Baljit Singh appointed dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Baljit Singh as dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary (UCVM), effective Sept. 1, 2016. Dr. Singh is an innovative and well-respected leader who will continue to build the faculty’s prominence and strong reputation.

Dr. Singh is a highly accomplished researcher, educator and administrator in the field of veterinary medicine, with specific expertise in lung biology and anatomy. He brings an eclectic and integrated background to the UCVM, developed through training and experience both internationally and in Canada. He also brings a thorough understanding of both veterinary medical education and the veterinary medical profession in Canada. He joins our Faculty of Veterinary Medicine after serving as associate dean of research at the University of Saskatchewan since 2011, where he cultivated a natural curiosity that will make him an inquisitive and thoughtful leader.

His formal education includes a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (BVSc and AH) and Master of Veterinary Science (MVSc) from Punjab Agricultural University in Punjab; a PhD from the University of Guelph; postdoctoral training at Texas A&M University and Columbia University, New York; and he completed licensing requirements set by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) and American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) for foreign veterinary graduates.

As an excellent educator of veterinary science, Dr. Singh has received the 3M National Teaching Fellowship, the University of Saskatchewan’s Provost’s Prize for Innovative Practice of Teaching and Learning, University of Saskatchewan Master Teacher Award, and the Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teacher Award. He has also received the Outstanding Veterinary Anatomist Award from the American Association of Veterinary Anatomists, as well as the Pfizer Award for Research Excellence. In 2013 he was named a fellow of the American Association of Anatomists.

Dr. Singh’s research has focused on cell and molecular biology of lung inflammation. He is the author or co-author of more than 90 peer-reviewed journal articles and books, and has supervised the research training of more than 80 undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students. 

“I am deeply honored to be selected as the dean of the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM). The University of Calgary has a stellar reputation globally, and UCVM has quickly garnered recognition for its programmatic innovation in education of veterinary medical students through the Distributed Veterinary Learning Community model,” stated Dr. Singh. “I am excited that the faculty has outstanding opportunities to lead in veterinary medical education and knowledge-creation to solve complex animal and human problems at the local, national and international level. I commit to serving the university, the UCVM and its many stakeholders with passion, collegiality, and collaborative leadership.”

I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to the members of the Advisory Search Committee, which I chaired, for their contributions to the extensive international search for this position. The committee included Andre Buret, vice-president (research) representative; Gordon Atkins, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine representative; Nigel Caulkett, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine representative; Emma Read, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine representative; Patrick Whelan, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine representative; Jessica Theodor, General Faculties Council representative; Benedikt Hallgrimsson, General Faculties Council representative; Dianne Tapp, decanal representative; Joanne Forden, AUPE representative; Janet Webb, MaPS representative; Stephan Guscott, undergraduate student representative; Paul Rogers, Faculty Association (TUCFA) representative; Kevin MacAulay, community representative (Alberta Veterinary Medical Association); and Christie Simpson, community representative.

Dr. Singh succeeds Dr. Alastair Cribb, who will complete his term as dean of UCVM on June 30. Dr. Cribb has done an outstanding job as the inaugural dean for UCVM. He’s been a superb advocate for the faculty — both internally and externally — creating numerous key connections within the local, national, and international community. His leadership is described as inspiring and visionary by UCVM students, faculty and staff. Under Dr. Cribb’s direction, the faculty grew from a promising, enterprising startup to a unique and well-respected faculty offering community-based and research-intensive learning opportunities to its students. Due to Dr. Cribb’s ongoing pursuit of excellence, UCVM is regarded as one of the top research veterinary medical schools in the country. The UCVM’s Distributed Veterinary Learning Community represents an innovation in education that is a model for other veterinary medical schools to emulate. We thank Dr. Cribb for his many contributions over the past decade.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Baljit Singh as the new dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

Dru Marshall
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)