 Biography->Shirley D. Johnston, DVM, PhD, DACT-College of Veterinary Medicine
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Shirley D. Johnston,
DVM, PhD, DACT
Founding Dean,
College of Veterinary Medicine
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Biographical Information
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- Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, 1998- present
- Chair, Department of Clinical Sciences, Washington State University, 1996-1998.
- Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, 1990-1992
- Diplomate, American College of Theriogenologists, 1980.
- PhD (Theriogenology), University of Minnesota, 1981
- MS, University of Minnesota, 1977
- DVM, Washington State University, 1974
- Faculty, University of Minnesota Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, 1974-1996.
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Personal Teaching Philosophy
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I believe that the essential components of good teaching include mastery of the subject, organization, good communications skills, and, most important, the ability to put oneself in the position of the student.
Mastery of subject in clinical veterinary medicine requires continued awareness of research and publications in one's field internationally, as well as clinical awareness of the incidence of problems of patients. Organization means that the instructor has a logical plan for every teaching opportunity, from the lecture to the laboratory to the clinical rotation to graduate student advising. Organization is obvious in lecture outlines and curricular plans that follow high quality notes or texts, and in clinical cases that lead students to appropriate didactic material. Good communications skills include good enunciation, appropriate volume, effective visual aides, ability to put the listener at ease, and respect for the listener or student. Students who are afraid of contempt on the part of the teacher, or who are afraid to risk failure will not learn. The effective communicator must encourage and reward risk taking in a safe environment as a teaching tool until the students have mastered the subject and can take their skills to an environment where they control performance.
Finally, empathy with the needs of the student is paramount in being an effective teacher. The veterinary student with little sense of prioritization, importance or incidence of disease processes, and very little sense of diagnostic capabilities in a practice setting has difficulty prioritizating learning efforts. Veterinarians attending continuing education programs want information that will be of assistance in their own practice. Immediate bonds are easy for the teacher to form when the audience realizes that we all face the same dilemmas in case management. The most valuable teaching advice that I know is the Golden Rule.
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Professional Interests
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- Veterinary medical education
- Curriculum development
- Academic administration
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Research Interests
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- Canine and feline reproduction
- Reproductive endocrinology
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Contact Information
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Office:
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309 East Second Street, Pomona, CA 91766 |
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Phone:
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(909)469-5628 |
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Fax:
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(909)469-5635 |
| E-mail: |
sjohnston@westernu.edu |
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© 2008 Western University of Health Sciences. All Rights Reserved | 309 E. Second St. Pomona, CA 91766-1854 | (909) 623-6116 