2021 was a big year for the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. We ranked first in the nation again, saw some big leadership changes, and received a major gift of Templeton Farms to close out the year. But that’s just the tip of it! Let’s recap:
Leadership Changes and Accomplishments
The school welcomed Mark Stetter as the new dean. He succeeded Michael Lairmore, who stepped down after two five-year terms. Between their tenures, John Pascoe filled in as interim dean. Joshua Stern become the new chief veterinary medical officer, while Woutrina Smith became the associate dean for global programs and Lee Ann Jensen became the assistant dean of advancement.
Chief Veterinary Medical Officer Jane Sykes, Associate Dean for Global Programs Pat Conrad, Equine Medical Director Rick Arthur, and others stepped down or retired.
As usual, faculty and students were recognized with numerous awards, which are summarized in the spring and fall issues of Synergy magazine. No news was bigger than Christine Kreuder-Johnson being elected to the National Academy of Medicine. Jonna Mazet was named UC Davis vice provost for grand challenges. Student Ruth Goins was elected president of Veterinarians as One Inclusive Community for Empowerment (VOICE), a national, student-led organization promoting diversity.
Meeting the need
The California Animal Health Food Safety Lab System protected our food supply, detecting low-pathogenic avian influenza in two commercial bird operations. Thanks to teamwork between the Lab System, California Department of Food and Agriculture, and the National Veterinary Services Laboratories, this outbreak was detected and through quick action is now in a surveillance phase. The Lab System is also testing for avian influenza in wild birds in the Pacific Flyway to monitor which strains are circulating in California.
The Lab System also diagnosed the CoVID virus in gorillas and a snow leopard, detected and tracked Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease, and detected and helped prevent numerous other diseases of potential threat of spread.
The Veterinary Emergency Response Team (VERT), Wildlife Disaster Network and hospital provided assistance during wildfires, including the Tamarack, Dixie, Cache and Caldor Fires.
The Oiled Wildlife Care Network responded to two oil spills, one in Toro Canyon Creek near Santa Barbara, and another at Huntington Beach that made national headlines.
The State of California provided support to expand UC Davis’ veterinary disaster response leadership, creating the California Veterinary Emergency Team. Senator Steven Glazer, Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, and Chancellor Gary May attended the news conference, among other leaders in disaster response.
California also provided $45 million in one-time funds to the school’s Koret Shelter Medicine Program to lead a program to help homeless animals. The funding increase reflects the governor’s commitment to providing resources that can help communities realize the state’s long-held policy that “no adoptable or treatable animal should be euthanized.” Separately, the state also provided $1 million in ongoing funding to help combat invasive mosquitoes and arboviruses.
In the face of hate and tragedy, the school expressed support for the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. A social media campaign that provides the perspectives of alumni from diverse backgrounds featured Ann-si Li and Don Jones. The Community Council, formed in 2020, identified three key areas of focus for which subcommittees are producing recommendations. The areas include Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Community Engagement & Outreach; and Mental Health & Wellness.
The school also managed the effects of the pandemic while providing national leadership on addressing it. As other veterinary practices reduced their services, the hospital took in an increased caseload, estimated to be more than 52,000 total for the year. The hospital also received a rating as the highest level of quality from the American Animal Hospital Association. In addition, the NCI renewed the Comparative Oncology Program as part of its “Comprehensive” Cancer Center Designation renewal.
The Veterinary Genetics Lab also increased their service when demand skyrocketed during the pandemic. They conducted approximately 400,000 tests in 2021—a 23.6% increase from 2020. Despite the increase, the lab maintained the highest level that can be achieved by a testing lab, as affirmed by the American National Standards Institute National Accreditation Board.
In the midst of the pandemic, with faculty support students increased their support for vulnerable populations by opening the Davis Pet Advocacy and Wellness (PAW) Clinic to serve pets of the homeless in Davis. The students also continued to provide veterinary services to the public at the Mercer Clinic for Pets of the Homeless in Sacramento and at the Knights Landing One Health Center.
Serving the profession
Thanks to donors and holding tuition steady, UC Davis retained its lead in providing value to veterinary students.
Taking the proper precautions, the school was also to return to in-person events and said congratulations in an outdoor commencement ceremony for the Class of 2021. The school welcomed the Class of 2025 in a White Coat Ceremony held in the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts. The video has been watched nearly 50,000 times!
The school served more than 1,500 professionals through its continuing education program and, in partnership with the Graduate School of Management, held its second Foundations of Veterinary Business program, and its inaugural National Veterinary Innovation Academy.
In addition, donations allowed the school to increase the nation’s largest house officer program, now standing at 127 positions in 39 advanced training disciplines.
Moving health forward
Thanks to our donors, the Veterinary Medical Center transition continued to progress, with ground breaking on the new All Species Imaging Center among other progressions, such as the renovation of the ER/Intensive Care Unit Space. In addition, demolition occurred to clear space for a new surgery center.
The school continued to innovate in animal health, such as through personalized medicine for cats with heart disease, pioneering 3D minimally invasive surgery, and equine PET Scan technology, which is now assisting sporthorses. A more complete summary of clinical innovations can be found in the spring and fall issues of Synergy magazine.
The school also influenced human health in 2021, with the renewal of the school’s comparative medicine program with the UC Davis Health Comprehensive Cancer Center, a procedure first performed on canines leading to the world’s first human spina bifida clinical trial, a breakthrough in understanding chlamydia that could lead to a vaccine, research using gene drives to control malaria, research linking air quality to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s, identification of a canine genetic mutation that is linked to a neurological disease in humans, and, of course, breakthroughs in understanding COVID-19 and related diseases.
The school also continued to help understand and address issues with the environment and wildlife, such as a new system for detecting wildlife illness and death, understanding marine toxins and fungal spread, protecting mountain gorillas and their habitat, addressing plastic pollution, and smoke toxicity.
A more complete summary of discoveries can be found in the spring and fall issues of Synergy magazine.
Farewell to Pint
The school also inspired the world through activities like bringing the Salish Sea to fifth graders or by sharing how life is “super amazing” through the story of Chonk the axolotl. In addition, what may be UC Davis’ most famous patient ever, Kabang, made international news again after passing away peacefully in May and being honored with a new statue.
Near the end of the year, a whole football stadium was inspired by the celebration to honor Pint, the “Wonder Dog,” who had been retrieving the UC Davis football kickoff tee since 2012. For a moment, Pint and the dedication of his owner, Dr. Danika Bannasch, represented the triumph of persistence and spirit to a university community that has been enduring the travails of a global pandemic. Surely, Pint deserved every bit of attention he received.