Virginia Tech neurobiologist produces seminal textbook on veterinary physiology
A faculty member in the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech led the production of the world’s most widely published textbook in veterinary physiology.
Bradley G. Klein, associate professor of neurobiology in the college’s Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, served as editor-in-chief of “Cunningham’s Textbook of Veterinary Physiology,” 5th edition, published by Elsevier-Saunders. Several other faculty members at the college contributed to the work.
The book, which has been published in four languages, is considered a seminal textbook in academic veterinary medicine and a useful reference text for veterinary practices. Klein named this edition in honor of the book’s founding editor-in-chief, Dr. James G. Cunningham of Michigan State University. Klein also co-authored the 15-chapter neurophysiology section of the book.
Klein, who has won college and national teaching awards in veterinary medicine, was invited by Cunningham to collaborate as coeditor-in-chief of the previous edition published in 2007. Klein intends to continue on as editor-in-chief for future editions.
Dr. Gerhardt Schurig, dean of the veterinary college, and Dr. S. Ansar Ahmed, head of the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, co-authored the immune system section of the book. Dr. Sharon Witonsky, associate professor of production management medicine in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, edited the clinical correlations modules found throughout the text. These modules show how the principles and concepts of physiology can be applied to diagnostics and treatments.
Dr. John Rossmeisl Jr., associate professor of neurology and neurosurgery in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, provided editorial assistance for a chapter on electrodiagnostic neurophysiology, and Tom Caceci, associate professor of histology in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, contributed photos of objects as seen through a microscope.
The textbook also has contributions from faculty members at several other major universities, including Michigan State, Texas A&M, Tuskegee, University of California-Davis, and University of Florida. A research scientist from Nestle Purina Petcare was also involved.
The 608-page book, which covers normal- and pathophysiology, is organized by body system, making it easy to quickly locate specific information. The clinical correlations and practice questions found in the text have been expanded at the book’s companion website, which also includes its full-color illustrations, a glossary of terms, and relevant animations.
This article was written by Michael Sutphin.
