Disaster - College of Veterinary Medicine - Texas A&M University

Dean’s Message
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The current world-wide economic recession has been at the forefront of the news lately. Even here
in the great State of Texas, agencies and institutions are seeking additional funding sources and trying
to identify belt-tightening measures.
Here at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM), we have
worked to ensure that faculty and staff involvement is paramount to designing our budget reduction
process. We’re looking to the CVM family for recommendations not only because they are creative, resourceful
professionals, but also because they have a fundamental understanding of the impact of decisions
at the local level where programs are implemented. In our college process, faculty and staff have
been involved in the understanding and development of the CVM budget reduction plan from the very
beginning. Constant communication and appropriate levels of transparency are maintained throughout
this process with participation at all levels. Every effort is made to maintain faculty, staff, and student
morale and to infuse a commitment to a future of excellence through strategic development.
While the negative impact of a budget reduction cannot be denied, the strategic nature of our
college budget reduction plan will ensure our viability and continued progress. With a focus on and
renewed dedication to preserving essential areas of excellence, and to streamlining
operations, our strategic reinvestments will ultimately make us
stronger.
As a result, our faculty remain even more committed today to fulfilling
the mission of ‘One Health’ as outlined in the joint American Veterinary
Medical Association and American Medical Association proclamation.
As veterinarians, we find ourselves intertwined with our human
medicine counterparts as we work to solve environmental, human, and
animal health problems. This is particularly evident in times of disaster,
so it is timely that our main feature for this edition tells the story of
how the CVM is preparing for emergencies. It is acts of dedication
and commitment, like the creation of the emergency response
team as well as other opportunities, that have positioned veterinary
medicine at the forefront of building a healthier tomorrow
for everyone. The faculty and staff of the CVM are leading the
way in that effort.
At the same time, this college would not be in the position
to explore new ways to make a healthier world or to educate
the veterinary leaders of tomorrow if it weren’t for the support
we receive from our alumni and friends of the college.
With their continued guidance and support, we will be able
to be even more responsive to the demands and expectation
of the veterinary industry, as well as play a stronger role in
the ‘One Health’ initiative. Thank you from all of us at the
CVM!
I am still excited each and every day about the promise
that this college holds as it is reflected in the people here—the
faculty, staff, students, and the incoming freshmen here for their
new student conferences. Even though the hottest part of summer
is fast approaching, the summer will come to a close quickly, and
the pace of daily activity will begin to pick-up. If you find yourself
in Aggieland this summer, or even for a football weekend in the
fall, please stop by for a quick “Howdy!” and a cup of coffee! We’d
love to hear from you!
2 • CVM Today • Summer 2010
Eleanor M. Green, DVM, DACVIM, DABVP
Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine