Timothy Boosinger
Phone: 334-844-3694
E-mail: boositr@vetmed.auburn.edu
Dr. Boosinger has served as Dean of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine since 1995. He was Associate Dean for Academic Affairs 1993-95 and Interim Dean 1995-96, before being appointed Dean on January 1, 1997.
He earned his DVM degree from Purdue University in 1976, followed by an active-duty tour with the U.S. Air Force. He then worked in private practice before returning to Purdue in 1979 to begin work on his Ph.D. in veterinary pathology. He received his Ph.D. in 1983 and joined Auburn as an assistant professor in the Department of Pathology. He earned certification from the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 1987.
Dr. Boosinger serves on the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Council on Education, the accrediting body for all 28 North American veterinary schools, and on the national Diabetes Trust Fund board of directors. He also serves on the Agricultural Disaster Research Institute board of directors and is an associate director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station.
Under his leadership, the College of Veterinary Medicine has made more than $41 million in capital improvements (exclusive of the $13.5 million State Diagnostic Laboratory). Research programs have grown by an average of more than 20 percent in each of the last five years, from $3.9 million in 2000 to $10.6 million in 2004, including a portion of a three-year project for the Center for Disease Control. Currently there are 111 research projects receiving outside support; 51 of these are new awards. In addition, there is more than $1.5 million in internal funding from the food animal health and disease research program, the Office of the Vice President for Research, and the Scott-Ritchey Research Center. In 2001, the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Alabama Department of Agriculture State Diagnostic Laboratory finalized a new cooperative agreement for a new laboratory that will contain both BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories. The College also made a significant investment in improving its facilities and administrative structure to obtain prestigious accreditation by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care.
Leadership and Service (2000-2005)
Chair, Committee on International Affairs, Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, 1996-2003
Member, Board of Directors, Diabetes Trust Fund, 1996-
Secretary, Board of Directors, Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
Liaison for the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges on the American Veterinary Medical Association's Council on Education, 2001-2007
Chair, Task Force on Accreditation, Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, 2003-2007
Member, Veterinary Medical College Application Service, Executive Committee, 2000-
Member, Board of Directors, Agricultural Disaster Research Institute, 2003-
Member, American Veterinary Medical Association Task Force on Global Accreditation, 2004-
University:
Chair, Search Committee for Dean of College of Liberal Arts
Chair, Search Committee, Executive Associate Director, Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, 2001
Chair, Board of Directors, Environmental Institute, Auburn University, 2002
Member, I-85 Corridor Development Initiative, 2003-
Member, Ad hoc Committee on Faculty Salary Incentives, 2002-2003
Member, Ad hoc Committee on Clinical Track Faculty, 1999-2000
Member, University Budget Advisory Committee, 1999-2000
Member, Ad hoc Committee on Non Tenure Track Faculty, 1998-1999
Associate Director, Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, 1998-
Coordinating Dean (one of four) for University Peak Programs on Detection and Food Safety, and Cell and Molecular Biosciences, 1999-
Instruction
Fall, Veterinary Medical Ethics, 1 credit hour, 17 lectures
Spring, Veterinary Medicine and the Law, 1 credit hour, 17 lectures
Research Interest
Dr. Boosinger's research interests include the pathophysiology of Campylobacter sp. and Helicobacter sp. infections in the gastrointestinal tract of pigs. Studies have been conducted in gnotobiotic, specific pathogen free and conventional pigs using light microscopy, electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. The pig has been studied as a model for human infections with Helicobacter sp. Recent additional research programs have included studies of the pathophysiology of hard tissues. These studies have included evaluation of intra-articular anti-adhesion compounds, virus inactivation procedures for bone grafts, cruciate ligament allografts, safety of synthetic cruciate ligaments and carbon based composite hip protheses and cryopreserved meniscal allografts.
Selected Publications:
Boosinger TR, Thacker HL, Armstrong CH. Campylobacter sputorum subspecies
mucosalis and Campylobacter hyointestinalis infections in the intestine of
gnotobiotic pigs. American Journal of Veterinary Research 46:2152-2156,
1985.
Dillon AR, Boosinger TR, Blevins WT. Campylobacter enteritis in dogs and
cats. Compend Contin Educ Pract Vet 9:1176-1184, 1987.
Boosinger TR, Powe TA. Campylobacter jejuni infections in gnotobiotic pigs.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 49:456-458, 1988.
Boosinger TR, Blevins WT, Heron JV, Sunter JL. Plasmid profiles of six
species of Campylobacter from humans, swine and sheep. American Journal of
Veterinary Research 51:718-722, 1990.
Boosinger TR, Dillon AR. Campylobacter jejuni infections in dogs and the
effects of erythromycin and tetracycline on fecal shedding. Journal
American Animal Hospital Association 28:33-42, 1992.
Shealy PM, Milton JL, Kincaid SA, Hathcock JT, Boosinger TR, Pernell RT.
Osteochondral fragmentation (osteochondrosis) of the canine patella.
Veterinary Clinical Orthopedics and Traumatology 5:114-21, 1992.
Milton JL, Montgomery RD, Terry GC, Flandry F, Boosinger TR. Results of
animal research using allographic tissues. Journal of Arthroscopy 1993.
Dillehay DL, Paul KS, Boosinger TR, Fox JG. Enterocecocolitis in a hamster (Mersocricetus auratus) colony associated with Escherichia coli and Campylobacter-like organisms. Laboratory Animal Science 1993.