2006 - History of the Program of Veterinary Technology at Manor College
On January 1, Dr. Joan Hendricks becomes the first woman to be Dean of the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine.
In February, Program faculty (Dr. Bassert, Dr. Busch and Brandy Terry) together with the Director of Development, Marialice Stanzeski, toured the expansive facility of the Philadelphia Animal Care and Control Association (PACCA). Discussions with Executive Director, Tara Derby, focused on collaborations such as holding some labs at PACCA, the development of new curricula in shelter management, student volunteering, and assistance with spay and neuter surgeries at Manor’s surgical facility.
In March, the first Program newsletter was released via mail and e-mail to all alumni, students and faculty. This represented the first program-specific newsletter to be developed by the College. This first issue was called Fox Prints (it was later called Hoof Prints). In addition, during this month, the Curriculum Committee approved expansion of the radiology laboratories from 1.5 hours to 2 hours per week.
In April, the Program changed the name of “Project Running Dirty Paws” to “Project Running Happy Paws.” Under the auspices of ANA, Dr. Francie Rubin (Manor faculty member 1994), lead a group of students to the Hopi reservation. The students included Nicole Hare, Melissa Peel and Leslie Sheppard. The students assisted with equine and bovine preventive medicine in addition to companion animal spays and neuters.
In May, after a long battle with laminitis, which included a hoof wall ablation, a deep digital tenotomy and 10 months of stall rest, Donovan was able to be turned out for the first time. Also this month, Dr. Bassert standardized course outcomes, standard criteria and laboratory task check lists. These were put on each course website under the heading “Assessment.” The second Program Newsletter was released and was sent to all students, friends of the program and alumni.
In the spring, Dr. Bassert began her service on the Steering Committee for College-accreditation by Middle-States. She wrote narratives for standards one and six during the summer, began work on the second edition of the anatomy textbook and wrote the biennial report to CVTEA. Dr. Leon Menapace taught VT111 during the summer (for the first time) and recorded audio for the VT111 online lecture. Also during the summer, the microscopy lab (Room 17) was gutted and renovated using funding from the Connelly Foundation.
In the fall, an IDEXX hematology unit was purchased and two IDEXX chemistry analyzers were donated to the Program. Students enjoyed using this equipment in the newly renovated laboratory. Students Susan Donnelly, Doris Wood and Debra Cirlincione participated in Project Running Happy Paws and worked with both Zuni and Hopi Native Americans and their animals. Brandy Terry successfully completed the examination administered by the Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care and was subsequently awarded a veterinary technician specialist certificate by NAVTA.
In December, Dr. Sara Busch left Manor to become State Veterinarian for the State of Delaware. A new full-time position, Program Coordinator, was formed to include both teaching and administrative duties.
