For years Sukie (not a vet) Crandall, moderator of the Ferret Health List, has talked about the work done by veterinary pathologist Matti Kiupel. Obtaining his undergraduate and DVM degrees at Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany, and the University of Cambridge, UK and his MVSc and Ph.D. in Veterinary Pathology from Purdue, Dr. Kiupel is indeed a global personality. In 2000, he became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. "He and his fellow scholars have begun the only ferret specific section of a veterinary program in the United States, and hopes that eventually there will be enough large donations to make it permanent, which would be one of the best things that could possibly happen for ferrets world-wide. The people there have helped ferrets and their people from all over the world when specimens have been sent for their expert investigation and can do some types of work simply not available elsewhere for ferrets," according to Crandall. And, indeed they have. Section Chief of Anatomical Pathology, Head of the Histology and Immunohistochemistry Laboratory, Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, Dr. Kiupel has "extensive experience in tumor pathology and viral pathogenesis. He has a special interest in ferret health and has been on the forefront of the discovery of a number of recently recognized ferret diseases. Over the last years he has worked on ferret adrenal carcinomas, disseminated idiopathic myofascitis, Aleutian disease and ferret enteric diseases, especially ferret coronaviruses, rotaviruses and enteric coccidiosis." You may not be able to use this vet to care for your ferrets directly, but every time you benefit from the research his team conducts, he is caring for them. "Think of major illnesses among ferrets and for many you will find that he and his colleagues at Ferret Health Advancement at Michigan State ( http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/) are there trying to make a difference. They even make health resources readily available for veterinarians and ferret people," said Crandall. What is it that makes Dr. Kiupel's heart beat a bit faster? "I am interested in the areas of diagnostics, research and teaching regarding diseases of domestic, zoo and wildlife mammalian species. My research interests are specifically concerned with the pathogenesis of infectious diseases, especially zoonotic and emerging diseases and neoplastic diseases of domestic species and animal models of human neoplastic conditions." He "is unusually modest, but very warm, and truly cares for animals, especially ferrets. He readily collaborates comfortably with people from around the globe to get needed work done, and appreciates them and their work greatly. He's a man with a big heart," Crandall said. And this June we will get the opportunity to see for ourselves what a wonderful man he is and learn from the master. To contact this veterinarian: Matti Kiupel, PhD, DACVP [log in to unmask] -- Renee Downs "Eventually we will realize that if we destroy the ecosystem we destroy ourselves." Jonas Salk "The most effective way to do it, is to do it." Amelia Earhart It's amazing how much can be accomplished if nobody cares who gets the credit! Ferret Emergency Response, Rescue & Evacuation Team (F.E.R.R.E.T.) http://www.ferretemergency.org [Posted in FML 7063]