New leadership takes helm at Faculty of Veterinary Medicine on 1 January 2026

Dean Olli Peltoniemi has named the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine’s vice-deans to serve from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2030.

Olli Peltoniemi, what issues and goals will you be prioritising during your new term as Dean? 

Our key goals include maintaining and enhancing the quality of teaching and research. Both are currently under separate assessment by international panels: we are awaiting the RAUH report on research and the ESEVT report on teaching. Achieving these qualitative goals is challenging, as quantitative metrics dominate the indicators and funding mechanisms of both the Ministry of Education and Culture and our Faculty. At the same time, it is important that our staff are aware of the indicators and act accordingly to ensure our operational and financial success. 

We must also invest in workplace wellbeing and inclusivity. In this area, the senior leadership have a crucial role in overseeing the operational environment to enable productive interactions, revamp operations and promote effective new practices across the Faculty. We have a lot to do, as student numbers increase and new master’s and doctoral programmes in One Health are launched.

Riikka Keto-Timonen

My role is Senior University Lecturer in Food Hygiene, researching food-poisoning bacteria and their management across the food chain. My current duties have also led me to engage in small-scale pedagogical research. As Vice-Dean, I will oversee academic affairs and digitalisation. 

What issues and goals will you be prioritising as you continue in your role as Vice-Dean?

The Faculty’s teaching is undergoing a major transformation. Student intake is increasing, and we are preparing to launch a new international Master’s Programme in One Health with five other faculties. The recently redesigned specialist veterinary training will continue to evolve in response to feedback. These changes necessitate the wider use of innovative teaching methods, practical models, virtual learning environments and digital solutions to support learning. I aim to ensure our teachers are supported in adopting new methods and can use the opportunities afforded by digitalisation. Pedagogical skills are our strength, and we will work together to develop practical solutions that facilitate teaching, enrich the student learning experience, and promote the wellbeing of students and staff alike. The upcoming international education assessment, ESEVT, will be an important milestone. Accreditation is not simply a formality; it signals that our education meets international standards and evolves to meet the needs of students and society at large.

Anna Mykkänen

My role as Associate Professor of Equine Diseases includes teaching equine medicine to veterinary students and specialising veterinarians. My group conducts respiratory tract research, focusing on equine asthma. I have additionally studied sleep disorders and rest in horses. As Vice-Dean, my responsibilities will include public engagement, fundraising and bilingual affairs.

What issues and goals will you be prioritising as you begin your new role as Vice-Dean?

The Faculty’s operations have a natural and extensive connection to society, both through caring for sick animals and through our work in food and environmental safety. For me, it is important to strengthen our networks and impact to support sustainable animal husbandry and welfare going forward. 

Heli Simojoki

I am Professor of Ruminant Health, in a joint appointment with the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry. My research focuses on bovine infectious diseases. Last term, I served in the same position as Vice-Dean at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, with responsibility for infrastructures and clinical learning environments.

 What issues and goals will you be prioritising as you continue in your role as Vice-Dean?

Student numbers at the Faculty are set to increase in the coming term, which will bring on a number of changes. As students develop and practise their clinical skills at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, its seamless operation will be essential for the Faculty, even with larger cohorts. Maintaining and improving research infrastructures, both within the Faculty and via shared equipment, supports teaching and research. However, the Faculty should consolidate its shared-use practices.

Tarja Sironen

I am Professor of Emerging Infectious Diseases, a position shared by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the Faculty of Medicine. My research seeks a broad, multidisciplinary understanding of why disease outbreaks and pandemics are occurring with increasing frequency, with the goal of finding ways to reverse this trend. Last term, I served as Vice-Dean for Public Engagement. While my current role focuses on research and doctoral education, my portfolio continues to include sustainability, responsibility and One Health issues. 

What issues and goals will you be prioritising as you begin your new role as Vice-Dean for Research?

In this new position, I aim to safeguard the Faculty’s research resources and opportunities. As research funding evolves, I want to ensure that our researchers have access to a broad range of funding options. The Faculty has long been a pioneer in multidisciplinary research at the University of Helsinki, and I am determined to maintain this through new initiatives, such as the multidisciplinary Doctoral Programme in One Health.