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What does it mean to Colorado and the nation that an organization has been successful for 100 years?

As the dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, which is celebrating 100 years at Colorado State University, I have been reflecting on that question.

For 100 years, the faculty and students in this college have improved and lengthened the lives of animals and people through their dedication and passion for their work.

In 1907, the Department of Veterinary Sciences was established at Colorado State. The first class of 27 students graduated in 1910. Since then, the cornerstones of our college have been teaching, research and outreach. That trilogy has served to better the lives of animals and humans.

In the Veterinary Medical Center, in just this year our veterinarians and students have seen 25,000 animals, saving and bettering many of their lives with novel treatments and innovations for every kind of ailment — from hearts to joints to eyes.

We have operated on fish, restored sight to wild owls, treated movie-star bears for cancer, fitted burros with prosthetic legs and performed successful open heart surgery on famous dogs. Those stories are only illustrations of the tasks performed daily to save the lives of family members of so many in the community: countless cats, dogs, horses, llamas, rabbits and reptiles.

When people think of our college, they often think only of animals, yet virtually all of the health discoveries and advancements that the college makes directly benefit people. And a large portion of our college is devoted to areas typically not associated with animals, such as fighting infectious diseases and improving environmental health. Our work with animals is a direct complement to advancements for human health.

For example, the college was one of the first in the world to use animal tumors as models to study human cancer. We were also the first to develop radiation therapies for animals diagnosed with cancer. As a result of this pioneering spirit, we’ve developed a number of innovations.

One of our discoveries spares limbs impacted by bone cancer; this transplant is used by thousands of cancer survivors in the world today. Another technology significantly increases the odds that children with certain bone cancers will be cured.

In addition to saving lives, our equine reproductive team is rightfully proud to boast the world’s first foal born from the ovaries of a deceased mare with the help of a surrogate mother. This research significantly brightens the future of numerous couples who face challenges in starting a family.

Researchers in our infectious disease program are devoted to stopping devastating diseases and illnesses that cause worldwide suffering and death or that could be used as biological weapons. These diseases include tuberculosis, dengue fever, the plague, West Nile virus, anthrax, HIV, malaria and leprosy.

Our Health and Safety Consultation Program was the first in the nation to be invited to manage on-site health and safety operations at the World Trade Center recovery site.

Meanwhile, Colorado State University was the first university in the world to begin teaching animal ethics courses for animal use and research.

As the second-ranked college of its kind in the nation, we have many reasons to be proud as we embark on the next 100 years.

Lance Perryman is the dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University.

READER COMMENTS

Another story you may find interesting. In 1964 Dr. Jim Creed and I operated on an endangered whooping crane to repair a broken humerus. The crane was one of the less than 20 cranes left in the U.S. A federal fish and wildlife person stayed with the crane 24h/d until the bone healed. As best I can remember the crane eventually returned to its flock but I could be wrong about that. Dr. Creed would remember the details. I was an intern at the time and monitored the anesthesia. One day our 4 yo son visited the recovering crane, whose head and neck towered above him, and said: " Dad, that is the biggest jumping hoop I've ever seen!"

Another story you may find interesting. In 1964 Dr. Jim Creed and I operated on an endangered whooping crane to repair a broken humerus. The crane was one of the less than 20 cranes left in the U.S. A federal fish and wildlife person stayed with the crane 24h/d until the bone healed. As best I can remember the crane eventually returned to its flock but I could be wrong about that. Dr. Creed would remember the details. I was an intern at the time and monitored the anesthesia. One day our 4 yo son visited the recovering crane, whose head and neck towered above him, and said: " Dad, that is the biggest jumping hoop I've ever seen!"

Another story you may find interesting. In 1964 Dr. Jim Creed and I operated on an endangered whooping crane to repair a broken humerus. The crane was one of the less than 20 cranes left in the U.S. A federal fish and wildlife person stayed with the crane 24h/d until the bone healed. As best I can remember the crane eventually returned to its flock but I could be wrong about that. Dr. Creed would remember the details. I was an intern at the time and monitored the anesthesia. One day our 4 yo son visited the recovering crane, whose head and neck towered above him, and said: " Dad, that is the biggest jumping hoop I've ever seen!"

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