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Zachary Wright, DVM, DACVIM/Oncology

A 1979 veterinary graduate of the University of Illinois, Dr. DeBowes has practiced in both private small animal practice and academic equine practice settings. He served previously as Associate Dean for Veterinary Development and External Relations at WSU and Chairman for the Departments of Clinical Sciences at both Kansas State University and Washington State University, Colleges of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. DeBowes is an active member of numerous veterinary and professional associations. He is a member of the AAEP, ACVS, AVMA, KVMA and the WSVMA. He has served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association. He is also a past president of the American Association of Veterinary Clinicians and for nine years served as the AAVC’s delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates. Dr. DeBowes is a former member of the Board of Regents for the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and the Board of Directors for the Eastern States and later North American Veterinary Conference where he twice served as President of the NAVC Board of Directors and their founding Director of Education.

For nearly 40 years, Rick has worked with and led small and large multidisciplinary veterinary health care and organizational teams. These experiences have provided him with numerous opportunities to assess the impact of personalities, communication, servant leadership and teamwork in the health care environment. Based on his experiences in veterinary practice and with a keen awareness of the “people skills” needed to be a great veterinarian and health care team member, Dr. DeBowes undertook an effort with his colleague, Dr. Kathy Ruby, to organize, develop and fund a professional leadership program for both incoming Washington State students (Cougar Orientation and Leadership Experience: COLE) and more broadly, for the global profession of veterinary students, technicians, practitioners and faculty from around the world. This latter program, the Veterinary Leadership Experience (VLE) was co-developed with experts in experiential education and colleagues from across the profession and presented annually through 2012 as the AVMA VLE to colleagues from around the world. To support these enterprises (COLE: 17 years; VLE: 8 years; College Leadership Program: 5 years) along with the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine’s communications program, Dr. DeBowes raised in excess of $ 3,000,000 of extramural support from corporate partners and donors. Rick currently oversees the practice management curriculum and continues to teach in the leadership and the clinical communication courses for which he was the founding co-director at the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine. An accomplished speaker and mentor/coach, Rick has presented over 400 programs in 28 countries on 4 continents focusing on organizational culture, communication, personal leadership and the business of veterinary medicine.

Committed to service to others, his personal interests include his wife Pamela, children Andrew and Laura and their shelties Gracie and Roo. Rick is also very interested in general aviation (multiengine instrument rated), scuba diving, amateur radio (N0PUX), marksmanship, skiing and boating. He is active in the community and has served as an American Red Cross Lifeguard and a Grade 8 Soccer Referee.

Sandra Brackenridge, LCSW

Dr. Culwell received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1998, followed by her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. After graduating from veterinary school, Dr. Culwell went on to complete a yearlong rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Oklahoma State University, in addition to a three-year residency in veterinary cardiology at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. While performing her residency, Dr. Culwell also completed her Master of Science degree.