Veterinary Heroes: Dennis Tim Crowe Jr, DVM, PhD, DACVS-Emeritus, DACVECC-Emeritus founder, FCCM, NRAEMT, CFF

Dennis Tim Crowe Jr, DVM, PhD, DACVS-Emeritus, DACVECC-Emeritus founder, FCCM, NRAEMT, CFF, is a hero in more ways than one. This year, dvm360’s Veterinary Heroes program is recognizing him as the 2024 honoree for Emergency Medicine.

Crowe has been practicing veterinary medicine for 52 years. Currently, he is involved with Mobile Veterinary Surgery of Georgia as well as Veterinary Surgery, Emergency, and Critical Care Services and Consulting.

In a letter, Crowe’s nominator wrote that he is the best veterinarian they have ever known.“Furthermore, his compassion for people is immeasurable, in that he is literally always willing to help and loves teaching people, either formally in our profession or informally in day to day life. Tim is either usually devoting his time to helping his fellow veterinarians, their clients and pets,” the nominator continued.

Photos courtesy of Dennis Tim Crowe Jr, DVM, PhD, DACVS-Emeritus, DACVECC-Emeritus founder, FCCM, NRAEMT, CFF

An accomplished author, speaker, educator, and innovator, Crowe has inspired emergency and surgical veterinary procedures that have been adopted worldwide. For example, his work in the 1990s led to the eventual development of cardiac output detection units that are now regularly used in human intensive care units. He is considered a father of veterinary emergency, trauma, and critical care, and was honored the Father of Veterinary Hyperbaric Medicine by Hyperbaric Medicine International in 2019.

Beyond his continued surgical and emergency care efforts to help critical care patients, Crowe has been an active volunteer firefighter and first responder medic for more than 30 years. He is a fellow in the American College of Critical Care Medicine and has been active with the National Disaster Life Support (NDLS) Foundation, contributing to the development of the NDLS training programs for veterinarians.

“When he is home at night and weekends, he makes himself readily available to help his fellow man in life threatening distress as a volunteer firefighter, rescuer and EMT medic, where he has been directly involved with saving human lives too,” Crowe’s nominator wrote.

Crowe with his grandson.

Together with his late wife of 53 years, Deb, Crowe has 2 children and 6 grandchildren. He also enjoys teaching Sunday school to elementary school–aged students, singing, and playing harmonica and guitar at his local church.

Crowe plans to receive his award alongside 11 other distinguished inductees of dvm360’s Veterinary Heroes program during a luncheon celebration at the Long Beach Convention Center. The special event will take place during the Fetch dvm360 conference on December 8, 2024, at 11:30 AM PST. All conference attendees are invited to attend.

The 2024 Veterinary Heroes program is supported by corporate sponsor Schwarzman Animal Medical Center.