Q&A With Professor Emeritus Dennis Geiser
After more than four decades of dedicated service to the UT College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM), Professor Emeritus Dennis Geiser retired in 2022 as assistant dean for Organizational Development and Outreach. Geiser held several roles, including section leader of large animal anesthesia, department head of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, assistant dean, and director of continuing education, leaving a lasting impact on both colleagues and students. Geiser reflects on his UTCVM experience.
What impact did UTCVM have on you and your career?
I was fortunate enough to engage in every facet of veterinary medicine: clinical care, teaching, research, administration, and organized veterinary medicine. This college provided an environment filled with amazing colleagues who supported and inspired me. One example is regenerative medicine. In 2008, I presented a proposal to Interim Dean Leon Potgieter that outlined a research track studying the use of stem cells in the treatment of various animal diseases. Madhu Dhar changed her research focus and took the ball and ran with it. When David Anderson came on board, his interests in bone healing and regenerative research fit perfectly. They have taken the discipline to a whole new level at UTCVM.
What makes UTCVM so special?
What truly distinguishes UTCVM is its extraordinary culture of support and teamwork. Whether working alongside faculty, staff, or students, there is a sense of shared purpose. The development of our simulation program is a great example. I submitted a proposal to then Dean Jim Thompson outlining a simulation program for the college and recruited several faculty and veterinary technicians. With start-up funds, we turned a small space in the large animal hospital into a space for the use of simulation in the teaching program. To make a long story short, this initial plan has culminated in a significant educational component with a state-of-the-art simulation laboratory in the Teaching and Learning Center. It is an initiative that has evolved into a major success because of the work and dedication of many.
What did you enjoy most about your job?
The most rewarding aspect of my career was the strong sense of collegiality within the college. Working in an environment filled with knowledgeable, generous individuals fostered a true team atmosphere. Though the work was exhausting, I found great satisfaction in helping others succeed. Being part of a community where everyone supports one another made every challenge worthwhile. That was certainly evident during the design of the new large-animal hospital. Faculty and staff spent a large number of hours meeting with architects and construction personnel to make sure the new facility would meet their needs for clinical service and teaching. The result was an unbelievable facility that rivals any other. Its opening and then the naming in honor of Charles and Julie Wharton were highlights of my tenure at UTCVM. Finally, we had a facility that fit the excellent quality of care that we had been providing over so many years.
What is your fondest memory at UTCVM?
One unexpected highlight was receiving the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Never in my dreams would I ever thought of being nominated by my colleagues, and I sincerely appreciate their support. Besides that, there are so many memories, but perhaps the most meaningful have revolved around student interactions beyond the academic curriculum that resulted in lifelong friendships.
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