Dear Friends,
Although it doesn’t seem possible, another year has flown by here at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and we are getting ready once again to honor and recognize our graduates during Spring Commencement ceremonies. I’d like to congratulate each of our undergraduate, graduate and Professional Veterinary Medical students who are completing this exciting chapter of their lives.
Some of you may already know what your future holds, whether continuing on into graduate school, going into private practice, government or industry, or beginning military service. For others, you may be at a crossroads, undecided which direction to take. Please keep in mind that we are here to help. Our dedication to your success doesn’t end with your graduation, but follows you throughout your lives as you will always be an alumnus of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University.
In terms of opportunities for our students and graduates, I had two interesting trips in April that reflect on some of the possibilities available to our students. I and deans from other veterinary schools traveled to San Antonio, Texas, April 15-17, to learn more about the Military Professional Scholarship Program. This program supports veterinary students during their professional training, after which students join the armed forces for active duty. At Fort Sam, Houston, we were able to see the results of this program with veterinarians who work with the military working dogs, including guard dogs, bomb-sniffing dogs and others. These animals receive the highest level of veterinary care during their careers in the military, and it was fascinating to observe and learn more about their training and wellness programs.
From April 22-24, I attended the symposium "Partnerships for Preparedness: Future Directions for Schools of Public Health and Colleges of Veterinary Medicine," held in Atlanta, Georgia. Sponsored by the Association of Schools for Public Health (ASPH), in partnership with the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC), the symposium explored the role of veterinary medicine in public health. This was a great meeting and reinforced our decision to offer a MSPH/DVM degree in cooperation with the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and the state’s programs in public health. In my capacity of AAVMC president, it was my pleasure to meet with a number of the guest speakers including the past and current Surgeon Generals.
On May 25, Paul Maffey and I will make a presentation to the CSU Frontier Society on the College’s Centennial Celebration and advancements at the College. The Frontier Society is comprised of individuals who have made a planned gift to Colorado State University, and we are honored to be invited to speak before such a group of esteemed University benefactors.
Finally, I wanted to thank all the faculty and staff members who attended the Spring Faculty/Staff meeting in April. I hope we answered all your questions regarding up and coming construction projects, but if not please feel free to contact my office. We are looking forward to the completed projects, but know that we will all have to have patience while the work is underway. We do know that there will be inconveniences created by the construction activities, and we are doing our best to address any concerns.
Again, congratulations to all our graduates. We are proud of you and your accomplishments. I hope you have an enjoyable and safe summer and, to those who are heading out of town, I’ll see you back in the fall.
Best Regards,
Lance Perryman, DVM, PhD
Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
