Outstanding Alumnus
Dr. C.V. Rao
C.V. Rao is one of the world’s leading experts in LH/hCG actions in non-gonadal tissues in the body. More than 36 years of his research has led to wide spread recognition of the actions of these hormones in health and disease and to potentially novel therapeutic uses of hCG in reproductive medicine, infectious and autoimmune diseases, cancers, etc. He has extensively lectured on these research developments at various universities and national/international scientific meetings in the U.S. and throughout the world. He has published more than 240 peer-reviewed journal articles, 350 abstracts and 36 book chapters. His research has almost been continuously funded (>$5 million) for more than 30 years, mostly by NIH. He has taught and trained more than 100 post doctoral and clinical fellows, residents and students. He serves as an editorial board member for numerous scientific journals. He has been an organizing committee member of numerous national and international scientific meetings. Dr. Rao received his MS degree with Dr. M.H. Ehlers in 1967 and his Ph.D. with Dr. V.L. Estergreen in 1969 with a minor in Biochemistry. He was a member of Human Embryology and Development 1 Study Section at National Institutes of Health from 1998 to 2002. Before joining Florida International University College of Medicine in July 2008, Dr. Rao held the positions of Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Director of Division of Research in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. He was also a Distinguished University Scholar. He joined University of Louisville in 1972 and rose through the ranks to become full Professor with tenure in 1979.
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Distinguished Service
Dr. Mark Kinsel
Raised on a beef cow-calf ranch in southeastern Washington State, Mark earned his Bachelor's degree in Animal Science (Beef Production), his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree, and his Masters degree in Epidemiology from Washington State University. He then earned his PhD degree in Animal Health Economics from the University of Minnesota. From 1995 to 1999, Dr. Kinsel was a member of the faculty of the University of Idaho’s Caine Veterinary Teaching Center, serving as head of the Dairy Production Medicine program. In 1999 Mark left the University of Idaho to start Agricultural Information Management, Inc., a consulting and software firm specializing in computerized tools for evaluating and improving performance on livestock operations. In 2005, Mark became the State Animal Health Epidemiologist and Johne's Disease Coordinator for the Washington State Department of Agriculture in addition to running his private business. Throughout his career, Dr. Kinsel has devoted himself to serving others. He has consulted with over 300 agricultural enterprises in Washington State and across the nation, advising producers on methods to improve farm performance. He has served on numerous agriculture-related committees at the local, state, national, and international levels, including the Western Regional Food Animal Disease Research Conference program committee, Central Washington Dairy Management Committee program committee, Washington Animal Response Management committee for the Washington State Department of Agriculture, Spokane County Humane Emergency Animal Rescue Team (HEART), National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs, and National Alliance for Bovine Health. In all his endeavors, he has focused on education and the dissemination of knowledge, whether acting as a consultant, an instructor, or a government official. Mark has taught workshops at the National Mastitis Council annual meeting, given numerous lectures on Foreign Animal Disease response and biosecurity at numerous training sites and workshops around the State of Washington--being one of a few certified USDA Foreign Animal Disease Diagnosticians, and taught workshops on Agro-terrorism and Emergency Response to the Yakima Valley Community College Veterinary Technician program, at a national FBI training site, and at training sites for state government field staff. Dr. Kinsel historically volunteers to teach a variety of classes at Washington State University, the University of Idaho and has served for numerous years on the Washington-Oregon-Idaho Regional Program in Veterinary Medicine Curriculum Committee. He has contributed portions of 3 textbooks, published over 100 scientific and educational articles, and has given more than 150 invited talks. He has served on numerous graduate committees and continues to teach and publish scientific articles despite not being a university employee. He currently holds faculty positions as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Epidemiology in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Animal Health Economics in the Department of Clinical Studies, Center for Animal Health and Productivity, School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
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Distinguished Graduate
Science, Education & Technology
Dr. Janine Brown
Janine Brown is head of the world's largest wildlife Reproductive Endocrinology Laboratory, and for more than 20 years has been dedicated to improving the welfare and breeding management of endangered species in both captivity and the wild. Studying hormones in wild animals has its challenges; for that reason, she oversaw the development of non-invasive techniques for monitoring gonadal and adrenal activity through the analysis of steroids excreted in urine, feces and saliva. Her laboratory functions in three distinctly different ways; service, research, and outreach. In the service capacity, Dr. Brown and her team provide hormonal analyses to assess reproduction and welfare in a diverse array of species (carnivores, primates, ungulates, reptiles, avian). Over 60 zoos depend on this not-for-profit service, which is one way she "gives back" to the wildlife community. One benefit of this effort is amassing the largest, most comprehensive database on hormonal norms for these varied taxa. Her work helps drive specific research questions for numerous species and has resulted in the discovery of several unusual biological mechanisms. In her research capacity, Dr. Brown focuses on several high priority species, particularly elephants, rhinoceroses and felids-such as cheetahs, lions and clouded leopards. While her area of expertise is endocrinology, Dr. Brown promotes the integration of other disciplines (gamete biology, assisted reproduction, behavior, ultrasonography, small population management and health) into her research projects. Dr. Brown is the leading expert on elephant endocrinology, and developed a successful artificial insemination technique by identifying a unique hormone pattern that predicts three weeks in advance when ovulation will occur. In the outreach category, Dr. Brown serves as a Reproductive Advisor to several Taxon Advisory Groups – Elephant, Rhinoceros and Felid - providing advice and direct research assistance to promote successful reproduction. Moreover, much of her research has led to significant changes in zoo management and exhibit design. For example, to maximize reproductive success, breeding cheetah females are maintained in separate enclosures to prevent reproductive suppression, and seasonal animals are kept away from nighttime light festivals. To reduce stress, clouded leopard enclosures are especially tall, and black rhino exhibits limit perimeter exposure to the public. Dr. Brown is one of the most published female scientists at the Smithsonian Institution with > 150 refereed publications and book chapters. She has trained >70 graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and visiting scientists--and many of her trainees currently head endocrine/research programs at other zoos worldwide. Her training workshops have led to the establishment of endocrinology laboratories in Thailand (three), Brazil and Australia, leading to important hormone studies on native wildlife species. She has obtained well over $2,000,000 in grant support during the past ten years alone. For her efforts Dr. Brown was awarded the Washington State University Women’s History Alumni Recognition Award (2002). Due to her unique position Dr. Brown is commonly asked to talk about her experiences, and her most recent invited talk was given to members of the American Society of Animal Sciences regarding alternative careers in animal sciences (2008). This talk has inspired numerous (primarily female) animal science students to seek a similar career path to that of Dr. Brown. In this capacity, she is an outstanding role model for others in science. Dr. Brown received her Ph.D. in 1984 under Dr. Jerry Reeves. |
