Veterinary school deans take on new leadership roles with AAVMC

From left: Past-President Dr. Douglas Freeman, dean of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan; President Dr. Phillip Nelson, dean of the Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine; and President-Elect Dr Calvin M. Johnson, dean of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. | Photo courtesy of the AAVMC.

New leadership was installed at the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) summer meeting. Phillip Nelson, DVM, PhD, dean of Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine, assumed the role of AAVMC president, while Calvin M. Johnson, DVM, PhD, DACVP, dean of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, became the president-elect, according to an association release.

Douglas A. Freeman, DVM, PhD, dean of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, transitioned to the immediate past-president position. Mark Markel, DVM, PhD, DACVS, dean of the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, will remain treasurer, and Paul Lunn, BVSc, PhD, MRCVS, DACVIM, dean of the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, was named secretary, the release states.

Dr. Nelson earned his DVM from the Tuskegee Institute in 1979 and his PhD in immunology and biotechnology from North Carolina State University in 1993. He earned his bachelor's degree from Jackson State University. Before he became dean at Western University's veterinary school, he served as executive associate dean for the preclinical program. Prior to that Dr. Nelson was the head of the department of small animal medicine and surgery at Tuskegee University's College of Veterinary Medicine, and he also served as associate dean at the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine for 11 years.

New at-large board members include Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Susan Tornquist, DVM, PhD, DACVP, who represents Region 1 (U.S.); Ted Whittem, BVSc, PhD, FANZCVS, DACVCP, head of the University of Melbourne School of Veterinary Medicine, who represents Region 3 (Australia, New Zealand and Asia); and Tiffany Whitcomb, DVM, DACLAM, Pennsylvania State University assistant professor of comparative medicine, who represents departments of comparative medicine, the release states.

New board liaisons (nonvoting) include Bryan Slinker, DVM, PhD, dean of the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, representing the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities, and Aaron Colwell, representing the Student American Veterinary Medical Association.

These appointments will be slightly truncated during this transition year as the AAVMC formally moves its annual assembly from the former summer meeting to the annual meeting, which is typically held in early March, the release states.