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<>A veterinary pathologist with a distinguished career in the military and industry
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Could you introduce yourself to our members?
I am a retired veterinary clinical pathologist from Greenboro, Georgia, USA, living on beautiful Lake Oconee. I am originally from Baltimore, Maryland. I have been married to my wife, Kimberly, for 47 years and we have a 17-year-old domestic shorthair cat named Beadie Boy.
Could you briefly summarize your career?
I attended the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia and, after graduating, I was commissioned as a Captain in the US Army Veterinary Corps. After my initial assignment in applied toxicology, I was stationed in Nuremburg, Germany, to perform clinical and public health duties. I then entered an anatomic pathology residency at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) in Washington, DC.
Once board certified, I was assigned to the Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, MD. From there, I returned to the University of Georgia for a combined residency and PhD in clinical pathology. I spent the remainder of my 22-year military career at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) in Silver Spring, MD and my final job as a Colonel was serving as the Director of the Division of Pathology.
I worked for a few years for a small biotech company before joining Merck Research Laboratories (MRL) in West Point, PA as the Global Lead for Clinical Pathology. I retired from MRL after 11 years when I was elected as President-Elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Currently, I am doing volunteer work for the AVMA, WSAVA, WSAVA Foundation, Knights of Columbus, and my community.
When and why did you first get involved with the WSAVA?
I was first introduced to WSAVA when I attended WSAVA Congress in Denmark as AVMA President. I continued my interactions with the WSAVA leaders at other international meetings. I was impressed with how WSAVA was growing it membership and codifying its processes. When a position was announced for the Leadership and Nomination Committee (LNC) I applied and was selected. The name has changed to the Membership and Nomination Committee (MNC) and I became Chair last year.
What have you most enjoyed about it?
The interactions with the volunteers both electronically and in person at the Congress. They are all very engaged and dedicated to doing their best for their committees and the WSAVA.
You’ve recently become Chair of the Membership and Nomination Committee. Could you explain its work?
The MNC is an administrative committee of WSAVA. We are responsible for providing the Executive Board, Assembly and other Committees with recommendations on applications for EB and Committee membership, formation of new committees, governance processes, and the selection of the Meritorious Service Award recipient. We also perform the dubious task of ‘other duties as assigned.’
What advice would you give an individual WSAVA member interested in getting more involved with our work or even joining a committee?
Please do it! It can be very rewarding to interact with colleagues around the world. Your time will be well spent, helping the leaders of the WSAVA to serve its members.
What do you enjoy doing outside work to relax?
Living on a lake, we enjoy boating. We also love to travel and attend sporting events, especially US college football games at the University of Georgia. Go Dawgs!
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