About Us

News

Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine Dean Announces Retirement

David J. DeYoung Retires After Eight Years of Service

04/11/11

David J. DeYoung, DVM<br> Dean<br> Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine<br> <a href=http://www.rossu.edu/news/Ross-University-School-of-Veterinary-Medicine-Dean-Announces-Retirement.cfm#DeYoung>View Bio</a>

David J. DeYoung, DVM
Dean
Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine
View Bio

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, April 11, 2011—David J. DeYoung, DVM, dean of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, has announced his retirement from the University, effective September 30, 2011. Beginning May 9, he will move to a new position of dean emeritus, serving in an advisory role with the University. This public announcement follows the personal announcement DeYoung made to the faculty earlier today.

“Throughout the past eight years, I have been fortunate to work with an amazing team of faculty and administration,” said DeYoung. “I am very proud to have been a small part of Ross University. Together we have created change and improved our veterinary program for the benefit of our students. I just hope that I have given as much to the school as the students, faculty and staff have taught me.”

DeYoung and his wife, Bonnie, moved to St. Kitts in 2003 when he accepted the position as dean of the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. Since he began his tenure with RUSVM, DeYoung has focused on improving the veterinary program both academically and structurally. Under his leadership, the school added facilities to support program development including a student residency complex, multiple classrooms, a student union, a Pre-K-12 grade preparatory school and a large animal complex. In addition, the faculty and staff were increased to match the enhancements to the curriculum, such as the introduction of communication and clinical skills programs and the integration of clinical competency training throughout the curriculum. Research was strengthened to support the student educational experience and to address critical issues in public health, epidemiology, and marine/wildlife conservation throughout the Caribbean region and beyond.

“Dean DeYoung had the foresight to strategically build the veterinary program at Ross University. Under his direction, the school has seen remarkable change leading to enhanced student competence, increased national examination scores and more recently the achievement of AVMA accreditation,” said Thomas C. Shepherd, DHA, president of Ross University. “Dean DeYoung would be the first to tell you he didn’t do it alone, but his leadership and vision is the reason this program is so successful today.”

Recently RUSVM’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree program received full accreditation status from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education (COE). DeYoung was responsible for focusing the school’s mission and goals toward strengthening the research and academic programs to meet the AVMA COE standards.

DeYoung also improved the University’s contribution to St. Kitts and Nevis by increasing its community veterinary educational activities. RUSVM has supported programs such as PAWS (People for the Animal Welfare on St. Kitts) and the St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network. With the increased research, the University has also partnered with the St. Kitts government on a number of projects in public health, including mosquito and Dengue fever surveillance.

The DeYoung’s plan to retire to Raleigh, N.C. (USA) and are looking forward to traveling and enjoying more time with each other. The two are also excited to be able to spend more time with family and their island-adopted dog, Shamrock.

Ross University has engaged international executive search firm SpencerStuart to lead the selection process and work with senior management, the Board of Trustees, and representatives from RUSVM faculty and administrators. The official search announcement and committee team will be announced later this week. President Shepherd has appointed Gil Burns, DVM, the current dean for Faculty and Academic Programs, to serve as interim dean following DeYoung’s departure. DeYoung will continue in an advisory role with the University as dean emeritus.

###

Media Contact:
Jodi S. Peeler, Assistant Dean for Communications & External Relations
Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine
US VOIP: 732-481-4482 * Cell: 869-662-3375
jpeeler@rossvet.edu.kn


About Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine
Ross University is a provider of medical and veterinary education, offering doctor of medicine and doctor of veterinary medicine degree programs. Founded in 1982 and located in St. Kitts, West Indies, the School of Veterinary Medicine is accredited by the St. Christopher & Nevis Accreditation Board and the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education to offer the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree program (AVMA COE, 1931 North Meacham Road, Suite 100, Schaumburg, IL 60173, 847-925-8070). The School of Veterinary Medicine is affiliated with 22 AVMA-accredited U.S. veterinary schools where students complete their clinical year. The University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital is the only facility outside the U.S. and Canada accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association.

About David J. DeYoung, DVM
Dr. David J. DeYoung served as professor of surgery and dean of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) from 2003 to 2011. DeYoung’s strategic planning and vision helped align the school’s mission and goals in strengthening the educational program. His commitment to academic and infrastructure improvements in the veterinary program lead to RUSVM receiving accreditation status from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education (COE) in March 2011—the first school in the Caribbean region to receive that status.

Under DeYoung’s leadership, the school built additional facilities to support program development including a student residency complex, classrooms, a student union, a Pre-K-12 grade preparatory school, and a new large animal teaching complex. Educational technology was improved and the size of the faculty and staff more than doubled in the seven years during his tenure. DeYoung also managed the revision of curricular changes and implemented new courses in the veterinary program, such as the introduction of communication and clinical skills—some of the first of their kind in the academic arena—and the integration of clinical competency training throughout the curriculum. He also initiated the school’s research program to support the student educational experience and to address critical issues in public health, epidemiology, marine/wildlife conservation throughout the Caribbean region and beyond.

DeYoung also made significant improvements in the University’s contribution to St. Kitts and Nevis community through outreach and research. Radio programs, visits to local schools, support of programs such as PAWS (People for the Animal Welfare on St. Kitts) and the St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network all important to the community.

DeYoung’s career has included seven years in private practice and more than 40 years in academic veterinary medicine. Prior to joining RUSVM, he held several different faculty and administrative positions, including associate professor of orthopedic surgery and chief of surgery, Michigan State University; professor and chief of surgery, Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University; and associate dean and director of veterinary medical services, North Carolina State University.

Over the course of his career, Dr. DeYoung has taught and conducted research in the areas of anesthesiology and cardiovascular and orthopedic surgery. His professional accomplishments include helping to train 30 residents in surgery and anesthesia, presenting more than 40 lectures to local, regional, and state veterinary associations; delivering scientific papers at 23 national meetings and 24 international meetings; contributing to six textbooks; and authoring 65 scientific journal articles, poster presentations, and abstracts.

Over the last 20 years, Dr. DeYoung’s research interests have focused on the modes of failure of total hip prostheses and the development of cementless hip implants. His laboratory and clinical research led to the development of two different cementless total hip replacement systems for research and for clinical use in dogs.

In recognition of his achievements, Dr. DeYoung has received many awards and accolades, including the Education and Science Trust Fund Award by the Michigan State Veterinary Medical Association; the Distinguished Veterinarian Award for Lifetime Achievement by the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association; the Norden Teaching Award for Excellence in Teaching; the Teaching Innovation Award for the development of cortico-cancellous plastic bone models for teaching orthopedic surgery; and being inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame at Bay City Central High School.

DeYoung received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Michigan State University and is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists, and a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. He and his wife, Bonnie, will retire to Raleigh, N.C. (USA) and are looking forward to traveling and enjoying more time with each other. The two are also excited to be able to spend more time with family and their St. Kitts island-adopted dog, Shamrock.

 

Back