Phillip D. Nelson, DVM, PhD; Western University of Health Sciences
Former Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences
Dr. Phillip D. Nelson earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Jackson State University in 1980, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee Institute in 1979, and a Doctor of Philosophy from North Carolina State University (Immunology/Biotechnology) in 1993.
Dr. Nelson has had an active career in teaching, research and academic veterinary medicine. His research has focused on feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus infections in cats as biological models for human HIV, and the development of immunity in the dog and cat.
He has served as Associate Dean, Professor of Academic and Public Affairs, and Interim Dean at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University, and as Acting Head, Department of Small Animal Medicine, Surgery and Radiology at Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine. In 2005, he became Executive Associate Dean for Preclinical Programs of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences. In 2007 he became Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine a position he held through 2022, having recently shifted back to a teaching role. He is a past member of the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates of the American Veterinary Medical Association, and is a consultant on diversity and member of the Multicultural Affairs Committee of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC). As a member of the AAVMC Dr. Nelson serves as chair of the Advocacy Committee and on the Finance Committee as Assistant Treasurer. Dr. Nelson served as president of the AAVMC July of 2017 through March of 2018.
Dr. Nelson has a long standing interest and engagement in advancing non-surgical sterilization alternatives for cats, dogs and farm animals.
Dr. Nelson is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Norden Award for Distinguished Teaching in Veterinary Medicine and the Pegasus Award for Distinguished Clinical Instruction at Mississippi State University, Distinguished Alumni Award from Tuskegee University, and the John Payne Industry Leadership Award. In 2020, Dr. Nelson received the NC State Veterinary Medicine Distinguished Alumni Award.
