July 29, 2021

Vet med leader named associate vice president and attending veterinarian

Debra Hickman will join Purdue on Aug. 2 as the associate vice president and attending veterinarian, directing the University program for laboratory animal resources in the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research and Partnerships.

The appointment of Hickman as associate vice president demonstrates a strong commitment to enhancing Purdue’s research and education programs. In her role, Hickman will advance excellence in research and education by providing oversight and direction to ensure the highest standards of animal care across the University. Her team also will support the education and training of faculty, staff and students in the humane care and use of animals.

Hickman also will hold a position as a clinical professor in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology within the College of Veterinary Medicine. As part of this role, she will lead Purdue’s efforts to establish a unique residency training program in laboratory animal medicine that includes rotations at a partner university and a company in Indiana.

“We are delighted that Dr. Hickman will take on the responsibility for our university-wide animal program,” says Theresa Mayer, executive vice president for research and partnerships. “Dr. Hickman’s depth of experience in administrative leadership, as an educator, and work as an active researcher make her uniquely positioned for this position.”

Hickman joins Purdue from Indiana University, where she has served as the director of the Laboratory Animal Resource Center and attending veterinarian for the School of Medicine since 2009. She is also the principal investigator of several sponsored research programs that focus on enhancing the well-being of animals used in research with a focus on the euthanasia and housing of laboratory rats. She previously spent eight years as the chief of veterinary services for the VA Medical Center in Portland, Oregon. She is also the president elect of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM).

One of Hickman’s goals at Purdue will be to partner with scientists whose work cross-cuts a wide variety of disciplines. She also will focus on ensuring that Purdue has the appropriate infrastructure to support ongoing research and teaching, while innovating solutions that will aid in recruiting additional faculty.

“As a funded researcher, I understand the challenges in seeking funds to support ongoing projects,” says Hickman, who is a member of the Council on Accreditation of AAALAC International. “It is possible to minimize the administrative burden for faculty while still meeting expectations from the public for the humane use of animal models, including oversight to protect the well-being of these animals.”

Hickman holds specialty certifications in two veterinary specialties: American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM) and American College of Animal Welfare (ACAW).


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