I was in Corvallis today visiting Oregon State's Veterinary School.  I hadn't been there since 1984 or 1985 when I interviewed for a faculty position first coming off my post-doc.  It has sure grown and matured.

One of their long time faculty members, and director of their diagnostic, lab is Jerry Heidel, one of my vet school classmates (even though he's been at OSU for years, I'd say he looks like a Coug in that picture).  Judging by his and my graying hair, I'd say we've matured as well.  As we reminisced briefly it was hard not to think things like, "who would have imagined back when we were studying anatomy as freshman that I'd be dean and he'd be an anatomic pathologist and diagnostic lab director."  I'll probably end up sounding like a broken record in pointing out these kinds of examples of how remarkably variable the career paths for veterinarians can be.

Anyway, it was great to see Jerry and the other folks at OSU.

Later in the day I visited the Oregon Humane Society facilities in Portland to learn more about their programs (and their cooperative program with OSU in which veterinary students rotate through their facility).  I was blown away at the facilities and the programs (and how they complemented one another) and the commitment that it takes to pull something like that off.  Simply marvelous... and good food for thought.