International Expert Joins WesternU College of Veterinary Medicine
Robert Ashley Robinson, BVSc, MPH, PhD, has joined the College of
Veterinary Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) as
associate dean for preclinical affairs. Dr. Robinson will develop a
framework for the College’s problem-based learning curriculum, which
emphasizes student-centered learning, interpersonal communications skills
and teamwork.
“”It’s a big challenge to start up a new school, and I have been learning
about similar curricula at other veterinary schools to discover what works
best for them,”” Dr. Robinson said. “”We have a unique opportunity here to
break new ground. When students complete our program they will understand
their responsibility to veterinary and human public health. Humans can
contract many diseases from animals, and whether our graduates are in a
private veterinary practice or working for institutions, I want them to
understand that they have a very important role to play.””
When WesternU’s College of Veterinary Medicine secures provisional
accreditation, it will be the first veterinary school ever to open in
Southern California, and the first to open in the United States since
1983. Current plans call for admitting 70 students to a four-year doctor
of veterinary medicine (DVM) degree program in the fall of 2001.
Dr. Robinson retired from a 20-year faculty career in veterinary
epidemiology and public health at the University of Minnesota College of
Veterinary Medicine in 1997. For the last 18 months he worked for Tufts
University as a liaison for the USAID Middle East Regional Cooperation
Project. The project was part of the peace process, and involved
veterinarians from Egypt, Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian authority
working together on regional animal disease problems. Dr. Robinson lived
in Jordan while working on the project.
“”While humans understand lines in the sand, unfortunately animals don’t
recognize those international barriers,”” he said.
Dr. Robinson is a native of New Zealand. He earned his bachelor’s degree
in veterinary science from the University of Sydney in Australia, and his
master’s in public health and doctorate in veterinary microbiology from
the University of Minnesota. He is a long-time member of the American
Veterinary Medical Association, and has lectured at universities,
symposiums and conferences in Thailand, Morocco, Italy, Vietnam, Kenya and
Trinidad.
According to Shirley Johnston, DVM, PhD, dean of the College of Veterinary
Medicine, Dr. Robinson’s vast array of international experience will make
his input into WesternU’s new program invaluable.
“”He is internationally renowned both as an epidemiologist and an educator,
and brings experience to Southern California from professional positions
all over the world,”” Dr. Johnston said. “”His expertise in zoonotic
diseases, food safety, public health and international veterinary medicine
will have an outstanding impact on our curriculum.””
Dr. Robinson lives in Claremont with his wife, Stella. He is a member of
Amnesty International and Habitat for Humanity, and is involved in Heifer
Project International, an organization dedicated to ending hunger and
poverty by providing food- and income-providing animals to families. The
couple have two grown children.
