Spring 2005 Aesculapian newsletter - University of Georgia College ...

Page 2 • Vol. 1, No. 2 • Spring 2005For and About Alumni and Friends of the UGA College of Veterinary MedicineDean Keith W. Prasse retiresKeith W. Prasse, who has beenon the veterinary college facultysince 1972, retired onFebruary 28 after serving eightyears as dean and six years as associatedean.As dean, Prasse was chief administratorfor the College’s sevenacademic departments, the teachinghospital, two state veterinary diagnosticlaboratories, the SoutheasternWildlife Disease Study, and thePoultry Diagnostic and ResearchCenter.He was in charge of the college’s$45 million-plus budget; about360 DVM students; 125 graduatestudents, interns and residents; 425staff; and 130 faculty.During his tenure, sponsoredresearch revenue increased 424percent, from $2.6 million to $11.2million per year. Gifts and pledgesto the college increased from lessthan $100,000 to more than $7 millionper year.A new Athens DiagnosticLaboratory and a new bioresourcesbuilding were constructed whilehe was dean. Prasse also helpedacquire funding to complete theAnimal Health Research Center andbegan planning for a new teachinghospital.Under Prasse’s leadership,enrollment increased from 80 to 96students per class, the selectionprocess was improved, and moreflexible curriculum was inaugurated.Two dual degree programswere launched – one combines theDVM degree with a master’s in publichealth, while the other combinesthe DVM degree with a Ph.D. TheFood Animal Health ManagementProgram was established to ensurecontinuing emphasis on dairy, beef,and swine health and production.A native of Freeport, Ill., Prasseattended Iowa State University,where he earned the bachelor’s andDVM degrees, as well as a master’sand doctoral degree in pathology.He considers his best professionalachievement to be the coauthoringof Veterinary Laboratory“I am grateful for the support of the college’s faculty,staff, and students as well as the university administrationand our alumni. These are the people who havemade things happen during my tenure as dean, andI believe the college is blessed by their support anddedication”— Dean Keith W. PrasseMedicine: Clinical Pathology, a textin its 4th edition, which is used bya majority of U.S. colleges of veterinarymedicine. All contributing authorshave either trained or servedas faculty at the College.“It has been an honor and aprivilege to have served as dean,”said Prasse. “The University ofGeorgia and the College of VeterinaryMedicine have been wonderfulto me.“My only disappointment hasbeen the repeated state budget cuts.State appropriation is critical for ourprincipal mission – education of professionalstudents.”“Keith Prasse has provided outstandingleadership to the Collegeof Veterinary Medicine for eightyears. During that time he hasgreatly enhanced research productivitywhile maintaining excellencein instruction and clinical services,”said UGA President Michael F. Adams.“I am very grateful for the leadershipDean Prasse has provided tothe College of Veterinary Medicineduring his tenure as dean, associatedean and faculty member,”said Arnett C. Mace Jr., senior vicepresident for academic affairs andprovost. “His achievements are significantand commendable.”Prasse received many honors,including the Norden DistinguishedTeaching Award both at ISU and atNew faces, new placesThe following appointments were effective March 1, and willremain in effect until a permanent dean is appointed.Scott Brown is Acting Associate Dean for AcademicAffairs, succeeding Sheila Allen who isInterim Dean.Bran Ritchie is Acting Department Head of SmallAnimal Medicine and Surgery, succeeding JeanneBarsanti who retired in December.Susan White is Acting Associate Dean for PublicService and Outreach, succeeding Doug Allenwho continues on as Hospital Director.Sheila Allen is interim deanSheila W. Allen was appointedinterim dean on March 1 followingDean Keith W. Prasse’sretirement. She will serve in thatposition while a nationalsearch is conducted fora permanent dean. Theappointment is subjectto approval by the UniversitySystem of GeorgiaBoard of Regents.Allen, who hasbeen in the Collegesince 1981 and on theCollege’s faculty since1986, served as associatedean for academicaffairs since 1997 andas acting head of the Department ofSmall Animal Medicine and Surgery.She earned a master’s degreeUGA. Iowa State University honoredhim with a distinguished alumnusaward for outstanding professionalachievements in teaching, diagnosticsand research. In 2003, he wasnamed Veterinarian of the Year bythe Georgia Veterinary MedicalAssociation and was named to OutstandingEducators of America.in veterinary clinical pathologyfrom the college while serving herresidency in small animal surgery.She holds bachelor’s and doctor ofveterinary medicinedegrees from CornellUniversity.Allen’s specialtyis surgery with expertisein oncologic andreconstructive surgeryand perioperative painmanagement. A diplomateof the AmericanCollege of VeterinarySurgeons, she hasdeveloped computerassistedtechniques forteaching basic surgical skills andhas received numerous awards forher innovations in instruction.