Andrew Hoffman has been named the next Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, effective Aug. 1.

The announcement was made today by Penn President Amy Gutmann and Provost Wendell Pritchett.

Hoffman is an acclaimed researcher, clinician, teacher, and mentor who is now director of the Regenerative Medicine Laboratory and professor of large animal internal medicine at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. 

“Andy’s career,” Gutmann said, “exemplifies the enormous potential of an integrated One Health approach to biomedicine: uniting clinicians and scientists from multiple professions and perspectives to increase knowledge and drive improvements in global public health, human and animal well-being, and environmental sustainability and resilience.

“He has a long and distinguished track record and an exciting vision for the role of veterinarians and veterinary schools in research universities and society,” she said. 

At Tufts, Hoffman has energetically contributed to all areas of veterinary research, teaching, and clinical care. His leadership of regenerative medicine and stem cell research programs resulted in important contributions to both animal and human health, demonstrating the profoundly positive impact of veterinary research. He regularly mentored faculty with an interest in clinical translational research and helped colleagues fully appreciate the career options available to them thanks to the versatile skills provided by a veterinary education.

Also at Tufts, Hoffman helped build and lead the first outpatient pulmonary function testing laboratory for equine and canine patients in the world, which provided world-class care for animal patients while also making important contributions in developing animal models of human pulmonary disease. The ongoing revolution in the treatment of severe human emphysema – increasing length and quality of life for patients and decreasing the morbidity and mortality of lung volume reduction treatment – traces in part to the work of Hoffman and his colleagues.

An accomplished scholar and clinician, Hoffman has served as director at Tufts of its Regenerative Medicine Laboratory since 2012. From 2005 to 2012, he served as director of the Stem Cell Laboratory. He has led the Tufts Lung Function Laboratory for more than 20 years and also served for five years as director of the Tufts Equine Sports Medicine Program. 

Hoffman has significant clinical experience in large animal (dairy-equine) practice and at Tufts in caring for and investigating animals as diverse as dogs, cats, horses, sheep, camelids, rodents, dolphins, and wildlife. He has led and served on numerous school- and university-wide committees, including chairing the Cummings School’s Admissions Committee and the Tufts Retiree Health Benefits Committee of the Faculty Senate.

“We look forward to working with Andy as he collaborates with faculty, staff, students, overseers, and alumni to build on Penn Vet’s remarkably distinguished history and potential,” Pritchett said.

Hoffman is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, past president of the Veterinary Comparative Research Society, and a member of the International Society for Stem Cell Research. His research programs have received continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health for nearly 20 years. He has authored more than 100 publications, including many in leading scientific and clinical journals. 

Hoffman earned his undergraduate degree with honors in biology from the University of Delaware, received his veterinary degree from Cornell University, and holds a doctorate in veterinary science from the University of Guelph in Canada.

The selection of Hoffman concludes a global search to identify a successor to Joan Hendricks, who is stepping down after serving as dean since 2006.

“We profoundly appreciate Joan’s superb service to Penn Vet and to Penn,” Gutmann said. “Joan was one of the first women to become dean of a veterinary school in the United States and has served on the Penn faculty for more than 30 years, where she garnered international acclaim for her work in veterinary clinical care and in the biology of sleep.” 

As dean, Hendricks embraced Penn Vet’s important relationship with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with her indefatigable efforts to show policymakers and citizens across the state what an essential and integral role veterinarians play in ensuring public health and food safety, guarding against bio- and agro-terrorism, and working to protect the environment.