The College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences welcomes Dr. Daniel Smeak, the new Director of the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Dr. Smeak, who comes to Colorado State University from The Ohio State University, officially began his duties on August 1.
“I’d like to thank Dr. Dean Hendrickson who served as our interim director until Dr. Smeak was able to join our faculty,” said Dr. Lance Perryman, Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “Dr. Hendrickson did an excellent job and provided an invaluable service to the College. We now are pleased to have Dr. Smeak on board and we look forward to his leadership as the Veterinary Teaching Hospital enters a time of rapid growth and development, with expanding programs in research, teaching and clinical services.”
Dr. Smeak was a Professor of General Surgery in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, at the Ohio State University. He also served as Director of the FCDAC Medicine and Surgery Program. Dr. Smeak obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Michigan State University, where he graduated with high honors. He received his bachelor’s degree in veterinary sciences from the same university. As a new veterinary graduate, Dr. Smeak studied at CSU in the internship program at the hospital. He went on to receive a residency certificate in small animal surgery from The Ohio State University in 1984. He joined OSU’s faculty that same year as an assistant professor. He has since served as section head of small animal surgery and professor. Two years ago, he received a Fulbright scholarship and lived and worked in Finland for six months.
“It is a privilege to represent one the most premier veterinary teaching hospitals in the United States,” said Dr. Smeak. “The James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital has world-renowned faculty and staff, and provides some of the most comprehensive, cutting-edge animal care available anywhere in the world. Along with providing outstanding service and teaching, the hospital also offers advanced treatment and research on spontaneous diseases in animals.”
The first item of business Dr. Smeak is working on as he begins his work as director is the selection of a new hospital administrator. The director and administrator, he notes, will work closely together to ensure the hospital runs smoothly, efficiently, and in the most beneficial way to faculty, students and clients. He’ll also be working closely with planning committees on the College’s ambitious building program for the Veterinary Medical Complex.
A Diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, Dr. Smeak specializes in small animal soft tissue surgery, such as surgeries on the head, neck and ear, as well as oncologic surgery and exotic animal surgery. His research focuses on surgical implants, wound healing and contamination, the role of antibiotics in surgery, and surgical training methods. Also an expert in developing innovative teaching techniques, Dr. Smeak has extensive experience in teaching including instruction in emergency and intensive care, surgery, surgical anatomy, veterinary pharmacology related to antibiotics, surgical pathology, raptor rehabilitation and exotic animal surgery, and emergency and intensive care veterinary medicine.
As part of his goal to improve teaching methods in veterinary medicine programs, Dr. Smeak has developed numerous DVD, Web and video-based platforms for interactive veterinary medicine instruction. His teaching methods were developed to improve teaching in surgery, but also to create a more ethically-based surgical instruction program. Earlier this year in Washington D.C., he was awarded the 2006 William and Eleanor Cave Award, for outstanding achievements in the development and advancement of humane alternatives in veterinary education.
In addition to the Cave award, Dr. Smeak has been recognized with the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Teaching Excellence Award, the Norden Distinguished Teacher Award, a Fulbright Teacher/Research Award, the Waltham Award for outstanding contributions to improving the quality of the practice of veterinary medicine in the international community, Outstanding Veterinary Dermatologist Award from Stanford University, and the Referral Veterinarian of the Year, three times, from the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association.
The College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences welcomes Dr. Smeak to Colorado State University and the Fort Collins community and wishes him the best of luck in all his endeavors.
