Shining a light on the illegal wildlife trade

Cameron Murray, BSc, BVMS, working with wildlife in Africa (Image Courtesy of Cameron Murray)

Away from the 4 small animal veterinary practices he co-owns, Cameron Murray, BSc, BVMS, has a strong interest in wildlife conservation. Starting with his involvement with SAVE African Rhino Foundation he is now also a director of the charity organization Nature Needs More, which is focused on demand reduction projects to diminish the illegal global wildlife trade.

Murray’s passion for wildlife conservation has led him to playing a vital role in raising awareness of wildlife trafficking and educating veterinarians about how they can help make a difference. Nature Needs More works on tackling the key systemic enablers of the illegal wildlife trade, including consumer demand for wildlife products and the deficiencies in the legal trade system under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

“To give an understanding of the scale of the wildlife trade on a global basis, legal trade is currently estimated to be worth as much as USD$260-320 billion annually and if you include illegal trade this may be as high as USD$500 billion. The legal trade is monitored, regulated and managed, however that the legal and illegal trade are currently functionally inseparable, and until steps are taken to modernize the management of legal trade, the issue of illegal trade will remain an unwinnable battle,” Murray explained to 

. “Through Nature Needs More, we’re advocating for a program of modernization of CITES. This is because the landmark Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services report of 2019, suggested that 1 million species in the world face extinction, and that direct exploitation through trade was the biggest single threat to marine species and the second largest behind habitat loss for terrestrial and fresh water species.”

Analysis of CITES wildlife trade records and published literature has revealed massive numbers of animals are traded live every year, with many presumably destined for the exotic pet market. “These records highlight the staggering numbers of species caught up in the global wildlife trade, with over 500 species of bird—approximately half of which are parrots, almost 500 species of reptile—mostly turtles, lizards and snakes, and over 100 species of mammal—mostly carnivores and primates,” said Murray. “For Australia this has particular relevance for our reptiles, which can be relatively easily smuggled. Sadly, smuggling Australian native species is considered a low-risk crime and there is significant financial motivation for criminals to illegally export Australian wildlife for the overseas exotic pet trade.”

A 2021 report compiled Australian seizure data and international online trade data pertaining to shingleback lizards, found that all 4 subspecies were involved in illegal trade.

“This is important as 2 of these shingleback subspecies come from very limited ranges and populations. As such, a trade of this nature poses a real threat to species survival and biodiversity loss. All of us should be concerned with regard to the issues of biodiversity loss but in addition, the trade in wildlife also raises issues around animal welfare, zoonotic disease spread, biosecurity issues and more,” Murray said.

“Veterinarians can play an important role by having a stronger voice for change in the trade of wildlife, and as veterinarians we are well placed to play a stronger lead in the area. We should also be aware of the fact that there is active poaching of native species and be vigilant to this possibility. We also have an opportunity to see that penalties associated with wildlife crime are more of a deterrent and finally, I would encourage everyone to look behind the management systems of wildlife trade and consider joining me in advocating for a modernization of CITES,” Murray added.

Former veterinarian at forefront of melanoma research in Australia

After working as a veterinarian for almost a decade, Peter Lau, BSc (Hons), BVMS, MBBS, FRACP, PhD, changed his focus and graduated in human medicine in 2007 before becoming a specialist medical oncologist. Currently based at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research in Perth, Lau and his colleagues Jonas Nilsson PhD, and Zlatibor Velickovic, PhD, are now at the forefront of cancer research in Australia with cellular immunotherapy for human melanoma patients. 

Cell therapy using Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) involves surgically removing a patients melanoma deposit, extracting out the T cells or lymphocytes which act against the cancer. “We then grow those cells in a specialized laboratory expanding them to extremely high numbers in the order of billions. Patients are admitted into hospital, receive chemotherapy and then are injected with the TIL treatment which destroys the tumor. The technology for cellular immunotherapy was developed in Europe and the US but is not currently available in Australia. Our recent grant funding will go towards manufacturing this treatment for the first time in Australia,” Lau explained exclusively to 

“For decades metastatic melanoma has been a terrible cancer to treat but with immunotherapy such as pembrolizumab we can now literally save lives. These conventional immunotherapies don’t work in all patients hence the need for new treatments like cell therapy. We do have a way to go in terms of curing everyone from the disease but cell therapy research like this can help close that gap. It’s very satisfying to be at the forefront of treatment and cancer research.”

Although Lau no longer works as a clinical veterinarian, he credits his early career in the veterinary profession with setting him up for success in the adjacent field of human medicine. “My interest in immunology started a number of years ago listening to a talk from professor [Peter Doherty, PhD] at an Australian Veterinary Association Conference many years ago. Professor Doherty originally trained as a veterinarian and made key discoveries in how the immune system recognizes cells infected with viruses which led to a Nobel Prize. It was quiet an inspirational talk and I ended up in medicine as a result. Vet training did teach me a lot about persistence which is really needed with research,” Lau said. “Canine melanoma is also treated with similar drugs as we use in humans so its quite nice to see the benefit of these immunotherapies for our 4-legged friends.”

VetChip awarded 2024 Pet Care Innovation Prize

VetChip, an Australian animal biotechnology company, won the 2024 Pet Care Innovation Prize, earning a cash prize and support from Purina. VetChip was 1 of 5 pet care startups from across the world that pitched their businesses to pet industry influencers and investors at the recent Global Pet Expo in Orlando, Florida.

The biotechnology company is dedicated to improving animal health and welfare through pioneering technology that monitors, analyses, and detects pet health issues. VetChip cofounder and veterinarian Garnett Hall, BVSc (Hons), travelled to the US for the event.

Garnett Hall, BVSc (Hons),VetChip co-founder (Image courtesy of VetChip)

"The VetChip team and I are extremely grateful for the support we have received from Purina through the Pet Care Innovation Prize. Developing technology like ours is incredibly difficult, and partnerships with leading animal health and technology companies are essential for us,” said Hall exclusively to 

“2024 is off to a great start, and the remainder of this year will see us commence pre-commercial trials in several of our key markets. I am looking forward to using our technology to improve the health, welfare and performance of military dogs and and performance horses before the end of the year—more to announce soon.”

VetChip has developed an innovative implantable smart microchip for animals that can monitor the animal’s temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and tissue oxygenation. VetChip has many applications, including in companion animal practice, for primary producers enabling better herd health management, and for in equestrian sports and horse-racing.

IPBES. Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Published online May 4, 2019. doi:https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6417333

Heinrich S, Toomes A, Shepherd CR, Stringham OC, Swan M, Cassey P. Strengthening protection of endemic wildlife threatened by the international pet trade: The case of the Australian shingleback lizard. Animal Conservation. 2021;25(1):91-100. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12721

Articles

Updates on the small animal veterinarian raising awareness of the illegal wildlife trade; the former veterinarian now specialist medical oncologist at the forefront of melanoma research in Australia; and a global win for Aussie animal biotechnology company VetChip.

Veterinary scene down under: Australian animal biotechnology company wins 2024 Pet Care Innovation Prize, and more news

Lacey Rosenberg, DVM, DACT, gives an overview of metritis, mastitis, hypocalcemia, and more

Potential postpartum diseases in the female dog

In an interview with Lacey Rosenberg, DVM, DACT, an associate veterinarian for Veterinary Specialties at the Lake in Sherrills Ford, North Carolina, she explained what postpartum diseases can occur in the female dog and how each of these diseases present in a patient during the Fetch dvm360 conference in Charlotte, North Carolina.

 The most common things that we're gonna see in the postpartum bitch or the postpartum female dog are mastitis, metritis, hypocalcemia, [S

, and then subinvolution of placental sites or SIPS. 

So mastitis is inflammation of 1 or more mammary glands, we're going to see like a permanent memory discharge, or the milk may have some blood in it, if it doesn't have pus, [and] usually the glands are going to be warm [and] painful to the touch. We treat these obviously with pain management appropriate antibiotics.

Metritis is going to be inflammation of the uterus in the 2 weeks after whelping. So in that postpartum period, it can be from a retained puppy. Severe retained placentas [with] really long whelping or bacteria just has a chance to invade. Depending on the severity of the case, sometimes these are spayed [and] sometimes we will medically manage them.

Videos

Editor’s note: All names and businesses in this dilemma case are fictitious, but the scenario is based on real occurrences.

Jane Cleat, DVM, is a wonderful veterinarian. She has been practicing at her current clinic for 11 years. She was an associate veterinarian for the first 7 years and has been the medical director for the past 4 years. She has great respect for the hospital owner and her colleagues and enjoys her working environment. At this point in her practice journey, she has come to a crossroads.

It has always been Dr Cleat’s dream to own her own practice. She wanted to imprint her style and culture on a pet care facility that she had created. Of course, wishes and reality are very different things. The pros and cons must be addressed. Additionally, there are many ways to become a hospital owner.

Dr Cleat developed what was a preownership preparation list. Should she acquire her ownership status by starting her own clinic? Should she explore a partnership share of her existing practice that will lead to ownership? Should she consider buying an available practice?

The all-important finance question was, of course, a major consideration: Can she afford to own a practice? She had saved significant funds over the years and contacted a local financial organization that agreed to assist her. She also explored the extended financial arrangements that various veterinary vendors extend to new practice owners.

Finally, Dr Cleat met with 2 practice owners she respected and asked their opinions. She told them that she wanted to hear about the harsh realities of practice ownership in 2024; the information they gave her was eye-opening. The first thing they both told her was that there was no substitute for being a practice owner. The successes, failures, and income generation fall exclusively on the owner’s shoulders. They also did not recommend having any ownership partners. This often led to important decisions being the result of a disappointing compromise. Finally, they went on to say that along with sole ownership came the increased stress, human resource headaches, and pivotal monetary decisions and obligations.

After performing her due diligence, Dr Cleat was starting to get demoralized. In current-day veterinary medicine, sole practice ownership may not be a good idea. In 2022, 40% of veterinarians were employed by corporate-owned practices.

 Experienced veterinarians working for corporate practices make excellent salaries approaching that of practice owners. Of course, practice owners maintain an equity, which is not true with veterinarian employees.

Small practice owners are married to their practices as intimately as they are to their families. For even the most devoted veterinarians, this is an unacceptable sacrifice.

Dr Cleat, having accumulated this information, did a serious self-assessment. She took into consideration her work history, age, family situation, and professional goals. She decided the best solution for her would result in a satisfactory work/life compromise. She would propose a partnership/owner track to her receptive clinic owner. Dr Cleat would end up as the boss, but her journey would be longer; however, she was still committed to achieving her goal.

Veterinary medical ownership is a complicated undertaking and Dr Cleat felt she made the right decision after exploring all her options. She did not make a snap decision; she did her homework. This due diligence led her to making the right work/life decision.

Years ago, when I started practicing, most veterinarians saw themselves on an ownership track. There was no corporate veterinary world. Practice values were not in the millions of dollars. An energetic, ambitious veterinarian would simply hang out a shingle. That world of veterinary medicine is gone.

Today, ownership is stressful, volatile, and requires skills far beyond those of veterinary medical expertise. Bob Dylan got it right when he sang, “the times they are a-changin’.” Dr Cleat made the right decision.

2022 veterinary stats. Otto. Accessed February 8, 2024. https:// otto.vet/2022-vetirinary-stats/

, is founder of Voorhees Veterinary Center in Voorhees, New Jersey. Although many of the scenarios Rosenberg describes in his column are based on real-life events, the veterinary practices, doctors, and employees described are fictional.

A veterinarian weighs options that could lead to practice ownership

The Dilemma: Where do I go from here?

Lanie, an English silver Labrador retriever, being examined by veterinary professionals at the Small Animal Teaching Hospital at Texas A&M (Image courtesy of Jason Nitsch ’14, Texas A&M Division of Marketing and Communications)

Lanie, an English silver Labrador retriever, was an exciting addition to Anthony and Clara M. Simpson’s family. The duo decided to adopt a dog after Anthony’s work travel increased in 2022 so the family traveled to Ardmore, Oklahoma, where they picked up Lanie, and became bonded very quickly.

However, about a month after Lanie was brought home, the pair noticed that was more lethargic and uninterested in everything, which is uncommon for a puppy of her age. The Simpsons were worried about Lanie’s health so they brought her to the Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists (GCVS), where the team diagnosed her with 2 autoimmune diseases, Juvenile Cellutis (puppy strangles) an uncommon granulomatous and pustular disorder of the face, pinnae, and submandibular lymph nodes that typically affects puppies up to 6 months of age,

 and Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy (HOD), an auto-inflammatory disease of the bones.

“Dr Rhonda Dixon, the doctor who treated Lanie at GCVS, is a Texas A&M alumna,” said Clara Simpson, in an organizational release.

 “She was incredible and diagnosed Lanie after just one day and said that having puppy strangles and HOD at the same time was a very rare thing. Even so, she reassured us that both issues were treatable, and we were able to bring Lanie home soon after.”

After these diagnoses, the family returned home and settled into their daily lives with a healthy Lanie. On September 9, 2023, Anthony Simpson recalls noticing Lanie could barely open her mouth. They rushed her to a local emergency clinic, where they ruled out her eating something she should not have, but the family had no answer to what was happening to Lanie.

Clara Simpson explained that the emergency veterinarian treating Lanie recommended they take her to Texas A&M because they have a staff of veterinarians with a wide range of specialties and if the staff there cannot help her, they can help find the people who can. The next day, the Simpsons brought Lanie back to Texas A&M.

Lanie experienced severe swelling as her team tried to find a diagnosis in order to treat her (Image courtesy of Chanel Berns, DVM)

After being examined by the Small Animal Teaching Hospital at Texas A&M (SATH) emergency and critical care service team, they referred her to Jessica Herman, DVM

a resident of the small animal internal medicine service. The next evening, September 10, 2023, Lanie’s neck and face began to swell and continued to swell throughout the week, putting a rush on finding a diagnosis.

“It was up to us to try and establish the underlying cause of the swelling and fever she was experiencing,” Herman said. “The difficulty in this diagnosis lies in the location of her swelling, which was under the chin, where we have salivary glands, nerves, blood vessels, muscles, lymph nodes, and more; it is a very busy area that participates in supporting and moving the head, chewing, swallowing, breathing, and talking — or, in Lanie’s case, barking. We had to figure out if her swelling was a tumor, an abscess, or a foreign body like a sock.”

The first move to diagnose Lanie was to perform a CT scan so the team could look at her neck and head, which helped them figure out where the swelling was located internally. The team then brought in the small animal radiology team to help collect samples from the swollen tissue as the tissues continued to grow. Lanie’s next step was to receive a surgical biopsy from Chanel Berns, DVM, a fourth-year surgical resident.

“When I performed the surgery, it was clear that her lymph nodes were the problem,” Berns said. “They were swollen to about 7 centimeters, whereas, typically, lymph nodes are less than a few centimeters.”

Once the biopsy was done, and Berns consulted with the senior clinician Genna Atiee, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), the team was able to provide Lanie’s family with a diagnosis: Canine sterile steroid-responsive lymphadenitis. Canine sterile steroid-responsive lymphadenitis is considered in dogs with pyrexia of an unknown origin with inflammatory lymphadenopathy in the case of there being no underlying cause that can be found, and the dog responds well to immunosuppressive corticosteroid therapy.

“When we break down the words in her diagnosis, it’s easier to understand how her experience with puppy strangles led to her third autoimmune disease,” Berns said. “Sterile means there’s no underlying infectious disease, so no bacteria or fungus. Steroid-responsive means that all the swelling she had would clear up with proper steroid treatment. And lymphadenitis just means swelling of the lymph nodes.”

“So, in short, she had swelling that wasn’t being caused by an ongoing infection but, rather, likely resulted from her experience with puppy strangles. Her body was trying to fix a problem that didn’t exist and triggered a new autoimmune response,” she continued.

Herman also explained that this diagnosis is similar and could be related to the puppy strangles because these diseases often come together.

The team decided on the best steroid treatment for her condition and noticed a rapid reduction of the swelling once applied.

Lanie stayed at SATH for a week before heading home where she will finish her treatment. She is currently back walking at the neighborhood park with her family, eating her favorite food, and sharing her story around the world.

“I don’t think that there will ever be enough words to tell her Texas A&M veterinary team how grateful we are,” Clara Simpson concluded. “I’ve always heard that you should take your pets to Texas A&M and to make sure that your vet is an Aggie veterinarian. And now that we’ve experienced their level of care and compassion, we get it — 100%. We have seen firsthand how they treat the families and the animals under their care — they understand that they’re more than pets; they’re family.”

Texas A&M veterinarians diagnose rare autoimmune disease, put dog on road ro Recovery. Texas A&M. March 19, 2024. Accessed March 22. 2024. https://today.tamu.edu/2024/03/19/texas-am-veterinarians-diagnose-rare-autoimmune-disease-put-dog-on-road-to-recovery/

Hutchings SM. Juvenile cellulitis in a puppy. 

Ribas Latre A, McPartland A, Cain D, et al. Canine sterile steroid-responsive lymphadenitis in 49 dogs. 

. 2019;60(5):280-290. doi:10.1111/jsap.12980

Lanie, an English silver Labrador retriever, was diagnosed with 3 autoimmune diseases

Dog receives rare autoimmune disease diagnoses

 readers! We are excited to share that the nomination period for our 4th annual Veterinary Heroes Award has been extended to May 31, 2024. Our Veterinary Heroes Award is a peer nominated award that honors veterinary professionals of multiple specialties and positions including client service representative, dermatology, emergency medicine, practice manager, surgery, credentialed veterinary technician, and more! 

Nominations are then judged by a panel of judges who selected one winner per category. Nominate your 

Check out what you can find this week on dvm360.com: 

The University of Edinburgh’s Dick Vet Equine Hospital announced it has received a new standing CT and MRI scanner, making this hospital the first in Scotland to offer this to its patients.

Two studies conducted by researchers at the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph found that most owners whose dogs and cats are overweight are likely to help them lose weight when they are educated by their veterinarian about the potential impact of obesity of the pet’s life expectancy.

, Celine Leheurteux, DVM, chief executive officer of EUTHABAG, joined host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, to discuss responsible home burial and pentobarbital hazard to provide insight on a veterinarian’s liability.

In his latest installment of The Dilemma, Marc Rosenberg, VMD, weighs in on the options that could potentially lead to practice ownership as a way to make the best choice.

Lanie, an English silver Labrador retriever, was recently diagnosed with 3 autoimmune diseases, a rare occurrence in canine patients. Learn more about her journey and how the team at Texas A&M helped diagnosing her with a third autoimmune disease.

Sneak peek: Scotland welcomes first standing CT and MRI scanner, and other veterinary news 

Outstanding leadership within the veterinary field plays a pivotal role in elevating the standard of pet care and fostering the development of veterinary professionals. By creating an environment that encourages growth and innovation, leaders in this sector can significantly influence the trajectory of pet healthcare. Advancements in veterinary medicine and industry trends not only enhance the well-being of pets but also empower their teams to thrive professionally.

Various veterinary businesses and organizations recently announced new promotions and appointments. The following individuals are among those making career advancements:

Michael Mison, DVM, DACVS, associate dean and chief veterinary medical officer, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine

Michael Mison, DVM, DACVS, associate dean for veterinary medical center operations and chief veterinary medical officer. (Photo courtesy of UC Davis)

At the start of this month, Michael Mison, DVM, DACVS, was named associate dean for veterinary medical center operations and chief veterinary medical officer (CVMO) of the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Mison is a board-certified veterinary surgeon and also serves as a professor in the university hospital’s soft tissue surgery service.

“Dr Mison is a committed surgeon and talented administrator who believes that a positive and supportive work environment enhances patient care and benefits all involved – the animals, clients, staff, students, and faculty,” said UC Davis dean, Mark Stetter, DVM, DACZM, in a release.

 “He continuously works to improve culture and ensure the well-being of those working in the hospital. We are fortunate to have Dr Mison joining us, and we look forward to his success.”

In his new CVMO role, Mison will oversee all clinical, administrative, and fiscal operations of the teaching hospital, leading a team of more than 125 faculty members. The university hospital currently averages about more than 50,000 patients a year, providing veterinary care to both small and large animal cases.

“My passion for veterinary medicine and dedication to excellence motivates me to contribute to UC Davis’ legacy of greatness. I am honored and thrilled to be selected for this role,” said Mison.

Brent Kirn, vice president of sales and marketing for BSM Partners

Brent Kirn, vice president of sales and marketing. (Photo courtesy of BSM Partners)

Brent Kirn has been named vice president of sales and marketing for BSM Partners, a full-service pet care research, consulting, and strategy-to-shelf product innovation firm. Kirn comes to BSM Partners with over 30 years of technical sales and service experience in the pet food, equine, nutrition research, and commercial poultry industry. Kirn also received an undergraduate and graduate degree in animal science from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

"Working closely with BSM's world-class advisors, I look forward to helping companies identify and then achieve their most important strategic goals," Kirn said in a company release.

"We have long admired Brent's marketing and technical acumen and are thrilled that he has joined our team as we continue to expand our capabilities and footprint," said Nate Thomas, co-founder of BSM Partners. "Brent will bring a high level of rigor and discipline to our efforts, helping us provide meaningful solutions for BSM's clients across the pet care space."

Pamela Butler, executive director of development at Schwarzman Animal Medical Center

Pamela Butler, executive director of development. (Photo courtesy of Schwarzman Animal Medical Center) 

Pamela Butler was named executive director of development for Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (AMC) to advance the hospital’s $125 million expansion plans. With over 30 years of experience as a fundraising and strategic leader, Butler was most recently the vice president for development at Jazz at Lincoln Center and also held senior executive roles for The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Central Park Conservancy.

“We are delighted to welcome Pamela Butler to our development team and as part of the AMC community, supporting our mission to provide excellent and collaborative care to animals and leading the advancement of veterinary medicine as NYC’s only level 1 trauma center,” said Helen M. Irving, RN, MBA, president and CEO of AMC, in a news release.

“As a devoted and long-standing pet owner it has always meant so much to me to know that the team at AMC not only offers remarkable care, but that they are always there for us. The extraordinary talent of our renowned veterinary staff who provide care for pets at the highest level possible has established AMC as a vital resource for New York pet owners. I am excited to support their work and expand their impact. I also look forward to working with the Development team and growing it to bring a strategic and data driven approach to our fundraising efforts,” said Butler.

Fred Jasser, chief financial officer, Alphia

Coming to the North American pet food co-manufacturers with more than 20 years of experience in financial, operational, and strategic leadership positions, Fred Jasser started his role of chief financial officer of Alphia. Jasser’s previous positions included chief executive roles all within the food manufacturing industry.

“I’m excited to be joining Alphia, a best-in-class manufacturer in the exciting pet food category with positive industry tailwinds. I look forward to working with Dave and his team, who have built a culture of operational excellence while always keeping customers and pet parents at the heart of everything they do,” said Jasser in a company release.

“Fred brings to Alphia extensive corporate finance, operational, commercial and strategic experience - we’re thrilled to welcome him to our team as we build out our capabilities and embark on our next phase of growth and expansion,” said David McLain, CEO and president, Alphia. “His track record of executing complex transactions and integrations will be invaluable as we drive both organic and inorganic growth.”

Glenn Cruse, PhD, and Gustavo Machado, DVM, MSc, PhD, NC State College of Veterinary Medicine faculty scholars

Glenn Cruse, PhD, and Gustaco Machado, DVM, MSc, PhD, have been named faculty scholars for the 2024 term at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine. The North Carolina State University Faculty Scholars program recognizes outstanding academic achievements and are nominated by individual colleges and reviewed by senior faculty, according to a university release.

Image courtesy of NC State College of Veterinary Medicine.

“We are so proud of Dr Cruse and Dr Machado and the work they do that truly represents our college’s goal for leading life-changing research,” said Kathryn Meurs, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Cardiology), dean of the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, in the release.

 “They are both also exceptional mentors and leaders as well. I am grateful to the leadership at NC State University for creating the University Faculty Scholars program to help us recognize our outstanding faculty.”

Cruse is a mast cell biologist in the college’s department of molecular biomedical sciences and Machado is an infectious disease modeler in the department of population health and pathobiology. Cruse studies mast cells, which are involved in causing inflammation in asthma, atopic dermatitis, and allergies. Machado's research is about studying how diseases spread among food animals and finding new ways to control them to lower the impact of both common and emerging diseases.

“Despite working in a field with a strong human focus, the collaborative culture at the CVM and the amazing faculty have opened my research to veterinary applications and enabled fantastic interdisciplinary collaborations that have truly enriched my research,” Cruse stated.

“This award signifies that our efforts are making a meaningful impact in food animal production epidemiology, especially in enhancing our understanding of swine disease dissemination and the development of new control strategies to improve the health of swine farms in North Carolina and nationally,” said Machado.

Warren R. UC Davis welcomes Dr. Michael Mison as chief veterinary medical officer. News release. UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. March 8, 2024. Accessed March 22, 2024. 

https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/uc-davis-welcomes-dr-michael-mison-chief-veterinary-medical-officer

Pet industry executive Brent Kirn Joins BSM Partners as vice president of sales and marketing. News release. BSM Partners. March 5, 2024. Accessed March 22, 2024. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pet-industry-executive-brent-kirn-joins-bsm-partners-as-vice-president-of-sales-and-marketing-302080478.html

Schwarzman Animal Medical Center announces new executive director of development. News release. Schwarzman Animal Medical Center. March 7, 2024. Accessed March 22, 2024. 

https://www.amcny.org/press/schwarzman-animal-medical-center-announces-new-executive-director-of-development/

Alphia appoints Fred Jasser as chief financial officer. News release. Alphia. March 4, 2024. Accessed March 22, 2024. 

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240304479101/en

Cruse, Machado chosen as University Faculty Scholars for 2024. News release. North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine. February 20, 2024. Accessed March 22, 2024. 

https://news.cvm.ncsu.edu/cruse-machado-chosen-as-university-faculty-scholars-for-2024/#:~:text=Dr.,State%20University%20faculty%20members%20honored

Check out the latest news in the veterinary industry with these 5 recent business appointments