Our Mission
The Strategic Plan is an essential tool to guide the school in fulfilling the school's mission and vision.
Our Mission: Advance the Health of Animals, People and the Environment
Our Vision: Leading Veterinary Medicine, Addressing Societal Needs
A Plan By Community, For Community
The school’s strategic plan, finalized in August, 2025, was guided in its creation by working groups of school leaders, with input from members across the school community. It was informed by the previous strategic plan, a one-year bridge set of strategic initiatives, a peer review, and by interviews and engagement with members of the school.
As of September, 2026, the following groups are active, focused on enacting the Strategic Plan as the school goes through a period of growth. The groups are divided into the following four categories: Education: Admissions; Education: Resources; Research; and People First. Please contact the chair of each group for more information.
Strategic Plan Working Groups
Education: Admissions
Chair: Karl Jandrey, Associate Dean of Admissions and Student Programs and a Professor of Clinical Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care | Chair email: [email protected]
- Angela Reynolds, Senior Director of Development
- Amanda Steidlmayer / Tina Maher, Office of Veterinary Success
- Brandy McCall, Director of Admissions & Recruitment
- Gigi Dujovne, Associate Professor, Population Health & Reproduction
- Heidi Rossow, Professor and Agronomist Population Health & Reproduction
- Isabelle Kilcoyne, Associate Professor Surgical & Radiological Sciences
- Jonathan Dear, Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Co-Assistant Director of Small Animal Hospital, Co-Director Access to Care Initiative
- Paco Uzal, Branch Chief, California Animal Health and Food Safety Lab San Bernardino, Professor, Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology
Develop an admissions and enrollment plan for a future incoming class of 200 DVM students that advances WSVM goals for class composition, student–program fit, and student success. The plan will address:
- Desired class composition and measurable indicators of success
- Recruitment priorities, candidate sources, and outreach approaches
- Evaluation criteria, tools, and processes for fair and consistent selection
- Offer, yield, acceptance, and onboarding strategies
- Systems to track outcomes, report results, and improve the process
—Brenda Keegan, Assistant Manager and Critical Care Technician, Small Animal ICU/Critical Care
“I found a community that recognized my dedication and gave me the opportunity to grow into both a technician and a leader.”
- Q) What is your role at the school?
As the Assistant Manager of one of the busiest services in the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, I support and empower my team through the challenges of emergency medicine, ensuring we provide compassionate care to patients and families while fostering resilience, teamwork, and excellence.
As a Critical Care Technician, I am always prepared to respond when every second matters, advocating for patients who cannot speak for themselves while mentoring students to build the confidence and technical skills they need to become exceptional veterinary professionals.
- Q: What inspires you about working here?
- I am inspired by the people I work with every day and the diverse experiences they bring to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. I enjoy getting to know our students, interns, and residents especially during overnight shifts. One night I may be working alongside an intern from Canada, and the next with a resident from France. Veterinary medicine is truly global, and knowing that I have played a small part in helping future veterinarians and veterinary professionals succeed is incredibly rewarding.
- Q) What is the most moving thing you’ve experienced at the school?
Acceptance.
Like many people at the VMTH, my journey began with a dream. As a first-generation college graduate, I faced many challenges and was often told that I didn't belong in a science-based profession. Instead of letting those voices define me, I let my passion for veterinary medicine drive me forward. At the VMTH, I found a community that recognized my dedication and gave me the opportunity to grow into both a technician and a leader.
That experience has shaped the way I care for others. My goal has always been to provide compassionate care from the heart and to encourage those around me. Whether I'm supporting a teammate, mentoring a student, or comforting a client, I want to be the person who reminds others that they belong here and tells them, "You're doing a great job."
Education: Resources
- Chris Brandt, Chief Information Officer
- Clare Yellowley-Genetos, Professor and Chair, Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology
- Julie Dechant, Assistant Director, Large Animal Hospital, Professor, Surgical & Radiological Sciences
- Melyssa Rehman, Clinical Skills Laboratory Technician
- Nicole Labadie, Veterinarian
- Stefan Keller, Assistant Professor Department of Pathology, Microbiology, & Immunology
- Tracey Soeth, Chief Administrative Officer, Office of Professional Education and Student Programs
Develop a prioritized, phased resource plan to support an annual DVM class of 200 students while maintaining educational quality, a strong student experience, and long-term program sustainability.
The plan will address:
- Teaching capacity, including faculty, staff, clinicians, and instructional support
- Facilities and learning spaces, including classrooms, laboratories, clinical settings
- Technology, equipment, systems, and instructional tools
- Student, academic, administrative, and operational support
—Ramon Andres, Facility Management Specialist
“What inspires me the most is knowing that my small contributions have made meaningful impacts on animal and public health.”
- Q) What is your role at the school?
- I support the school’s Dean’s Office objectives by maintaining safe, operational, and well maintained facilities that allow students and staff to focus on learning and teaching.
- Q: What inspires you about working here?
- What inspires me the most is knowing that the small contribution that I've made helps support the faculty, staff, and students who are making a meaningful impact on animal and public health.
- Q) What is the most moving thing you’ve experienced at the school?
- The most moving thing I’ve experienced at VMDO has been building lasting friendships with my coworkers, seeing the university grow over the years and knowing that my work has helped keep the campus running for everyone who learns and works here.
Research
Members by academic department:
- APC: Damian Genetos, Laura Van Winkle
- PHR: Carrie Finno, Richard Pereira
- PMI: Lark Coffey, Amir Kol
- VMB: Pam Lein, Christine Toedebusch
- VME: John Angelos, Woutrina Smith
- VSR: Rob Rebhun, Heidi Reesink
Develop strategic investment models for deployment of a $40 million philanthropic gift from the Weill Family Foundation that:
- Accelerate the WSVM’s Research Strategic Initiative
- Align with donor intent
- Support new and incremental activities
- Create enduring institutional impact
—Brianna Ortiz, Clinical Trials Coordinator
“It is rewarding to know that every study we conduct not only provides innovative treatment options for our patients today but also helps shape the future of veterinary medicine.”
- Q) What is your role at the school?
- I coordinate high-quality clinical research that advances veterinary medicine while ensuring exceptional patient care and a positive experience for clients, investigators, and the clinical team.
- Q: What inspires you about working here?
- I am inspired by the opportunity to contribute to research that has the potential to improve the lives of both animal and human patients. Working in a teaching hospital allows me to collaborate with talented clinicians, students, and researchers who are passionate about advancing medicine. It is rewarding to know that every study we conduct not only provides innovative treatment options for our patients today but also helps shape the future of veterinary medicine. I specifically feel my current role as a clinical trials coordinator is unique in balancing patient care with research and education.
- Q) What is the most moving thing you’ve experienced at the school?
- The most moving experiences have been seeing clients who have exhausted traditional treatment options find hope through participation in a clinical trial. Watching our team come together to provide compassionate care while advancing research reminds me that our work has a meaningful impact—not only on the patients we treat but also on future animals who may benefit from the discoveries we help make. Seeing students, clinicians, technicians, and research staff collaborate toward a common goal makes me proud to be part of the school's mission.
People First
Chair: Bruno Pypendop, Executive Associate Dean and Professor, Surgical & Radiological Sciences | Chair email: [email protected]
- Amanda Steidlmayer, Director, Office of Veterinary Success
- Anissa Nachman, Hospital Administrator
- Harmony Lindberg, Clinical Operations Administrator
- Elizabeth Montgomery, Interim Associate Dean of Professional Education, Director and Senior Veterinarian, Surgical and Radiological Sciences
- Michael Mison, Associate Dean for Veterinary Medical Center Operations/Chief Veterinary Medical Officer
- Stefan Keller, Assistant Professor Department of Pathology, Microbiology, & Immunology
- Tracey Soeth, Chief Administrative Officer, Office of Professional Education and Student Programs
Develop a prioritized, phased workforce plan to support DVM enrollment growth and an expanded clinical caseload while advancing the school's People First goals and sustaining educational and clinical quality. The plan will initially address:
- Classroom, laboratory, and clinical teaching capacity
- Faculty, staff, clinicians, and support services
- Sequencing, financial implications, and implementation considerations
—Audra Johnson, House Officer Program Administrator
“Watching our community [of graduates] come together to celebrate the incredible humans and their years of dedication, perseverance, and growth is a powerful reminder of why our work matters”
- Q) What is your role at the school?
- As the only administrator dedicated to supporting the world's largest veterinary postgraduate clinical training program, I help create the foundation that allows our house officers to focus on advanced learning, exceptional patient care, and becoming the next generation of veterinary specialists.
- Q: What inspires you about working here?
- Dogs! Seeing dogs walk past my office every day is always a highlight of my week, but what keeps me inspired is knowing I'm part of a community that is genuinely making the world a better place for my furry family members as well as my human ones.
- Q) What is the most moving thing you’ve experienced at the school?
- Without question, it's our annual Farewell Celebration for our graduating house officers. Watching our community come together to celebrate these incredible humans and their years of dedication, perseverance, and growth is a powerful reminder of why our work matters. The smiles we share during this celebration are priceless!
