A Message from Sam Gilbert, ENG'11, V'15
Penn Vet Alumni Board President
Leadership and vision: defining characteristics of Penn Vet that draw individuals from all over the world — researchers, clinicians, students, and pet owners — to our campuses. Penn Vet has consistently maintained its place at the forefront of both the education and practice of veterinary medicine while continuously looking ahead for ways to transform animal health and human health alike. As alumni, we try to carry this spirit into the many diverse areas of practice in which we have chosen to apply our skills and passions.
Like many others, I came to Penn Vet from a nontraditional background, and since graduation have continued on a nontraditional path. The single uniting element across my journey as both student and alum has been the close connection I have felt to the school’s dedication to excelling in the “here and now” while prioritizing transformative forward thinking. I like to think that I understood and embraced this mentality while I was in school, but I have come to fully appreciate it since joining the alumni ranks, and particularly through my time serving on the Penn Vet Alumni Board.
The Penn Vet Alumni Board is a group of nearly 30 alumni comprising graduates spanning six decades and representing numerous career paths and interests. The Board’s goal is to enhance the alumni experience by identifying areas to promote engagement and support of students and alumni throughout their journeys. We want to ensure that all alumni feel connected to the School and empowered through our network to find the connections and resources they need. In my new role as Alumni Board President I am continuing to work closely with our Board leadership, Dean Hoffman, Alumni Relations, and Institutional Advancement, among others, to bring the excitement we feel about Penn Vet’s present and future to all of you. There is plenty of opportunity for us to improve how we provide support, and we truly want to hear from the Penn Vet community, so please do get in touch with any feedback or just to say hello.
I am eager to read the latest edition of Bellwether, which always seems to deliver the information and perspective to help us readers feel a part of the dynamic day-to-day environment at Penn Vet. Penn Vet continues to charge ahead, leading us into the future on a global scale. I look forward to doing my part as a proud alum and help keep the momentum going.
Go Quakers!