Faculty Feature: Dr. Rodman Getchell Reflects on a career in fish health, mentorship, and collaboration
Cornell University CVM
Even in retirement, Dr. Rodman Getchell still had 60 round goby samples waiting in a university freezer. Recently named Emeritus Associate Research Professor at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), Getchell is preparing one final investigation into the spread of invasive gobies through New York’s waterways.
John Sykes, DVM, DACZM, is AMC’s new Zoological & Companion Exotic Pet Medicine department head
AMC
Recently completing its $125 million, 83,000 square-foot hospital-wide transformation, the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center ushers in a new era of world-class pet care – beginning with the expansion of its Zoological Division with the appointment of John Sykes, DVM, DACZM, NYSVMS member, as the hospital’s Zoological & Companion Exotic Department Head. At AMC, Dr. Sykes will launch a first-of-its-kind zoological ambulatory program for primary care and consulting services. The program will bring primary veterinary care and clinical support directly to zoos across the region, while also providing on-site specialty care for exotic animals at zoological institutions. For zoos in more remote locations, AMC’s new Zoological & Companion Exotic Pet consulting service will also be available for virtual support. With over 20 years of experience in caring for all types of animal species, Dr. Sykes most recently led the veterinary team of the Wildlife Conservation Society/Bronx Zoo as the Clinical Department Head for 10 years.
Newly enacted legislation related to employee personnel records
NYS Senate
Governor Kathy Hochul signed S.3460/A.2107 into law on September 9, 2026, enacting a major expansion of employee workplace rights under the New York Labor Law. Registered as Chapter 293 of the Laws of 2026, this legislation gives both public and private sector employees in New York State the statutory right to access, review, and dispute their employer-held personnel records. The law takes effect 60 days after signing, on November 8, 2026. Who it covers: Applies to all employers (private, public, government) and all current or former employees. What counts as a “personnel record”: Any employer-kept record used for decisions about hiring, promotion, transfer, pay, or discipline, Specifically includes: name, address, DOB, job title, pay rate, start date, job application/resume, performance evaluations, written warnings, probation records, waivers, termination notices, and disciplinary documents, Excludespersonal information about otherpeople if disclosing it would violate their privacy, Must be kept typed, printed, or in indelible ink.
A historical perspective on New World screwworm
AVMA
When asked how many cases of New World screwworm (NWS) in the U.S. would be acceptable, Dr. Pancho Hubert doesn’t mince words: “I think one case is bad.” The Texas VMA president remembers the devastation caused by NWS incursions while growing up in Texas in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1962, the U.S. reported 51,592 NWS cases, 96% of which were in Texas, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) National Agriculture Library (NAL). By 1972, there were more than 95,000 reported NWS cases—90,980 of which were in Texas.
CDC: Rabies exposures have increased, including from variety of species
AVMA
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory on September 10 about a nationwide increase in reported human rabies exposures. The federal health agency also warned about rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) administration errors. From July through August, the CDC received 17% more rabies-related inquiries than during the same period in 2025. At the same time, local health departments have reported increases in human rabies exposures, including from animals in which rabies is uncommon.
National Veterinary Technician Week celebrates essential role of credentialed veterinary technicians
AVMA
The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), along with the AVMA, invites the profession to celebrate National Veterinary Technician Week (NVTW), happening October 18-24. This year’s theme, “Credentialed Veterinary Technicians: Endless Compassion, Expert Care; Celebrating the Soul of Veterinary Medicine,” honors the essential role credentialed veterinary technicians (CrVTs) play in delivering skilled, compassionate care to animals, supporting clients, and strengthening the veterinary healthcare team.
As pets live longer, veterinarians see more cases of cognitive decline, Texas A&M expert says
DVM360
Cognitive dysfunction is becoming more widely recognized in aging dogs and cats as pets live longer and owners are getting better at spotting the signs, according to Joel White, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology), a clinical assistant professor of neurology and neurosurgery at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.
Forage-focused diets for young horses
The Horse
I have a 5-year-old gelding who is not in work. He is on a concentrate feed now, but I’m considering switching him to a forage-focused diet. Would a diet of hay cubes (or pellets) and hay (and pasture when it’s available) sustain him, or does he need some type of concentrate to meet his nutritional requirements?
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