The Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine announced the first of four finalists for dean of the Vet Med college as Dr. Spencer Johnston, department head of small animal medicine and surgery at Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Johnston received a veterinary medicine degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1986 and completed an internship at the University of Georgia and a residency at Michigan State University.

According to the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine website, Johnston first became a professor at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech in 1990 before joining the faculty at the University of Georgia in 2007. Johnston first served as the small animal surgery Chief of Staff from 2008-2011 before becoming department head.

Johnston is also a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

According to Johnston’s curriculum vitae, his areas of research lie in osteoarthritis, joint injury and disease and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Johnston will visit Ames Thursday for an open forum in classroom 2532 of the veterinary medicine college from 3:15-4:15 p.m. If unable to attend in person, a recording of the forum will be made available after all four campus visits have concluded.

Open forums for each candidate will be held on Feb. 1, Feb. 6, Feb. 12 and Feb 19. Each candidate’s name will be released 24 hours before their campus visit.

There is a feedback form available for those interested in voicing any strengths or weaknesses they see in Johnston.

More information regarding the search for a College of Veterinary Medicine dean can be found here.