April 2026

Last month, I shared the sad news of the passing of founding Dean Emerit Bernard C. Easterday, who died at 96. Dr. Easterday joined UW-Madison in 1961, becoming an internationally recognized educator and virologist, and served as founding dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) between 1979 and 1994. His leadership laid the foundation for who we are today: Dr. Easterday established a community focused on making significant impacts in education, innovation, and outreach while ensuring collaboration and teamwork are core to our shared experience.

Above, speaking with prospective students during the SVM's Invited Applicant Open House on March 20.

We will continue to celebrate his legacy in the coming weeks. Watch your inbox for more information about a celebratory event to be held at the SVM later this month.

A few weeks ago, the university announced that John Zumbrunnen was selected to serve as UW-Madison’s provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. I want to extend my congratulations to John, who I have enjoyed working with since arriving in Madison. I admire his deep understanding of the intersection between education and research and appreciate his support of our efforts to create the future of veterinary medicine.

There are also changes occurring here at the SVM: On April 5, Peggy Schmidt will transition from her role as associate dean for professional programs to clinical professor in the Dept. of Medical Sciences. Peggy played a pivotal role in spearheading our OnWard curriculum, providing a framework that helps our veterinary students flourish and meet the evolving challenges of our profession. Jessica Pritchard (Dept. of Medical Sciences) will serve as associate dean for professional programs on an interim basis until recruitment for a permanent replacement begins this fall. Jessica is an outstanding leader, veterinarian, and educator, and I’m looking forward to working with her to ensure the success of OnWard.

On top of all that, Liddy Alvarez (Dept. of Medical Sciences) is doing exciting work building out early clinical experiences for students. Our continuous improvement efforts in the hospital, led by Jennifer Fitzsimmons, have allowed our team to see 16% more cases than it had at this point last year. And a recent $100,000 gift to the school to support translational collaborative research is expected to generate exciting new projects and proposals. Finally, I’m excited to share Megan Duckett will be joining our comprehensive cancer service as a medical oncologist, and that recruitment efforts for a second surgical oncologist are underway.

I hope everyone has a great final few weeks of the academic year.

Until next time…

Jon

Graduate and Professional Student

Appreciation Week: April 6-10

Graduate and professional students make a broad and diverse set of contributions to UW–Madison and the wider community. As one way to honor the work of our graduate and professional degree students, the Graduate School celebrates Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week.

Throughout the week, campus will host events in collaboration with schools, colleges, and campus partners will hold events and award ceremonies to recognize graduate student excellence, and share stories highlighting the many ways graduate and professional students make an impact.

See a list of events celebrating graduate and professional students here and give a shoutout to a graduate or professional student you’re proud of using this Kudoboard.

Also, all graduate and DVM students are invited to join us on April 10 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in Room 2166 for coffee, donuts, and conversation with school leadership. Secure a time slot for Donuts with the Deans here.

Supporting WisCARES with the Madison Mallards

On Friday, June 5, at 6:05 p.m., the Madison Mallards will host a group fundraiser to support WisCARES. For each ticket purchased using this link, $8 will be donated to WisCARES. Come out and support the clinic while rooting on your local team in Northwoods League action against the Wausau Woodchucks!

Buy tickets

SVM news briefs

Ruthanne Chun (’87 DVM’91; Dept. of Medical Sciences) has been honored with the ACVIM Oncology Specialty Lifetime Achievement Award. This prestigious recognition celebrates her extraordinary legacy and lasting contributions to the field of veterinary medical oncology. Throughout her career, Chun has demonstrated exceptional dedication to advancing cancer care, mentoring future specialists, and elevating standards within the profession. This achievement is a testament to her impact, leadership, and unwavering commitment to improving the lives of animals and the people who care for them. Well deserved!
Tim and Nancy Speaker Chair in Canine Health Gillian McLellan will continue to serve as chair of the Dept. of Surgical Sciences following five-year review. During her time as chair, McLellan has done an outstanding job recruiting and supporting faculty, developing structures to strengthen our residencies and internships, advocating for faculty and staff across SVM mission areas, and representing the SVM on campus committees related to faculty affairs. Congratulations!
Congratulations to John E. Butler Professor of Comparative and Mucosal Immunology Marulasiddappa Suresh (Dept. of Pathobiological Sciences), who will continue to serve as the SVM’s associate dean for research and graduate studies following five-year review. During his time in this role, Suresh has been instrumental in developing and deploying RISE-THRIVE, supporting our research infrastructure, building the SVM clinical trials core in collaboration with Starr Cameron (MS’21), assistant dean for clinical and translational research, and ensuring OVCR funds for faculty recruitment and retention. He has also embodied values that are core to SVM — teamwork, collaboration, caring, and innovation.

Comparative Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program students Allyssa Fogarty (Zhao lab) and Christina Jurotich (Bresnick lab) were both recently recognized with a Graduate and Postdoctoral Training Award by UW-Madison’s Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine Center. These awards recognize and provide support to promising graduate and postdoctoral trainees conducting stem cell and regenerative medicine research at UW–Madison. Well done!

Fogarty (left) and Jurotich (right)

Masatoshi Suzuki (Dept. of Comparative Biosciences) received a Musculoskeletal Regeneration Research Program grant from the UW-Madison Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine Center, supporting a new interdisciplinary collaboration with Mai Ngo (Chemical and Biological Engineering).
Rachel Walkup, a PhD student in molecular and environmental toxicology in the Lipinski lab, published a review in Environmental Epigenetics examining how prenatal exposures leave lasting DNA methylation signatures that may serve as biomarkers of disease risk, while outlining key challenges and strategies to advance their application.
A team of researchers led by Suzana Salcedo (Incoming chair, Dept. of Pathobiological Sciences) recently had a paper on Acinetobacter baumannii published in PLOS Pathogens. The study shows how some multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii strains hide and multiply inside cells and identifies a key virulence system that enables bacterial invasion, opening new opportunities for therapeutic development.
JP Martins (Dept. of Medical Sciences) has been promoted to associate professor. Well done!
Please join me in welcoming the following new staff members to UW Veterinary Care:
Tammy Comber joined the purchasing team as a financial specialist and lead.
Emma Ratway joined surgical oncology as a veterinary nurse assistant.
Wesley Schwager started as a veterinary nurse assistant in the CS/OR.

Media mentions

Keith Poulsen (’00 DVM’04 PhD’12; Dept. of Medical Sciences; Director, Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory) joined Civic Media to discuss the latest about bird flu in Wisconsin. Listen to his full interview here.
David Vail (Dept. of Medical Sciences) recently spoke with The Dispatch about the future of mRNA vaccines.
Ruthanne Chun (’87 DVM’91; Dept. of Medical Sciences) recently joined WPR’s “The Larry Meiller Show” to discuss cancer care for cats and dogs. Listen to her full interview here.
Research led by John E. Butler Professor of Comparative and Mucosal Immunology Marulasiddappa Suresh (Dept. of Pathobiological Sciences) was highlighted in a UW-Madison news story. identified a vaccine strategy that programs longer‑lasting, stem‑like T cells, potentially providing broader and more durable protection against evolving viruses such as influenza and COVID‑19.
Research led by MarulasiddappaSuresh (Dept. of Pathobiological Sciences), John E. Butler Professor of Comparative and Mucosal Immunology, was highlighted in a UW–Madison news story for identifying a vaccine strategy that programs longer‑lasting, stem‑like T cells, potentially offering broader and more durable protection against evolving viruses.