OSU Veterinary Soldier Prepares for Deployment this Holiday Season
Friday, December 17, 2010
“I first report for Combat Lifesaver training and a Deployment Operations course,” explains Gull. “Then I complete field training followed by combat training prior to departing for Kuwait.”
Gull first joined the Navy in 1988. After six years of active duty, she joined the Inactive Reserve while attending veterinary school at Tufts University. In 2000, she switched from the Navy to the Army and has been an active Army Reservist ever since.
Second in command of the 80 soldier unit, Gull is the disciplinarian of the unit as well as the unit’s medical staff officer. She is responsible for tracking the medical and dental readiness of soldiers and assisting them to obtain needed medical and dental services to be sure they are ready for deployment.
“Once we arrive in Kuwait, one of my primary tasks for the Army Veterinary Corps is food safety. I will be responsible for a food microbiology laboratory, doing basic bacteriology and mycology on food intended for U.S. troops. I will also conduct sanitary audits on companies all over the Middle East that want to sell food to the U.S. military. I may also conduct some veterinary medicine on Military Working Dogs stationed in Kuwait and carry out public health activities as needed,” she adds.
Students, faculty and staff gave Dr. Gull a surprise farewell party on Friday, Dec. 10. She will miss the spring 2011 semester and expects to teach Infectious Diseases I in spring 2012. Gull will still teach her online Microbial Forensics class (offered through OSU-HSC) from Kuwait during the fall 2011 semester.
“We wish Dr. Gull the very best and I hope she stays safe,” says Dr. Michael Lorenz, professor and dean of the veterinary center. “We are very proud of her service and she has agreed to keep us informed about her work while on duty in Kuwait. This is a great example for our students of the many career options a DVM degree affords them that other career choices might not offer.”
In addition to her DVM degree from Tufts, Gull earned a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. She is a Diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Large Animal) and a Diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine.
“I am humbled and honored by the support shown to me by the students, faculty and staff of the veterinary center,” smiles Gull. “I am very pleased with the support for our nation’s military that I find here at Oklahoma State University.”