In a recent meeting of the college’s leadership devoted to long-term planning, the conversation focused on the new Auburn University Strategic Plan 2035—Grounded & Groundbreaking.¹ The first goal of this plan commits Auburn to an exceptional student experience, characterized by rigorous academic programs, a community of world-class educators, strong programs of student support and a vibrant campus culture that allows each student to thrive as students, and later as professionals.

What aspects of Auburn’s veterinary program make our graduates knowledgeable, skilled and career-ready? Such success hinges on a faculty that delivers strong preclinical classroom instruction and mentored clinical training in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH). Our college has 157 faculty, 83 of whom are board-certified in their clinical specialties and 68 who hold a PhD degree in an area of research expertise. Bolstered by the college’s 335 staff, our faculty are among the most productive and successful on the Auburn campus. Our own Dr. Kellye Joiner recently earned the Gerald and Emily Leischuck Endowed Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching — elite recognition from among the university’s 1,330 total faculty. Moreover, CVM faculty programs, alumni and students are featured on the covers of the fall 2024 issue of the Auburn Magazine² (highlighting Auburn’s

now 74 years of partnership with Kentucky in veterinary education and a feature story on the Gene Machine) and the fall/winter 2024 issue of Auburn Research³ (focusing on studies at the AU Raptor Center, along with two other feature stories on our sleep research and avian influenza research). Clearly, the college’s faculty, staff and students are exceptional.

Auburn is also fortunate to have world-class instructional and veterinary teaching hospital facilities. This year, the VTH treated over 34,900 patients and educated over 150 veterinary students — those enrolled at Auburn and those visiting from across the nation and around the world. The VTH is also an economic engine that generates more sales and service revenue than all other colleges on the AU campus combined. This year, we celebrate 10 years in the Wilford and Kate Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital and 21 years in the John Thomas Vaughan Large Animal Teaching Hospital. Over a decade, the Bailey Hospital has treated over 194,000 small animal patients and served as a clinical training center for veterinary students, graduate students, interns and residents.

This issue of the Auburn Veterinarian contains stories about unique training opportunities focused on the VTH, including immersive training programs in veterinary communications, social work and practice economics.

War Eagle!

Dean Calvin Johnson '86