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NWCF 2018 WSU Scholarship Winner: Victoria Wilson

Mar 29, 2018 | NWCF Scholarship

Dear NorthWest Camelid Foundation,

I am honored to be the veterinary student selected to receive the NWCF Award. I am writing to send my immense gratitude for your support! I am currently finishing my second year of veterinary school in Pullman. I did my first year in Bozeman, MT, as part of the WIMU cooperative program since I am a Montana resident. This past year I was actively involved in the following clubs: Small Ruminant Club, National Member of AAEP, Vice President of the Theriogenology Club, Wildlife Disease Association, Student Member of AABP, Veterinary Business Management Association Member, Ag Animal Club, and Student Member of the Montana Veterinary Medical Association.

Upon completion of my DVM, I plan on returning to Montana and practicing large animal medicine. I would like to work on every thing from small ruminants and camelids to cattle and horses. I also have interest in the wildlife-livestock disease interface I hope to pursue, especially the brucellosis problem.

My passion for veterinary medicine started a long time ago. I grew up on a smaller commercial cow-calf operation in Pony, MT. We also raised sheep, goats, a few pigs, and horses. I participated in 4-H for ten years. My introduction to camelids has mainly been in the veterinary curriculum. We participated in an alpaca-handling day last year in Bozeman. What has captured my interest the most about camelids is their reproduction. In Theriogenology Club, we have learned many of the unique strategies there are for breeding management in camelids. I the future, I am interest in basic care and breeding management of camelids. There is a growing demand for veterinarians capable of being able to treat camelids, and I hope to meet these demands!

Again, thank you so much for your support for the students at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine! Without the financial support from donors like you, many students would not be able to pursue their academic goals and interests at this collegiate level. I truly appreciate your generosity!

Sincerely,
Victoria Wilson
DVM Candidate, WSU Class of 2020

← Austria Looks To Oregon for Camelid Expertise NWCF 2018 OSU Scholarship Winner: Meredith Bleuer →

Austria Looks To Oregon for Camelid Expertise

Jul 10, 2017 | General News

July 28-29, 2017— The First International Camelid Congress in Vienna, Austria, featured four speakers from Oregon, including Dr. Chris Cebra, Dean Sue Tornquist, and OSU alum Rachel Oxley. OSU has been a world leader in camelid research for thirty years. Dr. Cebra has written or co-authored over 70 scientific articles concerning camelids, and has been involved with over 40 camelid research projects.

Nearly thirty camelid owners and sixty veterinarians attended the two-day conference at the Veterinary Medicine University Vienna. Camelids are becoming more popular in Austria, and the conference sought to broaden attendees’ knowledge of camelid medicine.

The third oldest vet school in the world, Veterinary Medicine University Vienna has more than 2000 students. “Its interesting to see a different approach. There is a lot of attrition as they go through the five-year program; over 200 start in a class and they only graduate about 100,” says Dr. Tornquist. ” These students are right out of high school so they are learning undergrad at the same time they are starting their veterinary education.”

While attending the conference, Dr. Tornquist took a tour of the college where she was particularly interested in their clinical skills lab which contained many models for practicing things like placing catheters and palpating. She would like to create a similar lab at OSU. “In Europe they do a lot more with models and keep the use of live animals to a minimum,” she said. “We are looking at the best way to combine models and live animals to give our students the best experience. For example, we start to teach physical exams in the ‘Animal Care and Handling’ class. Then in the second year, they are expected to do physical exams in anesthesia class, and we have felt they are not quite as prepared as they could be. Physical exams are one of those things you need to practice over and over to feel confident about your proficiency.”

OSU College of Veterinary Medicine currently has several animal models including those that allow students to listen to different heart or lung sounds, and models they can bandage or suture. “If we’re really going to do this right, we need to add more,” says Dr. Tornquist.

← 2017 NWCF Owners' Conference NWCF 2018 WSU Scholarship Winner: Victoria Wilson →

2017 NWCF Owners’ Conference

May 7, 2017 | Conferences

Overview of Conference

TOPICS	SPEAKERS
Acupuncture/Alternative Therapies	Dr. Tim Holt, Colorado State University [PowerPoint presentation: Alternative Therapies, 37mb]
Parasites & Vaccines	Dr. Jeffrey Lakritz, Ohio State University
Camelid Research Round-Up	Dr. Julie Dechant, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
Camelids 101 for New Owners	Dr. Scot Lubbers, Amazia Veterinary Services, and Dr. Rachael Oxley, Juniper Country Veterinary Services
Pasture Management	Dr. Gene Perelli, OSU Extension Services
Embryo Xfer/Assisted Reproduction	Dr. Charles Estill, Oregon State University
Geriatric Findings from Necropsy	Dr. Christiane Lohr, Oregon State University
Camelid End-Use Products	Kim Biegler, Ewethful Fiber Farm & Mill, and Eric Stoneberg, Stoneberg Alpacas
Youth Block of Sessions	OSU Vet Students

← NWCF 2017 OSU Scholarship Winners: Stormy Scharzenberger & Lauren Nekota Austria Looks To Oregon for Camelid Expertise →

NWCF 2017 OSU Scholarship Winners: Stormy Scharzenberger & Lauren Nekota

May 1, 2017 | NWCF Scholarship

May 2017
Dear NorthWest Camelid Foundation,

I nurtured an interest in animal well-being from a young age, owning my first llama at five years of age and volunteering at the Lincoln County Fair and the Oregon Zoo. Throughout my childhood, my chores were tied to the health of my animals as I raised llamas, donkeys, goats, and chickens, amongst other pets.

Upon starting college at OSU and beginning research for the College of Veterinary Medicine, I quickly learned how veterinarians contribute to animal and human health simultaneously through animal husbandry and biomedical research. For the past three years, I have worked for the college researching the biology of Chlamydia spp. in the Rockey Laboratory. I am also involved in OSU’s Human-Animal Interaction Laboratory, numerous veterinary school clubs, and have a special interest in camelid and production animal medicine.

As a member of the Camelid Medicine Club, I enjoyed planning and leading the Youth Track for the North West Camelid Foundation by assisting with laboratories, delivering a lecture on camelid first-aid, and sharing my knowledge and passion for animal care with aspiring camelid owners. In my future career, I intend to contribute to the field of veterinary medicine directly through husbandry and indirectly through biomedical and behavioral research.

Thank you again!
Stormy Scharzenberger
OSU CVM Class of 2018

May 2017
To the NorthWest Camelid Foundation:

I am honored and humbled to receive this scholarship and I am so glad to be connected to your organization. I developed a love of camelids while working at a small ranch in Santa Cruz, CA, where I attended college. This love brought me to Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine because of its renowned camelid courses and research.

I am now enrolled in all of the camelid courses offered at Oregon State and I look forward to seeing and treating camelids in my future as a practicing veterinarian in Oregon. I am thrilled that I’ve found this niche of fellow camelid-lovers and your support is very much appreciated.

    Thank you so much!
    Lauren Nekota
    OSU CVM, Class of 2018

← NWCF 2017 WSU Scholarship Winner: Sam Seramur 2017 NWCF Owners' Conference →

NWCF 2017 WSU Scholarship Winner: Sam Seramur

Apr 10, 2017 | NWCF Scholarship

April 2017
Dear North West Camelid Foundation,

Words cannot express the level of gratitude I have to be the recipient of the North West Camelid Foundation Scholarship. Please accept my sincere thank you for helping me to alleviate the financial burden that’s required for pursuing my professional goals. Please know that the NWCF’s willingness to invest in my education is highly appreciated.

I developed my passion for camelids last fall by participating in an alpaca trans-vaginal ultrasound. I have come to realize that llamas and alpacas are amazing animals, and I look forward to continuing to work with them this summer.

I was selected to participate in the Summer Agriculture Animal Rotation for the month of May. Through this program, I get to practice my clinical skills by working with all types of livestock, including camelids. This program costs approximately $500, so I am grateful that your scholarship makes this opportunity possible.

I love camelids for their gentleness and bravery. Camelids working as guiard animals especially inspire me to learn more about them, and I plan to continue pursuing my curiosities toward them throughout my career. Thank you for investing in my professional dreams!

Warm regards,
Sam Seramur
DVM Candidate, WSU Class of 2020
WSU VBMA Long Distance Learning Chair

Sam Seramur

I have just completed my first year of veterinary school at Washington State University. Originally from Milwaukee, WI, I have been living in Washington state for the past three years. Although I remain a devoted Packers fan, the Pacific Northwest has truly captured my heart. I love to take advantage of the amazing geography by fishing, camping, shooting my bow, and riding my girlfriend’s horse, Adelaar.
My favorite thing to do is bicycle tour because the experience provides so many unexpected treasures. In fact, I met my first llama while riding from Seattle to San Francisco last summer, and that interaction strengthened my resolve to better understand this species. Please know that your organization has chosen to invest in a future veterinarian that is committed to being a life-long learner and advocate of camelids. I’m excited for what’s to come! ~ Sam