PURDUE    _,    ,
vererinQiy mediCQl
mmm
VOLUME 7, NUMBER 1
WINTER-SPRING 1981
A Shared
Learning Experience
"Reddle" Aids Diabetic Children
Diabetes is a disease common to both people and their
pets. Living with this disease requires adaptation to a
more structured life style. Insulin must be taken daily; a
prescribed diet must be adhered to; meals must be eaten
at the appropriate time; and exercise must be regulated.
There are a number of medical problems associated with
establishing a routine for diabetics, both human and
animal, but in most cases it is possible to arrive at an
adequate insulin dosage and diet. For people, however,
there are often many psychological problems associated
with acceptance of the disease, and it is with these
problems that diabetic dogs may be able to help diabetic
people, especially children. The idea of using diabetic
animals to help diabetic children learn about and cope
with their disease was the idea of Mary Ann Lewis,
diabetes coordinator at Community Hospital in Indianapolis. Ms. Lewis, together with Dr. Jerry Thornhill of
the Department of Small Animal Clinics and Dr. Elsa
Janle-Swain of the Department of Veterinary Physiology
and   Pharmacology,  are  currently developing the pro-
A group interested in diabetes. From L-R: Diane Gregory, who
lives with diabetes; Ms. Mary Ann Lewis, diabetes coordinator
at Community Hospital in Indianapolis; Sheryl, also a diabetic
and daughter of Dr. Janle-Swain and benefactor of diabetic
"Reddie"; Dr. Janle-Swain; and Dr. Jerry Thornhill. ( Additional
photograph on page 3. )
gram. Dr. Thornhill has many small animal diabetic
patients and has expertise in dealing with the problems
of diabetic pets. Dr. Janle-Swain is conducting research
in diabetic dogs and has a number of diabetic animals.
One of these dogs, "Reddie," began his career as one of
Dr. Janle-Swain's research diabetics seven years ago by
receiving a pancreatic tissue transplant. The transplant
was rejected and Dr. Janle-Swain gave Reddie to her
diabetic daughter, Sheryl, to care for. Sheryl has been
responsible for his feeding and injections for several
years, and Reddie has helped Sheryl understand her j
own disease better. Since Reddie already has experience
in teaching one child about diabetes, he has become the
first canine educator in this new program.
In the program for diabetic children, Dr. Thornhill
presents a slide show of his diabetic patients and tells
the children that they must receive their injection
every day and that their food must be measured and
meals given at specific times. The children then meet
Reddie and see that in spite of his diabetes he can lead
a happy normal life, and Sheryl tells of her experiences
in caring for her diabetes and Reddie's.
Acceptance of diabetes and the requirements of a diabetic regimen are the first steps in learning to lead a
healthy life in spite of the disease. Reddie and other
diabetic dogs may help in this by diverting diabetic
children's attention from the view of "Why did it
happen to me?" to "If that dog can live happily with his
diabetes, so §^!" Elsa janle-Swain, Ph.D.
The School of Veterinary Medicine Phon-A-Thon was held on January 26, 1981, as a part of a week-long effort by
the University to raise additional funds from alumni and friends of Purdue.
Nearly 40 veterinary medical students, representing all classes, participated for over 4 hours, making 500 calls to
250 veterinary medical alumni. They received 150 pledges averaging $20 each for a total of just over $3,000.
Two groups of alumni were excluded from calls by design - those who were members of the Class of 1980 and those
who had made a contribution within the last two years. The students had a good time; for many it was their first
attempt at soliciting funds (except perhaps from their parents). Most comments from alumni were positive, so the
Phon-A-Thon will be continued next year. The Class of 1980 can now look forward to being called next year and
those who contributed can look forward to not being called!!
For all those who responded so generously, the students and the entire School want to say "thanks."
VM Faculty Honored
7s? Weedon Award Given
/   i
Ford
Hinsman
Richardson
Van Sickle
Blevins
It's a difficult task to teach, but it's even more difficult
to teach to a level that both students and student-faculty
committees agree that you're an excellent teacher. This
year four faculty members of the School of Veterinary
Medicine achieved that recognition for at least the
second time. Among those honored for the 1980-81
school year were:
Dr. Richard Ford, Department of Small Animal Clinics,
was selected for an Alumni Foundation Distinguished
Teacher Award. The award consists of a plaque and a
check for $1,000 and is made possible by contributions to the University Development Fund. Dr. Ford
was the Norden Award winner in 1980.
Dr. Edward Hinsman, Department of Anatomy, received the Norden Outstanding Teacher Award for
a second time at the Honors and Awards Banquet.
The award consists of a plaque and a check for $500.
Dr. Hinsman has been selected for the Alumni Foundation Distinguished Teacher Award on two previous
occasions   and   was   nomin^fc   for   the  Amoco  Out
standing Teaching Award in 1973-74.
The School of Veterinary Medicine nominee for the
Amoco Outstanding Teaching Award for 1980-81 was
Dr. Ralph Richardson, Department of Small Animal
Clinics. Dr. Richardson was also the School nominee
in 1979-80. He has previously received the Norden
Award in 1977-78 and the Alumni Foundation Distinguished Teacher Award in 1978-79.
Dr. David Van Sickle, Department of Anatomy, was
recognized for outstanding teaching by the graduating
class of the Indiana University School of Medicine.
This is the second time Dr. Van Sickle has been so
honored by a class graduating from the Medical School.
Dr. William Blevins was the first recipient of the Weedon
Faculty Recognition Award given to the faculty member
who has "helped the most", as judged by the senior
class. The award, to be given annually, was made possible through a donation by Mr. & Mrs. Robert Weedon,
parents of a member of the Class of 1981, Dr. Robert
Weedon.