College Advisory Committees Help Steer Us to the Future

In the first two weeks of June the College hosted visits from both the state and the national advisory committees.

Both groups took a look at the College’s strategic plan (see www.cvm.uiuc.edu/deans/) and advised us on areas of advantageous focus as well as identified potential sources of funding and collaboration.

The national advisory committee: seated, from left: Jorge Guerrero (PhD ’71), professor, University of Pennsylvania and formerly executive director at Merial Ltd.; Linda Tollefson (’80), deputy director, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Food and Drug Administration; Phil Bradshaw, swine producer and former president of the U.S. Animal Health Association; Ed Kanara (’79), global director, Veterinary Operations and Drug Safety, Pfizer; standing, from left: Doug Feller (’77), executive director of R&D, Elanco Animal Health, Prem Paul, Vice Chancellor for Research, U of Nebraska-Lincoln; Richard Dierks, former veterinary college dean at the University of Illinois and the University of Florida; Ed Hoover (’67), University Distinguished Professor, Colorado State University; Gregg BeVier (’82), vice president, Sygen; Herbert Whiteley, dean of the College. Not shown: Tim Bertram, vice president for drug safety evaluation, Pfizer.

The state advisory committee offers invaluable guidance to our faculty curricular committees on the needs of practicing professionals, for example, by giving feedback about our graduates’ performance in the workplace. This body also helps us build key relationships within the state by informing state legislators, business leaders, and other policy makers about who we are and what we do.

Members were chosen for broad representation geographically and in area of practice interest. In addition, the presidents of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association and the University of Illinois Veterinary Medical Alumni Association give insights from those groups.

Members of the state advisory committee are: Bill Armbruster (’88), Green Haven Animal Clinic, San Jose; Connie Austin, Illinois Department of Public Health; Cindy Charlier (’84), Dundee Animal Hospital; Joe Connor (’76), Carthage Veterinary Service; Joe Foerner (’65), Equine Hospital and Field Service, Naperville; Jim Fraley, Illinois Farm Bureau; Tom Greiner (Iowa ’65), Oak Knoll Animal Hospital, Ltd., Moline, and president of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association; Nancy Kucera (’80), Meller James & Associates, Anna; Gene Mueller (’87), Anti-Cruelty Society, Chicago; George Richards (’67), Vermilion Veterinary Ventures, Danville; Ken Walker (’64), Walker Standardbred Farm, Sherman; Chuck Wiedmeyer (’94), assistant professor at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in Columbia and president-elect of the Veterinary Medical Alumni Association; K.T. Wright (’62), Blandinsville Veterinary Clinic; Will Wright (’66), Capitol Illini Vet Services Ltd., Springfield.

The national advisory committee comprises leaders from government, industry, and academia. Many of the members are our graduates. This group will help us in long-range planning and in directing our effort toward the most fruitful opportunities in the future of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences.

Both groups stressed the importance of providing veterinary students with a broad range of experiences in practice settings, with emphasis on people skills, diagnostic abilities, and routine animal care. The College looks forward to many more useful exchanges with these valued professionals.