Leading Department of Defense veterinarian joins Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine faculty

22 Dec 2010

Dr. Gary Vroegindewey, former director of the U.S. Department of Defense Veterinary Service Activity and assistant chief in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps, has joined the faculty of the Center for Public and Corporate Veterinary Medicine, part of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.

Vroegindewey brings to the college a wealth of global health experience ranging from working in key roles with dairy production in South America, food safety in Egypt, and Avian Influenza global planning to developing international training programs for the Middle East. He currently serves as an advisor to the Committee on International Veterinary Affairs-American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and is the incoming chairman of the International Affairs Committee-Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges. He was awarded the 2010 AVMA XIIth International Congress Prize for contributions to understanding of global veterinary medicine.

In his new position, Vroegindewey will develop and teach new courses, create experiential opportunities for students and graduates, and build strategic partnerships among the public, private, and professional sectors. In addition, he will lead branding, marketing, and communications capability programs to promote the Center for Public and Corporate Veterinary Medicine.

“We are thrilled that Dr. Vroegindewey is joining us as we expand the activities of the center,” said Dr. Valerie Ragan, director of the center. “He is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in veterinary public health and disaster management and brings incredible experience in leadership and organizational development.”

Vroegindewey served in a variety of senior Veterinary Corps positions, including as director of Department of Defense Veterinary Services with policy, oversight, and interagency coordination of veterinary services worldwide through more than 700 Army veterinarians and 2000 support personnel and culminating as Assistant Chief of the Veterinary Corps in the Office of the Surgeon General-Army. He has published numerous articles on veterinary professional development and has delivered more than 200 presentations on food safety, disaster management, one health, global strategic environment, and international public health. He is past president of the American Veterinary Medical History Society.

Vroegindewey began his career in 1978 in private clinical practice including service as associate, partner, and owner of multiple practices. He received a bachelor's degree in zoology from the University of Missouri and a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Missouri-College of Veterinary Medicine in 1978. He is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and holds a Master of Strategic Studies Degree from the Army War College.

The Center for Public and Corporate Veterinary Medicine, located on the University of Maryland, College Park campus, trains veterinary students from North American veterinary colleges for careers in public practice.