PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 11, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and the Aresty Institute of Executive Education at the Wharton School today announced a groundbreaking leadership development program that prepares veterinarians for making a greater contribution as leaders in public health and related arenas. The Executive Veterinary Leadership Program is the first of its kind, combining the knowledge and experience of a veterinary school with that of a business school to take a global view of the leadership roles veterinarians must hold in the public health field. Program emphasis is on preparing veterinary thought-leaders to become business and public health leaders, and the partnership between Penn's two schools will facilitate this transformation. The inaugural program will run from June 7 through June 12, 2009.
"Veterinarians play a critical yet often misunderstood and underappreciated role in today's global health arena," says Dr. Joan C. Hendricks, the Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. "Today, more than 60 percent of emerging diseases for humans are zoonotic in origin -- they can be transmitted between or shared by animals and humans. Therefore veterinarians want to be -- and need to be -- partners for disease control and other major global health, biosecurity and food supply issues; this program is about helping them get a seat at the table."
As issues such as avian flu and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) continue to be key concerns for public health officials worldwide, both the need and the opportunities for veterinarians to become part of the international debate have grown. While veterinary medicine continues to deal with critical issues such as infectious disease, many veterinarians themselves have not yet had the opportunity to influence public discourse beyond their practices. This five-day leadership development program will give veterinarians a comprehensive blueprint for making an impact as public health leaders -- beginning with a broad overview of the profession and culminating with a personalized action plan for continued post-program development. The program draws on the expertise of current veterinary leaders in global health as well as the Wharton School's preeminent faculty and thought-leading leadership content.
THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine is one of the world's premier veterinary schools. Founded in 1884, Penn Vet was built on the concept of Many Species, One Medicine(tm). The birthplace of veterinary specialties, the school serves a distinctly diverse array of animal patients, from pets to horses to farm animals, at our two campuses. In Philadelphia, on Penn's campus, are the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital for companion animals, as well as classrooms, laboratories and administrative offices. The large-animal facility, New Bolton Center, in Kennett Square, Pa., encompasses hospital facilities for the care of horses and food animals as well as diagnostic laboratories serving the agriculture industry. Penn Vet has successfully integrated scholarship and scientific discovery with all aspects of veterinary medical education.
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EXECUTIVE EDUCATION AT THE WHARTON SCHOOL
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania -- founded in 1881 as the first collegiate business school -- is recognized globally for intellectual leadership and ongoing innovation across every major discipline of business education. The most comprehensive source of business knowledge in the world, Wharton bridges research and practice through its broad engagement with the global business community. The School has more than 4,600 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students; more than 12,000 annual participants in executive education programs; and an alumni network of more than 84,000 graduates.
Informed by in-depth, groundbreaking academic research and extensive industry experience, Wharton Executive Education programs can span anywhere from a few days to six weeks or longer. Each executive education program offers a supportive and challenging context where participants gain the skills necessary for their next level of executive development. Participants who come to Wharton from a diverse range of industries engage with faculty who are the most cited, most published faculty of all top-tier business schools. With a profound influence upon global business, Wharton faculty are the sought-after, trusted advisors of corporations and governments worldwide.
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