Veterinary Medicine Family Style The phrase, “Purdue Veterinary Medicine family” has a very literal meaning for some graduates of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. Over the years a number of second generation veterinary students have followed in their parents’ footsteps, while others share Purdue Veterinary Medicine ties as brothers and sisters, or spouses. The following stories give a personal look at a few of these teams of Purdue veterinary alumni, revealing how they have carried the concept of the Purdue Veterinary Medicine “family” far beyond the walls of Lynn Hall. by Kevin Doerr
The Coolman Story When Dr. Roy Coolman completed veterinary school as a member of the Class of 1965, he and his classmate and soon-tobe business partner, Dr. David Thoma, were focused on starting their own veterinary practice in Fort Wayne. The prospect that someday Roy would welcome his own son into the practice as a partner and colleague was barely a thought. More than 45 years later, that “thought” is a fact that has become a part of the Coolman and Purdue Veterinary Medicine “family” history. This fall, Dr. Coolman was honored as a recipient of the College’s highest honor for alumni, the Distinguished Alumnus Award. His family was on hand for the Awards Celebration held during the annual Purdue Veterinary Medicine Fall Conference. The gathering of family on that occasion reflected the Coolman’s longstanding family approach to veterinary practice—one in which quality relationships are paramount. Roy’s son Bradley remembers that he was considered the most likely one of his siblings to follow in his father’s footsteps. “I was most apt to go to the clinic with Dad, whether just tagging along or spending a day off of school with him,” recalls Bradley. “Mom’s first recollection of my interest in a veterinary career dates back to when I was in the 8th grade and the goat I was raising for my 4-H project died. She remembers me saying that ‘if I was a veterinarian, that would not have happened!’” Being sensitive to their children’s interests without pushing them in a particular direction was very important to Roy and his wife Nancy. Roy remembers, “When Bradley decided to go to veterinary school, he expressed interest in coming back to our practice, but it was always his decision. No pressure.” Bradley says his ultimate goal definitely was to come back to Fort Wayne to practice with his Dad. But he knew that when he did that, he would stay in Fort Wayne, so taking advantage of chances to see and experience other opportunities had to come first. After earning his DVM degree at Purdue in 1992, Bradley completed an internship at Auburn University, and then served three years in the Army, working with the military police dog program. Knowing that time was marching on, and realizing that the opportunity to work with his Dad would not last forever, Bradley left the military and enrolled in a surgery residency at the University of Illinois.
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— 2011 PVM Report —
Meantime, Roy and his long-time business partner, David, were working on arrangements that would enable Bradley to come on board. “It was always his decision whether he would come back to Fort Wayne to practice here. But with a multiple person practice, everyone had to be on board to make that happen. So, when Bradley indicated he wanted to come back, we had to start planning for it.” Bradley’s success in achieving board certification as a surgeon also was a critical part of the plan. Bradley realized that it would help him to be most effective at his Dad’s practice if he had his own credentials and expertise—and had established himself as his own person. The wisdom of that approach became evident as Bradley did join the practice.
(left-right) Dr. Bradley Coolman and his mother, Nancy Coolman with Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient Roy Coolman and PVM Dean Willie Reed.