A Message from the Dean
As we launch into an expanding era of translational medicine, the parallels between humans and other animals become more striking. Many naturally occurring diseases in our four-legged companions are the same as those seen in people. Cancer, neurological disorders, cardiovascular conditions and infectious diseases are common examples.
The overlap of human and animal diseases creates extraordinary opportunities to accelerate research and progress in new therapies and treatments. By studying diseases across species, researchers gain insights that are not always possible through traditional laboratory models. They can also evaluate promising new approaches and bring better diagnostics and treatments to patients more quickly. You will see several examples of translational medicine in action starting on page 10.
But the importance of this work is measured not only in discoveries, publications or the time required to develop a
new therapy. It is measured in lives—and in the additional time those advances may give us with those we love, whether animal or human.
Our school has a huge advantage in advancing translational medicine, through partnerships with UC Davis Health,
UC San Francisco and other academic institutions. We also have champions for this kind of research in Kathy Chiao and Ken Hao, who recently made a $75 million gift that supports translational medicine research, along with a new small animal hospital, student scholarships and accessible veterinary care. We are so grateful to Kathy and Ken for believing in the school as we urgently pursue multiple opportunities which advance our mission (read more on page 16).
In our Clinical Updates on page 30, you’ll learn more about the quiet heroes of our veterinary care teams—the talented veterinary technicians who not only prioritize compassionate patient care but pass along their knowledge to others. I also want to highlight the story on page 24, where Dr. Grace VanHoy shares a week in her life as a large animal veterinarian with a passion for parasitology and teaching.
I’m excited to share the opening of our new Janice K. Hobbs Veterinary Medical Center Southern California this fall, thanks to dedicated supporters like Janice Hobbs and so many others (see page 28). I hope you’ll enjoy reading about our translational research, and other school activities highlighted in this issue. As always, thank you for being part of this incredible community.