Tuskegee appoints Dr. David McKenzie to lead its veterinary medical teaching hospital

Tuskegee University Dean Tsegay Habtemariam, of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health, recently announced the appointment of David McKenzie, DVM, MS, as the new director of the Tuskegee University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH). An alumnus of the university, he is also an associate professor of large animal medicine and surgery in the clinical sciences department.

“I am passionate about teaching, advising and mentoring students and I am honored to serve as the new director of the VMTH,” McKenzie said. “I hope to help continue to move the teaching hospital forward to make sure our students are well trained to compete globally upon their completion of the veterinary medical curriculum here at Tuskegee University.”

McKenzie accepts the position nearly a year into construction of the new Tuskegee University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. The 150,000-square-foot complex will contain space for clinical care for large and small animals, offices, and teaching facilities, as well as areas for surgery, radiology, anesthesiology, medical records and pharmacy. The approximately $41 million facility, which will replace existing clinical and teaching spaces, is planned for completion by the end of 2015.

Originally from Kingston, Jamaica, McKenzie earned his veterinary degree in 1990 and his masters in veterinary science in 1996. McKenzie has also earned a master’s degree in public health specializing in epidemiology/international health from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in 2004 and a doctorate degree in health education also from UAB in 2012. He is board certified in large animal internal medicine from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

McKenzie has served on various committees and has a special interest in international veterinary medicine including serving as the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates Coordinator for the Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine since 1999. He also serves on the committees for collaborations with the Ghanaian veterinary schools since 2010, and as visiting professor in Antigua in 2011. McKenzie was appointed to serve on the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates in 2012.

“We are delighted to have the addition of Dr. David McKenzie to the [Tuskegee] administration team. His international background in veterinary medicine is an asset that the teaching hospital can build upon to help our students be ready to follow their ambitions in clinical practice as well,” Habtemariam says.

McKenzie and his wife of 24 years, Veronica, have two children, Brian and Catherine.