Dr. Glen Hoffsis and FVMA President Dr. Jim Brechin talk with the Class of 2008 alumni at the recent FVMA conference.

Welcome to the October 2008 CVM alumni e-news, an electronic newsletter designed to keep you up-to-date on college and university alumni activities and news.

Ride with Team VetMed 
Team VetMed is gearing up for the October Horse Farm Hundred ride on Sunday, October 19, 2008. We anticipate around 50 riders this year.

Each Team VetMed rider is asked to raise $100 in sponsorships. In return, those riders receive a custom-designed Team VetMed jersey. Alumni riders can set up donation cans in the clinics to encourage client donations. Last year, Dr. Julio Ibanez, '80, raised over $3,000 and matched those donations dollar-for-dollar and rode his first century. Dr. Ibanez is making his second ride this year.

All monies raised go to the Horse Farm Hundred Scholarship fund. This fund has awarded 16 scholarships since its inception in 2000.

Rider sponsorship forms are available on the Team VetMed Web site Support Team VetMed.

BEAT THE CATS - BEAT Kentucky
The UF Homecoming Weekend Celebration is October 24 & 25, 2008. UF vs. Kentucky! Masters' and PhD students are also invited to come back for homecoming celebrations. Football tickets are SOLD OUT, but meal tickets are available.

Alumni Council Fall Meeting
The UF CVM Alumni Council will hold its Fall Meeting Saturday, October 25, 2008 in Lecture Hall B. This meeting takes place four hours before the Homecoming Celebration and football game. Game time is TBA. Dr. Dan Martin, '98, is the Alumni Council Chair and Dr. Destiny Prezzano, '05 is Chair-Elect.

RSVP with Jo Ann Winn if you plan to attend. If you are unable to attend, please ask a representative from your class to attend.

Distinguished Awards Nominations due November 15
The annual Distinguished Awards nominations period is open through November 15. The categories include, Alumni Achievement, Distinguished Award, and Distinguished Service and Outstanding Young Alumni.

The nomination process and previous winners information is posted on the Alumni Affairs Web site. Nominate someone today!

AVMA Accreditation Site Visit November 2-6
The AVMA Council on Education Accreditation Site Team will visit UF CVM November 2-6, 2008. The team will tour our campus and visit with administration, faculty, students and alumni council members.

UF CALS TailGator08 November 15
The UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences will host its alumni homecoming celebration Saturday, November 15, 2008, three hours prior to kick-off time in the O'Connell Center. Tickets are $12 each. The Gators take on South Carolina. For more information, contact Cathy Carr, Director of Alumni and Career Services at 352-392-1963.

Dr. Jim Thompson and Joan Thompson thank the vet school during the farewell reception.

Jim Thompson takes dean position at University of Tennessee
The college said good-bye to long-time faculty member and executive associate dean, Dr. Jim Thompson, '81, as he departed UF for a new career adventure at UT CVM. The college hosted a farewell reception on September 23 where his dean's portrait was unveiled and he was presented with a gator departing gift.

Dr. John Harvey, former Physiological Sciences department chair, was named executive associate dean.

Zoe Seale takes development position at UF CLAS
Zoe Seale, CVM's senior director of development and alumni affairs has accepted a leadership role at the UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Karen Hickok Legato remains at CVM as the director of development and alumni affairs.

Graduate students complete degree programs
The UF CVM Office of Research and Graduate Studies announced the following summer graduates:

Five doctoral students successfully defended their dissertations by August 2008: Tonya Bonilla, PhD; Rebecca Grant, PhD; Shasta McClenahan, PhD; Pablo Pinedo, PhD; and Heather Townsend, PhD.

Thesis-based Master of Veterinary Medicine Sciences: Jason DeLa Paz, MS (Jason is a freshman in the Class of 2012)

Web-based non-thesis Master of Veterinary Medicine Sciences with a concentration in Forensic Toxicology: Rebecca Derienz, MS; Caroline DiCarlo, MS; Nicole Duett, MS; Charles Foster, MS; Michael Greenberg, MS; Jillianne Harris, MS; Rachel Hiers, MS; Amanda King, MS; Andrew Larkin, MS; John Ripper, MS; James Santo, MS; and Matthew Stillwell, MS. Congratulations!

Dr. Dana Juillerat and Dr. Heather Willis-Goulet, '00 attended the UF Alumni Reception at FVMA.

Alumni, Faculty and Staff present at FVMA conference
UF CVM had several alumni, faculty and staff participate in the recent FVMA conference in Orlando. Those included: Dr. Carsten Bandt; Dr. Lisa Conti, '88; Dr. Amara Estrada,'98; Dr. Eric Ferrell, '99; Mr. John Haven; Dr. Herbert Maisenbacher; Dr. Carolina Ortiz-Umpierre; Dr. Luisto Pablo; Dr. Lisa Radosta, '01; Dr. Wendy Rib, '89; Dr. Mandi Schmidt, '06; Dr. Tom Schubert, Dr. Amy Stone, '99; and Dr. Matt Winter.

The FVMA also named four UF CVM alumni as Gold Star Award Winners, Dr. Meg Formoso, '96; Dr. Dana Juillerat, '03; Dr. Millie Rosales, '00; and Dr. Mark Scribano, '89.

A special mention was made of Dr. Deke Buesse, a former UF CVM faculty member who passed away last month from cancer. Buesse directed the Marine Mammal Medicine program and received many awards during his career. He lived in Clayton, Georgia.

Get Well Greetings for Dr. Himes
Dr. James Himes, professor emeritus, has had surgery and is recovering at North Florida Regional Medical Center Rehabilitation and Special Care Center in Gainesville.

If you are in town for a football game, visit him before you go home. He would love to see you.

If you would like to send a speedy recovery note, get well wishes, etc., we will most certainly forward those to him.

Reply to cvmalumniaffairs@vetmed.ufl.edu  OR send cards to

Dr. James Himes
UF CVM Alumni Affairs
PO Box 100125
Gainesville, FL  32610-0125

We appreciate all of the alumni who have sent Dr. Himes cards and get well wishes. He loves hearing from his 'kids.” Keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Here come the Gators!
Gator football continues through November. Heisman Trophy Winner Tim Tebow leads the Gators in his return season. Stay up-to-date on Gator Sports.

The UF Alumni Association sponsors Gator Nation Tailgates three hours before each home game at Emerson Alumni Hall. UF Alumni Association members are free, while non-members are charged $15 each. This is the ultimate tailgate experience.

Class Reunions
Class reps for 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, and 2004, should start talking about class reunions for 2009.

For assistance with planning a class reunion, contact Jo Ann Winn.  Reunion details are available at www.vetmed.ufl.edu/alumni. 

To stay abreast of what's happening at UF, visit the Web site. This is a listing of all UF top news stories and news makers, calendar of events and other notables.

Brick by Brick
Gators have an opportunity to support UF while becoming a part of its history. The Emerson Alumni Hall Plaza Brick Program offers the chance to dedicate a spot in the plaza of Emerson Alumni Hall.

By purchasing a paver to commemorate a birthday, anniversary or graduation, Gators can honor relatives, businesses, friends and organizations while supporting the University of Florida. A memorial area is set aside to honor loved ones who have passed away.
Sign up now to secure a legacy at the University of Florida.

Are you green?
UF Today plans to explore the many ways that UF has embraced sustainability, and we'd like to know how you have, too. In what ways have you tried to reduce your water usage, for instance, or switched to alternative power sources? Was it difficult? What advice do you have for other readers?

We'd love to hear your stories. Please send your experiences to UFToday@uff.ufl.edu. We'll pick a few of our favorites to run in the print edition of UF Today this spring (but be aware that submissions may be edited for content or length.)

Missing that Orange & Blue?
The UF Alumni Association offers Gator Clubs throughout the US and abroad. Join your local Gator Club® so you can be Orange & Blue again. Visit us online today for more information.