The People

The Outstanding Veterinary Technology Program Staff

Dr. Pete Bill, Director

Pete Bill, DVM, MS, PhD
Director of the Veterinary Technology Program

Dr. Bill is a Purdue DVM graduate (1980). He was in practice and owned his own practice until 1985 when he returned to Purdue and began work on a joint PhD in veterinary pharmacology and education. In 1990 he was offered an instructor position and then a faculty position as a veterinary pharmacologist and assistant to the Director of Veterinary Technology. He began the VT distance learning program in 1998 and became Director of the Veterinary Technology Program January 1, 2002.

Dr. Bill has been President of the Association of Veterinary Technician Educators (AVTE), the West Central Indiana Veterinary Medical Association (WCIVMA), and has served on the AVMA's Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) which serves as the accrediting body for Veterinary Technology Programs. He has recently completed his Chairman position of the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association's Board of Directors and is currently the Vice President of the IVMA.

He has published textbooks on pharmacology, physiology, and medical mathematics and drug dose calculations. He is a frequently invited speaker at state and national meetings where he talks on veterinary therapeutics, conflict management, dealing with stress, and educational techniques (motivation, feedback, and evaluation). His hobbies include collecting foreign coins, a wide collection of dinosaur bones and other fossils, books, and historic Purdue memorabilia.

You can contact Dr. Bill at billr@purdue.edu

Jamie Schoenbeck-Walsh, RVT, RN
Advisor, Instructor, Practicum Coordinator

Jamie is a 1983 graduate of Purdue University's Veterinary Technology program. She worked as a technician in a small animal practice for many years. In 1994 she returned to school and completed a nursing degree. After working on a medical-surgical unit in a hospital, she specialized as an ophthalmic nurse and in 1996, joined Purdue University's School of Veterinary Medicine in a teaching role as an Ophthalmic Veterinary Technician.

Jamie has been an academic advisor and instructor for Veterinary Technology students since August 2000. She coordinates off campus experiences for AS and BS degree curricula in the on-campus program. She has recently begun teaching in the Veterinary Technology Distance Learning Program.

You may reach Jamie at schoenbj@purdue.edu

Pam Phegley

Pam Phegley, RVT
Clinical Rotation Coordinator

Pam is a 1983 AS degree graduate of Purdue University's Veterinary Technology program and a 2001 graduate of the BS degree program. Pam worked in the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching hospital (VTH) as the Chief Small Animal Medicine Technologist from 1984 until 2002 when she brought her years of experience to the Veterinary Technology administrative team.

Pam is the Clinical Rotation Coordinator for the on-campus program and in that capacity works with the VTH veterinary technicians to facilitate the learning experience of the students during their clinical rotations in the VTH. In addition to this, Pam also coordinates the Clinical Mentorships for the distance learning students in the Purdue VT-DLP.

You may reach Pam at phegleyp@purdue.edu

Kim Zody, RVT
Senior Instructional Technologist

Kim graduated from Purdue University’s Veterinary Technology Program in 1996 and began her career as a Diagnostic Imaging technician at Purdue’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital in August 1997. She completed her BS degree in Veterinary Technology Education in 2000 and was promoted to Diagnostic Imaging Technician Supervisor and Imaging Instructional Technologist.

In January 2007, Kim joined the Veterinary Technology administrative team as the Senior Instructional Technologist for the on-campus program. Kim also serves as the Diagnostic Imaging content expert for the Purdue Veterinary Technology Distance Learning Program, where she evaluates student mentorships and team teaches the on-campus distance learning workshops. She authored a textbook chapter on exotic animal radiography techniques for Han & Hurd’s Diagnostic Imaging for the Veterinary Technician and has been a speaker at several continuing education conferences. She is a member of the Purdue Veterinary Technology Committee and also serves as the faculty advisor for the Purdue Veterinary Technology Student Association. Kim is an active member of IVTA, AVTE and NAVTA as well.

For relaxation Kim enjoys reading, walking, gardening, quilting and scrapbooking. She loves caring for and playing with her three dogs, two cats and wide assortment of pocket pets. She is an avid aquarist, nature lover, prehistoric history buff and novice collector of antiques, animal art, Native American artifacts and Old West memorabilia.

You can contact Kim at zodykk@purdue.edu

Barb Kirts
Program Secretary

As a 20-year employee with Purdue University, Barb serves as the secretary for the on-campus Veterinary Technology Program. In addition, Barb is also the Job Placement Coordinator, handles many projects including course and rotation clerical support, and coordinates the follow-up studies on graduates.

She is an active member in the Lafayette Chapter of IAAP, International Association of Administrative Professionals, and earned her CPS (Certified Professional Secretary) rating in 1992.

Barb lives in a small forming community north of Purdue with her husband Bob. They have four grown children and nine wonderful grandkids. She feels grand-parenting is God's reward for "getting older".

Barb is passionate about scarpbooking, is a collector of "Longaberger" baskets, loves to read and bake, and especially loves to travel. Her friends, family and church are the most important aspects of her life.

You can contact Barb through at kirtsb@purdue.edu