a lumni Partner to Help Their Community

Dr. David Russell, class of 1997, and Sherril Stone, who graduated from OSU with a doctorate in experimental psychology in 2001, are partnering to teach a dog-bite prevention course to Tulsa elementary students.

Stone, who teaches the class, had a problem housing the dogs while she worked on campus as assistant professor and director of research in the Department of Family Medicine at the Center for Health Sciences.

Now, while she works, Russell boards the dogs at no charge at the Small Animal Clinic of Tulsa, the practice he set up three years after graduation.

“This is the first time we have partnered with OSU on a local project, but it’s working well,” Russell says.

So well, in fact, that Russell has agreed to help Stone again when she prepares to provide pet therapy to nursing homes, hospitals, elder care facilities and grief centers in the Tulsa area.

“Dr. Russell will get his chance to work with more exotic animals when we begin the pet therapy sessions because I will need a place for Pringles, my potbelly pig, and Pixie, my pygmy goat. Along with the dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pig, Pringles and Pixie are a hoot and are always loved by everyone who meets them,” Stone says.

“I am very grateful for Dr. Russell’s assistance. Without it I could not continue to provide the pet programs to benefit the citizens of Tulsa.”

DerinDa Lowe

Following in Their Footsteps

Other than being members of the Class of 2007, Daniel Eisenhour, Trace Kirkpatrick and Josh Posey have at least one more thing in common. All three of their fathers are also OSU DVM graduates. When asked what drew them to veterinary medicine, the three father-son teams expressed some common themes as well.

Charles and Daniel Eisenhour

By the time Charles Eisenhour, class of 1977, was in the seventh grade, he knew he wanted to be a veterinarian. “Following graduation, I joined a private mixed animal practice in El Reno, Okla., and I’ve been there ever since,” he says.

“You work with all kinds of animals in a mixed practice — both small and large,” Charles says. “It keeps things interesting. It’s good to know my training and experience have allowed me to help others.”

“As a kid, I was always going on calls with my dad,” Daniel says. “I guess since high school, I figured I would probably be a vet. I thought about being a pilot or an ag engineer. When I started taking animal sciences classes in college for my undergraduate degree, I really liked it.”

For Daniel, it’s the unlimited choices veterinary medicine offers that drew him into the field.

“Veterinary medicine has a lot of freedom. There are so many different things you can do,” Daniel says. “With a wide variety of opportunities available, you can pick your specialty.”

Charles is pleased Daniel is studying to be a veterinarian. “Of course, it would make me happy if he joined me in this practice, but it’s his decision. He helps out quite a bit here at the office. He’s a hard worker, sharp and pretty intuitive. Daniel doesn’t miss much,” he says.

Doug and Trace Kirkpatrick

For Doug Kirkpatrick, class of 1977, the decision to join the veterinary medicine profession came a little later in life. “I think I was a junior or senior in high school when I decided on becoming a veterinarian,” he says.

Doug, who has a mixed animal practice in Elgin, Okla., says he finds the work very gratifying.

“I enjoy the contact with the people. I like working with the pets or animals they make their livelihood from,” Doug says. “It’s rewarding to help them.”

It was after high school when Trace made the choice to study veterinary medicine. “I worked for my dad at his practice over the years,” he says. “I liked it, so it wasn’t a giant leap for me.”

It’s the variety that makes being a vet so appealing to Trace.

“I like that you get to deal with clients and with patients,” he says. “You interact with a wide range of people. The change of pace keeps it interesting.”

“I hope he will go into practice with me,” Doug says. “It’s kind of like owning a farm. You farm, and if you have kids, you hope one of them will grow up and take over the farm. Otherwise, what do you do with it? Our veterinary practice is an extension of us. Maybe he won’t immediately join me after graduation but at some point, I hope he does.”

James and Josh Posey

James Posey, class of 1978, wasn’t even planning to become a veterinarian.

“I started out studying plant genetics,” James says. “Sometime during college, I decided to switch to veterinary medicine. I had worked on farms and had family in the cattle business, so I had been around animals all my life. It was a natural choice.”

James, who has a small animal practice in Yukon, Okla., says he is glad he chose his career path. “It’s not the same any two days in a row. You get to problem solve and see results. It has also provided a good family life for us.”

Josh also started out majoring in biology and chemistry at OSU before switching to animal science. He says it’s the interaction between him and his clients that attracts him to the profession.

“It seems like people look at you differently when you’re a veterinarian,” he says. “As a veterinarian, they look at you and see a hometown guy they respect. Everyone treats you like you are a friend, a neighbor, and I like that,” he says.

James is taking a very active role in Josh’s veterinary training, assigning him at least one project a day, whether it is something to research or a procedural question to solve. “He knows enough now after two years in veterinary college, that he brings something to the table,” James says. “He questions me. I am very proud that Josh has chosen to be a veterinarian.”

DerinDa Lowe