Personal Statement

Dr. Sandy Bushmich is a veterinarian. Following 3 years in mixed animal practice, she joined the Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science at the University of Connecticut (UCONN), where she spent most of her academic career. Her research and veterinary diagnostic laboratory interests focus on zoonotic infectious diseases, including Lyme disease, West Nile encephalitis, and avian influenza. Dr. Bushmich has served as past Director and Diagnostic Testing Services Section Head at the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL) at UCONN. She has longstanding interest and experience in undergraduate education and academic advising, and is currently enhancing work in these areas as Associate Dean for Academic Programs in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources at UCONN.

Employment

3/2017-current: Associate Dean for Academic Programs, College of Agriculture, Health & Natural Resources, UCONN
1/2014- 3/2017: Section Head, Diagnostic Testing Services, Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
6/2011-12/2013:Director, Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Connecticut
9/2009-6/2011: Interim Director, Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Connecticut
4/07-current: Professor and Extension Veterinarian, Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut
9/98-9/2009: Section Head, Diagnostic Testing Services, Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
9/94-3/07: Associate Professor and Extension Veterinarian, Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of CT
l/88-8/94: Assistant Professor and Extension Veterinarian, Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of CT
ll/86-ll/87: Colchester Veterinary Hospital, Colchester, Connecticut, Mixed Practice, Staff Veterinarian
ll/84-ll/86: Cortland Veterinary Hospital, Cortland, New York – Small Animal Practice (AAHA) – Staff Veterinarian
02/86-ll/86: Veterinary House calls for Pets, Ithaca, New York – Proprietor of Small Animal House Call Practice

International Activities

April, 2015: CAHNR Education Abroad Program Development Grant awarded to develop faculty–led summer Education Abroad course “Global One Health: US and Irish Perspectives. First offering scheduled for May, 2017.

June, 2014: Invited international teaching scholar, Sichuan University, Peoples Republic of China (teaching Animal Disease course to undergraduate students)

Fall, 2011: Visited 4 AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) accredited veterinary colleges in the United Kingdom and Ireland to develop veterinary school opportunities for UCONN students as part of a 2011 UCONN Faculty Development Abroad Grant with Drs Zinn, Faustman and Milvae

Fall semester, 2010: Sabbatical training at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, Australia (see below). Also visited the University of Melbourne Veterinary College and the Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, Geelong, to investigate teaching, learning and research opportunities.

Specialized Training

• Australian Animal Health Laboratory, a national reference veterinary diagnostic & research facility operating at BSL3/4, Sabbatical leave training, Fall 2010
• LEAD-21 Land Grant Institution Leadership Training, 2009-2010
• USDA APHIS Avian Influenza Wild Bird Surveillance Training, 2007
• Northeast Regional Avian Influenza Surveillance Training (Program Coordinator),2007
• AAVLD Diagnostic Laboratory Assessment Training, 2005
• Northeast Regional Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Surveillance Training, 2004
• Bioterrorism Awareness Training (Center for Food Security and Public Health), 2003
• Sabbatical Leave training with USDA APHIS in Emerging and Foreign Animal Diseases, 2001
• Foreign Animal Disease “Professor’s School”; Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Plum Island, 2001
• Executive Fellowship in Science, Politics and Animal Health Policy, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine & Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 1998-2000

Teaching & Research Experience

Academic Interests

• One Health
• Pathogenesis, Transmission, Clinical Disease and Diagnosis of Lyme Disease in Horses and Dairy Cattle
• Emerging Tick-borne Diseases
• Equine West Nile Virus: Diagnostics, Surveillance and Vaccine Development
• Development of Diagnostic Tests
• Emerging Disease Surveillance and Diagnostics
• Emergency Preparedness

Teaching Experience

1988-2017: PVS 202/2301, Health and Disease Management of Domestic Animals (solo);
SAPB 015/301,Diseases of Domestic Animals (Associate Degree program, alternate years)
1988-2004 Pathobiology and Veterinary Science 200, Anatomy & Physiology of Domestic Animals (solo)
2005 Pathobiology and Veterinary Science 200, Anatomy & Physiology of Domestic Animals, (team taught, 50%)
2003 Pathobiology and Veterinary Science 295 W, Seminar Writing Course, (team taught, 50%)
1998-99, 2007-present INTD/UNIV 1810: Freshman Skills Seminar (solo), Pathobiology
2008-current, Pathobiology and Veterinary Science 1000, Biomedical Issues in Pathobiology

Awards

1992 Donald M. Kinsman Award for Excellence in CANR/RHSA Teaching by Junior Faculty, UCONN
1994 UCONN Agriculture and Natural Resources Alumni Association Award for Excellence in Teaching
1994-95 National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Teaching Award of Merit
2006 University of Connecticut Outstanding Faculty Advisor

Patents

US patent # 5985595: Diagnostic Test for Early Stage Lyme Disease. S.L.Bushmich and H. M. Krider, 1999.
European Patent # 01979758.8-2107-US0131948, “Bandage using Molecular Sieves” Suib, Bushmich, Wu, 2003

Current Service Work (Selected)

• UCONN University Scholar Selection Committee (2016- current)
• AAVMC (American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges), Executive Board Member, Veterinary Science Department Representative and Institutional Representative (2014-current)
• AAVLD (American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians) Executive Board, Northeast Region Representative (2012-current)
• UCONN Storrs-UCONN Health Center Mind-Body Faculty Interest Group, Core (founding) member, 2015-current
• University of Connecticut Senate, member, (2000-2003, 2005, 2010-current)
• University of Connecticut Senate Diversity Committee, member (2011-current)
• University of Connecticut College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Diversity Committee, member (2013-current); chairperson: 2008-2010
• Pathobiology Undergraduate Committee, Chairperson (2000-current)
• Faculty Advisor for UCONN Pre-Vet Club (2004-current)
• Chair of PVS Undergraduate Student Committee (2004-current)
• Pre-Vet Advisor for UCONN Medical School Post Baccalaureate Program (2003-current)
• Transfer Student Liaison for Pathobiology (1998-current)

Service Work (Selected, Past)

• University Emergency Operations Plan “Agriculture, Natural Resources and Animal Care” Annex review committee member (2016)
• Allied Health Sciences, PTR committee member (2016)
• University Senate General Education Task Force, Member (2015-2016)
• CAHNR- Internship Committee, member (2014)
• CVMA (Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association) Executive Board Member (2014-2016)
• USDA Challenge Institutional Enhancement Grant review committee (2006)
• UCONN Institutional Biosafety Committee (2004 ~2010)
• PVS PTR committee, including chairperson (multiple times, last chaired committee 2012-13)
• CAHNR PTR committee, including one year as chairperson ~2004