By American Farriers Journal

Less than a week after installing a new dean of the college of veterinary medicine, Cornell University has named a new director of the animal hospital.

Lori Warnick, the Austin O. Hooey Dean of the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, promoted Meg Thompson, associate clinical professor of imaging, to hospital director after serving as the interim director since August 2015.

“Under Dr. Thompson’s interim leadership, we have continued to move forward on strategic evaluation of hospital facility needs, assessment of information technologies to facilitate hospital missions, and evaluation of hospital staffing needs,” Warnick says. “Her administrative experience, understanding of hospital operations, and extensive work with regional veterinarians put her in an excellent position to take on the director role.”

A member of the Cornell faculty since 2006, Thompson earned her doctorate of veterinary medicine degree from the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and completed her clinical training at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital and the University of Florida. She is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiology.

Thompson has served as director of continuing education (CE) for the past 4 years; guided technology infrastructure decisions; participated in college expansion planning, and served as imaging section chief and as a medical director on the hospital executive committee.

Thompson took an indirect path to veterinary medicine. She has an artium baccalaureus degree in architecture from Smith College and a master of education in counseling psychology from Boston University.

“My undergraduate training is helpful when considering facility needs,” Thompson says. “My masters inspired my interest in human resources, staffing and management. And my background in radiology helps me evaluate our technology needs.”