July 21, 2008
Expert on human-pet relations to give Lilly lecture
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - |
Aaron H. Katcher, a psychiatrist and professor emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania, will speak at 10:30 a.m. at the University Plaza Hotel, 3001 Northwestern Ave. The speech is free and open to the public. It is being given in connection with the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine's annual fall conference for veterinarians and veterinary technicians.
Katcher will speak on "Contemplation and Community: The role of animals and nature in the promotion of health." He will discuss his latest work using animals to help treat post-traumatic stress disorder in returning Iraq War veterans.
The lecture series is in its second year. It is endowed by Lilly through a gift to the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue's School of Veterinary Medicine. The series is designed to broaden the veterinary profession's understanding of the human-pet relationship through speeches at Purdue and at national veterinary conferences.
Katcher is best known for a landmark study showing that social support of companion animals could increase the survival rate of patients during the first year after a heart attack. He received the first National Institutes of Mental Health training grant to educate veterinary and human-health professionals about the health value of contact with companion animals.
"Dr. Katcher has researched the complex relationship between people and pets from a human-health perspective and recognizes the emotional and physical benefits of owning a pet," said Alan Beck, director of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond.
Katcher understands the value of pets and their role in our lives, said Stephen Connell, a veterinarian and manager of technical, academic and consumer service for companion animal health at Lilly.
"He has been at the forefront of the research into the importance of the relationship between people and animals, a growing field that has been recognized for its potential to be part of the whole human-health field," Connell said.
Katcher is the author of several books, including "New Perspectives on Our Lives with Companion Animals" and "Between Pets and People: The Importance of Animal Companionship," both written with Beck. He is a board member of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond and vice president of the Animal Therapy Association.
Founded in 1982, the center explores the relationships between people, animals and their environment. The center's major objective is to foster interdisciplinary activities and promote the exchange of ideas and development of new information related to human-animal interactions and animal welfare.
Lilly, headquartered in Indianapolis, is developing a growing portfolio of pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own laboratories and through collaboration with scientific organizations. Additional information about Lilly is available at https://www.lilly.com. Information about Lilly products for pets is available at https://www.lillypet.com
Writer: Judith Barra Austin, (765) 494-2432, jbaustin@purdue.edu
Sources: Alan Beck, (765) 494-0854, abeck@purdue.edu
Stephen Connell, (317) 433-5488, connellsa@lilly.com
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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