Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s own Dr. Kathy Salisbury, associate dean for academic affairs, was honored as a recipient of the Association of American Veterinary Medical College’s (AAVMC) Presidential Award for Meritorious Service at the organization’s 2020 Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. The award is presented periodically by the AAVMC to recognize distinguished service and professional achievement. Several individuals who have made special contributions to the AAVMC received the award during a conference session held on Friday, March 6.
Dr. Salisbury was one of 12 members of the Competency Based Veterinary Education (CBVE) Working Group to receive the award. The CBVE has developed a framework that is currently serving as a model of instructional excellence in veterinary medical colleges and schools across the country and around the world. The award was presented to each member of the CBVE Group in recognition of the historic work they have accomplished in the field of academic veterinary medicine.
In addition to her role as associate dean for academic affairs, Dr. Salisbury is a professor of small animal surgery and in 2018 was named as a Purdue University 150th Anniversary Professor in conjunction with the University’s Sesquicentennial. Dr. Salisbury earned her DVM degree at Michigan State University and completed her specialty training as a surgery resident at Purdue before joining the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences faculty. In 2010, she was appointed to the position of associate dean for academic affairs after serving five years as assistant dean.
Joining Dr. Salisbury as an AAVMC Presidential Award for Meritorious Service recipient at the 2020 AAVMC Conference was another veterinary medical specialist with Purdue University ties. Dr. Karen Cornell (PU DVM ’88, PhD ‘93) received the award for her work as a co-director of the AAVMC Leadership Academy, which offers a unique growth opportunity for emerging leaders in academic veterinary medicine. After earning her DVM degree at Purdue, Dr. Cornell worked in private practice for two years before returning to the College to complete an internship and small animal surgery residency and earn her PhD. Since 2016, Dr. Cornell has served on the faculty of the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, where she is currently associate dean for professional programs and the Earline and A.P. Wiley Endowed Veterinary Chair. Dr. Cornell returned to her alma mater last year to serve as keynote speaker for PVM’s 60th Anniversary Kick-Off Celebration, which was held March 1, 2019.