July 19, 2013
New OAW Director Announced
the University of Washington’s Office of Animal Welfare
July 19, 2013
Dear UW Animal Care and Research Community,
After a nationwide search involving an extremely qualified group of candidates, I am pleased to announce that Dr. Sally Thompson-Iritani will be the new Director of the University of Washington (UW) Office of Animal Welfare (OAW) effective August 14, 2013.
Dr. Thompson-Iritani will lead the Office of Animal Welfare with accountability and oversight for all administrative, business, operations, and regulatory components of the Office of Animal Welfare and all administrative functions and support for the UW Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). She will serve three primary constituencies in her capacity as Director; the University of Washington research community, the appropriate regulatory and oversight bodies, and the University of Washington administration. As Executive Director of Health Sciences Administration and Institutional Official, I look forward to working with her to meet the needs of these groups as a means of supporting the larger University mission.
Dr. Thompson-Iritani earned her D.V.M. degree from Iowa State University and completed the Laboratory Animal Veterinarian Training Program in the UW Department of Comparative Medicine. She received her Ph.D. in Environmental Health/Toxicology from the UW in 1996. Dr. Thompson-Iritani is interested in the Office of Animal Welfare as an environment where she can effectively apply her interest and experience in animal welfare, compliance, state-of-the-art science, veterinary medicine, conflict management, communication and continuous process improvement. Her education and training combined with over 16 years’ experience with biomedical research firms have provided Dr. Thompson-Iritani with a robust background in managing IACUCs, laboratory animals and records, scientific projects, training programs and personnel from diverse backgrounds, education and experience. Throughout the extensive interview process, she underscored her interest and passion for working at the intersection of the IACUC, animal welfare and science.
I would like to thank the Director Search Committee for their diligent work resulting in a very successful search: Drs. Thea Brabb, Denny Liggitt, Caroline Harwood, Jane Sullivan, Laurence Istvan, David Emery and Preston Van Hooser and Peggy Smith. I was privileged to serve as Chair for this group and benefited from their thoughtful, committed approach to the best practices search and selection. Over 50 individuals invested their time and attention in candidates’ interviews and seminars, providing critical feedback that was integral to the final outcome. Dr. Laurence Istvan has capably served in the role of Acting Director since Dr. Nona Phillip’s retirement June 1st of this year. He will continue in his primary role of OAW Assistant Director for Operations and work with the skilled and dedicated OAW personnel to facilitate a smooth and effective transition.
Please join me in welcoming Sally back to the UW and to this important role.
Sincerely,
David M. Anderson, D.V.M.
Executive Director, Health Sciences Administration