Kathleen H. Goeppinger, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, Midwestern University has announced an expansion of the senior management of the University as it continues with carefully planned growth and ever-expanding graduate healthcare programs.
Teresa Welch Fossum, D.V.M., M.S., Ph.D., DACVS, has assumed a new position as the Vice President of Research and Strategic Initiatives, and Kathleen N. Player, Ed.D., M.S.N., M.B.A., MS-C, has accepted the position as Vice President, Chief Academic Officer, College of Health Sciences.
Dr. Fossum holds doctoral degrees from Washington State University (D.V.M.) and Texas A&M University (Ph.D., Veterinary Microbiology), and has been an educator for over 30 years. Most recently, she served at Texas A&M as Vice Chancellor for Global and Corporate Partnerships. She was also the founder and former director of its Institute for Preclinical Studies, and served as the Director of Clinical Programs, Cardiothoracic Surgery and Biomedical Devices, at the Michael E. DeBakey Institute. While Dr. Fossum’s administrative duties will be directed to Midwestern University at large, her extensive experience in veterinary medicine and surgery, research, and innovative development will make her an invaluable consulting resource for the leaders of the new College of Veterinary Medicine on the Glendale Campus. Dr. Fossum is the author of the veterinary textbook “Small Animal Surgery,” considered to be a definitive resource on the topic.
Named one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Arizona Business in 2012, Dr. Player began her career in healthcare as a psychiatric nurse and mental health counselor and most recently served as President, Chief Academic Officer, and Provost for Grand Canyon University. Dr. Player was instrumental in shepherding the rapid, sustained
growth GCU has experienced, and in overseeing successful accreditation bids for several programs. Dr. Player has a long history of community service and healthcare advocacy. She is also a member of several boards and associations including the Board of Directors of Scottsdale Healthcare, and was appointed by Governor Jan Brewer to Chair Arizona’s Commission for Post-Secondary Education. Dr. Player received her Ed.D. from Argosy University in Sarasota, Florida, and her M.S.N. and M.B.A. from GCU.
“The addition of such talented and experienced administrators means that Midwestern University is well-positioned to move forward in its ever-expanding mission to educate tomorrow’s healthcare team,” said Dr. Goeppinger.
Midwestern University now hosts nearly 6,000 graduate-level students of healthcare professions between its two campuses in Glendale and Downers Grove, Illinois. The University’s new College of Veterinary Medicine in Glendale is slated to welcome its first class of 100 students this fall, and will be the first school offering the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) degree in the state of Arizona.
