Dr. Chris Sanchez, Interim Associate Dean for Clinical Services, UF Veterinary Hospitals, College of Veterinary Medicine

Linda C. “Chris” Sanchez, D.V.M., Ph.D., (’95), a professor of large animal medicine and chief medical officer for the UF Large Animal Hospital, has been named interim associate dean for clinical services at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine.

The permanent position was previously held by the college’s newly appointed interim dean, Dana N. Zimmel, D.V.M. Sanchez’s appointment was effective January 1.

A member of the college’s faculty since 2003, Sanchez received her D.V.M. degree from UF in 1995 and completed a residency in large animal medicine from UF in 1999. She subsequently completed her Ph.D. degree at UF in 2003 and joined the college faculty that same year. Most recently, Sanchez has filled the role of chief medical officer for the UF Large Animal Hospital, holding that position since January 2019. Prior to that, Sanchez served as interim chair of the department of large animal clinical sciences from January 2018 through November 2018.

A board-certified large animal medicine specialist, Sanchez’s interests include gastrointestinal diseases and neonatology. She heads the UF Hofmann Equine Neonatology Intensive Care Unit and her research in the area of gastric ulcerations in foals has changed the therapeutic approach in clinical care.

A frequent speaker at national and international meetings, Sanchez also presents her work regularly to horse owners and veterinary technicians. She has been recognized four times for excellence in teaching by UF veterinary students, who also selected her four times as Large Animal Clinician of the Year, and received the Florida Veterinary Medical Association’s Clinical Investigator Award in 2007 in honor of her scholarly achievements.

In her new role, Sanchez will work closely with Zimmel and with her associate dean counterparts in education and research to address daily operational issues, as well as long-term strategies.