UTCVM-University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine

06/12/2025

What is urolithiasis in small ruminants like goats and sheep? One of our farm animal specialists, Dr. Klostermann, explains in this edition of VOLVet review.

06/09/2025

Our graduates make a difference in this world.

After a few videos went viral, Brinkmann found herself in the unexpected position of being an influencer

06/06/2025

We have received information regarding services for Dr. Mickey Sims. Note that although the graveside will be held in Las Vegas, his family will be doing a Celebration of Life here in Knoxville at West Park Baptist Church, 8833 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN 37923, on August 7, 2025: receiving of guest: 5:00 to 7:00 and Service at 7 o’clock. Pastor Sam Polson officiating.
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/las-vegas-nv/michael-sims-12395211

Our hearts go out to Dr. Sims' family and friends during this difficult time.

Celebrate the life of Michael Sims, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Palm Northwest Mortuary & Cemetery.

06/06/2025

Navicular disease Q&A. Plus, what to look for in a farrier.

06/05/2025

Dr. Shulman is an incredible voice in veterinary medicine. She recently passed the torch of leading to another UTCVM grad, Dr. Cindy Schmidt. Our graduates do amazing things!

UTCVM alumna (’09) serves Tennessee’s veterinarians and advances the profession as president of the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association

05/30/2025

Navicular Disease, part 4: preventing the progression

05/30/2025

Dr. Victoria will be doing a small animal rotating internship at Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital in Colorado. “I have so enjoyed the community made here at UTCVM and will miss working alongside so many wonderful people. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to spend my time here!”

05/30/2025

Congratulations!

Loudon County Native Officially Assumes Role June 1

05/28/2025

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Dr. Mickey Sims on Monday. He was an outstanding faculty member who deeply impacted teaching, research, and service in the realm of academic veterinary medicine here at UTCVM, nationally, and internationally. Dr. Sims came to UT in 1976, before our building existed, as a research assistant professor in the Department of Animal Science. For close to 40 years, he coordinated and taught veterinary physiology in the professional and graduate programs. He retired in 2014 but continued teaching until 2017. Dr. Sims coordinated with the UTHSC Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology to find a more cost-effective and less invasive method to test hearing in dogs using otoacoustic emissions.
Dr. Sims was a true pioneer in education- he was the first to try things we now take for granted, such as digital slide presentations and videoconferencing, and championed electronic assessments and scheduling for clinical students. During his tenure, Dr. Sims championed and spearheaded the college’s use of technology in teaching, leading the Instructional Resources team to develop media resources, including the Virtual Microscope, to deliver a wide variety of learning modes to students. He was also the inspiration for, and along with UTCVM colleagues Drs. India Lane and Nancy Howell, the co-founder of the college’s Master Teacher Program for faculty and staff. This program has served as a model for other veterinary colleges throughout the world.
Dr. Sims also expanded his teaching to young children in the form of the college’s Dog Bite Prevention awareness program. He, along with Dr. John New and others, developed handouts, a website, a video, and a DVD to help kids learn good habits around dogs to help avoid being bitten by a dog.
In 2019, the UTCVM Class of 2009 nominated Dr. Sims for the 10-year career impact award, with one nominee writing, “He was always available and happy to share his wisdom and insight, both in regards to veterinary medicine and life itself.”
Dr. Sims served as Director of the Electrodiagnostic Laboratory, Director of Instructional Resources, Co-Administrator of Administrative Software for Scheduling and Evaluations, and Associate Department Head in the Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations in veterinary medicine.
We will share information regarding services as it becomes available. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time.

05/27/2025

Since the majority of our services are by referral from veterinary clinics, our veterinary students gain extensive experience with complex cases. But how do they learn about the more common conditions they will treat in private practice? That’s where our Community Practice comes in! Community Practice is a small animal general practice within our Veterinary Medical Center that serves as primary care for the dogs and cats of anyone affiliated with the University of Tennessee as faculty, staff, or student. The team includes 3 clinicians, 2 veterinary technicians, and a wonderful veterinary assistant.
The primary goal of Community Practice is to provide exceptional care to our patients by guiding our 4th-year veterinary student clinicians in delivering all aspects of primary care to dogs and cats. These students are at the heart of our practice, learning and applying Fear Free and Feline Friendly methods to ensure visits as low stress as possible for their patients. Recently, Smokey X and Smokey XI visited us for wellness exams and joined us for our staff photo!

05/27/2025

Dr. Jackson is moving to Charleston, South Carolina, to begin working at a small animal general practice.
“The aspect of UTCVM that I have enjoyed the most has been getting a tremendous amount of exposure to such a large number of specialties within veterinary medicine during my clinical year. I believe these experiences have prepared me as much as possible for my future as I begin my veterinary career.”

05/23/2025

Treating navicular disease. In part three, our farrier, Jeremy Davis, talks about therapeutic shoeing.