Dean Jim Lloyd
Happy New Year!
As you read this, we will be well into 2017 and looking forward to continued growth and success as a college. For a moment, though, I’d like to reflect on 2016, a stellar year for the college. As most of you know, last year we celebrated the college’s 40th Anniversary, with a series of events aimed at reminding all of our stakeholders of the many ways in which our college has made, and continues to make, an impact on the world.
By all accounts, our year-long celebration was a huge success, culminating in a festive celebration Dec. 3. Many members of the college’s Charter Class of 1980 attended, along with other alumni, present and former faculty, staff and friends of the college representing a variety of groups and interests, from agriculture to health sciences to state government and industry organizations. During the celebration, we showed a new anthem video that visually captures not just the college’s story, but the story of the veterinary medical profession and what we’re all about. If you have not viewed the video, it’s on our website at vetmed.ufl.edu.
Other highlights of 2016 from across our mission of teaching, research and clinical service include:
- Faculty: Many new faculty hires took place, including two individuals brought on board specifically through UF’s Pre-eminence initiative. These scientists, Dr. Ilaria Capua, who has a part-time appointment with the UFCVM, and Dr. Rhoel Dinglasan, are bringing innovative research programs and fresh perspectives to our college and its students.
- Scholarship Funding: The UF Veterinary Access Scholarship Program, a new college initiative intended to offset student debt, continues to gain traction and to bring in new funding. The college has played a key leadership role at the national level in establishing and growing this innovative and progressive program.
- Administration: Dr. Tom Vickroy, our executive associate dean, continues to serve as interim associate dean for students and instruction while we renew our national search to fill this key position. Amanda House, an equine internal medicine specialist, was named director of student affairs after serving in that role on an interim basis to supplement activities in that office.
- Research: Strategic changes implemented in our research program over the past few years are beginning to have a major impact on research programs not only at the UFCVM, but across the whole Health Science Center. Our faculty successfully increased annual extramural funding by nearly 80 percent with increases seen in both private foundation and federal grants. Most importantly, our faculty took the lead on large collaborative multi-college and multi-institutional grants.
- Education: After undergoing a full accreditation review, including a site visit in October 2015, the college received official word in April 2016 that we passed with flying colors and have been granted full accreditation by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Council on Education. This designation, subject to annual renewal, will remain current for the next seven years.
As the result of a unique collaboration with SynDaver Labs, UF veterinary medical students are now implementing some of the most advanced technology in the world. In late 2016, the first-ever synthetic canine cadavers were launched in a UFCVM student surgery course. The technology, developed by SynDaver in collaboration with UF small animal surgeons, consists of true-to-life models that provide an alternative to the use of canine cadavers or live animals in teaching. Read more about this exciting collaboration in this issue. - Patient Care: The UF Veterinary Hospitals made significant progress in many of the goals articulated in the past two years through our strategic planning process. These goals include enhancing the hospital’s reputation in specialty services, improving its operational model, enhancing communication to referring veterinarians, maximizing student learning opportunities and investing in the staff, house officers and faculty. The college continues to expand the clinical trials program and is actively pursuing accreditation of its diagnostic laboratories through the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians.A new EMR portal has been established to allow referring veterinarians to see discharge orders, lab tests and diagnostic images. Automatic electronic notifications are sent to referring veterinarians when significant events occur, providing timely relevant data. Operationally the UFVH has improved clinical efficiency and customer services in the call center, reception area and pharmacy. Additional staff have been hired to help leverage doctor time and enhance the patient’s experience.The UFVH continues to expand the Patient Quality and Safety program in collaboration with the UF College of Medicine. This is the first program in the nation that utilizes advanced software to track patient-related events and provides a framework for enhancing patient care. During the last year the team has focused on developing awareness and changing the culture within the UFVH.
- Development: This past fiscal year marked yet another strong year for fundraising in the College of Veterinary Medicine – raising $23,994,369 in charitable gifts. Support from friends of the college, which include grateful clients, contributed significantly to this success, providing approximately 73 percent, or $17,515,889. The Dean’s Circle of Excellence continues to grow, with 84 members having now raised more than $2.3 M since inception in 2010. Dollars raised increased by over 20 percent from FY 2015. Our Scholarship Initiative, a key college program to reduce student debt, already has raised $11 million in cash, pledges and estate commitments in its first two years of commitments.
We are so proud of everything we’ve accomplished and grateful to all of you for your ongoing feedback and support. Look for more exciting news ahead as we move forward to cement our national reputation as a preeminent College of Veterinary Medicine and a place we hope you always feel at home.
Go Gators!
Dean Lloyd
James W. Lloyd
Professor and Dean
