The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine

Public Relations

Karen Cornell selected as a distinguished alumna of the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine

Oct. 29, 2009

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Dr. Karen Cornell, acting director of the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital, was recently selected as a distinguished alumna of the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine.

Cornell received her DVM from Purdue University in 1988. She then spent two years in private practice before returning to the School to complete an internship and residency in small animal surgery. After being board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and then earning her doctoral degree in 1998, Cornell accepted the position of assistant professor of soft tissue surgery at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. Within five years, she was named surgery section chief and was promoted to her present rank of associate professor. She has since earned a national reputation for excellence in veterinary medical instruction.

Dr. Cornell, third from the left in this photo, performing surgery to place a pacemaker into a pet dog.

"We especially recognize her for her generous, unselfish, and inspirational teaching of veterinary students, house officers, faculty, and practitioners worldwide," said Willie Reed, dean of the Purdue veterinary school. "She has played a key role in teaching and improving communication skills in veterinary schools and veterinary practice."

Cornell is the recipient of the David Tyler Award for Advances in Teaching and has twice received the Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teaching Award. She was awarded a prestigious Lilly Fellowship from the University of Georgia in support of her development of advanced teaching technologies. She has been a leader in developing materials for teaching communications skills through the Institute for Healthcare Communication. She was selected to participate, and subsequently take on a training role, in the Institute's Veterinary Training Project.

In additional to her teaching duties, Cornell is a highly-skilled surgeon and collaborator with Project Safe, a support program for victims of domestic violence.

The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, founded in 1946, is dedicated to training future veterinarians, to conducting research related to animal diseases, and to providing veterinary services for animals and their owners. Our research efforts are aimed at enhancing the quality of life for animals and people, improving the productivity of poultry and livestock, and preserving a healthy interface between wildlife and people in the environment they share.

Our current Teaching Hospital, built in 1979, serves more than 18,000 patients per year in one of the smallest teaching hospitals in the United States. The College is currently working to raise $15 Million toward building a new Veterinary Medical Learning Center, which will include a new teaching hospital as well as classrooms and laboratories that will allow us to educate more veterinarians.

More veterinarians are needed to promote food safety and protect public health, and to provide veterinary services for farm and companion animals owned by a rapidly growing regional population. The College enrolls 102 students each fall out of more than 550 who apply. Our goal is to increase enrollment to 150 when the Veterinary Medical Learning Center is built.

For more information, read Purdue's original press release here.

This page was last updated on November 2, 2009.