American Veterinary Medical History Society – July 18, 2022

Event

Virtual annual meeting, July 18

Program

Dr. Pat Kennedy Arrington, immediate past president of the AVMHS, welcomed the virtual attendees. Dr. Craig N. Carter, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Kentucky and director of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, spoke on “The Emerging Concept of One Health: The Interface of Animal, Human, and Environmental Health.”

Awards

J. Fred Smithcors Student Veterinary History Essay Contest, sponsored by the Donaldson Charitable Trust
First place—Kristyn Burton (Oklahoma State ’25), for “Out of the Ice Age and Into the Ice Box: Przewalski’s Horses Emerge From Frost a Second Time”; second place—Ginifer O’Bryan-Schultz (Oklahoma State ’23), for “The Wonder Drug: The History of Ivermectin From a One Health Viewpoint”; third place—Hadley Watson (Kansas State ’24), for “Developments in the Understanding and Treatment of Feline Infectious Peritonitis: 1963-2021”; fourth place (tie)—Victoria Hoaglin (Oklahoma State ’24), for “Fish Through the Scales of Time: Diving Into the Origins of Aquaculture”; and Nathan Jackson (Kansas State ’24), for “Glanders: A History”; Honorable mention—Danielle Keerbs (Cornell ’26), for “One Health, Bushmeat, and Illegal Wildlife Trafficking: An Overview”

Business

Similar to previous years, members had been sent a postcard prior to the meeting. This year’s postcard, in conjunction with Dr. Carter’s presentation on the emergence of the one-health concept, featured a depiction of the one-health umbrella illustration designed by the One Health Initiative team in conjunction with One Health Sweden.

Reports were presented on ongoing AVMHS activities, including the publication of two issues of the bulletin Veterinary Heritage in December 2021 and in July 2022; the distribution of eight certificates to veterinary hospitals and clinics as part of the society’s Registry of Heritage Veterinary Practices, which honors veterinary hospitals and clinics nationwide that are more than 50 years old; the addition of stories to AVMHS Time-Bites, a series of historical ministories, links to which are regularly published in the Veterinary Information Network’s email newsletters; and the 2022 J. Fred Smithcors Student Veterinary History Essay Contest. Three AVMHS Interim News & Comment newsletters were produced and sent to the membership in October 2021 and in March and June 2022.

Dr. Helen Wojcinski, chair of the Membership Committee, summarized responses to a membership survey, indicating the extent of awareness of activities of the society and potential interest in serving on committees and participating in group projects. Dr. Susan Aiello, editor of the Guideposts book project, provided a progress report. Free copies of the book “Guideposts for Veterinary Professionals,” first published in May 2021, are being shipped for a second year to veterinary colleges in the United States and Canada for distribution to one class. Decisions concerning the reprinting of books and further distribution to colleges for a third and fourth year will be made in the fall, along with implementing selective online access with support from the Merck Veterinary Manual. Copies are also available for sale to the public on the AVMHS website.

Dr. Fred Born, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, announced the production of a set of five laser-etched wooden ornaments, depicting early veterinary college buildings. The ornaments will be available to members for purchase by October. For the next year, Dr. Martha Littlefield, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, will take over as chair of the student veterinary history essay contest from Dr. Jessica Zieger Garrett, Niles, Michigan.

Officials

Dr. Marianne Y. Ash, Lafayette, Indiana, president; Dr. John H. de Jong, Newton, Massachusetts, program chair and president-elect; Susanne K. Whitaker, Ithaca, New York, secretary-treasurer; Dr. Pat Kennedy Arrington, Louisville, Kentucky, immediate past president; and members at large—Drs. Margaret M. Brosnahan, Scottsdale, Arizona; Arnold L. Goldman, Canton, Connecticut; Shannon Greeley, Burbank, Illinois; and John Howe, Grand Rapids, Minnesota