Jennifer Fiala

Lawmakers stonewall joint document's approval; legislation apt to linger in committee, insiders say

College of Veterinary Medicine spends $70,000 to avert outbreaks in large animal facility

CDC official takes hard look at who's being bitten and why; children greatest fatalities

Architect hands down hard lessons in building veterinary practices from the ground up

Trenton, N.J.-To rush the onset of minimal treatment standards for New Jersey livestock, officials say welfare activists have bombarded the state's agriculture department with 25,000 e-mails, phone calls and even death threats.

If a provision in the patients' bill of rights moves forward, legislative language could ease efforts of national associations like the AVMA in offering comprehensive health coverage for members' staff.

Las Vegas-Pets have the power to heal our bodies, soothe our souls and calm our minds. That's the message Edward Creagan, MD, gave to more than 300 veterinarians last month at the 74th annual Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas. The event, "The Pet Prescription," sponsored by Veterinary Pet Insurance, featured expert findings on the physiological and psychological effects of pets on people.

Kansas City, Mo.-As plans to unite rival education equivalency standards for foreign graduates bottom out, the American Association for Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) restores its controversial proficiency program-a move that's sure to rattle the veterinary community.

Anchorage, Alaska- In a benchmark decision, Alaska Supreme Court justices rule that damages for the untimely loss of a pet can be measured by the cost of replacing it, or more specifically, an animal's actual value.

Lawmakers get back to legislative calendar; bills affecting veterinary medicine up for debate

Legal complications void plans to unite the groups' rival educational equivalence standards for foreign graduates

Distance education is the "wave of the future." That might sound farfetched, but it's exactly what Donald Draper, DVM, MBA, suggests as he prepares this month to launch Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine's first Web-based business course.

Fort Collins, Colo.-To teach students what it takes to run and manage a business, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University (CSU) plans to launch a combined DVM/MBA program next fall.

Washington-The former Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) accountant accused of embezzling half a million dollars from the organization pleaded guilty last month to bank fraud, a federal crime, in a deal for a lighter sentence.

As the world's largest economy faces recession and veterinarians brace for lags in client spending, cutting back on employee training might seem like a sure way to save a buck.

Montpelier, Vt.-As experts across the country declare a rise in animal cruelty, veterinarians and humane officials bolster the front lines fighting it.

Gauging training benefits isn't simple task; gut feelings rather than numbers sometimes best tack for measuring outcomes

Experts advise: Take life one responsibility at a time

Davis, Calif.-Madeline Yamate knows how to be a team player. With an MBA in marketing and organizational behavior, she's got the basics of negotiation, time management and project solving covered.

NEWPORT, TENN.- Dr. John Chambers knows when to back away from an angry cat. He learned after losing a fingertip.

Veterinarians are advised to take precautions against the bacteria Pasteurella multocida as a New England Journal of Medicine article reveals the microbe can be transmitted through somewhat casual contact with pets.

Bill Swartz, DVM, builds his small animal practice on service

Washington-As private veterinary pharmaceutical distributors petition veterinarians to buy mass drug quantities for resale, state regulators warn dealing with these companies could be illegal if not unethical.

East Lansing, Mich.-As experts report that United States' livestock and food crops are increasingly vulnerable to terror attacks, Michigan State University (MSU) officials tested the nation's emergency system when two vials of genetically altered bacteria turned up missing from a secured lab.