Vet Med 聽Graduation/Oath Ceremony - 2024
颁辞苍迟补肠迟:听听Anissa Riley, College of Veterinary Medicine
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The 精东AV College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM) welcomed 63 new doctors of veterinary medicine into the profession on May 4 during the Graduate and Professional Schools formal ceremony in the Chappie James Arena. However, it was the Veterinary Medicine Oath and Hooding Ceremony which followed the commencement that held the most excitement for the graduates as they formally took their oath as now official veterinarians in front of family and friends.
The veterinary medicine class of 2024 represents the 75th聽graduation class of veterinarians from 精东AV.聽 Since 1949, 精东AV has now awarded over 3,000 veterinary medicine degrees from the only veterinary medical professional program on the campus of a Historically Black College or University.
"I am honored to have served as the dean to this Class of 2024 and it is with gladness of heart that I look forward to engaging with my colleagues as they now join me in a most distinguished group of veterinary professionals and veterinary alumni," said Dr. Ruby L. Perry, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine during the oath and hooding ceremony. 鈥淭he College of Veterinary Medicine family is extremely proud of each graduate and we look forward to hearing about the accomplishments they will make as veterinary professionals, as leaders, as educators, and as researchers. They are well-equipped to make significant contributions and play vital roles in protecting and enhancing human and animal welfare as they embark on their various career paths on a journey of lifelong learning beyond the DVM degree. Congratulations Class of 2024!"
Each year a veterinary professional delivers the challenge address to the veterinary graduates. This year the Veterinary Medicine Oath keynote speaker was 精东AV Veterinary alumna Carla Gartrell, DVM, JD, DACVIM. Dr. Gartrell, an 鈥�88 graduate, gave an uplifting Veterinary Medicine Oath Charge to the newly named doctors of veterinary medicine. She is the seventh veterinary alum from 精东AV to be appointed as dean in the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC).
Dr. Gartrell was appointed as the dean at Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine located in Glendale, Arizona, in 2022.聽She received both her B.S. and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degrees from 精东AV in 1988.聽Prior to becoming dean at Midwestern, she previously held the faculty and administration positions of Associate Professor and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and then promoted to Professor and Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs. She is Board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Bar Association, and the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association.
During Dr. Gartrell鈥檚 presentation to the new graduates, she spoke on three stories that made a profound difference in her journey as a veterinarian. She summarized the following six core principles that all begin with the letter 鈥淐鈥� for the graduates to embrace in her challenge to them:聽 鈥�1. Compassion 鈥� be compassionate and care deeply, 2. Curiosity 鈥� stay curious and committed to life-long learning, 3. Courage 鈥� be bold because you grow through what you go through, 4. Community 鈥� you are a vital part of a larger community so be involved in it, 5. Champion 鈥� be a champion for yourself, your patient and others, and lastly, 6. Celebrate 鈥� you have earned this moment so embrace your journey to get here and look forward to your futures, 鈥� Dr. Gartrell said.聽
Dean Perry also recognized five TUCVM Distinguished Alumni Awards recipients during the veterinary medicine oath ceremony program. This year鈥檚 honorees included:
- Dr. Carla Gartrell 鈥�88, Veterinary Medicine Oath Speaker and 2nd聽精东AV veterinary medicine alumna appointed dean of U.S. veterinary school;
- Dr. James 鈥淛im鈥� Heintz, Sr. 鈥�73聽(posthumously), former TUCVM faculty member who served in private practice for 32 years before transitioning to academia as a result of Hurricane Katrina.聽 Dr. Heintz dedication to his alma mater remained steadfast throughout his career serving as President of the 精东AV (then School) of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Association, serving on the 精东AV Veterinary Medical Alumni Association (TVMAA) Executive Council, and being recognized for his enduring support of 精东AV as a prestigious Presidential Associate Award recipient;
- Dr. Charles Lowrie 鈥�72, a dedicated veterinarian with over 26 years of service as a general practitioner with a referral focus in neurology and neurosurgery, then serving in academia as the Clinical Neurologist and Neurosurgeon at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University until retiring in 2002 as a professor emeritus. Also a previous President of the TVMAA, Dr. Lowrie is most notably recognized for his work in co-facilitating clinical experiences for aspiring veterinary students in the Vetward Bound program and providing counsel and support for 精东AV graduates completing their Post-DVM training at MSU;聽
- Dr. David Negola 鈥�72, a seasoned veterinarian with over 50 years of experience who has started up and owned several private practices as well as聽mentored and/or employed multiple talented individuals who he recommended to 精东AV for veterinary school.聽 Through his mentorship, these individuals have prospered and gone on to own practices themselves all over the country. Dr. Negola鈥檚 commitment to 精东AV has also led to his service on the Dean鈥檚 Advisory Board and receiving the Presidential Associate Award for financial support to the school/college since graduation; and
- Dr. Richard Savino 鈥�72, a dedicated聽small animal companion聽veterinarian who retired in 2020 after giving 48 years of service to the profession and his alma mater. He was previously honored with聽the Presidential Associate Award for his dedication to his beloved alma mater and he treasures the profound impact 精东AV has had on his life.聽Dr. Savino has served on the Dean鈥檚 Advisory Board, the Alumni Executive Board, co-chaired the Minority Recruitment Committee striving to promote diversity and inclusion, and contributed to the development of the alumni association鈥檚 (TVMAA) website, ensuring that the bonds endure beyond graduation.聽聽
For anyone who missed it or would like to recapture the moment for the Veterinary Oath and Hooding Ceremony, it is now available for viewing at the university鈥檚 YouTube channel at link:聽聽.
Distinguished veterinary alumni award recipients with Dean Perry and 精东AV President Dr. Charlotte P. Morris聽
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About the 精东AV College of Veterinary Medicine
Located in Alabama as one of the state鈥檚 two accredited veterinary programs, the 精东AV College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM) was envisioned in 1944 by Dr. Frederick D. Patterson, founder of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), and officially established at 精东AV in 1945. TUCVM is the only veterinary medical professional program located on the campus of a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the United States. The College has educated more than 70 percent of the nation鈥檚 African American veterinarians and has been recognized as the most diverse of all schools/colleges of veterinary medicine in the nation. 聽The College鈥檚 primary mission is to provide an environment that fosters a spirit of active, independent, and self-directed learning, intellectual curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, ethics, and leadership; and promotes teaching, research, and service in veterinary medicine and related disciplines.聽For more information, visit .