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Student business group launches new Web site, continues to grow
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The Veterinary Business Management Association, a growing student group, recently launched a new Web site at www.vbma.biz.

The Web site includes information about the national VBMA, meetings, board, sponsors, programs, scholarships, job opportunities, and college chapters.

The VBMA began at the University of Pennsylvania in 2003. The group's mission is to provide more business education than most veterinary colleges conventionally offer. Members seek to develop skills in communication, leadership, client service, negotiation, management, and finance.

As of early 2007, the VBMA had 22 active chapters at colleges across the country and about 2,000 student members. The group also has attracted a number of sponsors.

Hill's Pet Nutrition is the founding sponsor. The company sponsors the annual VBMA National Meeting at the North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando, Fla. Every semester, Hill's also provides each chapter with the opportunity to secure funding to create a business education program.

Novartis Animal Health is the sponsor of the annual Regional Education Program, which sends a top speaker on veterinary business to VBMA chapters that differentiate themselves by past performance and a formal application.

Through an annual contest, Veterinary Pet Insurance donates a trip to NAVC plus $600 in spending money to one student member from each chapter.

The Simmons Educational Fund Business Aptitude Award, an essay competition from Simmons & Associates practice brokers, offers scholarships to third-year students. One winner from each college receives a $1,500 scholarship. The winners enter a national competition, which awards one $10,000 scholarship as well as a trip to the Western Veterinary Conference.

 

Louisiana appoints Haynes as dean

 

Dr. Peter F. HaynesDr. Peter F. Haynes was named dean of the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, effective June 1. Dr. Haynes had served as interim dean of the school since July 2006 after the retirement of then dean, Dr. Michael Groves.

Dr. Haynes began his academic career in 1970 as an instructor of large animal surgery at Colorado State University, where he received his DVM degree the preceding year. He also taught equine ambulatory medicine at CSU from 1971-1974.

In 1974, Dr. Haynes joined the LSU faculty as an assistant professor and veterinary clinician in the Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department. There, he held various positions over the years, including section chief of the Large Animal Clinic, professor of veterinary surgery, assistant director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Clinics, and co-director of the Equine Veterinary Research Program.

In addition, Dr. Haynes was interim associate dean for research and advanced studies, associate dean for research and advanced studies, associate dean of administration, and executive associate dean from 2000-2006.

Dr. Haynes has represented the American Association of Equine Veterinarians in the AVMA House of Delegates since 1991. He is a former chair of the House Advisory Committee and was a member of the AVMA Long-Range Planning Committee, now sunset.

"I believe that Dr. Haynes has demonstrated the abilities and aptitudes needed for this position during his excellent service over the past year as interim dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine," LSU interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Harold Silverman said. "He is committed to reinforcing our veterinary medicine teaching program, enhancing our veterinary and biomedical research activities, and improving our service to the Baton Rouge community and surrounding region."

 

Winners of Hill's writing competition announced

 

The winners of the 2007 Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. Innovations in Public Health Award have been announced.

Sponsored by Hill's and coordinated by the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, the annual award encourages the submission of veterinary-related papers for the (Health and Human Services) Secretary's Award for Innovation in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. AVMA Vice President Charles M. Hendrix is a cofounder of the Hill's award and one of its top advocates among veterinary students.

The Hill's writing competition mirrors that of the Secretary's Award and encourages single and interdisciplinary proposals. The written proposals must have a veterinary-related theme, and award applicants must be enrolled in a veterinary medical curriculum.

This year's winners are as follows: First place ($1,000): Cathryn T. Youmans, University of Tennessee, for "Improving the quality of life for pet-owning Meals on Wheels recipients with flea and tick prevention." Second place ($750): Evan Apotheker, Purdue University, for "The modern day canary: A novel and cost-effective system for detecting highly pathogenic avian influenza in the United States." Third place ($500): Aleisha Nesset, Iowa State University, for "The international traveler's infectious disease handbook."

The winning entries are posted on the AAVMC Web site at www.aavmc.org/students_admissions/scholarships.htm.