October 24, 2012
KuKanich chairs veterinary medical council meeting
Butch KuKanich, associate professor in the anatomy and physiology department in the College of Veterinary Medicine, recently returned from Schaumburg, Ill., where he serves as the chair of the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Council of Biologic and Therapeutic Agents.
The council of experts serves as an informational and advisory resource to government agencies and to other American Veterinary Medical Association groups on issues pertaining to veterinary biologics, drugs, and other therapeutic agents. The council also fosters the proper use of biologic and therapeutic agents in the practice of veterinary medicine.
Examples of council activity include:
- improving animal vaccine label content to provide additional meaningful information to veterinarians to assist them in customizing vaccine recommendations for their patients;
- furnishing comprehensive veterinary education on animal product issues;
- advocating for animals and veterinarians regarding the proper use of compounded drugs;
- addressing Internet issues affecting veterinary practice with regulatory officials, including pharmacy and diagnostic testing; and
- reviewing and enhancing the adverse event reporting systems for animal health products.
KuKanich joined the council in 2009. He is also the president-elect of the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology whose primary objectives are to advance the discipline of veterinary clinical pharmacology as a clinical specialty and to assure the competence of those who practice in this field.