August News and Updates: Seals, Sloths and Important Firsts
Stay up to date on the new status for nephrology and urology, our first grant from the federal USAID program for a food security project and the opening of the Ready Set Vet partnership exhibit at Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh, among other news.
Status Change: Nephrology and Urology Speciality Reaches College Level
Recognizing that the field of veterinary nephrology and urology has grown in complexity and vision, the AVMA American Board of Veterinary Specialties has provisionally approved a petition to elevate the specialty to college status. NC State Professor Shelly Vaden is president-elect of the new American College of Veterinary Nephrology and Urology.
https://go.ncsu.edu/newcollege
‘This is a Big Deal’ – CVM Wins USAID Grant for Poultry Project in Ethiopia
Bolstering its work in global health, the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine has received its first USAID grant for a research project that could lead to healthier chickens and better nourished children in Ethiopia and to a model for how to address food insecurity elsewhere.
The interdisciplinary project is led by Andrew Stringer, assistant professor of Veterinary Global and Public Health. “This is a big deal,” says Sid Thakur, director of the college’s Global Health Program.
https://go.ncsu.edu/usaidgrant
Ready Set Vet!
Take a tour of the new Marbles Kids Museum Ready Set Vet exhibit created in partnership with the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine. “We’re grateful for the talented Marbles team who brought this exhibit to life and for our NC State College of Veterinary Medicine team that helped make this play experience as realistic as possible,” says Kate Meurs, dean of the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine.
Meet the College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2026
When classes began Aug. 8, students from South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Ohio, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Arizona, California, Florida and Guam joined North Carolina residents, including 25 from Wake County, as first years at the college. The Class of 2026 is a multiethnic class that includes 16 African American, 13 Hispanic, nine multiracial, five Asian and one Native American students.
https://go.ncsu.edu/classof2026
NC State Brings Expertise to Galapagos Consortium
Bolstering its current research and service in the Galapagos Islands, NC State is joining the International Galapagos Science Consortium, a group of institutions dedicated to studying and preserving the famed archipelago through collaborative, interdisciplinary research. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Universidad San Francisco de Quito lead the consortium, which provides access to the Galapagos Science Center. The center is the only university science center on the archipelago and has 20,000 square feet of laboratories, offices and multipurpose space.
Our Seal of Approval
Or should we say sloth? When she was born this spring, Aurora the Sloth needed a comprehensive exam to make sure she was healthy and on the best diet for her age. Our experts at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine welcomed her with open arms and stethoscopes. Now the baby is doing great and has started meeting the public at her home at SeaQuest in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Another Flippin’ Physical
Many hands make light work of caring for Ronan, a 165-pound harbor seal from the North Carolina Zoo who came to #NCStateVetMed for tests. Partnering with NC aquariums and zoo to help their animals is one of our highest honors.
Faculty and Staff
Creating an Inhalable COVID Vaccine
A research team including NC State University’s Ke Chang has successfully tested in a rodent model an inhalable COVID-19 vaccine that is stable at room temperature and targets the lungs specifically and would allow people to administer it themselves with an inhaler.
https://go.ncsu.edu/covidinhaler
Sharing is Caring
Our own Allen Cannedy, NC State College of Veterinary Medicine director of diversity and traveling vet, recently headed to Rocky Mount to talk with Veterinary Medical Technology degree students at Nash County Community College about his work.
https://go.ncsu.edu/cannedynashcc
An Important Expansion
We are ramping up our dental and oral surgery program, adding a second professor and a first resident in the field. Assistant professor Lenin Villamizar-Martinez was instrumental in leading the expansion.
https://go.ncsu.edu/dentistryprogram
Donors and Support
New Scholarship
NC State College of Veterinary Medicine’s care for their horses and help for their business have been so extraordinary that Bob and Jane DeMeulmester of Vass have created an award for vet students who go into large animal medicine.
https://go.ncsu.edu/banixxaward
Coat of Excellence: Gratitude for Following the Biology for Blu
Being a medical anomaly turned out well for Blu, an English Labrador retriever who was being treated at NC State Vet Med for leukemia. Owners Beth and Steve Fowler were so pleased with the outcome that they presented a member of Blu’s medical team, Gabrielle Paul-McKenzie, with a Coat of Excellence award.
Trip of a Lifetime
Kayla Bonadie, a third-year NC State College of Veterinary Medicine student, was able to participate in a research trip and work among amazing wildlife in South Africa thanks to a seed grant awarded to help expand the involvement of minority students in global field research. Here is her story.
Spreading the Love
Gary and Jackie Davis were so happy that the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine was able to restore their Lucy to her former frolicking fun self that they donated $10,000 to help other pet owners pay for NC State’s top-notch care, too. Lucy had a leg injury that required specialized surgery.
