Dr. Tiffany Brady receives her doctoral hood at Commencement.

Welcome to the May 2009 CVM alumni e-news, an electronic newsletter designed to keep you up-to-date on college and university alumni activities and news.

Class of 2009 Commencement Ceremony
The UF CVM Class of 2009 Commencement Ceremony was Saturday, May 23 in the Curtis H. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. A reception followed at the Touchdown Terrace Club in the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Eighty-four new doctors received their diplomas and took the Veterinarian's Oath. This was the 29th class to graduate, bringing the total of DVM alumni to 2,302.

The candidates for Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degrees are posted on our Web site.

Associate professor of Physiological Sciences Kevin Anderson, PhD, delivered the commencement address. Anderson is a long-time faculty member and Team VetMed faculty advisor.

Distinguished Award Winners 2009
The UF CVM Alumni Council announces the Distinguished Awards recipients for 2009:

Alumni Achievement Award – Julio Ibanez, DVM, '80
Alumni Achievement Award – Dale Kaplan-Stein, DVM, '81
Distinguished Service Award - Louis Archbald, DVM, MS, PHD, Professor Emeritus, CVM
Special Service Award – Jerome Modell, MD DSc (Hon), Professor Emeritus, COM
Outstanding Young Alumni Award – Tonya Clauss, DVM, '03
These awards were presented at the Class of 2009 Commencement Ceremony.

The complete list of previous college Distinguished Awards recipients is posted on the Web site.

CE in the Jungle June 7
The CVM, in collaboration with VCA/Antech, will host a CE in the Jungle on Sunday, June 7 at Jungle Island, Miami. CVM faculty member Dr. Dennis Brooks will present several programs on ophthalmology and VCA's Dr. Tim Hackett will present trauma issues and how to treat shock.

For more information, contact Katherine Desmond

Vet Tech CE Program June 28
The UF Shelter Medicine Program is pleased to join with the SPCA Tampa Bay to present a program of animal health and welfare initiatives for those working on the front lines in animal sheltering. The registration deadline is June 19. For more information on this seminar, contact Nora.

AVMA Conference July 11-14
The American Veterinary Medical Association annual conference is scheduled for July 11-14 in Seattle, Washington. The college will host a UF alumni reception on Monday, July 13. More details to come. >> More Information

Referring Vet Appreciation Day July 18
The UF CVM presents Referring Veterinarian Appreciation Day on Saturday, July 18 at the Hilton Hotel & UF Conference Center in Gainesville. All small and large animal referring veterinarians are invited to attend. The program will include seminars and the two-hour Florida pharmacy CE requirement. >> Registration Information

UF CVM Homecoming Celebration 2009
Save the Date: CVM Alumni Homecoming Celebration is planned for Saturday, November 7 with the Florida Gators taking on the Vanderbilt Commodores. Football tickets and a pre-game meal celebration are being planned. Hotel info is posted on the Web site. If you plan to attend, you should reserve hotel rooms immediately.

MAKE NOTE: The annual UF Homecoming Celebration is October 17.

Florida Veterinary Medical Association's Gold Star Awards
The FVMA named the 2009 Gold Star Award recipients at its 80th Conference in April. Four UF alumni were honored with the Gold Star Awards: Dr. Rick Diaz, '90; Dr. Mary Echols, '84; Dr. Marta Lista, '00; and Dr. Marc Presnell, '86. Congratulations!

For more information on these Gold Star Awards, see the FVMA Advocate Issue 3 -2009

Dr. Tammy Clarkson, '90, won the prize drawing at FVMA for 2 Gator football tickets for the Vanderbilt game on November 7 and a UF Gator National Championship poster.

Silver Society Weekend – Class of 1984 25th Reunion
The Class of 1984 celebrated its 25th anniversary reunion during the Silver Society events on April 18. Those class members in attendance included Dave Ball, Octavio Blanco, Tom Callahan, Phyllis Campagna, Frances Carter, Fred Cuccinello, David Elmer, Dennis Geagan, Stacey Gerhart, Patti Gordon, Sharon Hunter, Rich Kane, Paul Koch, Danise Martinez-Walsh, Wade Matthews, Robert Tate, and Lynn Turner-Perez.

A complete photo gallery is available here. 

Professional Coating Ceremony for Class of 2011
The Professional Coating Ceremony for the Class of 2011 was held May 9 the at University Auditorium. Eighty-seven students were presented with clinic lab coats for the clinical training phase of their education.

Several alumni participated in the coating ceremony including: Christie Cichra, '06; Terry Curtis, '97; Kim George, '83; Francesca Griffin, '03; Daren Harrison, '04; David Jourdenais, '89; Dale Kaplan-Stein, '81; Rob Leonard, '86; Molly Pearson, '88; April Romagnano, '92; Richard Sammy, '03; Chris Sanchez, '95; Tommy Sessa, '89; Amy Stone, '99; Scott Terrell, '97; and Lisa Repa Thompson, '05.

Alumni Council Class of 2009 reps
Many thanks to Dani McVety, Gretchen Sutton and Terri Woodham for accepting the role of class reps to serve on the CVM College Alumni Council.

Vet Med Research and Graduate Program Welcomes New Alumni

The following people completed their non-thesis, thesis and dissertations by May 2, 2009 and were awarded their advanced degrees.

Dr. Heather Wamsley, successfully defended her dissertation and received her Veterinary Medical Sciences PhD degree in molecular biology and infectious disease.

A thesis-based Master of Veterinary Medical Sciences was awarded to Eric Johnson, Class of 2011.

Web-based non-thesis Master of Science in Forensic Toxicology was awarded to Mary Babos, Sabra Botch, Matthew Cook, Teri Freeman, William Lee, Suzy Russell, Amy Staub, and Greta Wright.

The Florida Fund is Calling You

The UF Florida Fund will begin calling vet med alumni during May and June. Here's your chance to update your contact info, especially your email address. The callers will share with you what the college accomplished this past year. Current UF students do all the calling, so chat with one of them for a minute.

Gators for Higher Education

We are an organized group of University of Florida alumni, faculty, students, staff and friends who want to help communicate the university's goals to Florida's elected officials. Our mission is to be advocates for UF and make it the best it can be — a top-ranked U.S. university that educates Florida's future leaders, drives the state's economic development, produces breakthroughs in scientific research, and serves the people of our state.

Gators for Higher Education is a project of UF Government Relations in partnership with the UF Alumni Association.  For more information visit the Gators for Higher Education Web site.

Class Reunions -

Class reps for 1994, and 2004, should start talking about class reunions for 2009. Reunion plans are in progress for the following classes.

Class of 1999 – 10 year reunion in July 24–26 – contact Dr. Billy Griswold

Class of 1989 – 20th reunion cruise in September – contact Dr. Ron Cooper

For assistance with planning a class reunion, contact Jo Ann Winn. Individual class reunion plans will be posted on the Web.

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

Graduates Become Alumni for Life
A note from the UF Alumni Association Executive Director Lee Patouillet

As we get ready to celebrate the upcoming graduation of the Class of 2009, it is a good time to think about the important role alumni play in the life of the University of Florida. >>Read More

Alumni magazines online
UF's alumni magazines Florida and UF Today are now offered online. The Web sites add a little extra flavor that won't be found in the printed publications — such as additional pictures, audio interviews, slideshows and videos.

Features in the fall issue include Gator tailgating recipes, a look at the freshmen experience, and images from artist Maggie Taylor's exhibit, "Almost Alice." Visit the Alumni Magazine on-line.