Klein, other Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine professors, edit major textbook
The newest edition of the world's most widely published textbook in veterinary physiology has been recently published, thanks to the leadership of Dr. Bradley Klein, associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and several others from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, including Dean Gerhardt Schurig.
Klein served as co-editor of the 720-page book, along with Dr. James G. Cunningham of Michigan State University. The “Textbook of Veterinary Physiology,” which has been published in four languages, is considered a seminal textbook in academic veterinary medicine and a useful reference text for veterinary practices.
Klein also edited the chapter on neuro-physiology that appears in the text.
Klein, who was recognized as the Norden National Teacher of the Year in veterinary medicine several years ago, indicated he was invited to collaborate on the project by Cunningham some time ago and will likely remain engaged with the textbook project in the future.
The newest edition also includes a new chapter entitled “The Immune System” which was co-authored by Schurig and Dr. Ansar Ahmed, interim head of the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology. Both are veterinary immunologists and professors in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology.
The new chapter on the immune system discusses the normal function of the immune system and describes how it may be affected by autoimmune and immunodeficiency disorders, leading to several types of diseases.
Also, Dr. Sharon Witonsky, an associate professor in the college’s Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, served as clinical correlations editor of the book, which was published by Elsevier-Saunders. This edition contains 25 percent more clinical correlations boxes, which show how the principles and concepts of physiology can be applied to diagnostics and treatments.
The book contains full-color illustrations and includes coverage of physiopathology and clinical problem-solving techniques. It is logically organized by body-system, which makes it easy to quickly locate specific information.
The edition also includes a new chapter on cancer, which describes the malfunction of the cell involved in neoplasia, which is essential background to diagnosing and treating cancer in pets.
The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine (VMRCVM) is a two-state, three-campus professional school operated by the land-grant universities of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg and the University of Maryland at College Park. Its flagship facilities, based at Virginia Tech, include the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, which treats more than 40,000 animals annually. Other campuses include the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, Va., and the Avrum Gudelsky Veterinary Center at College Park, home of the Center for Government and Corporate Veterinary Medicine. The VMRCVM annually enrolls approximately 500 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and graduate students, is a leading biomedical and clinical research center, and provides professional continuing education services for veterinarians practicing throughout the two states. Virginia Tech, the most comprehensive university in Virginia, is dedicated to quality, innovation, and results to the commonwealth, the nation, and the world.
