Dean King takes temporary CDC post

Dr. Lonnie King, dean of the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, started a yearlong appointment this February as director of the new Office of Strategy and Innovation at the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

The office was created to enhance and expand aspects of the CDC's strategic planning process and to accelerate the strategic, creative, and innovative thinking spawned during that process, according to an agency memo.

For the past year, Dr. King has consulted with the CDC's National Center for Infectious Diseases on strategic and work force planning, as well as helping integrate veterinary medicine and animal health into public health.

As OSI director, Dr. King will be working in the office of CDC Director Julie Gerberding, MD. The new division has five teams focusing on goals management, health equity, strategy and policy, innovation, and evaluation.

He will also help develop the CDC's legislative agenda. The agenda's aim is to educate Congress about agency programs and issues and to develop support, financially and legislatively.

Dr. King's assignment to the CDC is made possible through the Intergovernmental Personnel Act. The law makes individuals available to the government for special assignments while still maintaining their connection to their home institutions.

Dr. King expects to be back on the Michigan State campus every few weeks, and he will continue to be connected to major college issues. The IPA agreement permits him to devote 10 percent of his time to the veterinary college and Michigan State during his CDC appointment.

Dr. Janver Krehbiel is serving as acting dean in Dr. King's absence. Dr. Krehbiel has been the veterinary college's senior associate dean for the past five years and has served in other administrative positions in the past, including acting dean. He is a member of the AVMA Council on Education.