The director of University Animal Care has been named interim dean of the University of Arizona’s proposed College of Veterinary Medicine.
David Besselsen, DVM, Ph.D., DACLAM, DACVP, will play a crucial role in UA’s effort to earn a letter of reasonable assurance of accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education. The COE has twice denied Arizona’s application, ruling this year that only seven of 11 educational standards were likely to be satisfied, one better than in 2016.
The next site visit to Tucson is scheduled for spring 2019.
Besides overseeing UA’s animal facilities and animal care program, Dr. Besselsen serves as UA’s attending veterinarian.
“I am excited about this new opportunity, which I view as a natural extension of my current administrative duties,” Dr. Besselsen said.
Assisting him will be policy adviser and attorney Mark Cushing, JD, who has done accreditation work with the veterinary schools at Lincoln Memorial University, Ross University and the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Cushing also is a Today’s Veterinary Business columnist.
UA wants to open the 31st U.S. veterinary school and the second in Arizona after Midwestern University in Glendale. Texas Tech University is planning one as well.