Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. Jen Johns and her dog Luna enjoy a bluebird day on the Oregon Coast. 

June 24, 2025

Every year, each member school of the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges selects an educator to receive the Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award. Recipients are chosen in recognition of their character and leadership qualities as well as their outstanding teaching abilities, as voted by the students. 

Dr. Jen Johns, associate professor of clinical pathology, received the 2025 award at the Oregon State University Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine. This year she taught second-year clinical pathology class, fourth-year clinical pathology rotations, and a bit in microanatomy and general pathology. The following are a few of the comments students submitted in her nomination packet.

• "Dr. Johns is a phenomenal professor who goes above and beyond from giving us quality lecture materials to bringing snacks to class. Her lecture slides are so clear and clinically relevant, and I know I will be referring to them throughout vet school (and maybe beyond). She is always kind and cheerful, and it is clear she cares about her students."
• "She has a remarkable ability to explain complex information clearly and with incredible patience. Her intelligence is evident in everything she does, but what truly sets her apart is her genuine kindness and compassion. She embodies the perfect balance of expertise and empathy."
• "Dr. Johns is such an amazing teacher and always has a great attitude. She goes above and beyond to make extra material to help solidify our learning and takes time out of her day to help whenever needed. She is so encouraging and as someone who doesn't like to speak up in class, I am never afraid to speak up and ask questions. She is able to connect with all of her students and we want to do well in her class and not let her down. One of the most encouraging things about her is her willingness to tell us of her past mistakes so we can learn from them, and her letting us know that we are all human and it's OK to make mistakes."
• "Dr. Johns is one of the most genuine and kind human beings I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. The hard work and dedication she puts into her teaching is so so appreciated. Her passion for veterinary medicine is infectious, and her love for teaching is palpable. We are so incredibly lucky to have her as part of our faculty. Thank you Dr. Johns!!!"

We sat down with Dr. Johns for a Q&A about her passion for teaching.

What does it mean to you personally/professionally to receive this award?

It’s fantastic. The instructors at the CCVM work hard because we believe in our students and the teaching mission, and it is always nice to receive positive feedback. This award motivates me and gives me faith in the teaching approach that I use.

What is your guiding philosophy/principle in teaching?

Believe in the students and their abilities, provide a welcoming environment for active learning and use a practical approach focusing on real-world skills.

What does it mean to you to educate the next generation of veterinary professionals?

This is the No. 1 reason I am here at the CCVM. Life on this planet can feel overwhelmingly chaotic and there is a lot of pain and suffering in the world, but I’m able to help train the next generation(s) of veterinarians, and that means a lot to me.

What brings you most joy in your teaching work?

It’s wonderful to watch students progress in such a short period of time. It seems like they go from being brand new vet students to doctors in the blink of an eye (although I’m sure it feels like forever to them!). It’s almost magical how they learn and grow so much in four years. And the students keep me on my toes: I’m never bored!

How do you approach bringing out the best in your students?

One priority is encouraging active participation and the immediate application of information. I try to make it less scary to speak up in class by doing silly things like trivia questions with prizes. Mistakes and “wrong” answers are encouraged in class. The students work mostly in small groups, so they’re interacting with each other constantly and applying information via active learning. They are given data from patient cases, and they start making diagnoses the first day of class.

What are the challenges of learning to become a veterinarian and how do you use that to inform your educational approach?

It’s so much information to master, and there are the “soft skills” like client communication and teamwork that are equally important in becoming a good veterinarian. I try to stay aware of the combined burden on the students. They are thinking about radiology and pharmacology and pathology all at the same time, and it can be overwhelming. Horizontal and vertical integration is an important aspect of teaching; it helps them connect my class material to what they learned in the previous hour’s lecture, and to what they learned last year.

What are you most excited about for your students as they graduate and head out into the veterinary world?

I love hearing about the different career paths our students choose. Veterinary medicine has so many career options. Each graduate is on a journey to finding their “perfect” career, and the journey can be a real adventure. We all enjoy hearing from our former students years later (and living vicariously through their experiences all over the globe).

What would you say to your students as the No. 1 thing you’ve learned in your career?

Don’t be afraid of what you don’t know. Absolutely no one expects you to know everything, especially right after you graduate. Your coworkers and former classmates will be able and willing to help you. Ask so many questions. Watch procedure videos online. Read the Veterinary Information Network. Email your former professors :). Embrace learning and trying new things, because it is part of your veterinary career for life.

Any other thoughts?

The reason that most of us stay in a particular workplace is the people we work with. I’m lucky to have fantastic coworkers like our residents and lab staff and my fellow instructors.