E-Insight

January 2006

Update from the Dean's Office

Dear Friends,

This year started off with a bang as we welcomed many alumni to campus for the 67^th Annual Veterinary Conference that took place Jan. 7-9. It was a pleasure to see so many of you here enjoying not only the educational opportunities but the camaraderie of your fellow veterinarians. During the conference, we were pleased to host the 10^th reunion of the DVM Class of 1996, and I also enjoyed meeting with the Dean's External Advisory Council.

The Advisory Council met Sunday morning and I was able to update members on the College's strategic plan, provide information on events of the past year, and solicit advice and opinions. The meeting was fruitful and certainly helps us with our planning as we look to the coming year.

I did have to miss the first day of the Annual Conference as I was at a meeting of the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges from Jan. 5-7. The deans of the North American veterinary schools met to discuss federal initiatives, including the Veterinary Workforce Expansion Act, and set our federal agenda for the coming year.

Jan. 7 also saw the start of the National Western Stock Show, which runs through Jan. 22. Of course, Colorado State University always has a prominent role in the Stock Show, and this year is no different. CSU Day is on Jan. 14 and offers faculty, staff and students reduced fees for rodeos, and a reception for livestock leaders. For the duration of the stock show, our PVM students will staff a booth that displays education material about the College, and they will provide assistance with checking animals into the show. If you're at the show, be sure to stop by and say "howdy."

Next week, the Rocky Mountain Regional Center for Excellence will begin to host a series of educational conferences on bioterrorism and emerging infectious diseases. Jan. 17-18, the conference will be held in Fort Collins before moving to Denver Jan. 19-20. The conference is geared toward providing individuals involved with the RCE and its research programs an overview of pathogens, safety concerns, bioterrorism, and more. Additional conferences are planned for Montana and Utah in the spring. (See related article in this edition of E-Insight.)

Of course, we also are preparing for the return of our students and the kick-off of spring semester, which begins Jan. 17. Meanwhile, I hope everyone has an enjoyable and relaxing holiday, and I wish you well in all your endeavors in 2006.

Best Regards,

Lance Perryman , DVM, PhD
Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences