Whitley named head of Department of Clinical Sciences

Auburn University Professor David Whitley has been named head of the AU Department of Clinical Sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

“He is highly respected by our faculty and he will provide great leadership in both academics and research,” said Dr. Timothy Boosinger, veterinary dean. “He has been at Auburn for 14 years and is an alumnus of the college.”

Dr. Whitley earned his veterinary degree in 1977 and his master’s degree in 1981, also at Auburn. He was on the faculty at the University of Wisconsin from 1982-1984 and at the University of Florida from 1984-1989. At Florida he was a tenured associate professor at both the College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Medicine.

He returned to Auburn as a professor of ophthalmology in 1989, and from 1994-1997 he served as the J. E. Greene Memorial Professor. He was acting associate dean for Admissions and Standards from 1995-1997.

“This is a tremendous opportunity and I look forward to continue working with our outstanding faculty and staff,” said Dr. Whitley, who succeeds retiring former department head Dr. Robert Wilson. “Dr. Wilson has done a great job of leading the department and facilitating the merging of three clinical departments into the Department of Clinical Sciences.”

Dr. Whitley is a diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. He is also a member of the Latin American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, the American Society of Veterinary Ophthalmology, the International Society of Veterinary Ophthalmology, and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

He has presented lectures and continuing education workshops on veterinary ophthalmology at local, state, national and international meetings. He is a contributing author to Veterinary Ophthalmology, Veterinary Clinics of North America, Textbook of Large Animal Medicine, Current Therapy in Equine Medicine, Manual of Equine Neonatal Care, and other publications.

Dr. Whitley is a 1971 graduate of Falkville High School in Morgan County, Ala. He and wife Elizabeth, a visiting assistant professor in the AU Department of Pathobiology, live in Auburn and have two sons, Brian, 9, and Ross, 5.