An Old Friend

An Old Friend

By: Danielle Howe, Cornell University 

I recently had the opportunity to learn from one of the founders of ophthalmology, Dr. Seth Koch. I was externing at an emergency and specialty hospital when the manager asked if I wanted to meet Dr. Koch since he only flies in to work for one week each month. I introduced myself to the 80 year old man and he immediately forgot my name and called me every other name he could think of. He told me there were 2 rules to understand veterinary medicine: all pet owners are crazy, and all crazy people own pets. He said exactly what was on his mind and my first impression was that he was a cynical man. He asked if I wanted to stay and watch his next appointment so I did. The eye had always seemed like a mystery to me but Dr. Koch told me to describe what I see and take it one step at a time. Although I don’t plan on becoming an ophthalmologist, I gained confidence in diagnosing and treating eye disease. The next day he asked if I wanted to watch him perform a parotid duct transposition and how could I say no to the expert that pioneered this surgery in the veterinary world! I had such an unexpected and amazing experience though I was initially intimidated by his brutal honesty. After hours of getting to know him, laughing about his absurd life stories, and learning about the eye, I would consider him a friend… even if he can’t remember my name.

Funny Felines (and a friend!)

Weekends are for relaxing and home projects!  Seems as though some furry friends like to get in on the fun!  Thank you to Gabrielle Brewster of Cornell University for sending in these silly snaps!

 

Walking On The Wild Side

Happy Friday Vet Med!  You made it through another week!  We hope that your Memorial Day weekend is full of adventure, just like these wild photos!  Thank you to Stephanie Nickerson of St. George's University for sharing these spectacular shots!

Disaster Day

Disaster Day

By: Tori Chambers, Texas A&M University 

Each year, Texas A&M University hosts the nation’s largest student-led interprofessional emergency response simulation, known as Disaster Day. This event allows students from the colleges of Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, Public Health, Nursing, and Medicine to collaborate with the Corps of Cadets and the Texas State Guard to practice emergency response on a grand scale.

Each year, there is a unique catastrophe presented for students to manage. Last year’s simulation was an earthquake that resulted building collapses and a train derailment; the year before was a research plant explosion that devastated the entire neighborhood. With actors covered in makeup and bandages as well as first responders, hard-hats, and mock animal cases, this disaster teaches students the appropriate response skills needed for such situations and allows them to learn the interprofessional channels of communication required when an entire community is affected by crisis.

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Case: FDA Policy Effects on Antimicrobial Resistance in Salmonella Dublin Isolates

Submission Category: Cases and Abstracts

Assessing FDA policy effects on antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella Dublin isolates

Angelica Collins & Casey Cazer

Department of Population Medicine & Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

In 2012 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prohibited the extra-label use of cephalosporin class antimicrobials in food-producing animals to reduce the risk of cephalosporin-resistant zoonotic bacteria. The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) Salmonella enterica serotype Dublin before and after this policy change. We have analyzed Salmonella Dublin isolate antimicrobial susceptibility data collected by the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System at the slaughter stage between 1998 and 2017. Internationally accepted breakpoint values were used to determine if the isolates were resistant or susceptible. Chi-square tests were performed to compare the proportion of resistance before (2006-2011) and after (2012-2017) implementation of the policy. Survival analysis was used to assess shifts in MIC distributions; growth inhibition is used as the event and concentration of the antimicrobial that inhibits growth is used as the time.

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