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College of Veterinary Medicine Advance Newsletter

Pet Memorial Program: Offering compassion to grieving pet owners

Smudge and Melissa
In March we proudly launched a new and improved Pet Memorial Program website so it would be even easier to express sympathy and compassion to grieving pet owners by memorializing a pet and submitting a story. Over the last 20 years, tens of thousands of beloved animals have been memorialized by donations made in their names from pet owners, family members, friends, and veterinarians. » More ...

A Cougar Legacy: David and Sandi Bielski

What does one business, two Cougar veterinarians, three WSU degrees, and an adopted Cougar make? A Cougar legacy. Looking back, the Cougar legacy created by David and Sandi Bielski seems almost inevitable. And listening to their story, there was a Cougar thread linking their lives along the way. » More ...

Supporter Profile: Shawn and Heather Sanders

Shawn Sanders ('09 DVM) and family
Like a lot of little kids growing up in southwest Idaho, Shawn Sanders (’09 DVM) dreamed of being a cowboy on a ranch. By junior high, he knew he wanted to be a veterinarian. After earning his undergraduate degree, WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine seemed like the perfect place to study large animal medicine and earn a DVM. » More ...

Our Generous Alumni

When I think of our graduates, one word comes to mind—pride. I feel pride when I see them enter our program here at WSU and grow to become confident veterinarians, surgeons, and professionals when they graduate. I’m proud of them when they are hired for their first jobs, and when they succeed in their careers. » More ...

Theia: An Incredible Story of Survival, Hope, and Compassion

Dr. Fransson talking with Sara in the veterinary teaching hospital lobby.
Theia, an ownerless 1-year-old bully breed mix, came to the WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital in March after being hit by a car, bludgeoned over the head with a hammer, and then buried in a field. She returned to Pullman weeks later to have surgery on her sinuses, which were badly damaged from the blows to her head. » More ...

We Are Feeding Our Patients Even Better Thanks to a New Diet Kitchen

Nestle Purina kitchen
Feeding our patients the very best nutrition got a whole lot easier thanks to a partnership between WSU and the Nestlé Purina Center for Nutrition Excellence program. In the spring of 2013, the Veterinary Teaching Hospital received the stateof-the-art dietary kitchen thanks to a $70,000 gift from Nestlé Purina to the college. » More ...

Volunteering to Help Train Future Veterinarians

Standing in front of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital

Web Extra

by Marcia Hill Gossard ’99, ’04 Ph.D. | Photo by Henry Moore Jr.

For the past six years, Mike Wedam (’84 DVM), a large animal bovine veterinarian, has made four to eight 370-mile journeys each semester from his home in Sunnyside, Washington, to WSU to be a coach with the Veterinary Clinical Communications Program.

Students participate in simulated cases (based on real cases) to enhance communication skills with clients. As a coach, Dr. Wedam advises students and helps them through the process of learning how to better communicate with clients. Veterinarians are trained to know what the animal is trying to tell them, but he points out that being a better listener and understanding the owner’s needs and concerns is key.

Dr. Wedam and his wife, Sue (’85 DVM), also advise and mentor several students each year during a four-week preceptorship. Dr. Wedam sees his service as a way of passing forward the help he received while he was in veterinary school. But it is the students’ eagerness to learn that he says keeps him coming back each year

Writing Books to Help Veterinary Students

After Jill Strickler’s beloved blond cocker spaniel, “Jessie,” passed away in 2009, Jill wanted to repay the kindness they received at WSU. So she decided to start a student scholar-ship. But as a writer, Jill knew she could do even more. So she decided to write a series of books to honor Jessie and everyone who cared for her at the WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital. » More ...