September 21, 2005
Purdue's vet school names 2005 distinguished alumni
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University's School of Veterinary Medicine will honor three alumni at the school's annual Fall Conference for Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians from noon to 1 p.m. on Sept. 29 at University Inn, 3001 Northwestern Ave.
|
Distinguished alumni for 2005 are Lawrence Rueff of Greensburg, Ind., a member of the class of 1979, and Mary Anna Thrall of Fort Collins, Colo., a member of the class of 1970. A posthumous award will be given to Elizabeth Williams of Laramie, Wyo., who died last year. She was a member of the class of 1977.
Rueff was honored for excellence in practice, in involvement in organized veterinary medicine and in service to the local and world community. Rueff has been a "swine only" practitioner since 1981 and was named swine practitioner of the year in 2002 by the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. He was one of the first to introduce PigCHAMP, a computerized record analysis of commercial swine operations that set the industry standard in production systems. He has been active in projects in China, Thailand, Japan and Korea to help improve animal health and increase food production and capabilities.
|
Thrall was honored for excellence in teaching, research and in involvement in organized veterinary medicine. A professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology at Colorado State University, Thrall has been on the faculty there since 1975. She is the editor for Veterinary Hematology and Clinical Chemistry, and has written numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters and has given many continuing education presentations. She was given the distinguished service award from the Association for Women Veterinarians and distinguished faculty award from Colorado State University.
|
Williams was honored for excellence in research and teaching. After earning her doctor of veterinary medicine at Purdue, she went on to earn a Ph.D. in veterinary pathology in 1981 from Colorado State University. She joined the faculty of the University of Wyoming in 1982, and was named a professor in the department of veterinary sciences in 1993. She was a world-renowned expert on chronic wasting disease in deer and elk, a degenerative neurological illness that has impacted the hunting and wildlife industries as well as domestic and international markets. She received many awards, including the U.S. West Outstanding Teaching Award and the Outstanding Classroom Teacher Award at the University of Wyoming. Williams died in an automobile accident in 2004.
Since the establishment of the School of Veterinary Medicine's Distinguished Alumnus Award program in 1978, 40 alumni have been honored.
Purdue's School of Veterinary Medicine, which opened in 1959, is the only veterinary school in Indiana and one of only 28 in the country. In addition to the doctor of veterinary medicine degree, the school offers an associate degree and a bachelor's degree in veterinary technology, post-graduate internships and residencies for DVMs seeking specialty training, and graduate degrees in the departments of basic medical sciences, pathobiology and clinical sciences. Home to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, the school serves as a major referral center for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of all species of companion and food animals, as well as exotic pets and wildlife. The school has a faculty of 95, including specialists who are board certified in their areas of expertise.
Writer: Maggie Morris, (765) 494-2432, maggiemorris@purdue.edu
Source: Kevin Doerr, director of alumni relations and public affairs, (765) 494-8216, doerrkr@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Note to Journalists:Journalists are invited to attend the luncheon, but must reserve a space by calling the School of Veterinary Medicine Development and Alumni Relations office at (765) 494-6304.
Related Web site:
School of Veterinary Medicine
To the News Service home page