From the Editor, January 2024

As I write this we’re getting prepared for subzero temperatures here on the Palouse. Hopefully by the time you read this we’re all on the other side of the cold snap and with spring on the (distant) horizon. I’ll use that as a segue to mention that a cadre of veterinary students has come together to organize a student chapter of the Honey Bee Veterinary Consortium (SHBVC) in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

I can’t think of anything more springlike than honeybees, and I’m looking forward to seeing how this club blossoms given the buzz around it! Not only do we have this new club to help educate future practitioners about honeybee medicine and management, but we also have a new veterinary postdoctoral researcher, Dr. Melissa Holahan, with experience in beekeeping and veterinary oversight. Dr. Holahan is actually working with us on a small ruminant project funded through the USDA’s National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program. She’s establishing baseline sheep and goat diagnostic outcomes to support WADDL and Veterinary Medicine Extension outreach regarding small ruminant diagnostic capabilities and limitations. However, given her bee-keeping expertise, we’ve cajoled her into speaking at the upcoming WSU Veterinary Continuing Education Spring Conference (March 22-24, 2024) as well. We have a great conference planned, offering 12 CE credits across multiple disciplines, so make sure to get it on your calendar. In the meantime, we’ll all be thinking warm thoughts and hoping for a quick end to frigid temps!