Dr. Sriveny Dangoudoubiyam

Phi Zeta, the international honor society of veterinary medicine, recently presented two awards for research manuscripts.

Dr. Sriveny Dangoudoubiyam (RJV '00) received the 2009 Phi Zeta Research Award in the Clinical Sciences category. Dr. Dangoudoubiyam's manuscript "PCR Assays for Detection of Bayliscaris procyonis eggs and larvae" was submitted by the Omicron Chapter at Purdue University.

Dr. Kristen Hobbie (MSU '99) received the 2009 Phi Zeta Research Award in the Basic Sciences category. The Psi Chapter at North Carolina State University submitted Dr. Hobbie's manuscript "Toward a molecular equivalent dose: Use of the medaka model in comparative risk assessment."

Each award consists of a plaque and a check in the amount of $1,000.

Phi Zeta has chapters at 28 U.S. veterinary colleges and at St. George's University in Grenada. Each chapter conducts a local competition and then submits its winning manuscript to the Phi Zeta Research Awards Committee.

Dr. Elizabeth J. Parker

Dr. Elizabeth J. Parker, chief veterinarian for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, is the new chair of the Animal Agriculture Alliance.

Dr. Parker worked with the minority staff of the House Agriculture Committee as the AVMA's 1999-2000 Congressional Science Fellow and later as a professional staff member on the majority staff of the House Agriculture Committee. She has also been an international consultant for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Chris Copeland is the new Texas VMA executive director as of June 1. He received his bachelor's degree from Texas State University and juris doctorate from the University of Texas School of Law. Copeland practiced law for several years before working for the Texas Legislature beginning in 1995. In 1998 he came to work at the Texas VMA. Copeland replaces Elbert C. Hutchins.