News You Can Use from the College of Veterinary Medicine
Congratulations to Dean Constable and Dr. Wilkins! The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine presented awards to two Illinois faculty members at its 2023 Forum, held in Philadelphia, Pa., in June. Dean Peter Constable received the Robert W. Kirk Award for Professional Excellence, given to ACVIM Diplomates who have garnered national and international recognition for their contributions and service. Dr. Pamela Wilkins was honored with the ACVIM Specialty Lifetime Achievement Award in Large Animal Internal Medicine.
Cardiology Service Offers TEER Procedure: A new procedure called transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TEER), which has shown promising early clinical results at Colorado State University, is now available at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital. TEER is a minimally invasive beating-heart intervention for treatment of severe mitral regurgitation secondary to chronic valvular disease. It is performed under general anesthesia using fluoroscopic and transesophageal echocardiographic guidance.
All-Species COVID Test Developed. Researchers at the College of Veterinary Medicine have developed an antibody test that can detect exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus in any animal species. The test will help scientists rapidly identify infection in wild and domestic species to better monitor and control future outbreaks. Unlike most coronavirus antibody tests, which require species-specific chemical reagents to detect host antibody responses, the new test focuses on antibodies against a protein that is embedded in the virus’s nucleocapsid.
The Future of Veterinary Medicine Is Digital: The College of Veterinary Medicine recently received funding to pioneer the application of digital technologies in the delivery of veterinary care. According to Dr. Jim Lowe, the world has increasingly embraced a technology-driven approach in recent decades, while veterinary medicine has remained a craft-based profession that relies on the expertise of individual practitioners. The new Virtual Care Hub will explore how technology can benefit the veterinary profession and the constituents it serves.
Save the Dates:
- Vet Med Alumni Association Golf Outing with Students, Saturday, September 23, Savoy, Ill.
- Open House, Sunday, October 1
Hire an Illini Job Fair, Wednesday, October 25, Urbana, Ill