Globe news special
Philippa (Pippa) Gibbons was born and raised on a farm across the Atlantic in rural east England. Growing up, she never thought that one day she would travel across the pond to pursue her lifelong passion for veterinary medicine. Fortunately for Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine, she dared this adventure.
Gibbons’ original career goal was to become a dairy herd consultant. However, when she did an internship at the Royal Veterinary College in London, she developed a new passion. Attracted by the challenges of complex medical cases and problem solving, she discovered her love for teaching and clinical medicine.
From that moment on, she has not looked back and her journey has spanned a number of institutions. Gibbons’ career path eventually led her to the Texas Panhandle and the growing SVM. At the school, she will develop the next generation of veterinarians using their approach to teaching, which builds on basic science and clinical knowledge and uses active learning techniques to develop students’ clinical thinking skills.
“I am excited to be part of building the feed animal program at Texas Tech and teaching the feed animal and rural and regional practitioners of tomorrow,” said Gibbons.
Having worked in both traditional on-campus teaching hospitals and community-based teaching models where students work with private vets in different communities, she knows how to effectively develop competent, confident vets who are ready on day one. Growing up on a farm, Gibbons lives and breathes the mission of SVM and embodies the core values on which the school was founded. Gibbons joins SVM as Associate Professor of Food Animal Medicine and Surgery.
“We are all very pleased that Dr. Gibbons is part of our school, ”said Guy Loneragan, Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine. “As a cow veterinarian at heart, I am personally thrilled that we can work with someone who has such a passion and a deep understanding of food veterinary medicine and surgery. It will have such an impact on our program and our region. Dr. Gibbons will help our students achieve their dreams. “
Gibbons joins Texas Tech after serving three years as a food veterinary clinic and associate professor at Lincoln Memorial University’s (LMU) College of Veterinary Medicine in Harrogate, Tennessee. Among her many responsibilities, she taught in food animal science clinical laboratories, helped set up the mobile large animal practice, and directed the outpatient clinical rotation for large animals.
Before joining LMU, Gibbons spent four years as a clinical assistant professor of food animal medicine and surgery and large animal clinical science at Texas A&M University. She worked primarily as an in-house veterinarian for feed animals.
Gibbons graduated from the University of Reading, UK with a BA in Agricultural Sciences in 2005 and a BA in Veterinary Medicine from the University of London’s Royal Veterinary College in 2008. Four years later, she completed her Masters in Biomedical Sciences from Texas A&M.
As her passion for teaching developed, she earned her Certificate of Veterinary Education from the Royal Veterinary College in 2017 and her Diploma of Veterinary Education in 2019.
“I am very happy that Pippa is coming to us. I have talked to Dr. Gibbons has worked at a previous university and knows that she has a passion for evidence-based medicine, teaching students critical thinking skills and practical food animal skills, ”said John Dascanio, Senior Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs. “She also has a lot of experience working with small ruminants, beef cattle and dairy cows. I look forward to working with Pippa, who will help us develop our feed animal curriculum. “
Gibbons joins a growing and dynamic team of faculty and staff at the School of Veterinary Medicine. More team members will continue to be added as the school prepares to welcome its opening class in August.
