New Appointments Announced for Veterinary Hospital, Basic Medical Sciences Department and Veterinary Technology Program
Purdue Alumnus and Boarded Oncology Specialist Named as Interim Associate Dean for Hospital Operations
Dr. Christopher Fulkerson, clinical associate professor of veterinary medical oncology, has been named as the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s interim associate dean for hospital operations. The appointment, announced September 8 by Dean Bret Marsh, was effective immediately.
“I am excited to work with Dr. Fulkerson in his new role,” said Dr. Marsh. “Dr. Fulkerson has extensive and varied experience in his field as a Purdue Veterinary Medicine clinician and leader. In this new role he will be responsible for the leadership of the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital, including development of a strategic vision, implementation of sound fiscal strategies, and creation of a culture that fosters excellence in client service and patient care. I know he will approach his new responsibilities with enthusiasm, intellect, energy and dedication.”
For Dr. Fulkerson, the new appointment represents an opportunity to lead the enterprise that gave him his start in veterinary medicine more than two decades ago. “One thing that I think will be a significant strength for me in this position is my broad experience across roles in the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital,” Dr. Fulkerson said. “I started as an undergraduate volunteer in both the large and small animal hospitals over 20 years ago, matriculated as a veterinary student, returned as a resident, and then joined the faculty.” Dr. Fulkerson also has served in leadership roles for curriculum development and within the hospital as chair of the Internship Committee. “I think that this experience will serve me well in this interim role.”
Dr. Fulkerson earned his Purdue DVM degree in 2010 and then completed a small animal internship at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Afterward, he returned to Purdue, completing an Oncology Residency in 2014 before joining the Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty as clinical assistant professor of veterinary medical oncology in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. In 2015, he became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in the Specialty of Oncology. He was promoted to clinical associate professor in 2021 and the following year was appointed as the head of the Medical Oncology Section.
In addition to his clinical responsibilities in the college, Dr. Fulkerson has regularly provided consulting services to veterinarians in Indiana and beyond, including internationally. He also contributes to annual training of medical oncology residents and rotating interns and has served on multiple college committees including the Curriculum Committee, Clinical Competency Team, and the Purdue Veterinary Hospital’s Small Animal Intern Committee.
His awards and honors include receiving the PVM Faculty Award for Excellence in Service, the PVM Award for Excellence in Teaching from third year DVM students, and, as a resident, the Dr. Ann L. Johnson and Walter E. Hoffman Residency Teaching Award.
With 23 peer reviewed publications, Dr. Fulkerson has made significant contributions to the discovery mission of the Werling Comparative Oncology Research Center (WCORC) as a collaborator and a lead investigator. Additionally, he is a member of the Purdue University Institute for Cancer Research and has presented his research at ACVIM and Veterinary Cancer Society meetings.
As interim associate dean for hospital operations, Dr. Fulkerson succeeds Dr. Ellen Lowery, who retired in August.
New BMS Department Head Makes Enthusiastic Return to Purdue
The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Basic Medical Sciences (BMS) has a new leader as of November 1. Michael K. Wendt, PhD, was named as department head and professor of basic medical sciences, succeeding Dr. Susan Mendrysa, who had been serving as interim department head and was named as the college’s associate dean for research last spring.
“Dr. Wendt is a nationally recognized cancer biologist and educator whose career exemplifies excellence in research, mentorship, and academic leadership,” said Purdue Veterinary Medicine Dean Bret Marsh as he announced Dr. Wendt’s appointment. “He brings a strong record of securing competitive extramural funding, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, and contributing nearly a decade of previous impactful service at Purdue.”
The appointment indeed represents a homecoming for Dr. Wendt, who had served on the faculty of Purdue’s Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology in the College of Pharmacy from 2014 to 2023, initially as an assistant professor and then as associate professor with tenure. He also served as the director of the Cancer Biology Training Group in the Purdue University Interdisciplinary Life Science (PULSe) program from 2019 until 2023.
Dr. Wendt then left to accept an appointment at the University of Iowa as the Arlene Holden Professor of Breast Cancer Research, director of the translational breast cancer research program, and co-leader of the Experimental Therapeutics program within the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center – positions he held until his return to Purdue.
“I started my first faculty position here at Purdue, within the College of Pharmacy,” Dr. Wendt shared as he talked about his reasons for accepting the new appointment. “I love the area and really enjoy the energy of the university. I benefited greatly from the mentorship and support of a great number of people across the Purdue campus, including several from the College of Veterinary Medicine.”
Dr. Wendt also said that during the last several years, he has benefited from the opportunity to begin to mentor and lead groups of faculty in several settings. “Through these experiences I became acutely aware that in addition to my own successes, I derive as much if not a greater amount of satisfaction from helping others succeed. Thus, when I learned of the opportunity to lead the BMS Department, I jumped at it.”
Dr. Wendt earned his bachelor’s degree in biology at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin and went on to pursue graduate study at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where he earned his PhD in molecular genetics in 2007. He then worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Colorado, Denver before accepting a research position with the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center at Case Western Reserve University, where he was serving at the time of his first Purdue appointment.
Speaking of Dr. Wendt’s qualifications, Dean Marsh shared that most recently, Dr. Wendt filled key leadership positions at the University of Iowa’s Carver College of Medicine, where he oversaw interdisciplinary research strategy, faculty engagement, and clinical-academic integration. “This experience will inform his leadership of our Basic Medical Sciences Department and its contributions to the DVM program and the BMS Department’s preclinical teaching mission.
Dr. Wendt says his involvement in the last few years in various leadership positions in graduate programs and the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center has provided invaluable experience. “In these positions I’ve been introduced to the benefits and challenges of leadership – things that I’m confident in committing to as a department head.” He also emphasizes the value of the strong mentorship he received from faculty at Purdue and beyond. “These experiences have allowed me to create an extremely strong advisory network. With this diverse group of advisors in my corner, I’m confident in my ability to serve in this role.”
Dean Marsh also highlighted Dr. Wendt’s success as a researcher. “His research program, supported by over $13 million in extramural funding, reflects a deep commitment to translational science and interdisciplinary collaboration. His ongoing partnerships with Purdue faculty and the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research offer exciting opportunities to strengthen comparative oncology and One Health initiatives within our college.”
Thinking ahead, Dr. Wendt said he’s excited to work with the strong cohort of existing faculty, staff, and students in the department in achieving their goals on all fronts. “I’m also looking forward to recruitment of new faculty. Overall, I want to create a group of researchers and educators passionate about the joys and benefits of discovery and training the next generation of health professionals. My desire is to foster an environment where people feel valued, inspired, engaged, and equipped to achieve their full potential.”
Those views align well with the vision of Dean Marsh. “With strong institutional support and a collaborative leadership style, Dr. Wendt is well-positioned to guide the Department of Basic Medical Sciences into its next phase of excellence,” Dean Marsh said.
Purdue Veterinary Technician and College of Pharmacy Graduate Named Assistant Dean for the Veterinary Technology Program
The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine has named an alumna and longtime Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT), who also holds a PharmD degree and serves on the college’s faculty, as assistant dean for the Purdue Veterinary Technology Program. Dr. Melinda (Mindy) Anderson, PharmD, BS, RVT, clinical associate professor of basic medical sciences, was appointed to the position effective August 1. She will serve as a member of the Dean’s leadership cabinet and will oversee operations for both the on-campus and distance learning veterinary technology degree programs.
“Dr. Anderson brings a wealth of expertise and experience to this position, given her long and accomplished record of service as a veterinary technician, educator, and veterinary pharmacist,” said Dean Bret Marsh. “She will be able to view the needs and opportunities facing our Veterinary Technology Program from multiple perspectives, having succeeded across the board, as a veterinary technician student, a member of the Veterinary Hospital’s RVT staff, a veterinary pharmacy resident in the hospital, and an award-winning educator on our faculty. I am so thankful to have her join the college’s leadership team in this vital role, and to lead our renowned Veterinary Technology Program to new heights of success.”
Dr. Anderson earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Purdue in 2018 and then completed the one-year Wasson Veterinary Pharmacy Residency program in the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital before joining the Department of Basic Medical Sciences faculty.
In addition, Dr. Anderson recently received a significant honor as a new Diplomate of the International College of Veterinary Pharmacy.
Prior to making the career switch to pharmacy, Dr. Anderson served as chief instructional technologist in the Veterinary Hospital after earning her bachelor’s degree in animal sciences and her associate’s degree in veterinary technology at Purdue.
“Being a 2003 graduate from Purdue’s Veterinary Technology program, I can speak firsthand about both the opportunities and the challenges of our profession,” Dr. Anderson said. “I have a unique perspective, not only because I have gone through this program, but also because I have worked in our teaching hospital and have taught both on-campus and online for our veterinary technology program.” Dr. Anderson added that, in considering this position, “I was most attracted to the opportunity to give back to the profession at the college that has molded me into the person I am today.”
Looking ahead, Dr. Anderson said she wants to leverage her experiences as both a student and an instructor, as well as her strong connections with the Purdue Veterinary Medicine team, to help advance the education and training of future veterinary technicians. “With demand for technicians at an all-time high and nearly 250 accredited programs across the country, I see this role as an opportunity to support didactic and clinical instructors in developing innovative approaches to teaching. My goal is to ensure that we are preparing veterinary technicians who are practice-ready, confident in their skills, successful on their national exam, and proud of the institution where they received their education and training.
Dr. Anderson succeeds Dr. Kathy Salisbury who had been serving as the interim director before retiring June 30.
