IN MEMORIAM

Linda Munson

Doctor of Veterinary Pathology

UC Davis

1948—2010

Linda Munson, D.V.M., Ph.D., Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Pathologists, died May 13, 2010, after a long and determined battle with cancer. She was 61.

Linda Munson’s life was rich in experience and diverse in its passions. Munson, as she was known to her international group of friends, grew up in Leicester, Massachusetts, attended public schools, and then attended Wheaton College where she majored in Art History and minored in Eastern Philosophy. After college, she moved to the Mad River Valley in the heart of the Green Mountains of Vermont where she absorbed its plainspoken and independent Yankee philosophy as a life long ethic, and was co-owner of a book store. While in Middlebury, she extended her education in biology and reproduction at the University of Vermont and continued that interest at the University of Wisconsin before entering veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania. She didn’t much like Philadelphia and, in characteristic Munson fashion, transferred to Cornell where she received her DVM (with distinction) in 1980. After veterinary school, she was a large animal practitioner in Vergennes, Vermont and small animal practitioner in Brewer, Maine.

Dr. Munson was trained in pathology at Cornell University and her interest in reproductive pathology emerged during her residency training. She was board certified in Anatomic Pathology by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) in 1985 and received her Ph.D. in reproductive pathology from Cornell in 1988. Her research involved the development of cultured bovine endometrial and trophoblast cells, with a view to elucidating mechanisms of embryonic attachment. Her specific interest and expertise in reproductive diseases evolved during her subsequent appointment as an Associate Pathologist at the National Zoological Park where she first began to collect reproductive tracts from carnivores, particularly felids that had received contraceptive therapy. This led inevitably to involvement as a consulting pathologist in Species Survival Plans and as an advisor to the Contraceptive Advisory Group and the zoo community in general. In all, she collected over 2000, mostly female, mammalian reproductive tracts for investigation, establishing herself as the world authority on reproductive pathology and disease in free-ranging and captive carnivores and other terrestrial wildlife.

It is equally notable that Dr. Munson's research work on infectious diseases of cheetahs became a model of how comprehensive disease surveillance programs can further the health and welfare of wild and captive animals. She investigated diseases such as Helicobacter gastritis, veno-occlusive disease, and the role of captive stress in cheetah health. She pursued research of the cheetah, lion, wild dog and hyena in Namibia, South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania. Her 2008 paper, "Climate extremes promote fatal co-infections during canine distemper epidemics in African lions," is considered a major contribution to understanding the ecology of canine distemper virus in wildlife. Dr. Munson played a central role investigating the impact of infectious disease on the endangered Channel Island Fox as part of the US Fish and Wildlife Service Island Fox Recovery Team established in 2004. Among dozens of publications and contributions to books, Munson wrote “Necropsy Procedures for Wild Animals,” a guide for necropsies and collection of pathology samples in the field. This manual has been translated into several languages.

Dr. Munson started her academic career at the University of Tennessee. Following six years on the Veterinary School faculty there, she was recruited to UC Davis to head the pathology service and augment its wildlife health and pathology program. She remained at UC Davis for the remainder of her career where she rose to the rank of full professor pursuing her protean interests in reproductive pathology and diseases of free ranging and captive terrestrial wildlife. She was a popular mentor of graduate students in the Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine program and the Graduate Group in Comparative Pathology. Her trainees have populated the discipline of Zoo and Wildlife pathology in academic and research institutions throughout the United States. Her teaching duties included courses on reproductive pathology, conservation medicine, and diseases of wild canids and felids. She was responsible for clinical instruction of veterinary students and residents in biopsy and necropsy procedures.

Dr. Munson served as 2001-2002 chair of the faculty and participated in many school committees, including eight years on the Executive Committee and served on the Building Committee for Veterinary Medicine (VM) 3A for approximately eight years, as well. The intensive thoughtful input, insight and careful planning that she dedicated to the overall mission of the VM3A building concluded with the largest and most state-of-the art necropsy facility in the United States.

Dr. Munson had a worldwide influence in advancing veterinary medicine and pathology. She was at the center of a small group who developed and applied the concept of integrating animal health, and in particular pathology surveillance programs, into endangered species conservation. Her investigations centered on reproductive health and management of captive populations, the effects of infectious disease on wild populations of Serengeti lions and wild dogs, and understanding the pathogenesis of diseases affecting cheetahs. Her work with cheetahs has become a model of how comprehensive disease surveillance programs can further the health and welfare of animals within Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plans (SSP) and Taxon Advisory Groups (TAG). In addition to her role as the SSP pathologist for cheetahs, she was an active advisor to the SSPs and TAGs for many other felid and canid species including lions, jaguars, Mexican and Red wolves, and bears. In recent years, Dr. Munson played a central role investigating the impact of disease on populations of the endangered Channel Island Fox as part of the US Fish and Wildlife Service Island Fox Recovery Team. In recognition of her lifelong commitment to the conservation, care and understanding of zoo and free-ranging wildlife, she received the Emil Dolensek Award from the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, their highest honor.

Dr. Munson was passionate about training veterinary pathologists and had a profound influence on a generation of veterinary pathologists from around the world. She recruited, taught, nurtured, harangued, and prepared them for success. In her role as head of the UC Davis residency training program, she managed to incorporate an intensive training process into a service that also had a reputation for advancing patient care with results of the highest diagnostic quality. She took a personal interest in every resident’s progress and counseled each through their professional development. She had high expectations and inspired trainees to meet them. A cadre of trainees pursued wildlife pathology and medicine under her direction. These individuals are now leaders in the field across the country. In a similar way, her passion for teaching encouraged many veterinary students to pursue careers in wildlife and conservation medicine.

A key part of Dr. Munson’s diverse professional commitments was her involvement in the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. She was a chair of its certification examination committee, member of the board of councilors, and served as ACVP president in 2004. She led many initiatives in the college with a particular focus on understanding the evolving role of pathologists in animal research and the health care industry. Her work is helping direct advances in training that meets these needs. In 2007, she received the ACVP Presidential Award in honor of her career long dedication in service to the profession. The college greatly benefited from her wise counsel, forthright analysis of issues, and consistent advocacy for quality.

Conservation, veterinary education and pathology were the core of Dr. Munson’s life. She had tendrils of influence throughout this community where everywhere she went, she made lifelong friends. She was respected for her tenacity, intelligence, and ability to say what needed to be said. Nothing was impossible and it was possible to do everything with a sense of humor and perspective. Every decision and action was done with the integrity that it was the right thing to do. Her life was full of intangibles of wit, boundless energy, independent spirit, and an appreciation for existence. She leaves a community saddened by her loss but inspired by her example and thankful for having known her.

Stephen W. Barthold

Alan J. Conley

Dennis W. Wilson