WSU veterinary college announces leadership transitions

PULLMAN, Wash. — Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine is undergoing a transition in leadership in some of its key academic areas.

Guy Palmer, Regents Professor of Pathology and the Jan and Jack Creighton Endowed Chair and Director of the Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health stepped down as Director effective July 1.

As the Creighton Chair, Dr. Palmer will immediately assume a broader and more comprehensive role as WSU’s Senior Director of Global Health.  He will provide key strategies and vision to help direct the university’s increasing interests in both human and animal health regionally, globally, and across disciplines.

“Dr. Palmer’s contributions to the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine throughout his tenure have been exceptional,” said Bryan Slinker, dean of the veterinary college.  “We are fortunate that he has accepted the challenge of an expanded role with respect to WSU’s growing health sciences imprint.  By doing so, he will remain a vital resource to also guide our college with respect to its contributions to the expanding health and biomedical sciences at WSU, especially with respect to the new College of Medicine in Spokane.”

Assuming the role of Interim Director of the Allen School is Doug Call, an internationally recognized scholar who has an active research program both domestically and globally in food and water-borne diseases, including antimicrobial resistance.  Dr. Call is a long-time member of the veterinary college faculty and is well positioned to lead the school while an international search for a permanent director is completed.

Professor Tim Baszler, veterinary pathologist and current director of the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL) has become the lab’s executive director, also effective July 1.  He will also assume the role of Head of Global Health Surveillance in the Allen School, too.  Dr. Baszler is recognized internationally for his leadership in infectious disease diagnostics and surveillance, new test methods development and validation, and diagnostic laboratory accreditation.

Joining him as WADDL’s new Director of Operations will be veterinary pathologist and Ed McCleary Distinguished Professor of Aquatic Health, Kevin Snekvik.  Dr. Snekvik will continue in his role as faculty section head of the Aquatic Health Laboratory of WADDL while bringing his experience in regulatory infectious disease testing to the day-to-day responsibility for leadership of WADDL’s diagnostic and surveillance operations.

Terry McElwain, Regent’s Professor of Pathology, former dean of the college, Executive Director of WADDL, and an Associate Director in the Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health has stepped down from all administrative duties and returns to the Allen School faculty full time as he continues to develop, seek funding for, and implement disease surveillance programs globally.

Dr. McElwain will continue to work closely with Dr. Baszler, who succeeds him in the associate director role in the Allen School, and will continue to provide his experience and advice to the new leadership of the Allen School and WADDL.

“Dr. McElwain is a long-time colleague and friend, and I am delighted to still be able to call on him frequently for his advice and counsel,” said Dr. Slinker.

“With Dr. McElwain stepping down, Dr. Baszler is making a natural transition up the administrative ladder we have established in WADDL since its inception under the late Dr. Tony Gallina.  The WSU model for leading a diagnostic laboratory under Drs. McElwain and Baszler, now transitioned to Drs. Baszler and Snekvik, has not only been effective, it has been exemplary to the point that it is looked on as model for many others such laboratories.  Our team will continue to bring distinction to the college and WSU.”

Assuming the newly created half-time post of Associate Dean for Research will be Professor Robert Mealey, an equine internal medicine specialist and professor of immunology and infectious diseases.  This new position was created as Dr. McElwain also relinquished directorship of the Animal Health Research Center.

Dr. Mealey’s research has sought to understand how the horse’s immune system controls persistent and infections, including those caused by viruses, bacteria, and protozoan parasites.  “The college’s research enterprise and aspirations have grown to the point that our leadership team welcomes Dr. Mealey to help us move ahead more strongly,” said Dr. Slinker.  “He brings a pragmatic, organized approach to research administration and oversight, knows the breadth of applied and fundamental research in domestic livestock and horses, is an experienced scientist having successfully competed for grants from both the NIH and the USDA, among others, and he has exemplary people skills.”

These key leadership changes are the result of discussions over the past several months as WSU leaders, college leaders, and key faculty have considered how to be better positioned to address the research Grand Challenges outlined by the recent 120 day strategic planning exercise completed by Vice President for Research, Chris Keane.

“As a result of these changes, Drs. McElwain, Palmer, and Baszler have time to more fully engage in strategy and delivery of key programs in the college.  Drs. Palmer and McElwain can also better represent WSU strongly through their service to the National Academies, of which both have the distinction of being members of the National Academy of Medicine.”

“As Dean of the WSU veterinary college, I have complete confidence in this sequence of transitions.  These individuals are long-time, dedicated Cougs and among the best in the world at what they do.  I fully expect these changes to be seamless to those we serve and that they will help us speed our upward trajectory of success.”

Contact:

Charlie Powell, public information officer, call or text 509-595-2017, cpowell@vetmed.wsu.edu