Honoring a Legacy: The Enduring Impact of Dr. Jerry Newbrey on Veterinary Education

By Communications Staff, WSU College of Veterinary Medicine
September 29, 2026

In the hallowed halls of the Washington State University (WSU) College of Veterinary Medicine, the name Dr. Jerry Newbrey serves as a touchstone for excellence, warmth, and pedagogical innovation. A beloved professor of anatomy and histology, Dr. Newbrey was more than an educator; he was a catalyst for professional growth and a beacon of inspiration for generations of veterinary students. His life, tragically cut short in a mountaineering accident, left a void that the college has sought to fill not just with memory, but with action.

To preserve his vision for transformative education, the college established the Jerry Newbrey Pre-Clinical Teaching Awards. This prestigious honor recognizes faculty members who mirror Dr. Newbrey’s hallmark traits: a commitment to clarity, a creative approach to complex scientific concepts, and an unwavering dedication to the success of every student who walks through the college’s doors.

The Essence of an Educator: Remembering Dr. Jerry Newbrey

To understand the significance of the award that bears his name, one must first understand the man. Dr. Newbrey was known for his ability to dismantle the intimidating architecture of anatomy and histology, reconstructing it into something intuitive and deeply engaging.

His classroom was rarely a place of passive listening. Instead, it was an environment characterized by infectious enthusiasm and a sharp, self-deprecating wit that made even the most grueling study sessions feel like a collaborative journey. Colleagues describe him as a mentor who invested deeply in the human element of veterinary medicine. He recognized early on that the rigor of pre-clinical training could be overwhelming; his goal was to ensure that while students learned the "how" of biological structures, they never lost sight of the "why"—the welfare of the animals they would eventually treat.

His sudden passing sent a ripple of grief throughout the WSU community. However, in the wake of the tragedy, the faculty and administration moved quickly to ensure his philosophy of teaching—one rooted in empathy and intellectual curiosity—remained at the center of the curriculum.

A Chronology of Tribute: From Tragedy to Legacy

The establishment of the Jerry Newbrey Pre-Clinical Teaching Awards was a deliberate, collective effort to institutionalize the standards of excellence Dr. Newbrey lived by.

• The Early Period: During his tenure, Dr. Newbrey established a reputation for being the "professor of choice" for students navigating the foundational years of the DVM program. His teaching style became a benchmark for the department.
• The Turning Point: Following his passing in a mountaineering accident, the College of Veterinary Medicine faced a significant loss of leadership. The faculty initiated discussions on how to honor his contributions, moving beyond a simple memorial to a living tribute.
• The Foundation: The Jerry Newbrey Pre-Clinical Teaching Awards were officially formalized. The criteria were set to prioritize student feedback, pedagogical innovation, and a demonstrated ability to foster an inclusive, high-achieving classroom environment.
• Annual Recognition: Since its inception, the award has become the gold standard for faculty recognition, with the list of recipients growing annually to include those who teach across the diverse disciplines of the pre-clinical curriculum, from Immunology to Systemic Pathology.

Defining Excellence: The 2026 Cohort of Award Recipients

The 2026 recipients of the Jerry Newbrey Pre-Clinical Teaching Award represent the high-water mark of WSU’s commitment to veterinary education. These individuals have been recognized for their tireless efforts in guiding students through the foundational stages of their careers.

The Educators Honored

This year’s honorees span the breadth of the veterinary sciences, proving that the spirit of Dr. Newbrey is present in every discipline:

• Jeff Abbott (Veterinary Immunology): Dr. Abbott has been instrumental in making the complex mechanisms of the immune system accessible. His use of visual aids and real-world clinical correlations has made him a student favorite.
• Hannah Cohen (Clinical Pathology): By bridging the gap between the laboratory and the clinic, Dr. Cohen has taught students how to view pathology not just as a science, but as a critical diagnostic tool.
• Pete Meighan (Veterinary Physiology II): Dr. Meighan’s mastery of physiological systems is matched only by his ability to explain them with clarity and humor, echoing Dr. Newbrey’s own teaching style.
• Wesley Sheley (General Pathology): Through his rigorous approach to disease processes, Dr. Sheley has challenged students to think critically, pushing them toward deeper levels of scientific inquiry.
• Bonnie Campbell (Small Animal Surgery): Dr. Campbell has provided students with the confidence to transition from theory to practice, emphasizing precision and patient safety.
• Jillian Haines (Small Animal Medicine): Recognized for her mentorship, Dr. Haines guides students in applying clinical medicine with both accuracy and compassion.
• Jonathan Miller (Systemic Pathology): Dr. Miller’s deep knowledge of the intricacies of systemic disease has been vital in preparing students for their upcoming clinical rotations.
• Laura Williams (Veterinary Parasitology): By making the study of parasites relevant to public health and clinical practice, Dr. Williams has sparked a new interest in a traditionally challenging subject.

Implications for Veterinary Education

The Jerry Newbrey Awards are more than just plaques on a wall; they represent a strategic pillar of the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine’s mission. By prioritizing and rewarding excellence in pre-clinical teaching, the college ensures that the foundation of the veterinary program remains robust.

The "Newbrey Effect"

The "Newbrey Effect" refers to the long-term impact of teaching that goes beyond the textbook. When faculty members are incentivized to be mentors as well as instructors, the culture of the college shifts. Students report higher levels of engagement, decreased burnout, and a greater sense of belonging. The award encourages faculty to innovate—to move away from rote memorization and toward dynamic, interactive learning modules that reflect the realities of modern veterinary practice.

A Culture of Mentorship

The award also signals to junior faculty the values of the institution. When a university consistently rewards teachers who care about student outcomes, it cultivates a staff that views education as a craft rather than a chore. This has significant implications for recruitment and retention, as top-tier educators are drawn to environments that celebrate their pedagogical efforts.

Supporting Data: Why Pedagogical Recognition Matters

Research into medical and veterinary education consistently shows that high-quality instruction in the pre-clinical years is the single strongest predictor of success in clinical rotations and subsequent board examinations.

• Retention Rates: Schools that maintain a strong, supported faculty presence during the first two years of the DVM program see a higher rate of student retention and lower instances of academic failure.
• Student Satisfaction: Qualitative data from WSU’s annual student surveys indicate that faculty recognized for their "teaching presence"—their ability to engage, support, and challenge—consistently produce the highest student satisfaction scores.
• Clinical Readiness: Faculty like the Jerry Newbrey Award recipients often incorporate "case-based learning," a method that has been proven to increase long-term information retention by up to 40% compared to traditional lecture-based methods.

Official Perspectives from the College

"The Jerry Newbrey Awards are a reminder of what we are capable of when we teach with passion," said a representative from the College of Veterinary Medicine. "Every year, as we select new recipients, we are reminded of Dr. Newbrey’s spirit. We are not just selecting teachers; we are selecting individuals who carry the torch of his philosophy. They are the ones who make the difficult transition into veterinary medicine a journey of discovery rather than a trial of endurance."

The administration emphasizes that the award also helps to build a bridge between the faculty and the student body. By involving student feedback in the nomination process, the college ensures that the teachers who are most effectively meeting student needs are the ones being highlighted.

Looking Forward: Sustaining the Vision

As the College of Veterinary Medicine moves into the future, the challenge remains to keep the memory of Dr. Jerry Newbrey alive while evolving to meet the changing needs of the veterinary profession. The rise of digital pathology, telemedicine, and novel diagnostic technologies requires a new kind of teacher—one who is as adept with a screen as they are with a microscope.

The Jerry Newbrey Pre-Clinical Teaching Awards serve as a mechanism to identify those who can navigate this evolution without losing the core humanity that Dr. Newbrey championed. By recognizing faculty members like Abbott, Cohen, Meighan, Sheley, Campbell, Haines, Miller, and Williams, the college is ensuring that the "Newbrey standard" is not a static memory, but a dynamic, growing commitment to the future of the profession.

For those who knew Dr. Newbrey, these awards are a validation of the time he invested in his students. For those who didn’t, they serve as a testament to the fact that great teaching is the cornerstone of great medicine. As the college continues to foster this environment, it remains a national leader in veterinary education, anchored by the memory of a man who loved his work, his students, and the science of healing.