Dr. Layne Norlund Named New Veterinary Technology Department Head

CONTACT: DR. LAYNE NORLUND, EXT. 1357

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 9/16/2002
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- Dr. Layne Norlund, former Chief of Laboratory Animal Resources for the Department of Clinical Investigation at Madigan Army Medical Center in Washington, has been named the new Veterinary Technology department head at Tri-County Technical College. During the fall semester, Dr. Norlund is working with longtime department head Dr. Roseann Marshall, who will retire in December after more than a decade at the College.

Dr. Norlund, who moved to Anderson with his family this summer, has been practicing since 1987 when he began his career as an associate veterinarian at mixed animal veterinary practices in Indiana and Ohio. In 1990 he entered the U.S. Army as a Veterinary Corps Officer and provided small animal and public health veterinary services to the Army, Navy and Coast Guard in southern New England for two years.

In 1992, Dr. Norlund was transferred to Fort Detrick, Maryland, where he served for two years at the U. S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. He first was given charge of the Large Animal Research Facility where he directed collection of equine antibotulinum antiserum to be processed if needed for the protection of soldiers against botulism biological weapons during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. His second assignment at Ft. Detrick placed him in charge of non-human primate (monkey) research animals.

From 1994 – 96 he completed his postgraduate residency training in comparative (lab animal) medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle. From Seattle, Dr. Norlund provided laboratory animal veterinary medical care for three years each at the David Grant Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base, CA, and Madigan Army Medical Center.

He holds a B.S. from Brigham Young University, and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree is from the School of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue University.

He remains in the Army Reserves after 12 years of active duty.

"I really enjoy teaching," said Dr. Norlund, who worked with veterinary technicians in the Army. "Veterinary technicians are a tremendous labor-saving resource and truly are the right arm of the practicing veterinarian."

His goals include helping students to recognize the wide range of job opportunities that are available in the field. "A majority of our grads will work in private practices, but there is also a strong need for technicians in medical research labs, pharmacy labs, zoos, animal rehab centers, the U.S. Army and in the sales arena," he added.

"Tri-County has excellent students who are motivated and compassionate. I want to carry on the great heritage that Dr. Roseann Marshall has given me. In addition, I'm very grateful for Christee Williams, Billie Walker and Nancy Graybeal, our instructors/certified veterinary technicians, who do a great job in the classroom and in helping to develop the program."

Dr. Norlund is particularly interested in looking at an evening curriculum option for the Veterinary Technology program at Tri-County. "I'd like to look at expanding the program to accommodate those who can't attend classes full time."

Tri-County's program, launched in the 1970's, is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association and is endorsed by the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians. It offers training in large and small animal clinical and surgical nursing, various laboratory skills, as well as courses in lab animal technology, office management and computer skills.
Tri-County was the first technical college in the state to offer an associate degree program in Veterinary Technology.
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