Vet Cetera magazine 2015

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COMMENCEMENT GENESSEE PHOTO Taking a Different Path LELAND LISTON EARNS HIS DVM DEGREE — AT AGE 49 A career in veterinary medicine requires many years of study. And for one senior veterinary student at Oklahoma State University’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, that road was much, much longer. Leland Liston, of Claremore, Okla., earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in May 2015. It’s not the 49-year-old’s first career. Originally from Los Angeles, Liston spent 20 years there repairing cars at a Chevrolet dealership. 72 Center for Veterinary Health Sciences
“I DIDN’T WANT TO BE ROCKING MY GOLDEN YEARS AWAY ON THE PORCH WITH REGRETS. SO AT AGE 40, I QUIT MY JOB. … MY FRIENDS HELPED ME REALIZE IT’S NEVER TOO LATE; YOU’RE NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW.” “I was very successful in my field,” says Liston. “I was a shop foreman in charge of 25 guys, making $75,000 a year, but I wasn’t happy.” Liston always wanted to go into veterinary medicine but didn’t think it was something he could make happen. “It’s something I always wanted to do all my life. I didn’t want to be rocking my golden years away on the porch with regrets. So at age 40, I quit my job. It was a big risk to throw away a successful career. My friends helped me realize it’s never too late; you’re never too old to learn something new.” In 2001, Liston started taking night courses at a California community college while working full time. In 2007, he moved to Oklahoma. He completed his undergraduate degree at Rogers State University in Claremore and applied to OSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “I chose OSU because my parents live here. I loved Oklahoma once I moved here. This is the only school I wanted to go to, and it was the only one I applied to.” Liston was one of 83 students from a pool of 364 applicants selected as the Class of 2015. “I love the challenges of veterinary college. I like how hard you have to work because it makes you better prepared for when you get out in the real world. My favorite memory is junior surgery — gloving up and gowning up and actually getting my hands in there doing things as a real doctor for the first time.” Liston wants to go into a mixed animal practice. “I want to stay in Oklahoma; I really love it here. I have family here and even own a home in Claremore. I like cats, dogs, cows and horses. I would just like to get my hands in a little bit of everything and have some variety. I have been in school for a long time, and I am ready to get back out there and start working again.” And to others thinking about a career as a veterinarian, Liston has this message: “Make sure veterinary medicine is what you really want to do because it is a challenging program, and it’s really going to push you. If anything, I hope I am an inspiration to older students or people who want to go through a career change. It was really scary to throw away everything I knew and start over, and I’m so glad I did. Even if I had failed, at least I would have tried. If you have friends and family to support you, anybody is capable of anything regardless of your age. If it’s what you want to do, go for it. Now I feel like I can be part of something good and help people and their animals.” To see a video of Liston, visit okla.st/1JRbH1H. 2015 Oklahoma State University 73
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The official magazine of the Center
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From the Office of the Dean I have
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GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY MARKETING
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Academic Center Enhances Veterinary
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A Brighter Operation SMALL ANIMAL S
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PHOTO / CENTER FOR VETERINARY HEALT
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‘AN AMAZING EFFECT’ DR. LITTLE
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“Evie has laxity in her flexor te
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But things are looking up for Rosie
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Abby went from making no urine to m
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“We struggled with the decision t
Page 23 and 24: PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETIN
Page 25 and 26: 2015 CLASS OF 1963 DISTINGUISHED LE
Page 27 and 28: 7TH ANNUAL LUNDBERG-KIENLEN LECTURE
Page 29 and 30: PHOTO / CENTER FOR VETERINARY HEALT
Page 31 and 32: Western Veterinary Conference recog
Page 34 and 35: REGENTS DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AWAR
Page 36 and 37: REGENTS DISTINGUISHED RESEARCH AWAR
Page 38 and 39: REGENTS DISTINGUISHED TEACHER AWARD
Page 40 and 41: ZOETIS DISTINGUISHED TEACHER AWARD
Page 42 and 43: ZOETIS AWARD FOR RESEARCH EXCELLENC
Page 44 and 45: PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSITY MARKETIN
Page 46 and 47: NEW AND CHANGING FACES PHIL SHOCKLE
Page 48 and 49: NEW AND CHANGING FACES New Staff PH
Page 50 and 51: Q&A A New Focus on Department Strat
Page 52 and 53: RETIREMENT Saying Goodbye OSU’s C
Page 54 and 55: RETIREMENT PHIL SHOCKLEY / UNIVERSI
Page 56 and 57: RETIREMENT GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSITY
Page 58 and 59: GENESEE PHOTO J.D. Folsom (right) r
Page 60 and 61: GENESSE PHOTO Judi Baker (left) hel
Page 62 and 63: CLASS OF 2019 Welcome, Class of 201
Page 64 and 65: Class of 2016: Movin’ On Up Membe
Page 66 and 67: COMMENCEMENT “ANY VETERINARY STUD
Page 68 and 69: COMMENCEMENT DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR
Page 78 and 79: 2014 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI Distingui
Page 80 and 81: IN MEMORIAM We honor those who have
Page 82 and 83: IN MEMORIAM Memorial gifts may be m
Page 84 and 85: IN MEMORIAM GARY LAWSON / UNIVERSIT
Page 86 and 87: CLASS OF 1965 50 years later … CL
Page 88 and 89: CLASS OF 1965 REX OLSON, DVM, opene
Page 90 and 91: ROUNDUP In 2014, OSU Cowboy veterin
Page 92 and 93: Class of 1979 Seated (from left): D
Page 94 and 95: CORRAL CRAWL This year, the Corral
Page 96 and 97: Class of 1980 Seated (from left): L
Page 98 and 99: Class of 1990 Seated (from left): J
Page 100: Oklahoma State University Center fo
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Vet Cetera magazine 2015

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