ASPCA Names Dr. Steven R. Hansen Chief Operating Officer

NEW YORK—The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today announced the promotion of Dr. Steven R. Hansen to the new position of Chief Operating Officer. Dr. Hansen will oversee all ASPCA program areas, as well as a majority of the organization's infrastructure teams. He will report directly to ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres.

"Dr. Hansen is an accomplished executive with a strong record of achievements, both with the ASPCA and the animal welfare community at-large," stated Mr. Sayres. "During his 13 years of dedicated service to the ASPCA, Dr. Hansen has become an invaluable resource for the organization and has developed a profound understanding of the issues affecting companion animals in our world today. We look forward to his contributions in this new capacity."

Dr. Hansen joined the ASPCA in 1997 as Vice President of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center in Urbana, Ill. and most recently served as the ASPCA's Senior Vice President of Animal Health Services, a division dedicated to providing pet health and wellness information to pet owners. Under his leadership, the Animal Poison Control Center and Information Technology teams launched the AnTox database in 2000—the country's first and only comprehensive animal toxicology database that features over one million case studies—greatly increasing the ability to save poisoned pets with cases exceeding 150,000 annually.

With Dr. Hansen's support, the ASPCA's Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinics performed over 30,000 surgeries in 2009, and the Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital served a record-breaking 15,000 pets in New York City.  He was the primary spokesperson for the ASPCA on toxicology issues during the 2007 nationwide pet food recall, connecting toxicology experts with the public and speaking regularly to the media.

As Chief Operating Officer, the programs Dr. Hansen will oversee include Anti-Cruelty Initiatives, Community Outreach, Capital Projects, Human Resources, Finance and Information Technology. He also will continue to supervise the Animal Health Services programs, which include Spay/Neuter Initiatives, Animal Poison Control Center, and Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital.

"I've always been passionate about the ASPCA's mission and look forward to serving in this new role," said Dr. Hansen. "The ASPCA's programs and services provide life-saving support to companion animals in New York City and across the United States, and I'm excited to be part of their future development."

Prior to joining the ASPCA, Dr. Hansen was the Director of Veterinary Research and Support for Wellmark International. He also practiced clinical medicine in suburban Houston and Chicago. Dr. Hansen is board-certified by the American Board of Toxicology (DABT) and the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology (DABVT), is a Distinguished Practitioner in the National Academies of Practice, and holds an adjunct appointment at the University of Illinois' College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Hansen earned his BS and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from Iowa State University and his MS in Veterinary Medical Science (toxicology) from the University of Illinois. Dr. Hansen also earned an MBA from the University of Illinois.

Dr. Hansen currently serves on the Scientific Advisory Committee on Alternative Toxicological Methods, and is Treasurer of the Organizing Committee of the American College of Animal Welfare.