC, was recently named president of the Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases (CRWAD). The purpose of CRWAD is to discuss and disseminate the most current research advances in animal diseases. Each year research scientists from around the world meet to present their recent research in the areas of bacterial pathogenesis, biosafety and biosecurity, companion animal epidemiology, epidemiology and...
Congratulations to students Alexander Burrows, Emma Vaasjo, Michael Walker, Stephanie Simpson, and Nicole Mayne who placed third in the veterinary student division of the 11th annual Intercollegiate Animal Welfare Judging and Assessment Contest, held at Michigan State University in November. Each student was provided with contrasting scenarios for the management of race horses, caged birds, and farrowing pigs. They were required to assess...
Dr. Leigh Lamont and Dr. Etienne Côté, both of AVC’s Department of Companion Animals, recently presented Dr. Don Reynolds, Dean of AVC, with new veterinary medical reference books that they have contributed to. Dr. Lamont is a co-editor of Essentials of Small Animal Anesthesia and Analgesia, Second Edition, and Dr. Côté is a co-...
Dr. Tim Ogilvie, past dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI, was recently honoured by the Prince Edward Island Veterinary Medical Association (PEIVMA). During the association’s annual meeting in October, Dr. Ogilvie was presented with the Prince Edward Island Veterinary Leadership Award, the highest award given By the PEIVMA. The award recognizes a veterinarian...
Dr. Donald Reynolds, Dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College, was part of a delegation from UPEI which participated recently in a trade mission to China led by PEI Premier Robert Ghiz. Highlights of the busy trip for Dr. Reynolds included a ceremony recognizing AVC’s relationship with China Agricultural University, a visit to the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, and tours of other post-secondary institutions including Ocean and Ludong universities. The UPEI delegation included Dr...
The AVC Lobster Science Centre’s annual lobster science workshop, “On the Road Again: Optimising Lobster Quality Throughout the Chain-of-Custody,” held in November, was a great success! Over 110 participants from all sectors of the industry attended the workshop, with representatives from academia, government, research organizations, harvesters, processors and live shippers, making this the LSC’s biggest...
AVC’s annual Fall Awards and Recognition Night, held earlier this fall, was very successful, with approximately $115,000 in awards, scholarships and bursaries given out to DVM and graduate students. Dr. Don Reynolds, Dean of AVC, praised the students for their academic achievements and expressed deep appreciation to the donors who support the scholarships and awards presented at the ceremony.
Dr. Wendy Duckett of AVC's Department of Health Management received the Pfizer Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teacher Award at AVC's Fall Awards and Recognition Night in October. This award is presented to an outstanding teacher, who, through his or her ability, character and leadership, contributes significantly to the advancement of the veterinary profession. Congratulations, Dr. Duckett!
The Class of 2011 has made a substantial donation to the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre for the Pegasus Helping Hand Fund. Established in 2004 by the Pegasus Family Foundation, the Fund provides financial assistance to people of limited means for non-routine care of their animals. The SJDAWC thanks the Class of 2011 for its generosity.
Regulatory limits for somatic cell count in milk are scheduled to decrease by 20 per cent, from 500,000 to 400,000, in August of 2012. Somatic cells are an indicator of overall udder health and influence milk product quality. In November, AVC's Maritime Quality Milk, together with Valacta, the regional milk recording agency, held eight successful sessions in the three Maritime provinces to transfer new knowledge about the production of top quality milk. The program, which was attended by 275...
On Sunday, January 15, Dr. Don Reynolds, Dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College, will host an AVC alumni reception from 7 to 8 p.m. in Crystal Ballroom C of the Orlando World Centre Marriott in Orlando, Florida. The reception will take place during the annual North American Veterinary Conference. Please join us for an opportunity to greet former classmates and get caught up on AVC news. Everyone is welcome.
AVC’s Class of 2015 received a warm welcome on Friday, August 26, during the College’s annual Blue Coat Ceremony. The students were presented with their blue coats, signifying the beginning of their four-year journey toward their DVMs. Hosting the event at UPEI’s Wanda Wyatt Dining Hall were Dr. Donald Reynolds, Dean of AVC, and Dr. Jim Berry, vice-president of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. Congratulations and welcome, Class of 2015!
Saturday, September 24, will be a big day at AVC and UPEI! From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., AVC will host its 23rd annual Open House. Organized and run by AVC students, this free family event will include many fun and educational activities. Learn about different dog breeds during the Parade of Dog Breeds; see some unusual animals at the mini-zoo; learn to gown and glove for surgery; view a painted horse and cow, and much more. Children can bring their favourite stuffed toys for a check-up and...
Dr. Don Reynolds, Dean of AVC, recently received an Alumni Recognition Award from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Society. Presenting Dr. Reynolds with his award is Alumni Association president Dr. Adam Parson. Alumni recognition awards are given to people who dedicate themselves to the enhancement of the veterinary medical profession. Dr. Reynolds received his...
Dr. Tim Ogilvie, immediate past Dean of AVC, was awarded the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s prestigious 2011 President’s Award earlier this summer. The CVMA’s President's Award is given from time to time to recognize an individual member for exceptional contributions and devotion to the association. Dr. Ogilvie accepted his award at the CVMA’s annual conference...
A $1.1 million Atlantic Johne’s Disease Initiative (AJDI) has been well received by dairy producers in Atlantic Canada. Maritime Quality Milk (MQM) at AVC and the four Atlantic Canadian dairy producer boards launched the three-year initiative in June of this year. Dr. Greg Keefe, Director of MQM, says that the goal of the program is to enrol 350 of the approximately...
The deadline to register for AVC’s seventh annual “Animal Welfare in Practice” conference is Friday, September 23. The conference, which will take place at AVC from September 30 to October 1, will focus on the widespread and serious problem of lameness in dairy cattle. Dr. Dan Weary, of the University of British Columbia’s Animal Welfare Program, will give a public lecture on this topic on Friday, September 30, in AVC Lecture Theatre A. The Saturday program will...
AVC will host a community workshop called Exotics 101 on Tuesday, November 29, from 7-8:30 p.m. in Lecture Theatre A. Dr. Marion Desmarchelier of AVC's Zoo, Exotic Animal and Wildlife Medicine Service will speak about the “do’s and don'ts” of owning exotic pets. For more information, please call (902) 566-0589. All are welcome to attend.
This event is part of AVC’s Community Workshop Series, which won a silver medal from the Canadian Council for the Advancement...
Innovation PEI announced the winners of its 2011 graduate student scholarships and post-doctoral fellowships during a ceremony held at AVC recently. Shown here are some of the award-winners with Dr. Brian Wagner (left), UPEI's Assistant VP of Graduate Studies; Innovation and Advanced Learning Minister Honourable Allan Campbell (second from left); Dr. Mark Fast (third from left),...
Dr. Don Reynolds, Dean of AVC, was pleased to present Mrs. Helen Thomson-Patterson with AVC's 2010 Honourable Eugene F. Whelan Green Hat Award which was posthumously awarded last fall to Dr. Reg Thomson (OVC '59), her late husband and Founding Dean of AVC. The presentation took place at a reunion of OVC's Class of 1959, held at AVC on August 27. Mrs. Thomson-Patterson was unable to attend the 2010 UPEI...
AVC DVM student Modou Camara (Class of 2014) explains his research project to Dr. Luis Bate of AVC’s Department of Biomedical Sciences at a poster session held in August to conclude AVC’s fourth annual Summer Research and Leadership Program. Thirteen AVC and UPEI students participated in the program this summer. The students attended weekly lectures about careers in research, and sessions to help them improve their presentation skills and scientific writing. Research projects...
The Hon. Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, and the Hon. Gerald Keddy, Parliamentary Secretary for International Trade and ACOA, visited AVC recently where they met with AVC and UPEI officials, including Dr. Don Reynolds, Dean of AVC; Jerry Amirault and Dr Jean Lavallée of the AVC Lobster Science Centre; and Dr. Tim Goddard, Lead Dean International for UPEI. The purpose of the meeting was to build awareness about the AVC Lobster Science...
Arthur and Sandra Irving recently donated a leadership gift to the University of Prince Edward Island in support of AVC’s expansion. In recognition of this generous gift from Mr. and Mrs. Irving, AVC’s Community Practice Clinic will be named the Sandra and Arthur Irving Community Care Clinic. Mr. and Mrs. Irving have been clients of AVC’s Veterinary Teaching...
AVC has won a silver medal from the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) for its popular Community Workshop Series. AVC received the national award in the Best Community Outreach Initiative category at the CCAE’s national Prix d’Excellence awards ceremony on June 5. The Community Workshop Series, which began in 2008, features public presentations focusing on the health and...
AVC’s Maritime Quality Milk, in conjunction with a team of veterinarians in Atlantic Canada, has developed a new program to combat Johne’s disease in dairy cattle. MQM is partnering with the four dairy boards in Atlantic Canada on the Atlantic Johne's Disease Initiative, designed to reduce the impact of Johne's disease on the regional dairy industry by...
Dr. Ian Gardner, Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Aquatic Epidemiology, was officially welcomed to UPEI and AVC at a reception recently. An internationally renowned veterinary epidemiologist, Dr. Gardner is a member of AVC’s Department of Health Management. Following the reception, the Strategic Advisory Board for the CERC in Aquatic Epidemiology, made up of experts from...
An orphaned four-month-old wild bear cub recently had surgery at AVC to correct a congenital malformation in his hind legs. Aptly named after Charlie Chaplin, Charlie was born with his kneecaps in the wrong position, making it difficult for him to walk properly. AVC small animal surgeon Dr. Trina Bailey performed surgery to repair the problem, and Charlie is now walking more like a normal bear. This was the first time that Dr. Bailey had operated on a bear! While AVC clinicians...
Members of AVC’s Class of 2011 celebrated their entry into the profession of veterinary medicine at AVC’s annual White Coat ceremony held on May 6 at the Confederation Centre of the Arts. Before a large audience of family, friends and members of the AVC community, the 60 graduates received their white coats, symbolizing the completion of their four-year DVM program. The event also included the presentation of student and faculty awards. The following day, the graduates proudly...
Congratulations to Bob Deziel for being awarded the Governor General’s gold medal for graduate studies at Convocation this year! Bob completed his Master of Science degree under the supervision of Dr. Rob Hurta, UPEI Department of Biology, and Dr. Kathy Gottschall-Pass, Family and Nutritional Sciences. His project involved the examination of the potential anti-cancer effects in cranberries on prostate cancer cells. Bob works at AVC in two roles—with Dr. Andrew Tasker in the...
Dr. Fred Kibenge, Chair of AVC's Department of Pathology and Microbiology, was pleased to learn recently that his NSERC Discovery Grant has been renewed for five years at $40,000 per year for total funding of $200,000. Dr. Kibenge’s basic research program on infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) has been funded continuously by NSERC since 2001. Click here for more information.
Dr. Larry Hammell, Co-director of ERAAAD OIE Collaborating Centre, updated the OIE Aquatic Focal Points (Asia) meeting in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in April and then visited with farmers and government representatives to develop a plan for developing expertise in aquatic epidemiology in the region. ERAAAD is a collaborative program between the Norwegian Veterinary Institute and AVC, and accesses specialists in both institutions to assist with aquatic health...
Thanks to the generous donation of aquarium equipment from Rolf C. Hagen Incorporated, three 490-litre fish tanks have been installed in The McCain Foundation Learning Commons at AVC. The two freshwater tanks collectively house African and convict cichlids, tinfoil barbs, blood-red parrot fish and plecostomus (algae-eaters), while the saltwater tank holds clownfish, a hawkfish, brittle stars, a cerith snail and a turbo snail.
Dr. Don Reynolds, Dean of AVC, will host a reception for alumni and friends of AVC at the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s 2011 conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on July 7. The reception will take place from 7:30-9 p.m. in Suite 304-305 of the World Trade and Convention Centre. Please join Dr. Reynolds to get caught up on AVC news and to visit with former classmates! Everyone is welcome. For information, please contact Janice MacWilliam at (902) 566-0589.
AVC’s Class of 2001 will hold its 10-year reunion from July 22-24. Events include an opening reception on Friday, July 22, at AVC’s The McCain Foundation Learning Commons; a lobster supper and Maritime kitchen party at the Delta Prince Edward on Saturday; and a farewell brunch at Victoria Park on Sunday. Registrations are being accepted until July 1. For details and a registration form, please click here.
Nominations are being sought for the Atlantic Veterinary College’s Atlantic Award of Excellence in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Care. This annual Award recognizes veterinarians who have made significant contributions to animal health and welfare in Atlantic Canada. The Award will be presented at the annual meeting of the award winner’s provincial Veterinary Medical Association. For information about award criteria and how to make a nomination, click...
Most people have heard about the Run for the Cure, but what about the AVC Head for a Cure? During the 2011 Suture Review event on March 17, ten brave second-year students sacrificed their hair for a great cause, much to the delight of faculty members who gleefully wielded cow clippers to shave heads. The students raised over $3,400 for the Canadian Cancer Society, PEI Division, during the event.
AVC’s seventh annual “Animal Welfare in Practice” conference will take place at AVC from September 30 to October 1, 2011. The conference will address the widespread and significant welfare problem of lameness in dairy cattle. The keynote speaker is Dr. Dan Weary, of the University of British Columbia’s Animal Welfare Program. For program details and registration information, please click here. The...
AVC was pleased to host Government of New Brunswick partners on two occasions in January of this year. On January 7, the Hon. Mike Olscamp (Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries), Mr. Michel Theriault (Assistant Deputy Minister of Fisheries), and Mr. Robert Rioux (Executive Director, Aquaculture) visited the College. The Hon. Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, was on hand to meet them, as were agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries counterparts from the...
In 2011, the Atlantic Veterinary College is celebrating 25 years of excellence in veterinary education, groundbreaking research and outstanding professional services.
Dr. Donald Reynolds, Dean of AVC, launched the anniversary celebrations on February 14 in The McCain Foundation Learning Commons. Faculty and staff who have been with AVC since the beginning were presented with t-shirts printed with AVC’s 25th anniversary logo on the front and “An AVC Original” on the...
Anton Smith, US Consul General for Atlantic Canada, met several AVC students during a tour of the College on Wednesday, March 16. With Mr. Smith (right) and Dr. Don Reynolds (left), Dean of AVC, are Stephanie Alford (Class of 2012) of Marlborough, Massachusetts; Emily Gassman (Class of 2013) of Jericho, Vermont; Kyle Vititoe (Class of 2013) of Santa Barbara, California; Marissa Herzog (Class of 2012) of New York City, New York; and Nicole Amon (Class of 2012) of Venice, Florida. Mr. Smith...
A tour of AVC is now available on the AVC website. Hosted and narrated by AVC student Bruno Boutet (Class of 2012), the tour of AVC runs about five minutes and provides an opportunity for prospective students, faculty and others to get to know us better.
The tour of AVC can be viewed at avc.upei.ca/tour.
Dr. J Trenton McClure, Chair of the Department of Health Management at AVC, recently received a Distinguished Alumnus Award from his alma mater, Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. McClure graduated from LSU School of Veterinary Medicine in 1989 and earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin—Madison in 1994. He has been a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine since 1995. He joined AVC in 1998 and has...
AVC now offers one of only two veterinary cardiology residency programs in Canada and one of 38 in the world. Designed and led by Dr. Etienne Côté, Associate Professor of Companion Animal Medicine at AVC and one of eight veterinary cardiologists in Canada, this post-graduate program provides a veterinarian with three years of full-time, referral-level cardiovascular medical practice and training, and new courses for didactic learning at a specialty level. During the three-year...
For the past two and a half months, AVC has been home to a very special little patient—an orphaned squirrel monkey from the Magnetic Hill Zoo in Moncton, New Brunswick. Named Sheldon after a character in the popular television show The Big Bang Theory, the monkey was born on New Year’s Day. Unfortunately his mother died soon after the birth, and the infant monkey was taken to AVC where he has been receiving 24-hour care from Dr....
A generous donation from the Equine Foundation of Canada has enabled the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) to purchase new equipment for equine dentistry and laryngeal surgery. With the grant, AVC has purchased a Powerfloat, a mechanized dental device for floating horses’ teeth, as well as new hand floats equipped with tungsten carbide blades. The funding has also enabled the College to purchase instruments used in surgery performed to...
A survey by AVC researchers to determine methods of euthanasia used in Canadian animal shelters and to identify whether they are likely to be associated with animal welfare issues was published recently in the Canadian Veterinary Journal. The study was funded by the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre at AVC and conducted by Niamh Caffrey (PhD student at AVC), Dr. Aboubakar Mounchili (...
AVC is home to a unique clinical diagnostic tool that allows the College’s Diagnostics Services Unit to respond to clients’ needs more efficiently and cost-effectively. Housed in a laboratory on the third floor of the College is a Bruker Daltonics® Microflex LT—a MALDI-TOF (Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight) mass spectrometer used primarily to identify bacterial and fungal pathogens. With this innovative technology, 96 clinical samples can be...
A second edition of Dr. Etienne Côté's bestselling small animal medicine textbook, Clinical Veterinary Advisor: Dogs and Cats, has been published by Elsevier, the world's leading publisher of science and health information. A complete revision of the first edition, the 1,784-page book covers the diagnosis and treatment of hundreds of diseases in dogs and cats. Owners of the book can access a companion website that includes an electronic version of the text; all of the...
During an intense wind storm that hit PEI in December, dozens of dovekies—small black and white sea birds also known as little auks—were blown on shore. The little birds rapidly become exhausted and weakened when they are out of their ocean environment. More than 20 birds were brought to the AVC Veterinary Teaching Hospital where they received intensive care until they had recovered from their ordeal. A team of veterinarians, technicians and students helped to take care of the...
Dr. Jesse Benjamin, Class of 2007, was featured recently in Halifax News Net (Transcontinental Media, The Weekly News). Dr. Benjamin was the first Mi’kmaq student to graduate with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Atlantic Veterinary College. She now practices at the Sackville Animal Hospital in Sackville, Nova Scotia. Read the full article...
The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) recently named Dianne McFarlane, DVM, PhD, to its list of “Heroes in Medicine.” An ACVIM Board-certified large animal internist, Dr. McFarlane is an associate professor of physiological sciences at Oklahoma State University’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences. She is researching the similarities between Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (formerly known as Cushing’s Disease) in horses and Parkinson...
Dr. Michael Cockram, Chair in Animal Welfare, Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre at AVC, has accepted an invitation to sit on two committees of the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC). He is a member of the NFACC’s Equine Welfare Code Development Committee, representing research/academia, and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. He also represents the International Society for Applied Ethology on NFACC’s Sheep Welfare Code...
Dr. Anne Marie Carey, Community Practice Veterinarian at AVC, will give a workshop called “You and Your Cat—Relationship Counselling” in AVC Lecture Theatre A on Tuesday, April 26, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. This session will explore the unique relationship between humans and cats, and what we can do to make it "purr-fect."
Dr. Carey is a member of a recently formed national committee called Care for Cats that aims to raise...
Dr. Don Reynolds, Dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College, will host a reception for alumni and friends of AVC at the upcoming Atlantic Provinces Veterinary Conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Please join Dr. Reynolds on Saturday, April 16, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., in Acadia Room A, Halifax Marriott Harbourfront. A great opportunity to greet former classmates and get caught up on AVC news! Everyone is welcome!
To mark the 250th anniversary of the veterinary profession, 2011 has been designated World Veterinary Year. Modern veterinarians provide medical care for animals and are advocates for animal welfare, but they are also key public health stakeholders because of the crucial role they play in promoting food security by supervising animal production hygiene, controlling zoonoses, monitoring food quality and safety, biomedical research, and protecting the environment and biodiversity. For more...
Dr. Don Reynolds, Dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College, will host a reception on January 17 for AVC alumni attending the North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando, Florida. The reception will take place at 7 p.m. in the Orlando World Trade Centre Marriott (Crystal Ballroom C) in Orlando. A great chance to catch up with your fellow graduates!
A juvenile bald eagle soared free after being released near Georgetown, PEI, by Dr. Marion Desmarchelier, AVC Zoo, Exotic Animals and Wildlife Medicine Service. The eagle was found trapped in a snare in the Georgetown area in November and was taken to AVC’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. The bird spent ten days in the hospital, recovering from severe capture myopathy (renal failure caused by exhaustion and stress of trying to escape from the snare), and wounds to its neck and one wing....
In October 2010, the last in a series of workshops organized by the OIE (World Organization for Animal Health) in conjunction with one of its collaborating centres, the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre (CCWHC), was held in Bangkok, Thailand. The workshops were intended for the training of professionals who inform and advise OIE Delegates in their countries about wildlife health. This final workshop, directed at Asian members of the OIE, was delivered by Dr. Ted Leighton, General...
Dr. Lawrence Heider, Dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College from 1991 to 1998, returned to AVC earlier this fall for a visit. While at the College, Dr. Heider had the opportunity to see firsthand the many upgrades and improvements to AVC that have resulted from its $45-million infrastructure project. His visit also provided a rare chance for a get-together with Dr. Don Reynolds, present Dean, and Dr. Tim Ogilvie who was Dean from 1998 to 2008. Dr. Heider was the third Dean of AVC, following...
Dr. Mark Fast, Novartis Research Chair in Fish Health at AVC, recently delivered a presentation entitled “Trying to stop sea lice from partying like it’s 1999” at UPEI’s 25th Research Breakfast. His presentation outlined the work his research group is doing with sea lice, as well as the current crisis facing the salmon farming industry in Canada--specifically the Bay of Fundy--and strategies his team are using to develop new environmentally acceptable solutions. Dr....
Over 120 people participated in AVC’s recent Community Workshop Series to learn about first aid for horses. Dr. Erica Koch of AVC’s Ambulatory Equine Service gave a hands-on community workshop about the proper treatment of equine ailments in emergency situations. Topics covered included monitoring a horse’s vital signs, wound and injury treatment, administering medications, knowing when to call a veterinarian and must-have items for an equine first-aid kit. Please visit AVC...
In November, Dr. Alice Crook, coordinator of AVC's Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre, traveled to the four English Canadian veterinary colleges to give the first talks in the Animal Welfare Lecture Tour organized for veterinary students by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA). Dr. Crook spoke at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the...
Drs Jose Ramirez Lezama and Larisa Chavez-Soriano, a husband-and-wife team from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the National University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, spent the past six months working at AVC’s Department of Pathology and Microbiology. An anatomic pathologist, Dr. Ramirez Lezama teaches general and systemic pathology in Mexico. He also does necropsy examination and biopsy service for domestic animals and wildlife at UNAM. A fish pathologist at UNAM, Dr. Chavez-...
AVC’s student team performed well at the 2010 Intercollegiate Animal Welfare Judging & Assessment Contest held at Michigan State University in November. The team of Josh Aalders, Class of 2013, and Michael Walker, Alexander Burrows, Samantha Sanford and Emma Vaasjo, all in the Class of 2014, finished third in the veterinary division of the competition. They competed against nine teams from the USA and Canada in this division....
Starting January 21, 2011, three AVC students, led by faculty member Dr. John VanLeeuwen, will spend three weeks in Kenya, working with veterinarians, animal health technicians and smallholder dairy farmers to improve the health and productivity of dairy cattle. The students are Murray Gillies and Erika Kubik, both from New Brunswick, and Erin Ramsay from PEI. The team will be working in partnership with Farmers Helping Farmers, a PEI-based non-governmental organization, and the Faculty of...
If you think taking your 12-pound tabby cat to the vet is hard, imagine trying to get a 481-pound lion to the doctor! Azizi, a two-year-old male lion from the Magnetic Hill Zoo in Moncton, New Brunswick, was brought to AVC recently for a surgery consultation and diagnostic imaging (radiography and ultrasound) of his left shoulder. The big cat has had a chronic limp off and on for several months. Dr. Marion Desmarchelier, AVC Zoo, Exotic Animal and Wildlife Medicine Service, mobilized an...
The McCain Foundation has donated $1 million to the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) in support of the Atlantic Veterinary College’s (AVC) expansion program. With its leadership gift, The McCain Foundation is supporting state-of-the-art learning and educational facilities through The McCain Foundation Learning Commons at AVC—the most recent addition within AVC’s $45 million expansion project....
On behalf of AVC, I want to wish everyone a very happy and healthy holiday season. 2010 has been an exciting year for AVC. We are thankful for our hard-working students of whom we are very proud, and for our dedicated faculty and staff, who daily demonstrate their commitment. 2011 marks AVC’s 25th anniversary as the veterinary college serving Atlantic Canada. Much has changed since the College opened in 1986, but what remains constant is our pride in delivering outstanding programs and...
Equine Emergencies: First Aid for Horses
Tuesday, November 30, 7-8:30 p.m.
Dr. Erica Koch, Assistant Professor in AVC’s Ambulatory Equine Services, will talk about the proper treatment of equine ailments in emergency situations in AVC’s Lecture Theatre A. This will be followed by a hands-on session about equine first aid in the arena in the Large Animal Hospital. Topics will include monitoring a horse’s vital signs, wound and injury treatment,...
Dr. Dan Hurnik of AVC’s Department of Health Management and CEO of the Atlantic Swine Research Partnership recently hosted a delegation from China who visited Canada to learn about the Canadian swine industry. While on PEI, the group met with the Honourable George Webster, Minister of Agriculture, to discuss the province’s pig health program, and talked with Dr. Don Reynolds, Dean of AVC, about AVC’s research and disease surveillance program. They also toured AVC and...
The sixth annual AVC Animal Welfare: In Practice conference held on September 17 and 18 was a success. Approximately 80 people attended the public session on September 17, and three lectures and two practical laboratory sessions on the following day for veterinarians, technicians and students. The keynote presentations are available at the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre website. The conference was co-hosted by the SJDAWC and the AVC Animal Welfare...
Dr. Alejandro Ceballos's research into the association of selenium with udder health in dairy cattle was recently profiled by vetsweb.com. The article, entitled “Milk selenium concentration and its association with udder health in Atlantic Canadian dairy herds,” was co-authored by Drs Ceballos, H.W. Barkema, H. Stryhn, I.R. Dohoo, G.P. Keefe and J.J. Wichtel, and was originally published in the Journal of Dairy Science. Dr. Ceballos received his PhD from UPEI in 2010 and...
Twenty-three people from AVC spent a day in September cleaning up Brackley Beach during the annual Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. In just a few hours, they collected 15 bags of garbage and recyclable items, lobster traps and buoys, a piece of porch furniture, old boards and large plastic containers! Student coordinator Samara Parker was very pleased with the results of the cleanup and vowed to do it again next year. Participants included members of the AVC Aquatics and Marine Wildlife...
Dr. Kristina Perkins, AVC Class of 2008, was recently featured in the Ventura County Star in Camarillo, California. Originally from Camarillo, Dr. Perkins is now a partner in the Pleasant Valley Animal Hospital in Camarillo where she worked as a high school senior ten years ago. To read the full story, click here.
Dr. Jonathan Spears of AVC's Department of Biomedical Sciences recently hosted a two-day workshop for consulting veterinarians, facility managers and facility technicians working for academic institutions that deal with finfish as laboratory animals. The workshop was intended to provide training in fish research as required by the Canadian Council for Animal Care and to deliver it in a manner that brings consulting veterinarians into the laboratory animal care team. It set a foundation of...
AVC and the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso (PUCV) in Chile recently launched a two-year twinning project to combat Infectious Salmon Anaemia virus (ISAv). The project, which is titled Building capacity for improved diagnosis and control of ISA in Chile, is funded by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). The PUCV laboratory (Candidate Laboratory) was designated by Sernapesca (National Fisheries Service, Chile) as the National Reference Laboratory for ISA in Chile, and...
Innovation PEI recently announced the winners of its 2010 Graduate and Post-Doctoral Fellowships. They include 10 graduate students at AVC and UPEI, and two applications from AVC and UPEI faculty to attract graduate and post-doctoral students. Now in its second year, the program is providing multi-year funding to 23 UPEI students in total.
AVC faculty members were recognized for excellence in teaching at the annual UPEI Faculty Recognition and Awards Banquet on October 2. Dr. Alfonso Lopez (Pathology and Microbiology) received a UPEI Hessian Merit Award for Excellence in Teaching, and Dr. Collins Kamunde (Biomedical Sciences) a UPEI Merit Award for Scholarly Achievement. Drs Tim Ogilvie, John Burka, Rick Cawthorn, Arnost Cepica and Ian Dohoo were recognized for their 25-year anniversaries as faculty at AVC. Congratulations to...
Seventy-three scholarships and awards were presented to AVC students and faculty in recognition of their academic achievement during AVC’s 2010 Fall Awards and Recognition Night, held on Wednesday, October 6, in the College’s Learning Commons. Dr. Don Reynolds, Dean of AVC, and Dr. Wendy Duckett, Chair of the AVC Scholarship and Awards Committee, praised the students for their academic achievements and expressed their deep appreciation to the donors who support the scholarships...
Dr. Reg Thomson, Founding Dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College, was posthumously awarded AVC’s 2010 Honourable Eugene F. Whelan Green Hat Award at UPEI’s Founders’ Day ceremony on September 24, for his pivotal role in the establishment of AVC at UPEI. Dr. Basil Ikede, former student and long-time colleague and friend of Dr. Thomson, accepted the award on behalf of Dr. Thomson’s wife, Mrs. Helen Thomson-Patterson, who was unable to attend the ceremony. The...
Well-known Nova Scotia veterinarian Dr. Hubert Bennett (OVC ’57) was awarded the AVC 2010 Atlantic Award of Excellence in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Care during the Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association’s annual general meeting on November 6. Throughout his long career in veterinary medicine, Dr. Bennett, who retired in 2007, was a tireless advocate for his patients and their owners, and a great mentor for young veterinarians. Click...
A major contribution from the John and Judy Bragg Family Foundation, made in memory of their lifelong friend and respected P.E.I. business leader David W. Rodd, will support human health research facilities at UPEI’s Atlantic Veterinary College. To mark this generous gift, the health research floor of the AVC Research Complex has been named The David W. Rodd Health Research Floor, where researchers work diligently in world-class laboratories to find solutions to human health conditions...
Heidi MacLean, Betty Snygiel and Aimie Doyle (left to right), Class of 2000, shared laughter and memories at a wine and cheese reception held in AVC’s Learning Commons earlier this summer during the Class’s 10-year reunion. Members of the Class of 2000 caught up with each other at various social events, including the reception, a family barbecue, and a dinner and dance. During their visit to AVC, they saw the many changes that have occurred at the College since their student days...
Dr. Molly Kibenge of AVC’s Department of Pathology and Microbiology was recently appointed to the editorial board of the Journal of Aquaculture Research & Development. Published by OMICS Publishing Group, this new peer-reviewed journal focuses on hypothesis-driven research as well as review articles in all areas of cultured aquatic resources. Congratulations, Dr. Kibenge!
Christine Paetzold, researcher in AVC's Department of Health Management, visited her former high school in Bridgetown, Nova Scotia, in June to present two guest lectures about Aquaculture. Two grade 11 classes, Oceanography and Biology, set aside class-time to learn about the concept of aquaculture, global trends, pros and cons of aquaculture, Canadian aquaculture products, and the PEI mussel industry. The talks were well received, and the Biology class was presented with an AVC poster to...
Laura Bourque, AVC Class of 2013, learned first-hand this summer about the challenges facing dairy farmers in rural Kenya. She spent the past three months, providing veterinary care and extension to smallholder dairy farmers living in poverty. Laura was part of a team led by Dr. John VanLeeuwen of AVC and Dr. George Gitau of the Nairobi Veterinary College. The team investigates the effectiveness of various drugs used to treat gastrointestinal parasites in dairy cattle and the epidemiology of...
Marianne Parent, AVC Class of 2014, talks to AVC faculty member Dr. Maria Forzan about her research project comparing the prevalence of chytrid fungus in frogs and toads on PEI with habitat quality. Marianne was one of ten AVC students who participated in the College’s Summer Research and Leadership Program this summer. The students attended weekly lectures about careers in research, and sessions to help them improve their presentation skills and scientific writing. On Friday, August...
About 100 participants from throughout the Atlantic provinces and Maine attended the AVC Lobster Science Centre’s sixth annual Lobster Science Workshop on July 7 and 8 in Truro, Nova Scotia. Presenters discussed the question of “what is quality” and issues related to factors that influence quality and the impact of quality on markets. This annual event builds positive relationships among fishermen, processors, exporters, biologists,...
Sixteen veterinarians from China recently completed an intensive four-week training program in field epidemiology at AVC’s Centre for Veterinary Epidemiological Research (CVER) in August 2010. The veterinarians received instruction in a wide range of topics including disease outbreak investigation, surveillance, measures of disease frequency, population sampling strategies and correct interpretation of diagnostic test results. Dr. Sither Dorjee...
AVC’s Centre for Veterinary Epidemiological Research (CVER) hosted a very successful Epi on the Island 2010 conference throughout the month of August. Epi on the Island draws professionals from all over the world to AVC for training in epidemiology. This year, participants came from Denmark, Austria, Chile, Netherlands, Finland, Norway, and Canada, and included a number of AVC students. CVER would like to thank everyone involved for making Epi on...
AVC is proud to once again participate in the Prince Edward Island International Shellfish Festival, which will take place from September 16 to 19 in Charlottetown. People of all ages will enjoy learning about marine animals in the always popular AVC touch tank, which will be located at Charlottetown's historic waterfront for the duration of the festival. Click here for more information about the festival.
AVC wrapped up another successful Dr. Tim Ogilvie AVC Vet Camp on Friday, July 30. This year, the first-ever camp for senior high school students (grades 10-12) was held in addition to the usual three junior camps for students in grades 7-9. Judging from the feedback we received, the junior and senior campers—and their parents—enjoyed learning firsthand about the daily life of a veterinarian. Here are just a few comments that we received:
“What a wonderful experience...
Led by wildlife pathologist Dr Pierre-Yves Daoust, a team from the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre at AVC and marine biologists from the New England Aquarium recently performed a necropsy on a northern right whale found dead on shore near Digby, Nova Scotia. Northern right whales are an endangered species. Logistical support was provided by regional officers from Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
AVC’s Pet Loss Support Line will operate from Sunday to Thursday, 6 to 9 p.m., for the academic year. Through the support line, AVC student volunteers will provide over-the-phone support to residents of Atlantic Canada who may be having difficulty dealing with the death or life-threatening illness of a pet. The student volunteers are trained in the area of pet loss and grief counselling. People who wish to access this service may call (902) 388-0752 or email...
What is really involved in owning an exotic pet? Dr. Doug Whiteside, Calgary Zoo and University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, will give a public lecture on Friday, September 17, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., in AVC’s Lecture Theatre A, about things to think about if you are thinking about getting an exotic pet. This presentation is part of AVC’s annual Animal Welfare in Practice conference, co-hosted by the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre and the AVC Animal...
If you love animals, then be sure to attend AVC’s Open House on Saturday, September 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This popular event will include many fun and educational activities. Learn about different dog breeds during our Parade of Dog Breeds; meet Matilda the Fistulated Cow and find out what she does; bring in your teddy bear for a check-up at our Teddy Bear Clinic; have fun learning how to prep for surgery! There will also be face painting, balloons, demonstrations, exhibits...
Two young bald eaglets were reunited with their parents in eastern PEI earlier this summer after spending some time at AVC recovering from injuries and trauma. The seven-and-a-half week old eaglets, which were too young to fly, fell to the ground when their nest was blown out of a tree by a high wind. AVC’s Zoo, Exotic Animals and Wildlife Medicine specialist, Dr. Marion Desmarchelier, and her team treated one of the young birds for severe head injuries, after which both spent...
AVC extends best wishes to Dr. James Bellamy, who retired in July. Dr. Bellamy joined the College in 1985. He was the first chair of the Department of Pathology and Microbiology, and coordinator of Graduate Studies and Research when the College was established. Dr. Bellamy was instrumental in setting up the current Graduate Studies and Research program, serving as Associate Dean from 2003-2009. During that time, he oversaw another period of unprecedented growth in the AVC’s research...
The 63 students in AVC’s Class of 2014 were warmly welcomed to the College on Friday, August 27. During AVC’s annual Blue Coat ceremony, the students were presented with their blue lab coats, signifying the beginning of their four-year journey toward their DVMs. Hosting the event at UPEI’s Wanda Wyatt Dining Hall were Dr. Donald Reynolds, Dean of AVC, and Dr. Doug Roberts, President of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. Congratulations, Class of 2014!
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The Atlantic Veterinary College and the National Veterinary Institute in Norway have joined forces to establish the world's only OIE Collaborating Centre for Epidemiology and Risk Assessment of Aquatic Animal Diseases. The establishment of the Centre formalizes a network of global experts and will greatly increase knowledge and capacity needed to solve health management issues involving aquatic species. Click here for more...
Dr. Sunny Hartwig, Assistant Professor in AVC’s Department of Biomedical Science, recently received $350,000 from the Kidney Foundation of Canada to fund her research into kidney disease. The funding includes the foundation’s Krescent New Investigator Award, a competition in which Dr. Hartwig ranked first in the country. Dr. Hartwig is working to understand the genetics behind kidney disease, with the goal of finding a way to help diseased kidneys repair themselves. Click...
Dr. Andy Tasker, of AVC’s Department of Biomedical Sciences, and Director of the Atlantic Centre for Comparative Biomedical Research, has been elected a Fellow of the prestigious Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. The CAHS recognizes individuals of great accomplishment and achievement in the academic health sciences in Canada. It provides timely, informed and unbiased assessments of urgent issues affecting the health of Canadians....
For the second time in three years, the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) at UPEI has won a prestigious national award for its highly successful summer veterinary camp program. The Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) recently named AVC’s Dr. Tim Ogilvie AVC Vet Camp the Best Community Outreach Program in Canada for the outstanding quality of its program. Click here for more information.
Principal investigators Dr. Ahmed Siah (Department of Pathology and Microbiology) and Dr. Carmencita Yason (AVC--Regional Virology Services), and co-investigator Dr. Dave Groman (AVC--Aquatic Diagnostic Services) have received $99,960 from the Innovation PEI Discovery and Development Fund to develop a new diagnostic tool that will simultaneously detect five viruses affecting salmonids. Click here for more information...
Peter Sykes, a graduate student with AVC's Centre for Veterinary Epidemiological Research and PhD candidate in the Department of Health Management, was recognized with a national student scholarship on May 18, 2010. The award was presented at the annual meeting of the Aquaculture Association of Canada, which was held in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Peter is working with the AVC’s...
The Atlantic Veterinary College is proud to announce the launch of a new up-to-date, informative and user-friendly website. Visit upei.ca/avc for up-to-date information and news about the AVC.
A snowy owl is flying free again, thanks to the excellent care it received this spring at AVC. The owl was found near Summerside, PEI, about a month ago, unable to fly or feed herself. She was taken to AVC where she received treatment and care until she regained her strength and ability to fly. After being banded, the owl was released back to the wild on June 8 by Dr. Alice Crook, coordinator of the Sir James Dunn Animal Animal Welfare Centre (SJDAWC)....
AVC Advisory Council held its semi-annual meeting at the College on May 17. The Council comprises representatives from the four Atlantic Canadian provinces, including practicing veterinarians, veterinary medical associations, and government and industry partners. The Council provides advice and recommendations on the College’s academic, research and professional service programs.
The air was buzzing with excitement at the Atlantic Veterinary College on Monday, May 17, when Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, announced that UPEI and AVC had won one of only 19 prestigious Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) available to Canadian universities. At up to $10-million each over seven years, the CERCs represent the largest-ever investment in research by the federal government. Dr. Ian Gardner, of the University of California at Davis, was...
As part of a recently announced NSERC Strategic Research Network into integrated multitrophic aquaculture, which has received $15-million in federal funding, Dr. Dave Speare and Dr. Nicole Guselle will lead an area of research looking into the transmission dynamics of pathogens within this novel type of sustainable aquaculture. Over the next five years, their particular project will receive $250,000 and will provide funds for several graduate students. The NSERC Canadian Integrated...
Dr. Dan Hurnik, Professor of AVC’s Department of Health Management, was a key contributing author to a recently published OIE report entitled Good Practices for Biosecurity in the Pig Sector—Issues and options in developing and transition countries. The report was written on behalf of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the World Bank, under the overall guidance and responsibility of Dr. J...
In April, Dr. Jillian Westcott, Research Scientist with AVC's Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences, in coordination with Dr. Larry Hammell, Director of the Centre and Innovation PEI Industry Research Chair in Epidemiology for Global Aquatic Food Animal Production, and Dr. Crawford Revie, Canada Research Chair in Epi-Informatics, developed and delivered a course on sea lice counts to 60 members of the New Brunswick Atlantic salmon industry in St. George, NB.
The course involved the...
The Atlantic Veterinary College held its 18th annual Graduate Studies and Research Days over two days in mid-May. A total of 43 presentations were delivered by AVC graduate students on their research findings during presentations. Topics included fish health and marine research, animal health research, and biomedical science and human health research.
A major highlight of the event was the delivery of the R.G. Thomson Lecture, an annual lecture honouring AVC’s founding Dean, Dr...
As part of a recently announced NSERC Engage Grant initiative to foster collaborations between industry and academia, Dr. Mark Fast, Novartis Research Chair in Fish Health, Dr. John Burka, Department of Biomedical Science, and Dr. Fred Markham, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, have received federal funding of $25,000 over six months for a pilot project with Northeast Nutrition. This project will investigate modes of immunostimulation in salmon and their potential anti-parasitic...
Dr. Charles Caraguel was awarded the prestigious Governor General’s Gold Medal for Graduate Studies at Convocation on May 8. In a feature article published in The Guardian on May 11, he speaks about the amazing opportunities now open to him because of his training at AVC, and his deep appreciation for the College. Congratulations, Dr. Caraguel!
The full article can be viewed [here].
After completing a PhD at AVC’s Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Dr. Sarah Stewart-Clark accepted an Innovation PEI Fellowship position at AVC. Dr. Stewart-Clark will conduct her post-doctoral research with Dr. Spencer Greenwood, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, and Dr. Jeff Davidson, Department of Health Management, using a new innovative device to assess the impact of tunicate fouling and mitigation treatments on mussel health. PEI mussels are world-renowned as a...
AVC's annual White Coat Ceremony was held on May 7, celebrating the Class of 2010 and their entry into the profession of veterinary medicine. Friends, family and members of the AVC community came together at the Confederation Centre of the Arts for an evening of festivities which included the ceremony, a dinner and dancing. During the ceremony, graduates received their white coats, symbolizing the completion of the four-year DVM program. The event included the presentation of 43 student and...
The skeleton of a blue whale that beached in western P.E.I. 22 years ago is now on public display in a custom-built exhibition gallery in British Columbia. The 26-metre long skeleton fills a two-storey glass atrium at the Beatty Biodiversity Museum, located at the University of British Columbia's Vancouver campus. There are only 20 blue whale skeletons in the world on public display, and this is the first one in Canada. Wildlife pathologist Dr. Pierre Yves-Daoust led the AVC team that...
Nina Haraldstad of the Norweigan School of Veterinary Science in Oslo, Norway, recently completed a six-week external rotation at AVC, including three weeks in both large and small animal medicine. She is currently in her fourth year of a five-and-a-half year program. Haraldstad is shown here with AVC's Dr. Wendy Duckett, Associate Professor of Large Animal Medicine.
AVC's Class of 2000 will celebrate its ten-year reunion this summer from July 29 to August 1. Scheduled events include a wine and cheese reception, golf tournament, family picnic, dinner and dance, and tour of the newly expanded and renovated AVC.
Registration is now open. Early bird registration is $100 per person if you register by June 15. For more information, please contact Julie Lahey at julie_lahey@...
The 2010 PEI Provincial Science Fair took place in late March at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre on the UPEI campus. Dr. John Burka of AVC's Department of Biomedical Sciences was among this year's judges. Dr. Burka had the honour of presenting AVC Science Fair awards to participants with the best animal-related projects. Congratulations to this year's recipients!
Atlantic Veterinary College Awards
Junior Division
Somatic Cell Count...
Friends and alumni of the Atlantic Veterinary College are invited to join Dr. Donald Reynolds, Dean of AVC, at a reception at the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s convention in Calgary, Alberta, on Thursday, July 9. The reception will take place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. All are welcome! This is a great opportunity to see some of your fellow classmates and get caught up on the news at AVC.
The Atlantic Veterinary College is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Mark Fast to the role of Novartis Research Chair in Fish Health.
As a faculty member with AVC's Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Dr. Fast will focus on in-depth research and education in the area of fish health, a unique and quickly emerging study in veterinary medicine. Dr. Fast, who was previously an Assistant Professor in Aquatic Diseases and Immunology at Stony Brook University’s renowned...
The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) recently recognized Dr. Lawrence E. Heider, Dean Emeritus of the Atlantic Veterinary College, with the prestigious Senator John Melcher Leadership in Public Policy Award. The award is given for leadership in public policy for advancing veterinary medical education.
After serving as Dean of AVC from 1991 to 1998, Dr. Heider operated an international consulting firm in Canada from 1999 to 2002 when he joined the AAVMC as...
The Guardian published on January 30 a front-page feature on the work of UPEI’s Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology (CVER). The article touched on a year of successes for CVER, including the announcement of two new funded research chairs, and a spot on the shortlist for one of 20 prestigious Canada Excellence Research Chairs.
"As Atlantic Canadians, we should be proud that the world’s best are a part of our community and are so deeply committed to making a difference....
Marven MacLean was recently appointed Operations Manager for AVC's Veterinary Teaching Hospital. He will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, including the management of technical and support staff with AVC's Small and Large Animal Hospitals.
"Mr. MacLean brings many years of experience and skills to this position," says Dr. Darcy Shaw, Associate Dean, Professional Services. "He will have an important leadership role...
The pork industry on Prince Edward Island has been suffering in the last few years, but the industry goes on. While export of of pork products as food has all but vanished, the Island's export of breeding stock has increased. Much of this can be attributed to research done at AVC.
Read more in this featured blog Generating knowledge with a purpose with AVC's Dr. Dan Hurnik, Industry Research Chair...
Dr. Andy Tasker, Director of AVC’s Atlantic Centre for Comparative Biomedical Research (ACCBR), congratulates Dr. Sunny Hartwig on becoming the 100th registered user of the ACCBR facility.
Dr. Hartwig completed her BSc and MSc at the University of Toronto, her PhD at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and in 2006 moved to Boston to do a post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School. This past December, Dr. Hartwig joined AVC where she has an interest in cellular and...
A study conducted by a team of AVC researchers, originally published in The Journal of Comparative Pathology, was featured in a recent online article of The Horse.com. The study, titled "The effect of age on the immune response of horses to vaccination," was conducted to determine whether aged horses have a protective immune response post-vaccination. Key findings and the article can be viewed [here].
Dr. Romain Béraud joined AVC’s Department of Companion Animals in September of 2009 as a faculty member and Small Animal Surgeon.
Dr. Béraud graduated from veterinary school at Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Lyon, France. He completed a small animal surgical internship in Lyon and a three year residency in small animal surgery at Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St. Hyacinthe, and H...
As part of AVC's Community Outreach Program, students in Community Practice rotation recently delivered an information and fun session to residents at Geneva Village Retirement Residence in Charlottetown. This activity was organized by AVC's Community Practice team as an exercise in communication for students on fourth year clinical rotations. The visit provided valuable public education and enrichment. These projects, done throughout the year in communities across the Island, assist...
This summer, three AVC students will work with the Marwar Trust in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, in India as part of Veterinarians Without Borders. Amy Lowe (Class of 2012), Laura Bourque (Class of 2013) and Waylon Wiseman (Class of 2013) will participate in a number of projects including dog behaviour, ecology and household surveys to establish frequency of dog-bite exposures, rabies prevention and treatment, as well as laboratory studies.
The Marwar Trust has been working hard to control...
Dr. Bud Ings, a long-time friend of AVC and the most recent recipient of the AVC Atlantic Award of Excellence in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Care, was featured on CBC Television's Land and Sea on Sunday, March 28.
Do you know someone who deserves special recognition for the life they are living? How about someone who has made outstanding contributions to their community? Or a person who has stood out in their chosen profession as a leader or innovator?
If you do, and that person is a graduate of UPEI, Saint Dunstan's University, Prince of Wales College, or the Atlantic Veterinary College, please let us know and we will include them in the nominations for the 2010 Distinguished Alumni Awards....
If you love dogs and want to learn more about the care of your canine, plan to attend Dogs 101 with Dr. Tonya Stewart of AVC's Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Dr. Stewart and AVC veterinary students will discuss dog health and how we can ensure our faithful friends enjoy a happy, healthy life. This event is part of AVC's Community Workshop Series and will be held Tuesday, April 13, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in Lecture Theatre A at AVC.
Everyone is welcome! Admission is free, and...
The 2010 PEI Horse Industry Symposium was held in late February. Presenters included Drs. Laurie McDuffee and Maureen Wichtel of AVC's Department of Health Management. Dr. McDuffee, Associate Professor in Large Animal Surgery, delivered a presentation on stem cell research, and Dr. Wichtel, Assistant Professor, presented a session on managing equine breathing problems which provided information on inflammatory airway disease and heaves.The event was organized by the PEI Harness Racing...
Friends and Alumni of the Atlantic Veterinary College are invited to join Dr. Donald Reynolds, Dean of AVC, for a reception to be held during the Atlantic Provinces Veterinary Conference at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel. The reception will take place on Saturday, April 24, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Acadia Room A of the hotel. All are welcome!
On March 12, AVC students and faculty walked for more than 12 hours during UPEI's Relay for Life in support of cancer research. Over 16 teams participated in this fun-filled event held at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre. Team AVC, led by students Brianne Hibl (Class of 2011) and Cindy Cary (Class of 2012), was awarded the top fundraising team with over $2,200 in donations. A total of 30 AVC students and faculty participated in the relay which raised a total of $17,000 for the fight against...
AVC's annual White Coat Ceremony will take place on Friday, May 7, at the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown, starting at 4:00 p.m. The event will be followed by a cocktail reception at 6:00 p.m., dinner at 7:30 p.m., and dancing from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m.
The White Coat Ceremony marks one of the most memorable milestones for veterinary students as they graduate as Doctors of Veterinary Medicine. The ceremony is a moving, emotional event that creates lifelong memories for...
Visit www.upei.me to help win bursary money for AVC students! UPEI has launched a two-part online contest, WIN with UPEI, which will reward students for their community work—on the Island and around the world.
The first part of the contest profiles just a few of the many community projects undertaken by UPEI students. At stake is $10,000 that will be divided into student bursaries based on online voting by the public! Each faculty or area...
The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, announced funding on January 26 for seven research and development projects on Prince Edward Island – two of which are innovative projects by AVC researchers.
“This is an exciting day for UPEI,” said Dr. Katherine Schultz, UPEI’s Vice President of Research and Development. “This funding affirms...
The Canadian lobster industry recently received an investment of $417,000 for the development of a comprehensive marketing strategy that will provide long term solutions and opportunities for the industry’s sustainability and prosperity. The Government of Canada is investing $352,000 under the ACOA Community Adjustment Fund while the Province of Quebec and the four Atlantic provinces are providing a combined total of $65,000 toward the project. AVC's Lobster Science Centre will play a...
Members and research partners of AVC’s globally-recognized Centre for Veterinary Epidemiological Research (CVER) gathered on January 21 to celebrate a year marked with success.
CVER is one of the world’s leading centres for animal health epidemiological research. The centre, which has close to 50 members and 30 graduate students, focuses on advancing and safe-guarding health through expertise in production of high quality and safe food, disease surveillance, detecting...
The Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute of China recently.
The MOU outlines the intention of both educational institutions to increase interactions through information exchange, to promote academic linkages and collaborative research, and facilitate the acquisition of specific pathogen free swine. The MOU also indicates that the Atlantic Veterinary College...
The Atlantic Veterinary College received funding recently through the Innovation PEI Pilot Fund in support of research to develop a diagnostic tool for mussel health management.
Under the direction of Dr. Ahmed Siah, a research associate with AVC's Department of Pathology and Microbiology, the project will develop a diagnostic kit to identify molecular biomarkers of mollusk health. This kit will be used as a novel early intervention tool to diagnose the early stages of mollusk...
Dr. Fred Kibenge, Professor and Chair of AVC’s Department of Pathology and Microbiology, has been appointed Associate Editor of BMC Molecular Biology. This publication is an “Open Access” peer-reviewed journal within the BioMed Central (BMC) series. BMC Molecular Biology publishes articles on all aspects of DNA and RNA in a cellular context.
Since October 2000, ten volumes have been published. The journal has been indexed/tracked/covered by PubMed, MEDLINE, BIOSIS,...
Dr. Rick Cawthorn, of the AVC Lobster Science Centre and Professor of Parasitology, delivered a presentation on the implications for the snow crab fishery in Atlantic Canada titled “Is Your Snow Crab Bitter?” at UPEI's most recent Research Breakfast. Dr. Cawthorn is leading an international team of researchers in a project to better understand Bitter Crab Disease and the parasite that causes the disease. “Snow crab is the second biggest fishery in Atlantic Canada,”...
AVC’s Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association have come together in a joint initiative with the development of a poster titled, “Every Dog Should Have a Tail to Tell…and the Ears to Hear One.” This poster is intended to educate the public about the medically unnecessary practices of ear cropping and tail docking, and to illustrate what natural ears and tails look like in many of the breeds that are traditionally altered in...
A one-week workshop on disease modelling of Foot and Mouth Disease using the North America Animal Disease Spread Model (NAADSM) will took place at the Atlantic Veterinary College from Feb 1-5. The workshop is a component of the Counter Terrorism Capacity Building project funded by DFAIT and implemented by CFIA and CRVE-net.
"This project aims to improve FMD control and eradication activities in several countries in South America," explained Dr. Javier Sanchez, CFIA Research...
AVC alumnus Dr. Greg Fleming recently delivered an intriguing presentation during the UPEI Distinguished Alumni Lectureship Series on his work as a veterinarian with Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
A 1998 graduate of the Atlantic Veterinary College, Fleming is a veterinarian for Animal Programs for Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the Living Seas at EPCOT. Disney's Animal Kingdom houses more than 1,700 animals from 250 countries, making it the largest animal-themed park in the world...
The national award-winning Dr. Tim Ogilvie AVC Vet Camp provides an exciting and educational look into the world of veterinary medicine. In 2010, the Atlantic Veterinary College will offer an advanced Vet Camp for students grades 10, 11, and 12 for the first time.
The AVC Senior Vet Camp program will focus on offering students, who are interested in veterinary medicine and science, the opportunity to experience this career in a realistic and hands on way. While based on curriculum of...
The New England Alumni Reunion was held on January 30 in Boston with AVC Alumni in attendance. Highlights included a skate on the Frog Pond in Boston Common as well as an evening hockey game featuring the Boston Bruins and L.A. Kings.
The Atlantic Veterinary College was pleased to welcome students from the University of Maine’s Pre-Vet Club in early February. Their visit included a detailed tour of the College, participation in large animal rounds and a pathology lab, and a Q & A session. The students had the opportunity to meet Dr. Don Reynolds, Dean of AVC; Dr. Lisa Miller, Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs; and Dr. Darcy Shaw, Associate Dean of Professional Services along with several AVC...
The Atlantic Veterinary College's new state-of-the-art Student Learning Commons opened recently.
Designed as an open-concept multifunctional space, the expansion of more than 2,000 square feet, includes meeting rooms, a veterinary resource room, classroom suites, and lounge with a large glass wall overlooking the campus.
“This space is a great resource for students. It is a much needed element of any modern veterinary school and will ensure that AVC remains...
An OIE Guide for Aquatic Animal Health Surveillance is now available thanks to the collaborative efforts of a group of international aquatic health experts.
The guide, which is co-authored by AVC's Dr. Larry Hammell (Director of AVC's Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences, Professor of Epidemiology, and Innovation PEI Innovation Research Chair in Epidemiology for Aquatic Food Animal Production), has been more than two years in the making. It is intended for use by...
The 2nd edition of Veterinary Epidemiologic Research is currently hitting shelves six years after the publication of the 1st edition in 2003. AVC’s Dr. Ian Dohoo, Professor of Epidemiology, and Dr. Henrik Stryhn, Associate Professor of Biostatistics, along with Dr. Wayne Martin, Professor Emeritus of Epidemiology at the University of Guelph, collaborated on the textbook.
The book is a comprehensive text covering the key principles and methods used in veterinary epidemiologic...
AVC alumnus, Dr. Felipe Almendras, will assume the position of General Manager of Animal Nutrition of DSM Nutritional Products in Chile this January. Dr. Almendras studied Veterinary Medicine at the University Austral in Southern Chile and in 1981 completed his Masters degree in fish pathology at AVC. After leaving AVC, Dr. Almendras did a Master of Business Administration in Chile. He started working for DSM Nutritional Products in 1996 and since 2002 has been manager of the Market of...
A research partnership between AVC, The Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, the Universidad de Tamaulipas, Universidad Metropolitana and the Universidad Nacional in Mexico culminated in the recent publication of a book entitled “Perinatología y Gibecoobstetricia Animal (Animal Perinatology and Gynecoosbetrics).
This scientific network began several years ago when a small group of researchers and field veterinarians became interested in the high neonatal mortality rate...
The Atlantic Veterinary College will be hosting an Alumni Reception coinciding with the upcoming 2010 North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, January 17 from 7:00-8:00 PM at the Orlando World Center Marriot Hotel (Crystal Ballroom C). Alumni are invited to attend and to take the opportunity to be updated on AVC news and to greet former classmates. Everyone is welcome!
Dr. John Burka of AVC’s Department of Biomedical Sciences was instrumental in developing a new Sea Lice entry for the ever-popular web based encyclopedia, Wikipedia. Dr. Burka collaborated with numerous colleagues and experts on sea lice to create a concise encyclopedic entry which includes information on the parasite’s development, pathology, treatment and other points of interest.
The entry gives reliable information and will provide researchers,...
Dr. J. Trenton McClure was appointed Chair of AVC's Department of Health Management effective November 1,2009.
Dr. McClure received his DVM in 1989 from Louisiana State University and completed a combined large animal internal medicine residency/MS program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1994. He joined the Atlantic Veterinary College in 1998. He is board certified in the specialty of Large Animal Internal Medicine. His research areas include public...
The AVC Pet Loss Support Line went operational on November 8, providing over-the-phone support to residents of Atlantic Canada who may be having difficulty dealing with the death or life-threatening illness of a pet.
The Support Line is staffed by a group of AVC student volunteers, who have received training in the area of pet loss and grief counsel.
“By helping others with their loss, we hope to become better, more empathetic students who are able to...
Dr. Chris Riley, of AVC’s Department of Health Management, was recently awarded the 2009 Prince Edward Island Veterinary Leadership Award in recognition of his achievement and dedication to the veterinary profession.
This award is the highest honor given by the Prince Edward Island Veterinary Medical Association and recognizes achievement and dedication to the veterinary profession, the PEI community, and to the health and welfare of animals. The presentation took place at the...
Dr. Albert “Bud” Ings, a pioneer of veterinary medicine in Prince Edward Island, was presented with the Atlantic Veterinary College’s Atlantic Award of Excellence in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Care in early November during the Prince Edward Island Veterinary Medical Association’s Annual General Meeting.
Throughout the years, Dr. Ings has become an icon of veterinary medicine, through his efforts to improve the lives of animals and inspire young...
The Atlantic Veterinary College was pleased to welcome Dr. Stephen Ettinger, one of the most well known and respected figures in modern veterinary medicine, to Prince Edward Island in late October.
While in Prince Edward Island, Dr. Ettinger delivered two presentations titled “What’s next: Opportunities, pearls and pitfalls for newly graduated veterinarians” and another on heart failure therapy in dogs.
Dr. Ettinger graduated as a Doctor of...
The AVC Pet Loss Support Line went operational on November 8th, to offer over-the-phone support to residents of Atlantic Canada who may be having difficulty dealing with the death or life-threatening illness of a pet.
The Support Line is staffed by a group of AVC student volunteers, who have been specially trained in the area of pet loss and grief counsel. “By helping others with their...
AVC celebrated the re-opening of the newly renovated and expanded Veterinary Teaching Hospital on October 8th.
Approximately 10,000 square feet was renovated and added to the veterinary hospital. The upgrade included increasing the number of surgery rooms; an expanded anaesthesia, induction and recovery area; an Intensive Care Unit and isolation ward; a family consultation room; clinical conference space; rooms dedicated to dentistry, special procedures and exotic animals; and an...
The Association of Atlantic Universities announced their annual regional awards for excellence in teaching and instructional leadership recently. Among the three award winners is the Atlantic Veterinary College's Dr. Etienne Côté.
Dr. Côté, who teaches Veterinary Cardiology at the Atlantic Veterinary College, was named a 2009 AAU Distinguished Teaching Award winner. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding teaching over a number of years and is...
Sixty-three veterinary students were presented with their blue lab coats during the AVC-CVMA Blue Coat Welcoming Ceremony.
The coats were presented by President Elect of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Doug Roberts, and Dr. Don Reynolds, Dean of AVC. Welcome to the Class of 2013!
Dr. Jeff Wichtel (BVSc, PhD, DipACT), former Chair of AVC's Department of Health Management, was appointed to the position of AVC's Associate Dean, Graduate Studies & Research in early October.
Dr. Wichtel graduated with his veterinary degree in 1981 from Massey University in New Zealand where he practiced for several years before moving on to complete a residency in theriogenology at Iowa State University (1985-1988). He completed his PhD from Massey University in 1995. He...
UPEI has set a number of initiatives in place over the past several months in an effort to prevent and minimize the impact of the H1N1 virus on campus. An infectious disease policy and draft pandemic plan are available and a working group meets regularly to ensure the university is well-prepared to deal with any potential outbreaks that may occur.
Preventative measures such...
Atlantic Veterinary College Professors named Innovation PEI Industry Research Chairs
Dr. Larry Hammell and Dr. Greg Keefe have been named Prince Edward Island’s first-ever Innovation PEI Industry Research Chairs through the Government of Prince Edward Island’s Island Prosperity – A Focus for Change strategic plan. The Innovation PEI Industry Research Chairs program was developed as part of the province’s aggressive innovation agenda.
"Dr. Keefe and...
Dr. Russ Kerr, a professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Marine Natural Products in the UPEI Department of Chemistry and the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the Atlantic Veterinary College, was recently named as the inaugural recipient of the Premier’s Medial of Innovation. Dr. Kerr is also the CEO of Nautilus Biosciences Canada Inc.
A media release from the PEI Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning states that "Dr. Kerr received the award for his...
UPEI’s Atlantic Veterinary College is world renowned for its expertise in veterinary epidemiology through its Centre for Veterinary Epidemiological Research. This expertise has been further strengthened by the recent appointment of Dr. Javier Sanchez as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Chair in Regulatory Veterinary Epidemiology at the Atlantic Veterinary College.
“We are extremely excited to have Dr. Sanchez appointed to this prestigious position,”...
The provincial government of New Brunswick officially opened the New Brunswick Fish Health Laboratory in St. George on July 28th, 2009. A joint intiative of the Province of New Brunswick and the Atlantic Veterinary College, the laboratory carries out work relating to the surveillance of diseases of concern for both the finfish and aquaculture operations. It will play a pivotal role in fish health management through the development of diagnostics, testing of therapeutants, vaccine development...
AVC Diagnostic Services is a full service veterinary diagnostic laboratory consisting of 15 sections that support the teaching, research and services of the Atlantic Veterinary College. The unit provides laboratory testing to approximately 500 regional, national and international clients. In 2008, AVC Diagnostic Services carried out more than 400,000 mammalian and aquatic diagnostic tests.
Recently, AVC's Diagnostic Services Unit received $170,000 in funding through ACOA’s...
An official signing ceremony marking the establishment of the Novartis Research Chair in Fish Health, took place at the Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI on June 2, 2009. This $1.3 million contract was sponsored by Novartis Animal Health and is intended to expand innovative developments in fish health for the growing aquaculture industry.
“We would like to thank Novartis Animal Health for their continued support of the Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI,” said Dr. Don...
On May 19, 2009, the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), announced $8.8 million in research funding in support of 23 strategic research projects in fisheries and aquaculture at universities across Canada.
Minister Shea made the announcement at the Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI. The funding is part of a new five-year initiative, led by the Natural Sciences and Engineering...
Dr. Daniel Hurnik, Associate Professor at AVC and CEO of the Atlantic Swine Research Partnership, was recently in Rome meeting with the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations at the request of The World Bank. With concerns over the spread, origin, and potential impact of the new strain of the H1N1 virus, Dr. Hurnik is collaborating on the development of a comprehensive set of biosecurity protocols to be used by countries concerned over introduction of the virus to pig...
The late Doug Riley, also known as “Doctor Music,” was honored during a dedication ceremony on May 21 at AVC’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. During the ceremony, a Family Consultation Room within the Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s Small Animal Hospital, was dedicated in Riley’s memory.
“Ben, Jesse and I, are so pleased to have this consultation room named after Doug. AVC had a special place in Doug’s heart and he would have been thrilled to...
The Large Animal Hospital of the AVC’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital is now able to offer services for cryptorchid horses by way of laparoscopic surgery. The first surgery of this kind to be done at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital was performed on May 12, 2009.
“This minimally invasive surgical technique uses advanced video endoscopes which require only a few small incisions. This improves patient welfare and shortens the post-operative recovery time,” says Dr. Art...
The Atlantic Veterinary College was pleased to host the 8th annual meeting of the Canadian Animal Health Laboratorians Network (CAHLN) from June 7-10. CAHLN is an organization that brings together individuals from the laboratory disciplines including bacteriology, pathology, immunology, virology, parasitology, toxicology, and molecular biology.
Its establishment provides a great networking opportunity for professional laboratorians to exchange current information on trends and...
The University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) is proud to learn that it has successfully entered Phase 2 of a national competition for funding under the newly created Canada Excellence Research Chairs program.
The Canada Excellence Research Chairs was established by the Government of Canada in 2008 to establish 20 prestigious research chairs in universities across the country. The program invests $28 million a year to attract and retain the world’s most accomplished and...
The Atlantic Veterinary College and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recently announced a $1.2 million partnership to enhance animal expertise in Canada. The new Canadian Regulatory Veterinary Epidemiology Network (CRVE-Net) will link Canada's five veterinary schools and contribute to the development of research and training programs at the universities.
Click here to access media release.
AVC experts Dr. Crawford Revie (Canada Research Chair in Population Health, Epi-Informatics) and Dr. Larry Hammell (Director, AVC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences) recently played key roles in facilitating dialogue regarding disease-related impacts of salmon aquaculture during the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) March meetings in Boston.
Dr. Hammell led the WWF Salmon Aquaculture Dialogue Technical Working Goup on Disease. Dr. Revie was a member of this group, as well as leading...
The Atlantic Veterinary College community was honored to have Dr. Temple Grandin visit in February. Dr. Grandin, a Professor at Colorado State University, is known around the world for her expertise in humane livestock handling and autism advocacy.
While at AVC, Dr. Grandin spoke on "Issues in Livestock Handling, Transport, and Slaughter" before a standing-room-only crowd. In North America, almost half of the cattle are handled in a center track restrainer system that she...
Three research projects led by the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island received a significant boost recently during ACOA Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF) announcements. Approximately $6.2 million in AIF funding was committed in Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick to projects that will benefit human and animal health, while strengthening industries in Atlantic Canada.
The three Atlantic Veterinary College-led UPEI initiatives to receive AIF funding...
The Atlantic Veterinary College’s interprovincial funding agreement was signed December 8, 2008 during the Council of Atlantic Premiers meeting in Summerside, PEI. The five year, $97.9 million agreement is retroactive to 2006-07 and is in place through 2010-11. The College is very pleased to have the agreement finalized and in place to support its ongoing operations.
“The continued commitment of the Atlantic Provinces to our region’s only veterinary school is...
PEI Business Development announced funding for the top 20 scoring innovative projects from prospective entrepreneurs, researchers and established companies under the first round of the Innovation PEI Pilot Fund on January 30, 2009. The program provides successful proponents with $25,000 to support testing of innovative ideas with commercial potential.
Two AVC research teams were successful in securing funding. AVC’s Dr. Chris Riley (Professor of Health Management and Chief of...
The Atlantic Veterinary College was recently awarded a grant by the Equine Foundation of Canada to support the development of chiropractic services for horses. The new service will mark the first time in Canada that chiropractic training will be offered to doctor of veterinary medicine students.
“Thanks to the generosity of the Equine Foundation of Canada, the Atlantic Veterinary College is able to add a whole new dimension of therapy to its service offerings,” says Dr....
The Atlantic Veterinary College is offering expanded large animal reproductive services to better meet client needs.
Current services such as semen freezing for stallions, bulls and small rumniants, and mare breeding management for shipped and frozen semen will continue. However, AVC’s Large Animal Hospital, with the expertise of Dr. Bronwyn Crane, has expanded these services to include semen and embryo storage for clients, an expanded bovine embryo recovery program and transfer...
Studying for veterinary board exams is a very time consuming, nerve racking right of passage that all aspiring veterinarians must endure. However, a team of AVC colleagues has developed a study resource that is guaranteed to inject some fun into the process!
AVC Cardiologist Dr. Etienne Côté, AVC Alumnus and Sessional Lecturer Dr. James Montgomery (DVM 2006), and former AVC resident and current AVC PhD candidate Dr. Julia Montgomery, have developed a veterinary board...
More than $100,000 in scholarships and awards was presented to AVC students in recognition of academic excellence, skills competencies and demonstrated leadership at the College’s annual Fall Awards and Recognition Night in early October.
"Award funding is made possible through the generosity of private individuals, special interest groups and industry donors with a deep commitment to higher education and an appreciation of the contribution of veterinary medicine within our...
AVC’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) continues to propel itself forward in improved and expanded service delivery. A newly expanded Intensive Care Unit (ICU) boasts three times the space, large dog runs, a quiet room, a large work table for DVM students, and a trauma table.
In addition to ICU improvements, the VTH is able to offer a higher level of service delivery through enhanced on-the-road diagnostic capabilities for its ambulatory equine service, state-of-the-art...
UPEI was the top Canadian undergraduate university in research income growth from 2002 to 2007 according to Canada’s Innovation Leaders 2008, a report published by Research Infosource.
From 2002 to 2007, research income at UPEI rose from $5.2 million to $13.2 million, an increase of 153.8 per cent.
"UPEI’s surge in research funding is based in faculty excellence and strong partnerships,” says Dr. Katherine Schultz, vice-president of Research and...
The AVC - CVMA Blue Coat Ceremony provides a remarkable welcome to the College’s new students and their families. In August, AVC faculty and staff mentors joined 61 new students and their families to celebrate the students’ achievement in joining the ranks of veterinarians in training.
Welcome AVC Class of 2012!
A research team made up of Spanish and Canadian academic and government experts is studying invasive tunicate interaction in mussel aquaculture. The study, which is an initiative between the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and its Spanish counterpart, is working to determine the difference between successful recruitment and proliferation of tunicates between mussel culture in PEI and Galicia, Spain.
“A series of meetings have been held, the latest at the Atlantic...
The inaugural AVC Summer Research and Leadership Program was held this past summer and included the participation of eight DVM students and one BSc student from UPEI.
Each student was employed in a research lab at AVC/UPEI and given the opportunity to participate in a research project under the guidance of professors, graduate students and technicians.
"The program objective is to provide students with exposure to the diverse topics related to research and leadership in a...
Dr. Shawn McKenna's research in Johne's disease received a boost recently with the announcement that the application to the Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Program for funding for a National Johne's program had been approved.
The program will be run initially by the Canadian Animal Health Coalition, and AVC will be the center for administration for Atlantic Canada.
AVC graduate student and DVM graduate, Jennifer McCarron was recently selected as one of four graduate student recipients of the National Mastitis Council (NMC) Scholars Program.
The program’s purpose is to provide funding for recipients to attend the NMC Annual Meeting in January 2009 and encourage their involvement in NMC activities.
Dr. McCarron’s interest in controlling mastitis and improving milk quality lies in the experiences she gained during her bovine...
PEI Premier Robert Ghiz and the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, helped officially open AVC’s state-of-the-art $20 million Research Complex in June.
Within the 57,000 square foot research facility, researchers from AVC will further health and wellness research related to both animals and humans.
The new research facility houses a number of the AVC’s specialized research centres including...
AVC Vet Camp celebrated ten successful years as Canada’s only veterinary camp for young people this summer. Campers from throughout North America took part in this year’s award-winning camp.
The 10th anniversary of the camp is marked by two significant events. In June, AVC Vet Camp was awarded the Canadian Council on the Advancement of Education’s Gold Award for Best Community Outreach Program in Canada. Shortly after, AVC Vet Camp was re-named the Dr. Tim Ogilvie...
Dr. Norma Guy, AVC's Animal Behavourist was honoured with the 2008 Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) Humane Award this week at the CVMA annual meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The national award is presented annually to an individual whose work is judged to have contributed significantly to the welfare and well-being of animals.
Dr. Guy (DVM, MSC) is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Companion Animals at AVC and runs the Animal Behaviour...
Graduate students attending AVC now have another scholarship to apply for, thanks to retiring AVC professor Dr. Basil Ikede and his wife, Joy Ikede.
Dr. Ikede and Joy Ikede recently established the Dr. Basil Ikede Award in Diagnostic Veterinary Sciences. Their donation will create an endowed fund that will provide a scholarship on an annual basis in perpetuity, starting in 2009.
The award will be presented to an AVC graduate student enrolled in the first or second year of the...
Eight projects that will benefit companion animals, horses, and wildlife recently received funding through the 2008 competition of the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre (SJDAWC) at AVC. More than 110 projects representing $2.8 million in funding have been supported by the Centre since it was established in 1994.
“This year’s research projects include a review of euthanasia procedures in Canadian animal shelters with the hope of assisting shelters with recommendations in...
Dr. Donald L. Reynolds (DVM, PhD, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists) has been appointed to the position of Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine for AVC. Dr. Reynolds' six-year term will begin in August 2008.
Reynolds is currently the Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies at Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. He is also the school's Associate Director of the Veterinary Medical Research Institute, and Assistant Director...
The province of New Brunswick is partnering with AVC to build a new $2.36-million fish-health laboratory in the Bay of Fundy.
The province of New Brunswick’s contribution to the project is $1.82 million. The Atlantic Veterinary College will provide $535,000, as part of a Canada Foundation for Innovation grant, toward construction costs of the new facility.
The agreement recognizes the long history of collaboration between the College and the N.B. Department of...
The Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture recently secured funding of more than $350,000 over the next five years to enable AVC's Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences to expand its field work with the Provincial Government and the finfish farming industry in Newfoundland and Labrador.
This commitment will provide the foundation for further collaboration on improving surveillance methods, disease prevention studies, and clinical field trials. The agreement...
Fourty-four awards were handed out to AVC students, faculty, and staff at the College’s 2008 White Coat Graduation and Awards Ceremony held earlier this month.
To view list of student award recipients, click here.
Photo: Dr. Tim Ogilvie, Dean of AVC presented the prestigious RG Thomson Academic Achievement Medal to graduating DVM student Crystal Craig. Crystal is from Upper Kingsclear, New Brunswick.
A team lead by AVC Wildlife Pathologist, Dr. Pierre-Yves Daoust and a University of British Columbia team, lead by Dr. Andrew Trites, Director of the Marine Mammal Research Unit in the Fisheries Centre at UBC, collaboratively recovered and exhumed a 26-metre-long skeleton of a blue whale off the shores of Tignish.
"This project provided a unique learning opportunity for everyone who participated in it, whether they were professors, technologists or students," says Dr. Daoust...
AVC Vet Camp has been recognized as the Best Community Outreach Program in Canada by the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE).
Judges in the Best Community Outreach Category for the CCAE’s 2008 PRIX D’EXCELLENCE awards program recently selected AVC Vet Camp to receive its top prize – the Gold Award. Judges comments regarding AVC Vet Camp were very positive, recognizing the impact of “a highly successful and focused program which extends the...
The Atlantic Veterinary College’s infrastructure expansion project in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital continues to progress on-schedule and with excellent results.
In June, the Small Animal Hospital will see an increase in the number of exam rooms and conference rooms; new rooms dedicated to dentistry, special procedures and exotics; and an improved isolation area.
By late August, there will be more improvements including a significantly expanded intensive care unit, an...
Upon completion of our Research Complex and with the expansion and renovations well under way in AVC’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Diagnostics Labs, AVC is ready to move ahead with the final phase of its infrastructure program. This phase includes an expansion to AVC’s Aquatic Animal Facility and the development of a Student Learning Commons. Upon completion of this phase, AVC will have invested approximately $45 million in expansion and renovations.
The ability to...
Canadian horse-owners now have access to an innovative technology that enhances the healing of equine tendon and ligament injuries, thanks to a new partnership between UK-based VetCell Bioscience Ltd. and AVC.
AVC has been established as the Canadian centre for the introduction of VetCell’s equine stem cell therapy technology. VetCell’s technology involves extracting stem cells from an injured horse’s healthy tissue, multiplying those cells in the laboratory,...
After ten years and two full terms as Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine for the Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI, Dr. Tim Ogilvie is scheduled to step down from his position in June 2008.
As the head of the Atlantic Veterinary College, Dr. Ogilvie has been known for his talents in forging alliances and partnerships at all levels which promote the school’s education, research, and service agendas. He is a known advocate for the Atlantic Canadian region’s key...
AVC’s Diagnostic Services Unit aims to offer personal service to its many clients throughout the Atlantic provinces. This service commitment was recently recognized through the results of a 2007 survey of Atlantic Canadian clients which indicated that more than 97 per cent of respondents were satisfied with services such as cytology and clinical pathology offered by the unit.
Diagnostic Services provides detailed, in-depth, and timely comments and diagnoses which reflect the...
AVC has resumed full operations in its aquatic facility following a thorough review and testing of its aquatics systems. In October 2007, the College experienced a fish loss in some of its aquaculture research modules. Through a comprehensive review, it was determined that a small amount of chlorine had entered the fish tanks due to a leak in the facility’s effluent treatment system.
To determine the source of the leak, AVC personnel inspected and videotaped its main effluent...
Congratulations to the Atlantic Veterinary College team on winning the veterinary division of the 7th Annual Intercollegiate Animal Welfare Judging Competition held March 15-16 at Michigan State University.
During the animal welfare judging contest, students reviewed computer-based presentations that contained data, videos, and images of animals in two comparable situations. The students evaluated the different situations, prepared their analysis, and made an oral presentation to...
The large animal hospital at the Atlantic Veterinary College is pleased to announce the recent acquisition of a new, non-invasive, portable pulmonary function testing (PFT) system. This new system is the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada.
To find out more about PFT at the Atlantic Veterinary College, please contact Dr. Maureen Wichtel at 902-566-0999 (clinic), 902-566-0458 (office), or mwichtel@upei.ca (e-mail).
Because of the portable nature of the system, the service can...
AVC’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital recently completed installation of a new digital radiography system – the EKLIN Rapid Study EDR6.
"Our Veterinary Teaching Hospital provides veterinary care to more than 5,000 patients annually from throughout Atlantic Canada," says Dr. Margaret Coffey, Director of AVC’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
"It is essential for training and teaching purposes that our veterinary students have access to digital...
Established in 2005, the Atlantic Veterinary College’s Seminar Series provides a public forum to highlight activities, ideas and energies within the College. Each month, the Series features guest speakers presenting on a wide-range of topics from research to the science of teaching.
The next seminars in the series are as follows:
Friday, January 18, 3:00 p.m., AVC Faculty Lounge
“Super bugs MRSA & Clostridium Difficile – They’re not just for...
AVC’s Diagnostic Services Unit is a critical laboratory centre for the Atlantic Provinces. The Unit provides diagnostic testing for all species of aquatic and terrestrial animals to provincial governments in Atlantic Canada, as well as veterinarians and researchers locally, nationally, and internationally. AVC Diagnostic Services processes over 380,000 laboratory tests annually – more than half of which originate within the Atlantic Provinces through government units and...
Gerald Keddy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), released details this week of an AVC Lobster Science Centre research project in the provinces of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island that will receive $ 2.3 million in AIF funding.
The Atlantic Lobster Moult and Quality Project led by the AVC Lobster Science Centre within the Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI, will be conducted in south western Nova Scotia and the...
Plan to attend AVC’s 16th annual Graduate Studies and Research Days scheduled for March 13th and 14th at AVC. AVC Graduate Studies and Research Days provide AVC’s outstanding graduate students with the opportunity to showcase their research work through presentations. An opening ceremony and awards ceremony bookend the presentations.
In conjunction with this year’s Graduate Studies and Research Days, Dr. Lisa C. Freeman, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate...
AVC carried out an unprecedented demonstration of it's aquatic species expertise by organizing and hosting three major conferences in late September.
Delegates from around the world traveled to PEI to take part in one of the world’s only comprehensive courses dealing with shellfish health. The Mollusc Health and Disease Management Course held at AVC covered topics ranging from disease causation and risk factors, to assessing pathology of molluscs.
AVC professionals often work with other organizations to provide training and continuing education. Recently, AVC's Drs. Gerry Johnson and Jeff Davidson delivered a three day Mollusc Health and Disease Management Course in Campbell River, BC to approximately 20 participants from industry and provincial and federal government.
Drs. Fred and Molly Kibenge delivered a day and a half Molecular Biology Techniques Course to 11 staff from Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Department of...
AVC researchers Drs. J McClure, Carol McClure, and Anne Muckle recently completed a pilot study that tested retail meat samples collected from PEI, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick for the presence of antimicrobial resistant bacteria. The study was done in collaboration with the PEI Food Technology Centre and the Public Health Agency of Canada.
The retail meat pilot study is a part of a larger national study, the Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (...
AVC was a proud sponsor of InnoVet 2007, an international veterinary business conference and partnering event that took place over three days in Charlottetown during October.
InnoVet 2007 focused on topical issues important to the worldwide animal health industry, while providing a unique opportunity for networking between major industry players, regulators, service providers and life sciences research communities. InnoVet 2007 was hosted by PEI BioAlliance.
Former Nova Scotia Premier John Buchanan and former PEI Premier Alex Campbell were recently presented the 2007 Honourable Eugene F. Whelan Green Hat Awards at UPEI Founder’s Day celebrations.
This prestigious award recognizes individuals who played a significant role in establishing the Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI.
Pictured from left are Wade Sweet, AVC Class of 2008; Hon. Alex Campbell; Hon. John Buchanan; and Shelli Meleck, AVC Class of 2009.
Over the past month, AVC has carried out a thorough scientific review to determine the cause of unexplained fish mortalities that occurred in the AVC Aquatic Animal Facility over the Thanksgiving weekend.
The AVC team worked closely with Environment Canada to identify that residual chlorine was present in water samples taken. Results from three different testing laboratories confirmed that other contaminants, including pesticides, were not present in the water samples.
With the...
In cooperation with Farmers Helping Farmers (a non-governmental organization based in PEI), Dr. John VanLeeuwen of the Department of Health Management at AVC, and fourth year DVM students, Krista Gavel, Sheila McIver, and Katie MacIntosh, are preparing to return to Kenya to participate in a three-week rotation in Smallholder Dairy Health Management in January 2008.
The AVC team will provide expertise and donated medicine, and will receive an experience of a life-time. Over 750...
The Atlantic Veterinary College’s infrastructure expansion project continues to charge forward with incredible results.
Our new 57,000 square foot Research Complex has been completed and our people are busy moving in. The complex will be home to a number of AVC’s centres of expertise, and it will provide another 12,000 square feet of research labs and new office space – including workspace for up to an additional 30 graduate students.
You will be hearing more...
Applications are now being accepted for the national award-winning Dr. Tim Ogilvie AVC Vet Camp program. This year’s program will run during three weeks in July and promises to be a dream come true for students interested in animals and science. Camp information and application form can be found at www.upei.ca/vetcamp.
Deadline for applications is Friday, March 13, 2009.
The number of visitors to Atlantic Veterinary College's annual Open House toppled old records with approximately 3,100 people taking part. The student-run event featured displays, demonstrations, a mini-zoo, the ever popular Teddy Bear Clinic, and surgical gowning and gloving. A highlight of this year’s Open House was the Parade of Breeds, featuring over 30 different – and sometimes unique – canine breeds.
Seventy-five scholarships and awards were presented to AVC students in recognition of their academic excellence and skills at the 2009 AVC Fall Awards and Recognition Night, held on October 8th at McMillan Hall in the Murphy Student Centre.
"We are very proud of our hard-working students and thankful for the generous spirits of our donors," says Dr. Margaret Coffey, Chair of AVC's Award Committe.
Many donors and faculty were on hand at the ceremony to...
AVC alumni will be gathering from July 29th to August 1st next summer to celebrate their ten year reunion as AVC graduates. Preliminary plans include a wine and cheese, Meet and Greet, golf tournament, barbecue, dinner and dance, and a farewell brunch. More information will follow as plans are finalized. Grads may contact classmate Julie Lahey at julie_lahey@hotmail.com or Janice MacWilliam at jmacwilliam@upei....
AVC was a proud sponsor of the 8th annual PEI Open Farm Day which took place in late September. "Connecting People and Agriculture" was the theme during which farmers from across the Island took a day to showcase their farms and woodlots. Visitors were treated to farm tours, demonstrations and learned about recent innovations making farming more sustainable and efficient.
The Atlantic Veterinary College proudly sponsored Vet Health Global 2009, an animal health and nutrition business conference, held in early October. "Bioactives and Biologics in Animal Health: Medicines and Nutritionals for the Future," was the theme of the conference. The conference was presented by Prince Edward Island BioAlliance. For further information please visit: www.vethealthglobal.com
Have you heard what people are saying about the Dr. Tim Ogilvie AVC Vet Camp program?
"I was impressed with the whole experience. You should all be proud of what you are providing to these young people. Some will become vets ... but all will benefit."
"The camp was extremely well organized and exceeded our expectations. Thank you!"
"Best camp we've ever experienced - and we've experienced many."
"What an excellent educational...
The Atlantic Veterinary College is a proud sponsor of two upcoming conferences to be held in Prince Edward Island.
Vet Health Global 2009, an animal health and nutrition business conference, is scheduled from October 6th to 8th at the Delta Prince Edward with a focus on the theme, "Bioactives and Biologics in Animal Health: Medicines and Nutritionals for the Future." The conference is presented by Prince Edward Island BioAlliance. For further information please visit: www....
Animal lovers and the curious are invited to the 22nd annual Atlantic Veterinary College Open House on Saturday September 26, 2009, from 10 AM until 2 PM.
Open House features a behind-the-scenes glimpse of life at a veterinary medical school, including demonstrations, a mini zoo (expect the unexpected), junior surgery (learn how to cap and gown) and the ever-popular Teddy Bear Clinic.
Third-year AVC veterinary student and Open House coordinator Sadie Griffin says, "We are...
In January 2009, Dr. John VanLeeuwen and three students from the Atlantic Veterinary College partnered with local non-governmental organization, Farmers Helping Farmers, and cattle farmers in remote parts of Kenya to improve the health and productivity in their animals. During their three week stay, AVC team members did farm visits to care for sick animals, completed herd health visits, and gave seminar presentations to farmer groups. The team also provided continuing education and...
On Saturday May 23, The Chinook Project team arrived back in PEI after an expedition to northern Canada, where they delivered veterinary services to 161 dogs, several cats and ferrets, that would otherwise not have had this service available to them.
A team of seven individuals from the Atlantic Veterinary College traveled to two remote communities in Nunavut – Kugluktuk and Cambridge Bay, where they performed numerous surgeries in indoor facilities as well as vaccinations and...
The PEI Science Fair was held at UPEI on April 2 with 331 students and 248 projects registered. A number of science projects related to animals including studies of wildlife, health, behavior and implications of global warming upon habitat. Thank you to the many AVC faculty, staff and graduate students who volunteered as judges throughout the day!
The winners of the AVC Science Fair prizes for veterinary medicine-related projects include:
Junior Category
...
Dr. Wendy Duckett, AVC equine specialist, recently presented a session on oral health in horses to members of the public, horse lovers and students. Dr. Duckett introduced the audience to the inside of a horse’s mouth - what their teeth do, how to recognize problems and some solutions. The interactive session ended with a question and answer.
The next session in the Community Workshop Series is “Udderly Committed to African Food Security” with Dr. John VanLeeuwen,...
Members of the Equine Foundation of Canada recently toured AVC, meeting with faculty and staff to learn more about the College's equine-focused research and service porgrams. During their tour, the Foundation had the opportunity to see their recent generous grant to AVC in action through a demonstration of equine chiropractic by Dr. Art Ortenburger, Associate Professor of Surgery. The Equine Foundation of Canada provided the grant to support the development of AVC's new equine chiropractic...
Dr. Don Reynolds, Dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College, is hosting an Alumni Reception at the upcoming ACVIM Forum and CVMA Conference in Montreal. Please join Dr. Reynolds on Wednesday, June 3 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth, located at 900 Rene Levesque Blvd. W. It will be a great opportunity to greet former classmates and get caught up on AVC news. Everyone is welcome!
The 8th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Animal Health Laboratorians Network (CAHLN) will be held at the Atlantic Veterinary College from June 7 to 10, 2009. Information on the conference program, speakers, registration and more can be found at www.upei.ca/cahln2009. Deadline for registration is May 8, 2009.
Do you know someone who has dedicated their life to veterinary medicine? Do you have a mentor that has been a role model for animal care? Is there someone you feel deserves to be recognized for promoting the veterinary profession in Atlantic Canada?
The Atlantic Veterinary College’s Award of Excellence in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Care is the greatest honour the College bestows upon members of the Atlantic Community for excellence within the veterinary profession.
...
AVC alumni from Yellowknife to Singapore joined AVC Dean, Dr. Donald Reynolds at the AVC Alumni reception in Orlando during the recent North American Veterinary Conference. The well attended reception provided AVC grads with the chance to catch up with each other.
If you missed out on the AVC alumni reception in Orlando, there are two more receptions in the near future to reacquaint with your fellow AVC classmates, win some prizes and share some laughs.
...
AVC is proud to once again sponsor the Atlantic Provinces Veterinary Conference (APVC) – a conference that has developed a well earned reputation as delivering the best CE value in Canada. This year’s APVC runs from April 24 to 26 at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel in beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia. AVC’s own Dr. Norma Guy (2008 CVMA Humane Award recipient) and Diagnostic Services Unit will deliver sessions.
Please visit www...
A blue whale found dead on the shore of Western PEI was buried near Tignish in November 1987. Twenty years later, the University of British Columbia teamed up with Atlantic Veterinary College and volunteers from across the Island to excavate the remains. The skeleton of the blue whale would then be trucked across the country for a display at UBC.
AVC’s Community Workshop Series in December will be hosted by AVC Wildlife Pathologist Dr. Pierre-Yves Daoust who will present...
Members of Storybook Farm Riding Stable paid a visit to the Atlantic Veterinary College recently to learn about equine care. Led by Dr. Maureen Wichtel, Assistant Professor of Large Animal Medicine, the group toured through stalls, large animal examination rooms and radiography, before heading to the horse arena where they learned how to use a stethoscope to hear a horse’s heart beat.
AVC’s Dr. Maureen Wichtel shows Emma MacKay, Bridget Loo, Storybook Farm owner Jana...
Close to 100 people turned out to hear AVC Animal Behaviourist, Dr. Norma Guy share insights into aggression in dogs during a recent AVC Community Workshop. During her presentation, Dr. Guy spoke about the importance of recognizing the signs of aggression early and steps dog owners can take to alleviate the problem. Many of the participants took the opportunity to speak with Dr. Guy following the presentation.
Thank you Dr. Guy!
AVC was a proud sponsor of the 7th annual PEI Open Farm Day which took place earlier this fall. “Know Farmers, Know Food” was the theme during which farmers opened their gates to visitors eager to learn about life on a farm and to become more aware of how food is grown on the Island.
Many children, especially very young ones, do not realize that pets are living animals and not toys. Failing to teach a child how to handle pets properly can result in suffering on the part of the pet and, in some cases, injury to the child.
Click here for the full article from animalhealthcare.ca.
AVC’s nationally recognized animal behaviourist, Dr. Norma Guy, is the featured speaker of AVC’s Community Workshop Series for October. Dr. Guy’s presentation, Good Dog, Bad Habits: Understanding Aggressive Behavior in Dogs will take place on Thursday, October 23, 2008 in AVC Lecture Room A from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Aggression is one of the most common behaviour problems in dogs, and one of the most disturbing for dog owners. Dr. Guy will provide some insight into...
The third week of October has been proclaimed National Veterinary Technician Week throughout North America. There are over 160 members of the Eastern Veterinary Technician Association. AVC has more than 20 Veterinary Technicians who play a key role in animal health.
Veterinary Technicians provide nursing care, prepare and administer medication, assist in surgery, take and develop radiographs, induct and monitor anesthesia, perform laboratory testing, as well as many other tasks....
Remember October 5-11 is Animal Health Week! Do your part and help promote animal health and responsible animal ownership.
For more information on animal health, click here.
While excessive hair shedding is a common complaint heard among pet owners, in most cases, the shedding is usually normal. An understanding of why dogs and cats lose their hair coat, and what causes shedding, goes a long way towards explaining why they shed hair all the time.
To view the full article from animalhealthcare.ca, click here.
What does 2,800 community members, 1,800 teddy bears, and 1,000 balloon animals equal?
One great big success!
AVC Open House enjoyed its greatest success in 20 years with 2,800 community members taking part. “We were thrilled to see so many people come out and enjoy the Atlantic Veterinary College,” says Mattie McMaster, 3rd year doctor of veterinary student and the lead organizer for the event. “We had families from all over Prince Edward Island, as well as...
The AVC Canine Blood Donor Program is saving lives of the canine kind. The outpatient donor program started eight years ago and now has a complement of approximately 40 dogs who give blood regularly.
"Dogs need blood transfusions most frequently because of immune mediated diseases, surgeries and car accidents," says Andrea Chisholm, Medicine Technician with AVC's Small Animal Hospital and co-ordinator of the Canine Blood Donor Program. “The dogs enjoy coming in to...
Andrea Chisholm, Medicine Technician in AVC's Small Animal Hospital and Eddie, her five-year-old Australian Shepherd Border Collie Cross dog, recently visited Tremploy in Charlottetown. Tremploy is a non-profit organization that provides adults who have intellectual disabilities with vocational training, life skills training, life enrichment, and support services.
Andrea delivered a presentation and demonstration on basic animal care and the responsibilities of owning a pet to a...
AVC is proud to present the first in a series of AVC community workshops, The Downside of Finding Nemo: Environmental and Conservation Issues within the Aquarium Tropical Fish Industry.
AVC’s Dr. David Speare will provide a better understanding of where pet fish come from, what happens to them on their way to Canada, and how best to care for them once they are in display tanks.
The workshop will take place in AVC’s Lecture Room A on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 from 7:00...
AVC sponsored three specialty prizes at the 2008 PEI Provincial Science Fair in April, held at the University of Prince Edward Island. Prizes were awarded to students whose projects related to the study of veterinary medicine.
Dr. David Sims, Faculty Member with AVC’s Department of Biomedical Sciences, represented the College as a judge. 2008 AVC prize recipients were Lexy Paynter and Kaylee Campbell, grade five students at Miscouche Consolidated School; Mili Sanchez, grade...
AVC’s new Community Practice Rotation answered its first community outreach call recently. Donna Barnes, Animal Health Technician in the AVC Veterinary Teaching Hospital took a team of three DVM students to Tignish Elementary School as a part of the school’s science fair.
AVC students Sally Hawkins, Iz Jakubowski, and Amanda Burris, along with Amanda’s dog, Trigger, demonstrated clicker training and how to care for a pet. The AVC team embraced the opportunity to...
The next seminar in AVC’s Seminar Series will take place on Friday, April 4, 2008, at 3:00 pm in the AVC Faculty Lounge with guest speaker Dr. Norma Guy. Dr. Guy (BSc, MSc, DVM) is an Assistant Professor in AVC’s Department of Companion Animals and a frequent contributor to CBC Radio through her call-in show, “How & Why with Dr. Guy.” Her presentation on April 4th will be on Nature of the Beast: Providing a Veterinary Behaviour Service. The presentation will...
Beth Trueman, second-year student from Holland College’s newest program, Bioscience Technology, recently completed on-the-job training at AVC with Dr. Tarek Saleh, Professor of Physiology Biomedical Sciences and Chief Scientific Officer for the Atlantic Centre for Bioactive Valuation.
“This is my first experience with an OJT student and I have nothing but great things to say about the quality, professionalism, and dedication our student has shown in the lab,’...
The AVC Behaviour Club, in partnership with the PEI Humane Society, held a series of three public presentations on pet behaviour during the month of March.
AVC’s Dr. Norma Guy presented a discussion on how dogs and cats see their world, and what they really think of us; Dr. Els Cawthorn, PEI Humane Society Shelter Manager presented a discussion about common pet behavioural problems that can lead to shelter surrender; and Dr. Emily Pringle, Veterinarian with the Brudenell Animal...
Dr. Tim Ogilvie, Dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College, will host a get-together for AVC alumni attending the Atlantic Provinces Veterinary Conference in Halifax at the end of April.
Please join him in the Acadia A Ballroom at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront (1919 Upper Water St.) on Saturday, April 26, 2008, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, for an opportunity to catch up on AVC news, renew friendships, and enjoy some great food.
...
This summer, AVC Vet Camp celebrates its tenth anniversary! In the last decade, over 1,300 children have participated in this educational adventure like no other, learning about anatomy, wildlife medicine, animal behaviour and much, much more from faculty, staff and students at AVC. Plans are underway to mark the occasion with a special “Paws for Celebration.”
Happy 10th Anniversary AVC Vet Camp!
For more information, visit AVC...
Congratulations to AVC’s Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medicine Association (SCAVMA) on the success of their recent auction.
SCAVMA raised $2,000 and donated a portion of the money to purchase “Josh Project” kits. These kits help comfort children undergoing treatment at the IWK Children’s Hospital in Halifax. Each kit includes a “Josh” plush puppy and a book called, “I’ll Be O.K.” which takes a child through Josh...
AVC is proud to once again sponsor the Atlantic Provinces Veterinary Conference (APVC) – a conference that has developed a well earned reputation as delivering the best CE value in Canada. This year’s APVC runs from April 24 to 26 at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel in beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia. AVC’s own Dr. Norma Guy (2008 CVMA Humane Award recipient) and Diagnostic Services Unit will deliver sessions.
Please visit www.apvc....
AVC’s annual Open House is one of the largest, most successful Open Houses in Atlantic Canada with more than 2,000 visitors this year.
This student-run initiative was coordinated by Class of 2009 President, Tara Young. “It is a wonderful opportunity for the public to visit the College and see first-hand how students, staff and faculty keep our pets, farm animals and wildlife healthy.”
AVC is a proud community partner of Farm Credit Canada’s Drive Away Hunger Tour.
On October 17th, AVC staff, faculty and students contributed 786 pounds of food to the overall total 48,022 pounds raised for Prince Edward Island Food Banks. Congratulations to Farm Credit Canada on surpassing their goal!
AVC’s Dr. Laurie McDuffee and her expertise in regenerative medicine were the subject of a recent TSN profile. Dr. McDuffee was featured for her efforts to advance the science behind bone, tendon and ligament healing in horses. Dr. McDuffee’s current research focuses on equine patients but she hopes to transfer her knowledge in cell-based therapies to companion animals and, potentially, humans.
The feature can be found on the TSN website at...
Nine of AVC's veterinary students participated in the Summer Research and Leadership Program throughout the summer. Students met weekly for lectures pertaining to careers in research including government, industry, and academia. Additional lectures were provided to help improve presentation skills and scientific writing. Completion of the course included each of the students delivering an oral and poster presentation.
Wildlife pathologists with AVC's Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre (CCWHC) are conducting research on a recently described cause of mortality in wild finches due to infection with the protozoan parasite Trichomonas gallinae.
First identified in Maritime finches in 2007, the disease has occurred every summer/early fall since, affecting purple and American goldfinches. The main goals of the research, which is being conducted by Drs. Scott McBurney and María Forz...
UPEI’s Office of Research Development Blog (upei.ca/research) is a place to learn about the research and researchers at UPEI. The blog serves as a resource for journalists looking for interesting stories, a spot for the public to learn about research, and as a means for the UPEI community to know more about colleagues' expertise.
Here are some of the stories about researchers at AVC:
Frog-killing fungus comes to Prince Edward Island (María Forz...
The Atlantic Veterinary College’s OIE Reference Laboratory for ISA is led by Dr. Fred Kibenge. AVC’s OIE Reference Laboratory is an international partner on a research project based at the Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile (Principal Investigator: Dr. Alejandro J. Yanez), that recently received funding from FONDEF/Education Ministry, Chile. The project is titled "Development of biotechnological products from genomic and proteomic characterization of variant...
Dr. Laurie McDuffee and Dr. Chris Riley of AVC’s Department of Health Management were recently awarded funding through the PEI Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning through the Discovery and Development Fund program. Dr. McDuffee was granted funding to support her work in Cell-based Therapy for the Promotion of Bone Healing in Horses. Dr. Riley received funding to further his research related to the Development of Infrared Spectroscopy Based Tests for the Detection and...
Abegweit and Lennox Island First Nations recently joined the AVC Lobster Science Centre to take part in a research project off PEI's north shore. The information collected will benefit the Island lobster fishery and will be used to build predictive models of landed lobster quality, based on envioronmental and biological data.
The First Nations will provide boats, traps, and fishers, while the AVC Lobster Science Centre will provide technicians to do the sampling. Each sampling session...
The Atlantic Veterinary College’s Department of Biomedical Sciences will begin operating its Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) lab in mid-June. Housing state-of-the-art equipment, this unit will provide internal researchers and external clients with certified SPF status.
The multi-room research unit houses two holding rooms, a vestibule, procedure and staging areas, and designated areas for behavioural testing, sterilization, and changing.
"Clients who need to move their...
The Atlantic Veterinary College’s Atlantic Centre for Bioactive Valuation works collaboratively with partners from UPEI and the National Research Council-Institute for Nutrisciences (NRC-INH) on bioactives, functional food and nutraceuticals. Recently, these partners received funding of $500,000 over two years from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada as part of the Agricultural BioProducts Innovation Program and the BioPotato Network to screen bioactives extracted from a variety of potato...
AVC's Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association's Animal Welfare Committee Working Group has worked collaboratively to produce a reference poster outlining Examples of Anaesthetic and Pain Management Protocols for Large Animals.
Developed by AVC Anaesthesiologist, Dr. Kip A. Lempke (DVM, MS, DACVA), former AVC Chair of Animal Welfare, Dr. Caroline J. Hewson (MVB, PhD), and Coordinator of the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre, Dr. Alice...
The Atlantic Veterinary College’s 17th annual Graduate Studies and Research Days will take place May 14 and 15 in AVC’s Lecture Theatre A. The event showcases AVC graduate students and their research capabilities through competitive presentations of their work.
“We are very pleased to see a record-breaking number of presentations scheduled for this year,” says Dr. Jim Bellamy, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research. “Forty-four presentations...
Dr. John VanLeeuwen, a Professor of Epidemiology and Ruminant Health Management at AVC, is a busy man. He is an award winning researcher and inspirational volunteer leader in local and international communities through organizations such as Farmers Helping Farmers and Veterinarians Without Borders. He is also a teacher that has contributed to many life changing experiences for his students. Read more about Dr. VanLeeuwen and his efforts to improve our world through veterinary medicine by [...
In January 2009, the work of Dr. Cai Song, Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences and Canada Research Chair in Psychoneuroimmunology at AVC, will be highlighted as the feature article in the prestigious Journal of Neuroscience.
Dr. Song’s paper is titled Increased phospholipase A2 activity and inflammatory response but decreased nerve growth factor expression in the olfactory bulbectomized rat model of depression: Effects of chronic ethyl-eicosapentaenoate treatment...
The Atlantic Centre for Bioactive Valuation at the Atlantic Veterinary College is a centre that demonstrates the value of strong collaborative partnerships and knowledge application at its best. At the Atlantic Centre for Bioactive Valuation, researchers from AVC and the National Research Council for Nutrisciences and Health work closely together to develop and validate biologically relevant in vitro assays and animal models of disease. The centre is the only one of its kind in Eastern...
Maritime Quality Milk is a research and service centre at the Atlantic Veterinary College that provides integrated research and service capacity that is unparalleled in the Canadian dairy industry. Beginning in January 2009, dairy producers in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island will have access to quality and component data through the centre’s online Graphical Analysis Program.
“The Graphical Analysis Program provides producers with test interpretation,...
The Atlantic Veterinary College’s 2008 Research Report hits the street this week with profiles of more than a dozen of AVC’s researchers. The Report highlights the College’s aquatic health species expertise while giving a glimpse into research within agriculture, AVC’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre.
The Report's cover features Dr. Larry Hammell, Director of AVC’s Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences, who brings new...
In October, Dante Mateo was presented with the Murray and Hazel Hagerman Scholarship for a graduate student in the PhD program for academic achievement.
Studying host-pathogen interactions between soft-shell clams and the marine bacterium Vibrio splendidus, Dante is assessing blood cell responses against induced bacterial infections in vivo.
“It is hoped that our results will contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms of defence of bivalve molluscs against...
The Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre (CCWHC) is a collaborative research centre encompassing Canada's veterinary colleges. The Centre’s objective is to organize, coordinate and carry out a Canada-wide program of disease and pathogen surveillance, including data management and communications, and the enhanced surveillance for specific pathogens.
Because of its unique geographic location, the CCWHC at AVC has devoted a good part of its work to investigating causes of...
Fish health and the evolving role of aquatic animal health management on a global scale was examined by 150 aquaculture, fish health, and bioscience experts from around the world during the Fish Health Section of the American Fisheries Society’s annual meeting. The meeting was hosted by AVC in Charlottetown from July 9th to 12th.
“Furthering the science of fish health has considerable long term benefits for the world’s human population and eco systems,”...
One of the Atlantic Centre for Comparative Biomedical Research’s (ACCBR) newest pieces of equipment, the Leica ASP 300S tissue processor, is working double time. Temporarily, the $63,000 state of-the-art piece of equipment is not only being used by ACCBR researchers studying animal and human diseases, but also by AVC’s Diagnostic Services for diagnostic testing and research for mammals, fish, and wildlife.
Diagnostic Service’s nine-year old tissue processor recently...
A team of researchers at the Atlantic Veterinary College has developed the world’s first vaccine that is effective against a destructive microsporidian parasite of salmon.
Dr. David J. Speare (DVM, DVSc), internationally recognized fish pathologist and lead researcher, and fellow AVC researchers Dr. Fred Markham and Dr. Nicole Guselle, worked on the vaccine for more than a decade.
"Although there are many diseases of fish, animals and humans caused by microsporidian...
AVC's OIE (World Organization for Animal Health) Reference Laboratory for Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA) is one of only two such labs in the world. The lab, in conjunction with research partner Novartis Animal Health Inc, received major research funding in January through Round Five of the Atlantic Innovation Fund for research aimed at reducing ISA outbreaks among farmed fish in aquaculture facilities.
The Atlantic Veterinary College's OIE Reference Laboratory will provide expertise...
CAVEPM and Epi-on-the-Island
Approximately 60 researchers, epidemiologists, and graduate students from around the world are participating in the 2008 Canadian Association of Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine (CAVEPM) Conference and Epi-on-the-Island Short Courses taking place May 21st through 30th at AVC.
AVC’s Center for Veterinary Epidemiological Research (CVER), in conjunction with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA),...
The Atlantic Veterinary College’s 16th Annual Graduate Studies and Research Days proved to be an outstanding showcase of research talent and developing expertise. The event, which was held on March 13 and 14, saw 20 awards and scholarships presented to AVC’s hard working graduate students.
Awards for best presentations were presented in four categories related to AVC research expertise in animal health research, fundamental aquatic research, applied aquaculture research,...
Dr. Katherine Schultz, Vice President of Research Development at UPEI, Dr. Tim Ogilvie, Dean of AVC, The Honourable Robert Ghiz, Premier of Prince Edward Island, and Dr. Jim Bellamy, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research took part in the Opening Ceremonies for AVC's 16th Annual Graduate Studies and Research Days.
The 2008 R.G. Thomson Lecture was delivered by Dr. Lisa Freeman, Professor of Pharmacology and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs, Kansas State University following the opening of AVC's Graduate Studies and Research Days on March 13.
The R.G. Thomson Lecture series was established in memory of AVC's founding Dean, Dr. Reg Thomson, and provides a unique opportunity to bring noteworthy researchers to AVC to share their research findings and expertise. Dr. Freeman's...
Dr. Robert (Bob) Curtis was recently honored with the prestigious Honourable Eugene F. Whelan Green Hat Award. This award represents the highest level of distinction paid to members of the AVC community. Dr. Curtis was presented with the award at UPEI’s Founders Day celebration on September 25. Dr. Curtis' citation can be read here. Presenting Dr. Curtis with his award are Dr. Jeff Wichtel,...
As part of recent UPEI Homecoming events, AVC Class of 1998 grad, Dr. Lynne O’Sullivan, was presented with the University’s Distinguished Alumni Award for 2009. Dr. O’Sullivan is a tenured Associate Professor at Ontario Veterinary College and one of only a handful of board-certified veterinary cardiologists in Canada. Please click here to read the citation. Congratulations, Dr. O'Sullivan.
Dr. Alfonso López was the keynote speaker at the XXI meeting of the Spanish Society of Anatomic Veterinary Pathology that took place in Lugo, Spain in June. The meeting was hosted by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Santiago de Compostela with over 100 pathologists from Spain, Portugal and Italy in attendance. Dr. López also gave a continuing education course on the general pathology of the respiratory system. Handouts and presentations are available to...
Cynthia Gaskill, former AVC PhD graduate (Class of 2001), was recently featured in an online article for equine health care. After obtaining her degree from the AVC she took a tenure faculty position at the College as a clinical toxicologist before joining the Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center (LDDC) at the University of Kentucky, as an analytical toxicologist, associate professor, and veterinary clinical diagnostic toxicologist.
The full article may be viewed here:...
Thirty-three North American veterinary students will benefit from the Winner's Circle Scholarship Program, with partnership from The Race for Education and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Foundation. Among this year's recipients is AVC Class of 2010 member, Thais McCoy of Rhode Island. The scholarship is awarded to veterinary students who have a particular interest in equine health and is designed to help offset the costs of education and to further encourage students...
Pathology and Microbiology PhD Candidate, Dante Mateo, was recently awarded a Craig Dobbin Scholarship by The Ireland Canada University Foundation.
The scholarship will enable Dante to undertake a 3-week research project titled "Assessment of lysozyme in haemolymph of soft-shell clams (Mya arenaria) from Irish and Canadian sites as a response to infection with bacterial pathogens" at the Department of Zoology, Ecology & Plant Science at University College Cork, Cork,...
Deborah Gallant, Administrative Support with the Biomedical Sciences Department, was the recipient of this year's AVC Staff Merit Award for her many years of work and commitment to AVC. Congratulations, Debbie!
Effective June 1, AVC will see three faculty members assume responsibilty in leadership positions.
Dr. Darcy Shaw, former Chair of Companion Animals, is now the Associate Dean of Professional Services. Dr. Shaw will oversee the operation and management of AVC service units including Diagnostic Services, the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Animal Resources.
Dr. Hans Gelens is now the Chair of Companion Animals, and Dr. Fred Kibenge assumes responsibility for the role of Chair...
Congratulations are extended to Dr. Alice Crook, Coordinator of the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre, on her recent honor as the recipient of the CVMA President’s Award.
In recognition of one’s exceptional contributions and commitment to the Association, this award is given without timeline and infrequently by the President of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association in consultation with the CVMA Executive. Dr. Crook will be among only ten others to receive this...
Dr. Ian Dohoo, Director of the Centre for Veterinary Epidemiological Research (CVER) of AVC has recently been appointed to the Council of Canadian Academies Expert Panel on Risk Assessment in Animal Health.
The Council of Canadian Academies (http://www.scienceadvice.ca) is an independent not-for-profit corporation encompassing the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS)....
The Atlantic Veterinary College is proud to have Dr. Larry Hammell, Professor of Health Management and supervisor of several PhD students, as the most recent recipient of the 2008-2009 UPEI Merit Award of Scholarly Achievement. Dr. Hammell is also the Director of AVC's Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences, which works to increase and expand the economic value created by Atlantic Canada's aquatic food animal industries. Dr. Hammell is a tremendous resource to aquaculture industries within...
Dr. Judy Au, AVC Class of 1993, was recently featured in the Calgary Metro News for her success in the profession of veterinary medicine. She is currently working from the Danforth Veterinary Clinic in Toronto, ON, and is also the featured veterinarian on a live call-in show on local cable television (Cable Pulse 24) titled Animal House Calls. Dr. Au attributes much of her success and passion for the profession of veterinary medicine to having a mentor throughout her education and career. To...
Congratulations to third year DVM student, Jason Norris, on his recent scholarship from the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. Jason was presented with $500 for his presentation at the AASV’s annual general meeting in Dallas, Texas in early March.
“Dr. Do-it-all” Deanna Daneshment, AVC Class of 2003, was recently featured in the Kingston Whig Standard daily newspaper. Deanna (nee Russell) is both a family physician in Wolfe Island, Ontario and a veterinarian with special training in zoo and wildlife animals. On any given day, Deanna may be found in her clinic dealing with an outbreak of measles or she may be in the north doing health checks on polar bears. ...
For close to 25 years, Dr. John Burka, a professor of Pharmacology in AVC’s Department of Biomedical Sciences, has donated his time and skills to help others help themselves. John is the co-ordinator of the Ten Thousand Villages craft sale at UPEI, a three-day event that involves close to 50 volunteers and hundreds of hours of planning and set-up. He is also the publicity person for six annual sales across the province, which generate $76,000.
Ten Thousand Villages sells...
Dr. Shelley Burton, Associate Professor of Clinical Pathology, is known for being busy. In addition to research work and committee tasks, she carries a significant diagnostic duty and teaching commitment at AVC where she currently teaches in two undergraduate and eight graduate courses.
Recently, Dr. Burton was the recipient of the 2008 Students of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (SCVMA) Award. This award goes to the faculty member who is viewed as the most influential in...
Charles Caraguel’s educational journey as a doctor of veterinary medicine, a masters of science student and a PhD candidate have taken him around the world and through concentrations on species ranging from sharks, lobsters, salmon, harp seals and crocodiles.
A graduate of the National Veterinary School of Toulouse in France, Caraguel was always attracted to the marine environment. Inspired by Jacques Cousteau adventures, he first directed his interest toward the management and...
In July 2008, the Atlantic Veterinary College proudly hosted the American Fisheries Society – Fish Health Section Annual Meeting. This event marked only the second time the Fish Health Section’s Annual Meeting was held in Canada.
The successful event provided a forum for 150 fish health and aquaculture scientists from around the world to participate in 86 oral presentations, 15 poster presentations, three plenary sessions, a panel discussion, and continuing education...
Dr. Ian Dohoo, Professor of Epidemiology and Director of the Centre for Veterinary Epidemiological Research at AVC, was presented with an honourary doctorate in veterinary medicine by The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Sweden on October 11, 2008.
The honourary doctorate was awarded as an acknowledgment of Dohoo’s high standard scientific contributions and outstanding achievements in epidemiology with respect to veterinary medicine. The honour also pays homage to...
For Dr. Nicole O'Brien (AVC 2001) many roads lead back to the sea.
As an Aquaculture Veterinarian with the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, she plays a key role in the province's Aquaculture Health Unit. This unit services both finfish and shellfish species throughout the province and carries out fish health sampling and monitoring, diagnostics, treatment, emergency services and management planning.
Nicole's role keeps her in direct contact...
Dr. Peter Foley (DVM, DACVIM) was selected by the AVC Class of 2009 for the CVMA Teacher of the Year Award. Dr. Foley teaches students in 1st, 2nd and 3rd year classes as well as in clinics during 4th year rotations.
“Dr. Foley is always smiling, and is able to explain concepts so that they are not only understood, but also remembered,” says Karen Gormley, AVC Class of 2009. “He is enthusiastic for every class he teaches, and is great at pointing out the relevant...
AVC graduate, Dr. Emery Leger, (DVM 1994, MSc 2001) was recently honoured with a 2008 UPEI Distinguished Alumni Award on September 25.
Dr. Leger is the Animal Health Program Specialist and Avian Influenza Coordinator for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in New Brunswick, providing advice and training to operational staff on animal health issues in the province. In addition to being past president of the New Brunswick Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Leger remains an active...
Dr. David Sims, Faculty Member with AVC’s Department of Biomedical Sciences, was elected President of the American Association of Veterinary Anatomists (AAVA) at a meeting in July in College Station, Texas.
The AAVA is a professional association of primarily North American veterinary anatomy, histology and embryology instructors, with participation of surgeons, radiologists and colleagues on other continents.
Retired AVC faculty member, Dr. Amreek Singh, accepted the 2008 Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) Distinguished Alumnus Award on June 21 at Guelph University.
The OVC Distinguished Alumnus Award is presented to an alumnus who has made significant contributions of leadership and service to their country, community, science, education, and profession.
Congratulations on this well deserved recognition Dr. Singh.
Click here, for...
Dr. Scott McBurney and Dr. Maria Forzan, Wildlife Pathologists with AVC’s Department of Pathology and Microbiology, delivered public presentations in June at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) Bird Health Information Session.
The information sessions were aimed at helping owners of backyard poultry prevent and detect disease in their flocks.
Topics included preventing the introduction and spread of disease, spotting the signs of illness in birds, and what...
AVC Class of 1998 recently hosted its ten year reunion with 25 classmates and their families enjoying golf, a family beach day, and a dinner at Peake’s Quay.
Organizers Dr. Karieanne MacDonald and Dr. Dianne Phillips describe the event as a great success with people traveling from as far as California, South Carolina, and British Columbia to take part in the activities. One highlight for the AVC alumni was watching a digital version of the slide show played at their graduation...
Dr. David J. Speare, Faculty Member with AVC’s Department of Pathology & Microbiology, has been honoured with the prestigious 2008 Pfizer Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teacher Award.
Dr. Speare is a professor of Fish Pathology and has been with the College since 1990. During this time, Dr. Speare has taught both undergraduate and graduate-level courses including Aquaculture and Fish Health, Diseases of Cultured Fish, and Advanced Cellular Pathology.
The Distinguished...
The Atlantic Veterinary College is proud to announce that Dr. Greg Keefe, Professor of Dairy Health Management with the College’s Department of Health Management, and Director of Maritime Quality Milk, has been named to the Production Expert Scientific Advisory Committee (PESAC) of the Dairy Farmers of Canada.
Dr. Keefe is one of seven committee members selected from leaders in the Canadian scientific community representing the different specialties involved in dairy production...
Congratulations to Sarah Stewart-Clark on receiving the 2008 Pfizer Graduate Student Award.
Sarah is creating molecular tests that can identify microscopic stages of invasive tunicates in water samples. This will allow for early detection as eggs or larvae in water samples will be detected before reaching adult stages. These tests have practical applications in shellfish aquaculture where monitoring for invasive tunicates is a time consuming process.
This research is a...
Two former graduates of AVC have recently joined the faculty at Ross University's School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) in St. Kitts, West Indies.
Dr. Natalie Keirstead, DVM, PhD, is a graduate of the AVC DVM program (class of 2003) and further obtained her PhD (innate immune genetics/function) and residency training in Anatomic Pathology at the University of Guelph.
Natalie’s husband, John Brake, completed a MSc at AVC in 2002 and subsequently worked with aquaculturists...
Dr. Francois Saulnier joined AVC’s Department of Companion Animals in January of 2008 as a faculty member and Small Animal Surgeon.
Dr. Saulnier graduated from veterinary school in Toulouse, France. He completed a small animal internship in Paris and a three year residency in small animal surgery in Belgium. To supplement his training, Dr. Saulnier came to the AVC in the summer of 2006 for a one-month externship in small animal surgery and instantly fell in love with the Island...
Natalie Price is known for her commitment and dedication to animal health technology. This commitment made her the recipient of AVC’s 2007 Staff Merit Award.
A Veterinary Technician in AVC’s small animal anesthesia department for eight years, Natalie demonstrates an outstanding dedication to her profession. In addition to helping to organize continuing education workshops and Veterinary Technicians Week, she recently reached her goal of becoming certified with a Veterinary...
Dr. Leigh Lamont, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology in the Department of Companion Animals at AVC, was the recipient of Pfizer's 2007 Grant for Innovation in Teaching Methodology.
Dr. Lamont has a special interest in developing new techniques for teaching and assessing clinical competencies as they relate to anesthesia. The funds awarded through the grant went to purchase a new user-friendly software program that will allow Dr. Lamont to design interactive case-based scenarios for...
Third year DVM student Karen Gormley is a well rounded student. Not only is she finishing mid-term exams and thinking about her upcoming fourth year rotations, but the PEI native is also the President of the Students of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (SCVMA). This role can be fun but challenging considering the DVM student’s already demanding schedule.
Recently, Karen attended the SCVMA Annual Symposium in Guelph, Ontario where veterinary students from across Canada...
Dr. Valerie MacDonald graduated from AVC’s DVM Program in 2000. After spending two years in private practice in Arizona, MacDonald completed a three-year medical oncology residency at the University of Wisconsin.
In October of 2006, Dr. MacDonald joined the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) faculty as its first Veterinary Medical Oncologist, where she recently established a clinical service in veterinary medical oncology at WCVM’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital...
Dr. Sue Dawson, AVC’s Acting Chair of Biomedical Sciences, was recently presented with the prestigious Pfizer Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teacher Award. Dr. Dawson has taught Macroscopic Anatomy since she joined AVC in 1996. She also teaches Integration of Structure and Function – a course she helped develop a decade ago – and anatomy review sessions for AVC’s third year small animal junior surgery course.
Dr. Dawson completed her undergraduate degree at...
Dr. Chris Riley, Chief of Large Animal Surgery at AVC’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, maintains a busy pace between teaching, providing clinical expertise, and undertaking an active research agenda.
Recently, Dr. Riley was featured in EQUUS Magazine for his work in using infrared spectroscopy to develop a more time and cost efficient means of testing for failure of passive transfer in foals. The complete story can be read in the December 2007 issue of EQUUS Magazine.
Charlene Supnet, a PhD candidate at the Atlantic Veterinary College, was recently awarded $20,000 over two years in support of her graduate work by the Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation of Canada.
Supnet’s research focuses on studying the proteins that regulate calcium levels in neurons and how these may play a role in aging-related dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Her research has potential to impact the urgent need for the discovery of new therapeutic targets that...
Congratulations to second year DVM student Catherine Colodey on winning the Junior Beef Show Essay Competition held during the 2007 Maritime Fall Fair.
Catherine’s essay, “Are farmers growing food or fuel? The impact of ethanol production” was published in Atlantic Beef in the Winter 2007 Issue. To read Catherine's award winning essay, visit Atlantic Beef.
After almost two decades in animal care, Dr. Leland Thomas of Saint John, New Brunswick, is trading in his stethoscope for a well deserved retirement.
Leland Thomas and his wife, Janice, opened All Creatures Veterinary Hospital in Saint John following Thomas’ graduation from AVC in 1990.
As a member of AVC’s first graduating class, Thomas has enjoyed a long history with the College.It was this connection and Thomas’ desire to honor his clients’ pets that...
Joelle Ouellet is a third year DVM student at AVC with an abundance of insight and personality. This Shediac, New Brunswick native has demonstrated her pride in AVC and leadership in many ways, including taking on the responsibilities as AVC’s Vet Camp Coordinator last summer.
Joelle was recently featured in the cover story of Progressive Choices (an Atlantic Women in Business Publication) sharing strategies for success in life and work.
Joelle’s story is available...
Alumni Reception, North American Veterinary Conference
Dean Tim Ogilvie will host a get-together for AVC alumni on Sunday, January 20th , 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm in the Crystal Ballroom C at the Orlando World Centre Marriott in Orlando, Florida.
Alumni Reception, Ontario Veterinary Medicine Association Conference
Dean Tim Ogilvie welcomes all AVC alumni to an informal reception on Friday, February 1st, 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm at the Westin...
The Atlantic Veterinary College recently welcomed three new members to its leadership team. Dr. Margaret Coffey has accepted the position of Director of the AVC Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Dr. Michael Cockram has been appointed to the position of Chair in Animal Welfare. And Ms. Joan Masterson has assumed the role of Assistant Dean, Administration and Finance.
Dr. Margaret Coffey is a DVM graduate from Cornell University and holds an MBA from Harvard University. Most recently, Dr....
After graduating from AVC in 2000, Dr. Ryan Dickinson worked in a private practice in Arizona for two years before pursuing a specialization in clinical pathology at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
Last year, Ryan moved back to Canada to accept a position with a diagnostic laboratory associated with the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.
You can read more about AVC Alumni Ryan Dickinson on pages 6 and 7 of...
AVC Grad Student Jan Lovy was recently presented with the award for Best Student Oral Presentation at the 7th International Symposium on Fish Parasites in Viterbo, Italy.
Jan is conducting PhD research at AVC with Dr. David Speare, Professor of Fish Pathology, on Microsporidial Gill Disease of salmonids. “I’m interested in seeing how the tissue and cellular responses in fish compare to those of higher vertebrates during disease,” says Jan.
Approximately $90,000 in academic and competency-based awards were presented to DVM and Graduate students during AVC's annual Fall Awards and Recognition Night in October.
"Through the generosity of many individual, association, and business donors we are able to recognize our students for their outstanding achievements," says Dr. Tim Ogilvie, Dean of AVC. "These donors believe strongly in what AVC is able to contribute to our society through education, research, and...
Dispomed Ltd., a world leader in the supply of small animal anesthesia systems, recently donated an anesthetic machine to be used in the Veterinary Resource Room situated in AVC's Learning Commons. This machine will facilitate the learning of anesthesiology.
"This generous gift will be of great benefit to our students and a valuable teaching tool for AVC," says Dr. Lisa Miller, Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs. "Incorporating it into our Veterinary...
The Senate Committee on the Enhancement of Teaching is pleased to announce that Susan Dawson, Associate Professor of Anatomy in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at AVC, is the recipient of this year’s Janet Pottie Murray Award for Instructional Leadership. A winner of the Pfizer Carl J Norden Distinguished Teacher Award (2007) and the AVMA Basic Sciences Teaching Excellence Award (2000), Dr. Dawson has been a driving force behind the initiation and development of two first-year...
Recently it was announced that Chelsie Estey of New Brunswick and a third-year veterinary student of the Atlantic Veterinary College, will benefit from the Veterinary Student Scholars Program. This grant program is funded through the Morris Animal Foundation and provides students with an opportunity to become involved in veterinary research that advances the health and welfare of both companion animals and wildlife.
A total of 65 students will receive funding from this program in 2009...
On Friday, May 8, the Atlantic Veterinary College’s annual White Coat Graduation and Awards Ceremony will take place at the Seaport Welcome Centre in Charlottetown, starting at 6:30 pm. At this ceremony, each graduating DVM student will be presented with their white lab coat, symbolizing their entry into the veterinary medicine profession.
The AVC White Coat Graduation Ceremony is a memorable, incredibly moving ceremony with graduating students, their families, the AVC community...
Dr. Brian Evans, Executive Vice President of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Chief Veterinary Officer of Canada, hosted a lunch and learn session for AVC and UPEI students during a recent visit to the Atlantic Veterinary College. A popular speaker and true champion for DVM training, Dr. Evans spoke to students on the role of veterinary medicine in disease surveillance and monitoring, and the critical role veterinarians play in safeguarding animal health, human health, public health...
Several Atlantic Veterinary College students and veterinarians from Atlantic Canada will travel to remote communities in Peru and Haiti in the coming months to deliver animal health services and training to animal care workers as part of an external rotation. "Animals in these regions are often a key resource in providing economic well-being for their owners," says Dr. Chris Riley, Professor of Health Management and Chief of Large Animal Surgery. "Students will perform spays,...
Dr. Leigh Lamont is an award winning teacher who inspires her students to look beyond the conventional. As an Associate Professor of Anaesthesiology in the Department of Companion Animals, she is known for keeping things current in the classroom and promoting research that can benefit veterinary patients.
Read more on pages 12-13 of AVC's 2008 Research Report to learn how Dr. Lamont is helping AVC deliver an...
House calls are now a part of some fourth-year DVM students’ training through the AVC’s Community Practice rotation.
“The rotation develops students’ in better understanding the principles and practices associated with preventive (wellness) health care, and the development and maintenance of long-term professional relationships with clients,” says Dr. Darcy Shaw, Chair of AVC’s Department of Companion Animals. “It also further establishes...
Three senior doctor of veterinary medicine students–Shelli Meleck of Nova Scotia, Jenn Burns of PEI and Erica Allen of New Brunswick–and Professor of Epidemiology and Ruminant Health Management, Dr. John VanLeeuwen, left for Kenya on January 23 as part of an AVC external rotation.
Throughout the next three weeks, the AVC group will live and learn alongside three veterinary students from Nairobi Veterinary School. Together, the students and Dr. VanLeeuwen will work with the...
Dr. Don Reynolds, Dean of AVC along with DVM students Chris McLaughlin, President of the class of 2012 and Joshua Smith, President of the class of 2011; and Dr. Lisa Miller, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, unveiled plans for the AVC Student Learning Commons during the Fall Awards and Recognition Night earlier this fall. The Student Learning Commons is currently under construction with scheduled completion for Fall 2009.
Dr. Wendy Duckett, Associate Professor in AVC’s Department of Health Management and Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teacher Award Recipient and , is bringing Interactive Classroom Response Technology to AVC. The new technology has been made possible through a Pfizer Grant for Innovation in Teaching Methodology awarded in November of 2006.
The technology is employed by providing each student in a lecture with a small radio frequency remote device. This device allows them to respond...
AVC’s Humane Ethics Club and Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre will co-host an Animal Welfare in Practice conference on Friday, October 3 and Saturday, October 4, 2008 at AVC. The focus of the conference will be fish and lobster welfare.
The conference will feature presentations by experts on topics such as How Important is Pain to a Fish?, Emerging Issues in Lobster Welfare, and Welfare Trends in Global Aquaculture Practice.
The Animal Welfare in Practice conference...
The next seminar in AVC’s Seminar Series will take place on Friday, October 10, 2008 at 3:00 pm in the Faculty Lounge with guest speaker Dr. Chris Riley. Dr. Riley is a Large Animal Surgeon and Biomedical Researcher with AVC’s Department of Health Management. His presentation will be on "Developing Infrared Tests for Medicine."
Everyone is welcome.
AVC graduate, Dr. Bryan Langlois, Vice President and Medical Director of Humane League of Lancaster County in Pennsylvania, visited AVC recently to deliver a series of lectures.
Dr. Langlois (DVM 2005) presented lectures on shelter medicine and two seminars, “A Few Good Vets: Cruelty, Prosecution and Being an Expert Witness” and “The Feline Marx Brothers - URI, Panleukopenia & Ringworm (New Ideas and Common Treatments)” to 1st year veterinary students....
At AVC, fourth year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students participate in a client communication rotation. This intensive one week experience uses a combination of role play, videotaped real client interactions, and the use of simulated clients to help students develop communication skills.
“Graduates need to be competent communicators their first day in practice and communication issues are amongst the most challenging problems new graduates will face,” says Dr. Darcy...
