Dr. Craig Thompson, clinical associate professor of clinical pathology in Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology, now is a member of the Board of Directors of Viticus Group – formerly WVC. Dr. Thompson was elected to the board when votes were cast in the board election held in conjunction with the 2026 WVC Annual Conference (formally known as the Western Veterinary Conference) earlier this month in Las Vegas, Nevada.
For Dr. Thompson, a board certified clinical pathologist, serving on the Viticus Group Board of Directors represents a logical next step in his career as a veterinary educator. A 1998 DVM graduate of Oklahoma State University, Dr. Thompson went on to complete a small animal rotating internship at the University of Tennessee, followed by a clinical pathology residency at Texas A&M University. He joined the Purdue faculty in 2003, and focuses on teaching and collaborating with veterinary technician students, DVM students, interns, residents, and fellow board-certified specialists on the faculty. His professional interests include diagnostic clinical pathology, histology and electron microscopy.
Since 2005, Dr. Thompson also has served as a continuing education speaker, addressing audiences ranging from small groups of people in private practice to international conferences with hundreds of attendees in multiple countries on three continents. Dr. Thompson’s first speaking experience at WVC in Las Vegas was in 2017. Since then, he’s returned to WVC as a speaker on five different occasions.
“Being elected to the Board of Directors for the Viticus Group will be an excellent opportunity to continue my commitment to education,” Dr. Thompson said. “I continue to have a strong passion for continuing education, and as a new board member I hope to utilize my experience as an educator and speaker to help shape the cutting edge of veterinary continuing education and positively impact thousands of veterinary professionals and their patients.”
Dr. Thompson also emphasized that this summer, Viticus Group will expand its reach to Nashville, Tennessee, where it will launch an additional veterinary CE conference, WVC Nashville, and open new education centers, mirroring its Las Vegas service lines and offerings. “I’m excited to join the board at this momentous time, and look forward to influencing the success of these plans and their positive impact on the veterinary profession.”
Dr. Thompson will serve a five year term on the board and joins a fellow Purdue alumnus, Dr. Adam Miller of the DVM Class of 2007, who was elected as a director in 2024. Together, they are following in the footsteps of other Purdue alumni who previously served on the board including Dr. Miguel Ortiz (PU DVM 2009), and two former presidents of the WVC – Dr. Debbie White (PU DVM 1994) and Dr. W. Mark Hilton (PU DVM 1983). Dr. Hilton, Purdue professor emeritus of veterinary clinical sciences, also currently serves as the Viticus Group Food Animal Education Manager.
Congratulations Dr. Craig Thompson on being elected as a new Viticus Group board member!