OSU Veterinary Center Hosts Phi Zeta Research Day

(April 3, 2009 Stillwater, OK) – Oklahoma State University’s (OSU) Center for Veterinary Health Sciences recently hosted the 13th Annual Phi Zeta Research Day. The Society of Phi Zeta is the honor society of veterinary medicine and the Nu Chapter of Phi Zeta is OSU’s chapter of this national organization. This year’s officers are: Drs. John Gilliam, president; Lyndi Gilliam, vice president; and Lara Maxwell, secretary/treasurer.

Chartered in 1958, the Nu Chapter welcomed the following new initiates:

Honorary Memberships: Marlene Strathe, Ph.D.
Faculty Memberships: Bonnie Boone, DVM (’90), and Lesa Staubus, DVM (’90)
Class of 2009: Katie Carpenter, Jessica Carter, Lauren Davied, Hans Gann, Julie Hempstead, Adam Laughlin, Jennifer Miller, Bettina Olivieri, Kristen Tapp and Tyler Tipton
Class of 2010: Andrew Converse, Amber Ferguson, Ann Gutting, Grace Hale, Loren Hutt, Avery Kasten, Benjamin Spall and Laura Townley

Throughout the day, veterinary students, interns, residents, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows presented studies in basic science, applied or clinical research as well as clinical case presentations.

This year the following received recognition for their research projects:

• Post-Doctoral Basic Science Research, First Place – Linnzi Wright, Ph.D., Physiological Sciences, “Long-term Behavioral Sequelae Following Acute Diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) Intoxication Effects of Atrophone and the Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase Inhibitor, URB”
• Graduate/Resident/Intern Basic Science Research, First Place – Rinosh Mani, BVSc, Graduate Teaching Assistant, “Colonization, Persistence and Growth Kinetics of Francisella tularensis Subspecies holarctica Strain LVS in the Tick Vectors: Dermacentor variabilis and Amblyomma americanum”
• Graduate/Resident/Intern Applied/Clinical Research, First Place – Melissa Cordero, DVM, Physiological Sciences, “The Effect of Season on the Histological and Histomorphometric Appearance of the Equine Pituitary”
• DVM Student Research, First Place – Amanda Smith, Class of 2010, “Immunohistochemical Expression of C-KIT Protein in Feline Soft Tissue Fibrosarcomas”
• DVM Student Clinical Case, First Place – Katherine Mix, Class of 2009, “Esophageal Pythiosis in the Dog”
• Resident/Intern Clinical Case, First Place – Laura Devai, DVM, Pathobiology, “Suspected Natural Killer Cell Lymphoma in a Dog”
• Resident/Intern Clinical Case, Second Place – Danielle Pawloski, DVM, Veterinary Clinical Sciences, “Metastatic Seminoma in a Dog”
• John King Award for Best Overall Presentation – Robert Carmichael, DVM, Veterinary Clinical Sciences, “Complications Associated with Neonatal Isoerythrolysis in a Thoroughbred Foal”

Since its inception, Phi Zeta stands for the constant advancement of the veterinary profession, for higher educational requirements and for high scholarship. The object of the society is to recognize and promote scholarship and research in matters pertaining to the welfare and diseases of animals. Special thanks to this year’s sponsors: Novartis Animal Health, Pfizer Animal Health, Dual-Boarded, Inc., and the OSU veterinary center’s Office of Research and Graduate Education.

The Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences is one of 28 veterinary colleges in the United States and is fully accredited by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association. The center’s Boren Veterinary Medial Teaching Hospital is open to the public and provides routine and specialized care for small and large animals. It also offers 24 hour emergency care and is certified by the American Animal Hospital Association. For more information, visit www.cvhs.okstate.edu or call (405) 744-7000.