Dr. Rick DeBowes
Professor of Surgery | Director of the Professional Life Skills Program
Washington State University, College of Veterinary Medicine
Richard M. DeBowes, DVM, MS, DACVS, is a Professor of Surgery and the Director of the Professional Life Skills Program at the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Working with Dr. Kathleen Ruby and others, Rick helped fund, develop, promote and host, the Cougar Orientation and Leadership Experience at WSU and the AVMA Veterinary Leadership Experience (VLE) program for the global veterinary profession. Based on his experiences in veterinary practice and his awareness of the “people skills” needed to be a great health care team member, Rick currently oversees the practice management curriculum and continues to teach in the leadership and the clinical communication courses for which he was the founding co-director.
A 1979 veterinary graduate of the University of Illinois, Dr. DeBowes previously served as Associate Dean for Veterinary Development and External Relations at WSU and Chairman for the Departments of Clinical Sciences at both Kansas State and Washington State University, Colleges of Veterinary Medicine. He is a Diplomate and former Regent of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Twice elected president of the North American Veterinary Conference, Dr. DeBowes has served on numerous boards including nine years in the AVMA House of Delegates and as president of the American Association of Veterinary Clinicians. Dr. DeBowes has received the Norden Teacher of the Year Award while at Kansas State University teaching in the core curriculum, the 2012 Banfield Award for Educational Advancement and the VSIPP Spirit of Excellence Award for his work in leadership. He was recognized as the Erwin Small Distinguished Alumnus in 2009 by the University of Illinois and named Washington Veterinarian of the Year in 2014. In 2017, he received the AVMA President’s Award for his work in promoting leadership and culture education for the profession. An accomplished speaker, mentor and coach, Rick has presented over 400 programs on leadership, teamwork, communication and organizational culture in 28 countries across 4 continents.
A father of two teenagers, Dr. DeBowes enjoys time with his wife Pamela at their children’s sporting events, working as a soccer referee and traveling internationally. An avid sailor, he also enjoys time on the water, in the water as a scuba diver and in the air over the water as a multiengine private pilot.
A 1979 veterinary graduate of the University of Illinois, Dr. DeBowes previously served as Associate Dean for Veterinary Development and External Relations at WSU and Chairman for the Departments of Clinical Sciences at both Kansas State and Washington State University, Colleges of Veterinary Medicine. He is a Diplomate and former Regent of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Twice elected president of the North American Veterinary Conference, Dr. DeBowes has served on numerous boards including nine years in the AVMA House of Delegates and as president of the American Association of Veterinary Clinicians. Dr. DeBowes has received the Norden Teacher of the Year Award while at Kansas State University teaching in the core curriculum, the 2012 Banfield Award for Educational Advancement and the VSIPP Spirit of Excellence Award for his work in leadership. He was recognized as the Erwin Small Distinguished Alumnus in 2009 by the University of Illinois and named Washington Veterinarian of the Year in 2014. In 2017, he received the AVMA President’s Award for his work in promoting leadership and culture education for the profession. An accomplished speaker, mentor and coach, Rick has presented over 400 programs on leadership, teamwork, communication and organizational culture in 28 countries across 4 continents.
A father of two teenagers, Dr. DeBowes enjoys time with his wife Pamela at their children’s sporting events, working as a soccer referee and traveling internationally. An avid sailor, he also enjoys time on the water, in the water as a scuba diver and in the air over the water as a multiengine private pilot.