(June 25, 2009 Stillwater, OK) – Each year Oklahoma State University (OSU) invites OSU legacies, ages 7 to 14, and their grandparents to campus for a learning experience called Grandparent University. One of 13 majors offered, OSU’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences welcomed 18 grandchildren and 17 grandparents on June 18 and 19, 2009. Among those guests were the grandchildren of alumni Drs. John Kirkpatrick (’65), Harold Miller (’60), and D. C. Smith (’70) and the daughters of Dr. Craig Jones (’89).

Participants visited the Boren Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital to learn basic health care in small animals from Drs. Jill Brunker, Cornelia Ketz-Riley and Carolynn MacAllister assisted by technicians Patti Anderson, Natalie Clawson, and Lisa Gallery and senior veterinary student Ben Spall. Grandchildren also had an opportunity to “gown up” and assist 4th year veterinary students in Teddy Bear Surgery where they surgically repaired torn stuffed animals.

The second day attendees visited McElroy Hall to learn about anatomy, parasitology and microbiology.

In the parasitology lab, participants heard from Drs. Holly Evers, Steph Heise, and Susan Little as they discussed parasites and germs that can affect people as well as their animals.

In addition to the faculty and staff, a special thanks to these 4th year veterinary students who helped make Grandparent University a fun learning experience for visitors: Carey Bachman, Madeline Boles, Erica Dissmore, Kyle German and Loren Johnson.
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.