Dean Jean Sander, DVM

Dear Alumni, Friends, and Prospective Students,

Welcome to the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Center for Veterinary Health Sciences (CVHS).  As the new dean I am thrilled to be a part of the CVHS community.   I am spending my first few months getting to know everyone both internal and external to the College.  In doing so I am learning even more about the great potential within this outstanding college.  Each year we update our Fact Sheet which contains valuable information and statistics about our academic programs so you can see for yourself.

The Center for Veterinary Health Sciences is made up of a community of professionals committed to graduating highly skilled veterinarians prepared to serve societal needs which span animal, human, and environmental health and welfare; to lead the nation in basic and applied biomedical research to discover the answers which may lead to cures for diseases we currently are unable to manage; and to provide the best veterinary services to our clients and referring veterinarians through both primary and specialty veterinary care. The role veterinarians’ play goes far beyond the private practitioner although this is what most people are familiar with due to the restorative and preventive health care their pets and production animals need.

Our professional curriculum emphasizes problem solving and critical thinking by using comparative medicine of all major animal species. Our students are reputed to be confident, competent, practice ready veterinarians upon graduation, thanks to an excellent teaching faculty, dedicated staff and talented students.

Our research program is nationally competitive, highly focused, and productive. Major areas of emphasis include toxicology, infectious diseases including zoonotic and tick transmitted diseases, shipping fever, and exercise physiology. The Veterinary Medical Center leads the OSU System in funding from the National Institutes of Health.

The College of Veterinary Medicine has been providing outstanding veterinary medical services for over 60 years. During that time Dr. Leroy Coggins, Class of 1957, developed the Coggins Test for Equine Infectious Anemia; the diagnostic tool that it is still considered the USDA official test for EAI.  We are creating future stars as well; Judith LaBounty, Class of 2014, was one of only five U.S. veterinary students chosen to attend the International Veterinary Student Association meeting held in South Korea.  As our world shrinks veterinarians with international competencies will be in greater demand.

Our purpose is to serve the people of Oklahoma with their animal care needs. The Center for Veterinary Health Sciences is made up of a compliment of medical facilities: the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, and the Boren Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. In addition, Center facilities include the Veterinary Medicine Ranch, specializing in Equine and Bovine Breeding and Reproduction Services, the Equine Research Park, the Wendell Wallace Bovine Research Facility, and the Cohn Family Shelter for Pets.

I encourage prospective students, faculty candidates and other interested professionals to consider Oklahoma State University for an outstanding educational experience which will prepare you to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.