Dean Klausner to leave the College

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Wendy Gallart
Director, Marketing & Communications
The Animal Medical Center
Office:  212-329-8686
Cell: 201-522-5225
Wendy.Gallart@amcny.org

Michael Shepley, Public Relations
Office and Home:  212-786-9064
ShepleyPR@aol.com

Jan Williams
University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine
Office: 612-624-6228
Pager:  612-534-4740
Willi320@umn.edu

    THE ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER IN NEW YORK EXPECTS TO APPOINT DR. JEFFREY S. KLAUSNER NEW PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Dean at University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine Will Lead New York City’s Largest Animal Care, Education and Research Facility

 NEW YORK, NY and MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, MN (Tuesday, March 27, 2007) – Dr. Jeffrey S. Klausner, Dean of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine since 1998, will meet with the Board of Trustees of The Animal Medical Center in New York City on April 23 in anticipation of Board approval on April 24 of his appointment as new President and Chief Executive Officer.  The appointment will be effective beginning July 1, 2007.

“Although three decades of my professional life have been spent at the University of Minnesota,” said Dr. Klausner, “the opportunity to lead New York’s Animal Medical Center is too good to pass up.  The AMC ranks with the city’s great medical and cultural institutions, extending its influence far past its geographic boundaries.  The vibrancy of New York City; the sheer number and variety of cases that pass through AMC’s doors; and the potential for future greatness as The Animal Medical Center embarks on its next 100 years, all make for a profoundly exciting time ahead.”

With over 50,000 patient visits per year, The Animal Medical Center is New York City’s largest veterinary hospital, with medical, surgical and emergency services available 24/7, 365 days a year.  Founded in 1910, the not-for-profit AMC has 87 veterinarians on staff, 32 of them board-certified.  The Animal Medical Center additionally pioneers research in animal health, and provides coveted educational opportunities.  In March, the USDA approved conditional licensure for a canine melanoma vaccine co-developed by Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, The Animal Medical Center, and Merial. The same month, The AMC opened a center for New York City’s first-ever Rehabilitation and Fitness Service.

“We look forward to welcoming Dr. Jeffrey Klausner to New York,” said Cynthia Phipps, board chair of The Animal Medical Center.  “We are excited by his past accomplishments, and his vision for our future.  We look forward to introducing him to our full Board, as well as our supporters, and for his potential to inspire the admiration of our clients and alumni nationwide.”

Under Dr. Klausner’s tenure as dean, the visibility and national stature of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine has been enhanced. The college budget increased from $44 million to more than $70 million, and research expenditures more than 10 percent, due to significant increases in both NIH and USDA funding. Private gift giving more than doubled, enabling the creation of an endowed chair in comparative oncology and increasing the number of student scholarships.

Dr. Klausner joined the faculty at the University of Minnesota as an assistant professor in 1977 and served as chair of the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences from 1988 until 1998. He received his bachelor of science degree from the University of Maryland in 1968, doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 1972, and master of science degree from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 1977.

Dr. Klausner is board certified in internal medicine and oncology. His research interests include prostatic neoplasia, immunoabsorptive therapy in canine malignancy, transfusion medicine, and informatics. His research grants totaled more than $1 million over his career and published work includes 64 refereed journal articles, 20 non-refereed journals, and 28 book chapters. Dr. Klausner has presented more than 54 continuing education programs.

Dr. Klausner received the President’s Award from the American Veterinary Medical Association in  July 2006. He is active in the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges and has served on the board of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Council on Research, the Humane Society, and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.  He received the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association’s Veterinarian of the Year Award in 1999 and in 2005 he received a Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.

Subject to Animal Medical Center Board approval, Dr. Klausner will succeed Dr. Guy Pidgeon, who resigned early last year. Ms. Gleniss Schonholz has served as interim president/CEO of The Animal Medical Center while a national search was underway. Information about the Animal Medical Center of New York can be found online at www.amcny.org.

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