Tom Gilligan, DVM
Personal information
I was born and
raised in Needham, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. I had a traditional
upbringing and was the youngest of four children. Both of my parents were
veterans of WWII. My father was an officer in the Army and stationed in Persia.
My mother was a Navy nurse at in the neurosurgery department at Bethesda Naval
Hospital in Maryland. After serving our country my father did a brief stint as
a Boston police officer and then completed his career working for Ford Motor
Company. My mother stayed at home to raise us and then resumed her nursing
career when we were grown. I don’t think I really knew about veterinary
medicine until I was a teenager. An older sibling suffered from significant
allergies and as a family we did not get a pet until she moved out of the house
to pursue here secondary education. I love my sister dearly, but it was
certainly fun getting a dog of my own. At a young age we took a trip as a
family to visit relatives in Canada. It was the first time I had seen cattle up
close and I was in awe of their beauty. The central theme of veterinary
medicine did not crystallize until my eldest
cousin; Larry Gaudreau (PU SMV ’75) invited me to spend
part of a summer at his practice in southern Indiana. It was an experience that
changed my life. Up to that point I had been a very poor student and lacked
focus or direction. At my parents request (unbeknown to me) Larry had a
conversation with me that basically said if you want to be a veterinarian you
better focus on school. I did. That is not to say I did not have fun along the
way.
I vividly
recall my brother asking my parents for permission to get a motorcycle. They
were definitely not supportive of the idea. Knowing their feelings, I waited
until I moved to Indiana to attend school before I purchased my first
motorcycle. I spent the summer of my freshman year riding my cycle, working as
a ranch hand and then traveled back to Massachusetts to work as a camp
counselor with emotionally troubled children. It was then back to Purdue and
the rigors of school. The following summer, I had the adventure of hitchhiking
from Colorado to Boston. Although not the safest mode of transportation it was
one that lent itself to excitement. Another year of study, a letter of
acceptance and the joy of knowing I was to be a veterinarian. This then meant
four more years of school and more summer adventures. Perhaps stories for
another time. I matriculated Purdue 1984.
After an
externship in South Dakota, Dr. Roger Cooper ( ISU ’70), invited me back as an
associate. The emphasis of the practice was beef, equine and small animal. I
found the help of my large animal assistant (Jim Hicks) invaluable. While we
know a great deal upon graduation, there is so much more that we can be taught.
I am thankful to both these individuals for helping me through my first year of
practice. Working the calves in the fall can be a quite chilly proposition.
When you need to break the ice on the bucket that holds your surgical equipment
and put vaccine syringes by a heater to keep them from freezing you know it is
cold. It was a nice place to practice but I needed something warmer, so I moved
to Wisconsin. (Really, Wisconsin is warmer than South Dakota). Mark Lindborg, DVM (Purdue ’82) invited me to join his
mixed animal practice in Hartford, Wisconsin. Our days were busy: fertility
exams, mastitis, metritis, lameness, LDA’s, etc.
I thought it was great to wear a pager until it went off all too frequently.
Then came the frequent milk fevers and the worst was the inevitable prolapsed
uterus (one even frozen to the ground). It was a great experience but it was
time for a change. To this day though, I so admire all the large animal
practitioners who continue the tradition of treating all creatures great and
small. I switched to a companion animal focus and in a fairly short period of
time, the practice I was in taught me to rely on myself. Not all veterinarians
are mentors. Some are led seriously astray. After leaving that practice I went
out on my own. I purchased a small satellite practice in North Lake, Wisconsin
and it has been my home since. I have a wonderful associate, Jessica Oliver,
and very caring staff members led by Laura Oldenhoff. I feel very fortunate
about the path veterinary medicine has guided me along.
I have two sons of whom I am very
proud. Colin is a senior at the United States Military Academy in West Point
(USMA 11). Upon graduation, he will begin his training as a helicopter pilot
for the United States Army. Sean will graduate high school in 2015 and then
wishes to attend school at the United Sates Air Force Academy in Colorado. They
both make me proud on a daily basis. I am confident that they will both do
great things in their lifetimes.
Involvement
in the WVMA
My first experience with the WVMA was as
a member of the Grievance Committee. Dr. Randy Schuett (WVMA President 2003)
can be very persuasive. I learned through that committee that medical records
were one of the most important things one could rely on to get you into or out
of hot water. Be thorough to be safe. I was chair of the committee in 2004 and
2005 and it was in this committee that I met one of my best friends in
veterinary medicine, Dr. Doug Kratt (WI 98). This committee was my introduction
to the WVMA and I am sincerely pleased that I accepted the position.
Involvement
on the Executive Board
I was asked to attend an executive board
meeting as a fill in for the District 1 representative while serving as
chairman of the Grievance Committee. I found the executive board to be
welcoming and focused. I was honored that two years later, I was approached to
run for president elect. I served on the executive board from 2005-2008.
Annual
Meeting/Convention
Throughout my presidency, one of my points of
focus was the students at the veterinary school. I joined them in class on a
few occasions; brought coffee to them during finals week; attended some
pathology rounds, and had the good fortune to attend a couple of social
functions. My Presidential Award went to the student body of the UW School of
Veterinary Medicine. Unfortunately, the date of the annual convention coincided
with the date of a milestone event of my son, Colin, enrolled at USMA at West
Point. If I was going to be true to my beliefs of supporting students then I
would need to be true to my own son. I attended my son’s event and missed the
annual convention.
The
award winners:
Veterinarian
of the Year: Dr. Kevin Nelson
Presidents
Award: UW SVM Student Body
Meritorious Service Award: Dr. Guy Jordaski
& Dr. Tom Meyers
Friend
of Veterinary Medicine: Leslie Grendahl
Corporate
Partnership Award: Marshfield Clinic Laboratories
Meritorious Service Award: Dr. Guy Jordaski & Dr. Tom
Meyers
Friend of Veterinary Medicine: Leslie Grendahl
Corporate Partnership Award: Marshfield Clinic
Laboratories
Challenges and difficulties throughout presidency
This is an
interesting section, a lot of changes and challenges were encountered both
professionally and personally.
Legislatively: We Lost, We Won, We Lost.
Lost: We tried to repeal the requirement for pesticide
permits for veterinary personnel. We had plenty of support but it never reached
the floor for a vote.
Won: Veterinary technicians can now give rabies
vaccinations.
Lost: I was flown to Washington DC to represent the AVMA
on an animal fighting bill. We presented our case to the Congressional
Judiciary Chair and unfortunately the bill never made it out of his committee
(the following year it passed unanimously).
Regulatory: Informed consent is debated throughout the
state. Language that is acceptable to the general populous of the state’s
veterinarians and the Board of Veterinary Examining Board is discussed and
debated.
Personally: Presidents messages include articles on:
Renewable Energy
Volunteerism – Thanksgiving Giving
Mental Illness / Mental Health
Over Committed
Youth Hockey Coach
High School Lacrosse Coach
Practice Owner
Building New Veterinary Facility
WVMA President
Final Thoughts
It was a pleasure and an honor to serve as one of the
WVMA presidents. I would encourage my colleagues to seek out similar positions
of leadership within our profession, for the rewards are great.
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