Britt Conklin, a 1997 graduate of Texas Tech's Department of Animal and Food Sciences and recipient of a College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award, has been hired as the new Associate Dean for Clinical Programs with Tech's new School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo.

Conklin, who earned his veterinary degree from Texas A&M University, has served as the senior equine professional services veterinarian for Boehringer-Ingelheim Animal Health since 2012. He also established a breakthrough veterinary practice in Weatherford after graduating from veterinary school.

"Being raised here in the Texas Panhandle, in production agriculture, has shaped the character and veterinarian I have become," Conklin said. "I am thrilled to be part of this exciting program, and as part of the Texas Tech family, I look forward to fostering those fundamental values we hold dear in the students who pass through this program."

Conklin possesses a diverse agricultural background that started in the Texas Panhandle. His focus with Boehringer-Ingelheim was on performance horse pharmaceuticals and chronic diseases that affect lameness and hooves of horses. In this role, he provided hundreds of hours of continuing education and hands-on instruction and has been the keynote speaker at more than 20 different state, national and international veterinary medical association meetings.

During his tenure at Boehringer-Ingelheim, he helped grow the company into the largest equine animal health provider in the world.

"I am excited that Britt will join the leadership team of the School of Veterinary Medicine," said Guy Loneragan, dean of the school. "He will provide important leadership to our relationships with veterinary practices all across Texas. These practices are key to providing experiential learning for our students, and Britt has developed an enormous network that is second to none. He will help enable truly outstanding hands-on, clinical education and research opportunities for our veterinary students."

Conklin continues to work in equine consulting and operates a referral hospital that serves outpatient sports medicine and podiatry needs and also is involved in the cattle industry. He runs a commercial herd of cows and operates a stocker and backgrounding operation that serves his family and local farmer feeders. He is particularly interested in developing veterinary students who can serve the rural and regional community needs, aligning with the mission of the School of Veterinary Medicine.

Upon earning his veterinary degree, Conklin worked at the Alpha Equine Hospital and Breeding Center in Weatherford, an industry leader in cutting- and quarter-horse breeding. The center was one of the first to implement commercial equine embryo transfer and was a leader in medicine and surgery.

Not long after, Conklin assumed an ownership role of the center and renamed it the Reata Equine Hospital, combining his skills developed as a farrier and veterinarian to develop the Podiatry Center at Reata. As a result of its success, the clinic was recognized in 2005 as a Top 5 Equine Hospital in the United States by Horseman's magazine.

After further developing the successful practice, Conklin sold the business and moved his family back to the Texas Panhandle to work with Boehringer-Ingelheim.

"Britt is a highly qualified veterinarian with an international reputation in equine podiatry and brings terrific insight from many years of high-quality veterinary practice," said John Dascanio, senior associate dean for academic and student affairs for the School of Veterinary Medicine. "There is no one better to help guide our clinical year program and to align our mission in graduating confident and competent veterinarians."

CONTACT: Michael Orth, chairman, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University at (806) 834-5653 or michael.orth@ttu.edu

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