Nation's Largest Private Veterinary Practice

Portland, Oregon ~ Dr. William J. Novak, DVM, MBA, Diplomate ABVP, who holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Kansas State University, has been named Chief Medical Officer of Banfield, The Pet Hospital, the nation's largest private veterinary practice. Board-certified by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, he began his career with Banfield, The Pet Hospital, in 1996 as Chief of Staff of the practice's Arlington Heights, Illinois, hospital, and also served successively in the posts of Field Counselor, Director of Quality Assurance, and Vice President for Medical Development and Quality Assurance.

Dr. Novak also holds a Bachelors in Business Administration from Wichita State University and a Masters in Business Administration from Oklahoma City University. Prior to joining Banfield he managed a successful small animal practice in Kansas and provided veterinary practice management consulting services to other practice owners.

"Dr. Novak and our practice have grown tremendously together, and the expansion of his responsibilities reflects both his past accomplishments and our expectations for the future," said Banfield Chairman and CEO, Scott Campbell, DVM. "The cornerstone of our practice is and always will be excellent veterinarians - and Will is an excellent veterinarian!"

"We're tremendously fortunate to have in Dr. Novak a man of exceptional medical skill and management capability," added Banfield President and COO Kregg Hanson.

As Chief Medical Officer Dr. Novak will set the strategic medical direction - and oversee all quality assurance and education operations - for a practice consisting of 410 full service hospitals and clinics. Among these responsibilities will be developing medical standards and doctor training, conducting and reviewing client satisfaction surveys, peer reviews, medical records reviews, preventive care reviews, annual education symposiums, continuing education programs, field training operations, and a new internet based training module that will be rolled out in 2001. He will oversee the practice's board certified medical consultants and medical counselors, who provide management and training programs for all of the doctors in the practice. Dr. Novak will also continue to teach Banfield's certified anesthesia education program, which is required of all doctors working in the practice.

An initial priority for Dr. Novak will be managing the practice's recent switch (from the older generation of isoflouraine products) to Abbott Laboratories' Propofol and Sevoflurane products for all procedures requiring general anesthesia.

"We push ourselves hard to lead the practice of veterinary medicine in terms of quality, innovation, and learning about Pet health," said Dr. Novak.  "From clinical research to proprietary data collection and patient care software, from in-house, continuing education programs to a quality improvement program, everything we do is in the service of making life better for families and Pets."