Local veterinarian and Cherokee County Coroner Dr. Jeremy Deaton, has been named a Collaborating Instructor at Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
A Cherokee County native and 2013 alumni of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Deaton has returned to the school to teach an elective class entitled Engaging Under-Served Communities in Veterinary Service. This course is designed to introduce the future veterinarian to the challenges and rewards associated with provision of veterinary health care to under-served communities.
It will consist of didactic lectures intended to stimulate dialogue with key partners and with service experiences that will help the student progressively build the confidence, skills and knowledge necessary to provide veterinary services to underserved communities.
This vision started several years ago when Dr. Deaton began working with Dr. Dougie Macintire and Dr. Dawn Boothe as an undergraduate student on mission trips around the world.
Their vision to help underserved communities led to the development of this course. Students begin the semester designing a “mobile veterinary clinic” model which culminates at the end of the semester with the students implementing their models in different locations around the state. This semester, clinics were held in Centre, Crossville, and Guntersville Alabama.
Services provided included free or discounted Rabies and parvo vaccines, heartworm testing, deworming, toe nail trims, physical examinations just to name a few of the services provided.
Over 250 animals were treated over the three clinics. Dr. Boothe states that “Dr. Deaton provides the students with a practical approach to the provision of quality wellness care these well loved pets deserved.
” Dr. Deaton states that while he understands he has plenty of jobs around Cherokee County, this position is one he is very excited about. “Just four years ago I was sitting in their seats at Auburn. Having the chance to go back and teach is truly one of the highlights in my career thus far.” Deaton goes on to say “this gives me the chance to give back to my alma mater and help influence the next generations of veterinarians, which may actually be a scary thought!”
