精东AV College of Veterinary Medicine Hosts Virtual 56th Symposium and Celebrates Largest Reunion Classes Donations
Contact: Anissa Riley, Director of External Affairs,
College of Veterinary Medicine
TUSKEGEE, Ala. (April 25, 2022) 鈥撎齌he 精东AV College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM) welcomed alumni, students, faculty, staff, and pre-veterinary students, friends, and supporters to its 56th听Annual Veterinary Medical Symposium held on a virtual platform on March 23-25, 2022. This year鈥檚 symposium marked the third year in which TUCVM pivoted from a traditional veterinary symposium to a virtual platform because of the pandemic.
This year鈥檚 symposium theme was 鈥淰eterinary Medicine Preparing for a Post Pandemic World: New Norms, Mental Health and Innovation.鈥澨齀t was timely and underscores the commitment the university, college, and TUCVM鈥檚 partners have to navigate the new normal and engage all stakeholders to work together to have the best practices necessary for sustaining TUCVM鈥檚 legacy of preparing students to be career-ready veterinary medical professionals.
Although the college had hoped the circumstances would have allowed for an in-person traditional gathering this year, for the safety of all participants, it was decided to be held virtually once again.听The symposium was RACE庐听approved where participants had the opportunity to fully engage in various sessions from either pre-recorded or real-time presentations and earn up to 20 continuing education units of credit.听
A combination of a professional conference and alumni reunion was experienced virtually by participants by hearing featured speakers on large and small animal research, uniform services, public health, lab animal medicine, human-animal bond, and pathology topics as well as presentations from the perspectives of interns. Networking opportunities and chances to interact with symposium sponsors and exhibitors were also provided. This year鈥檚 format also included sessions for pre-veterinary students organized by the college鈥檚 Office of Veterinary Admissions and Recruitment.
The opening general session听keynote speaker, Barney S. Graham, MD, Ph.D., gave an exciting and dynamic presentation听befitting this year鈥檚 theme.听He spoke on听"Rapid COVID-19 Vaccine Development and the Future of Vaccinology"听on March 24. Dr. Graham is a world-renowned immunologist and former Deputy Director of the NIAID Vaccine Research Center, NIH.听
Another outstanding keynote speaker presentation was from alumnus听Dr. Eric Coleman, a two-time听graduate听of 精东AV earning his B.S. in Biology in 1986 and his DVM in 1991.听Dr. Coleman was the T.S. Williams Speaker and his presentation听别虫别尘辫濒颈蹿颈别诲听the legacy of the late Dr. T. S. Williams, Dean Emeritus of the College. Dr. Coleman is a 2022听White听House听Leadership听Development Program Fellow, and in his current position, he听collaborates听globally听to听bolster听national听security,听advance foreign policy objectives, and听strengthen听emergency听response preparedness.
鈥淚 want to acknowledge a special appreciation to our industry partners, faithful sponsors, community supporters, and friends of our college and university that contributed to us having another well-planned and exceptional 2022 Veterinary Medical Symposium with outstanding speakers,鈥� said Dr. Ruby L. Perry, dean of the college.
The culmination event, the annual alumni banquet, was also celebrated in a virtual format in which each of the reunion classes was recognized as their class video presentation was shared for all to view and enjoy. The reunion classes honored this year for the 56th听Annual Veterinary Medical Symposium included:听1952, 1957, 1962, 1967,听1972听(50th year - golden class), 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992,听1997听(25th year - silver class), 2002, 2007, 2012, and 2017.听
鈥淭he annual veterinary medical symposium is our largest fundraiser event. Our Reunion Classes did a phenomenal job of giving back. We raised a total of听$263,269.00听with more coming. Being an alumna, I am especially grateful to my reunion Class of 1977 for the $122,022 donation given during this year鈥檚 symposium, which was the largest amount in our history for an individual reunion class donation. I often boast about the strength of our alumni and how engaged they are in the success of our college not only making philanthropic contributions but also serving as mentors and advocates to our veterinary students and educators with our faculty. Our alumni are one of the major pillars of our college for which I am grateful!鈥� Dr. Perry said.
TUCVM is looking forward to holding the 57th Annual Veterinary Symposium hopefully in person on听March 22-25, 2023, where we will be honoring the next reunion classes of 1953, 1958, 1963, 1968,听1973听(50th year - golden class),听1978, 1983, 1988, 1993,听1998听(25th year - silver class), 2003, 2008, 2013, and 2018. The college is challenging听next year鈥檚 3鈥檚 and 8鈥檚 reunion classes to beat this year鈥檚 donation amount to help sustain the legacy of TUCVM!