Deborah Kochevar
Dean
Alumni Relations
Dean's Message—Summer 2008
Dear Tufts Alums,
We are enjoying that time of the academic year when we celebrate the achievements of our students and their movement from one phase of veterinary professional education to the next.
The Class of 2009 received their white coats at a ceremony in March and then enthusiastically took up the challenges of their first clinical rotations. All indications are that they are doing very well! The Class of 2008 graduated in mid-May and has disperse to clinical practice, internships and other post-DVM training programs. Cummings students and graduates were, once again, highly successful in their bids for competitive post-DVM internship and residency positions. We wish the Class of 2008 the very best and know that they will have a positive impact on our profession no matter what their chosen area of emphasis.
We were saddened to lose a valued friend and colleague with the passing of Dr. Howard Levine in February. The upcoming issue of Tufts Veterinary Magazine will highlight Dr. Levine’s achievements and will also focus on food supply veterinary medicine activities at Cummings. Recently these have included opening of the new facility for Tufts Ambulatory Service (TAS) in Woodstock, CT. Dr. Gene White, newly appointed TAS director, and his faculty continue the strong traditions of excellent clinical service and teaching that have been the hallmarks of TAS since its inception.
All of us are anxiously awaiting the opening of the Agnes Varis Campus Center in June. The old state hospital building has been transformed and now includes open spaces flooded with light and well-equipped to support the needs of students, staff and faculty on our campus. The new cafeteria area features indoor and outdoor seating and much expanded food preparation and serving spaces. Student amenities include study lounges, offices for student organizations, exercise facilities and a bookstore. Our faculty will enjoy offices that place them in proximity to both students and the improved support spaces. Ground has been broken on Phase II of the campus center and will result in addition of a much needed, third large auditorium to our campus facilities in January 2009.
Celebrating the opening of the campus center reminds us all of the tremendous impact that Dr. Agnes Varis and Dr. David McGrath and other friends have had on our school. The support of these loyal friends has made all the difference in transforming our campus into a modern and attractive community for learning. We hope you will choose to join with us as we work to cover the remaining costs of these wonderful new facilities.
Please make time to visit campus and appreciate how dynamic we are and how the community continues to thrive. Our alums, students, staff and faculty accomplish amazing things every day—you are a source of pride for all of us! We welcome you back at any time and look forward to your visit.
All the best,
Dean Kochevar
Dean Kochevar