Education
DVM: 1979 University of Illinois
Internship: 1980 Washington State University
Residency: 1982 Washington State University
MS: 1982 Washington State University
Board Certification: American College of Veterinary Surgeons
MBTI Certified: Center for Applications of Psychological Type 2004
Overview
Dr. DeBowes previously served as the Associate Dean for Veterinary
Development and External Relations. He served previously as the Chair of
Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Washington State University (2000-2005) and
the Chair for Clinical Sciences at Kansas State University (1994-1999). His
current responsibilities include directing the professional life skill
development program within the college that teaches veterinary students
about leadership and communication.
Dr. DeBowes' veterinary interests include equine general and orthopedic
surgery, lameness diagnosis, and joint biology. Dr. DeBowes' administrative
interests include faculty and program development, fund raising, and the
promotion of nontechnical competencies (life skills), medical communications
and personal/servant leadership. He teaches and coordinates the practice
management course (VM 591) and co-directs with Drs. Kurtz and Cary and
teaches in the Veterinary Clinical Communication course (VM 502).
Dr. DeBowes is an active member of numerous veterinary and professional
associations. He is a member of the AAEP, ACVS, AVMA, KVMA and the WSVMA.
He currently serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Washington
State Veterinary Medical Association. He is also a past president of the
American Association of Veterinary Clinicians and continues to serve on
their executive board as the AAVC's delegate to the AVMA House of
Delegates. Dr. DeBowes is a former member of the Board of Regents for the
American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Dr. DeBowes is a also a former
member of the Board of Directors for the Eastern States Veterinary
Association and has twice served as President of the NAVC Board of Directors
and their founding Director of Education.
Dr. DeBowes works closely with faculty and staff from around the College to
promote a professional leadership program for both incoming Washington State
students (Cougar
Orientation and Leadership Experience: COLE) and at the international
level for students, techs practitioners and faculty from around the world.
This later program, the
Veterinary Leadership Experience (VLE) was co-developed by Dr. DeBowes
with Dr. Kathleen Ruby and is presented annually as the AVMA VLE to
colleagues from around the world. To support these enterprises (COLE: 10
years; VLE: 8 years; College Leadership Program: 3 years) and the
communications program, Dr. DeBowes has raised over $3.800,000.00 of
extramural support from corporate partners and donors.
Research Interests
Dr. Richard DeBowes has surgical research interests centered primarily in
the area of equine clinical orthopedics and more specifically, in the areas
of fracture fixation and the properties of normal and arthritic articular
cartilage. Past collaborations involve an ongoing clinical investigation
using an "immobilization followed by exercise" model for production of
degenerative joint disease in young adult horses (Lillich et. al) and in
vitro assessment of a circular ring fixator (Valentino et. al). Previous
work has focused on the biomechanical properties of equine articular
cartilage, the effects of methylprednisolone acetate on normal equine
articular cartilage (Murray et. al), the biomechanical merits of a novel
orthopedic screw (Murray et. al) and the effects of hydroxyapatite coating
of orthopedic implants (Anderson et. al). Dr. DeBowes currently serves on 1
MS committee and has served on or chaired graduate program committees for 15
Masters and 2 doctoral candidates.
Publications
1: Zenner D, Burns GA, Ruby KL, Debowes RM, Stoll S. Veterinary students
as elite performers: preliminary insights. J Vet Med Educ. 2005
Summer;32(2):242-8.
2: Murray RC, Znaor N, Tanner KE, DeBowes RM, Gaughan EM, Goodship AE. The
effect of intra-articular methylprednisolone acetate and exercise on equine
carpal subchondral and cancellous bone microhardness. Equine Vet J. 2002
May;34(3):306-10.
3: Frees KE, Lillich JD, Gaughan EM, DeBowes RM. Tenoscopic-assisted
treatment of open digital flexor tendon sheath injuries in horses: 20 cases
(1992-2001). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2002 Jun 15;220(12):1823-7.
4: Van Harreveld PD, Lillich JD, Kawcak CE, Gaughan EM, Mclaughlin RM,
Debowes RM.
Clinical evaluation of the effects of immobilization followed by
remobilization and exercise on the metacarpophalangeal joint in horses. Am J
Vet Res. 2002 Feb;63(2):282-8.
5: DeBowes RM. Setting the standards for internship programs. J Am Vet Med
Assoc. 2000 Jan 15;216(2):175-6. No abstract available.
6: Sayegh AI, Anderson NV, Harding JW, Cerpovicz P, DeBowes RM, Ritter RC,
Baker GJ, Reeck G. Purification of two equine pepsinogens by use of
high-performance liquid chromatography.
Am J Vet Res. 1999 Jan;60(1):114-8.
7: DeBowes RM, Gaughan EM. Congenital dental disease of horses. Vet Clin
North Am Equine Pract. 1998 Aug;14(2):273-89. Review.
8: Murray RC, DeBowes RM, Gaughan EM, Zhu CF, Athanasiou KA. The effects of
intra-articular methylprednisolone and exercise on the mechanical properties
of articular cartilage in the horse. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 1998
Mar;6(2):106-14.
9: Anderson DE, St-Jean G, Richardson DC, DeBowes RM, Roush JK, Lowry SR,
Toll PW, Aberman HM, Van Sickle DC, Hoskinson JJ. Improved osseointeraction
of calcium phosphate-coated external fixation pins. Studies in calves.
Acta Orthop Scand. 1997 Dec;68(6):571-6.
10: Murray RC, Gaughan EM, Debowes RM, Hoskinson JJ. Biomechanical
comparison of the Herbert and AO cortical bone screws for compression of an
equine third carpal bone dorsal plane slab osteotomy. Vet Surg. 1998
Jan-Feb;27(1):49-55.
