LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR
The importance of Veterinary Sports Medicine has long been recognized by Auburn University. The Sports Medicine Program at the College of Veterinary Medicine is currently the only active program of this sort devoted to equine and canine athletic and working animals. The overall goals of the program relate to optimizing performance, minimizing the risk of injury or metabolic damage, and defining the best treatment and therapy protocols as they correlate to the special needs of these performance animals.
The Sports Medicine Program is divided into three areas of focus: clinical, research, and continuing education. The clinical service is attuned to the medical and surgical problems that are encountered in the canine and equine athletes. In response to a widespread and growing interest in athletic animals, the SMP will clinically concentrate on developing a base of medical and surgical knowledge that can be used by veterinarians, trainers, and owners. Research performed by the SMP will concentrate on areas related to athletic performance and health problems of athletic animals. To educate and update the veterinary community, owners, trainers, and handlers, the SMP will disseminate this information through our conferences, newsletter, and other continuing education endeavors.
I recently became Director of the Auburn University Sports Medicine Program, and I am looking forward to expanding upon its role as a leader in the field of Veterinary Sports Medicine. I received my Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Kansas State University in 1988. I quickly developed a special interest in working with the athletic and working dogs. To quench this thirst for knowledge I studied human Biomechanics and Exercise Physiology in the Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Science at the University of Kansas. I received my Post-Doctoral Degree in 1998. I have been able to tap into the wealth of sports knowledge gained from the human athletes and apply it to my athletic and working dog patients. I have expanded my clinical experience over the past decade to include all breeds of hunting dogs, Detection dogs, Coursing dogs, Agility, Obedience, Frisbee, as well as numerous other canine sports. I look forward to utilizing these skills through the Sports Medicine Program.
I grew up in the middle of Kansas, which is well known for its pheasant and quail hunting, and next to Cheyenne Bottoms, which is abundant with waterfowl. My dogs were Labrador Retrievers and English Setters. Later, I started working with the Racing Greyhound. It was my experience with the Greyhounds that taught me to respect the athleticism of all working and athletic dogs. The relationship between an owner, trainer, or handler, and their working or athletic dog is much different and deeper than the normal owner/pet bond. We spend a lot of our time working with our dogs to become a successfully working team that can handle the rigors of competition or the demands of the job. The Sports Medicine Program here at Auburn University understands the athleticism of these dogs and the amount of personal effort that goes into their training. We are essentially here to help you in your efforts. If you have any questions or would like to help us with our efforts, contact me at (334) 844-5646, or e-mail me at gillerl@vetmed.auburn.edu.
Dr. Robert L. Gillette
Director, Sports Medicine Program
