UF appoints Thompson interim dean

GAINESVILLE, FLA. - 3/1/06 - James Thompson, DVM was named interim dean of the University of Florida (UF) College of Veterinary Medicine Feb. 20.

Thompson was appointed by Drs. Douglas Barrett, UF's senior vice president for health affairs, and Jimmy Cheek, vice president of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, after former dean Joseph DiPietro announced his resignation for a position in Tennessee.

"Dr. Thompson is a longtime faculty member and an alumnus of the college," Barrett and Cheek said in a joint statement to college faculty, staff and students.

Thompson received his DVM from UF. He also completed a residency in small animal internal medicine at UF prior to joining the faculty in 1986.

Thompson is board certified in the specialties of internal medicine, immunology, virology, microbiology and oncology. He has won numerous awards for teaching and research and has served as academic adviser to dozens of veterinary students, residents and interns during the past 20 years.

"My focus as interim dean will be to carry forward the plans that Joe DiPietro has established with the expansion of the Veterinary Medical Center's Small Animal Hospital as a major objective," Thompson said in a prepared speech.