Dr. Tyler named OSU Vet Med Distinguished Alumnus
Monday, September 9, 2019
Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences recently announced the center’s 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients—Drs. John Myers, Ronald Tyler, Sr., and Paul Welch.
“Drs. Myers, Tyler and Welch have enhanced the reputation of our college by distinguishing themselves in their careers,” said Dr. Carlos Risco, dean of the veterinary center. “They each have made significant contributions to their community, state and nation through professional service, public service and civic activities. They exemplify the loyalty, passion and innovation found in all dedicated graduates from our college.”
Ronald D. Tyler, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. American College of Veterinary Pathologists (Clinical Pathology), Dipl. American College of Veterinary Pathologists (Anatomic Pathology), Dipl. American Board of Toxicology, of Harlingen, Texas, earned his DVM degree from OSU in 1977.
Dr. Tyler worked in mixed animal practice and then joined the faculty at OSU’s veterinary college. In 1988, he became director of Veterinary Reference Laboratories in Anaheim, California. In 1989, he became director of Clinical Pathology at Schering-Plough Research Institute. In 1993, he moved to Glaxo, Inc., where he served in several positions managing all areas of preclinical safety and assessment and laboratory animal care residing in the USA, England and Italy.
In 2003, Tyler retired and took a year to look for snakes with his youngest son, Blake, an aspiring herpetologist. From 2004 to 2017, Tyler consulted with diagnostic laboratories and pharmaceutical companies in the USA, Canada, Europe and China. He also worked with the Chinese FDA in the areas of histopathology, clinical pathology, predictive toxicology, biomarker identification, preclinical safety SOP development and more. In addition, Tyler performed several locums at the Royal Veterinary College, United Kingdom and Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, Australia. He held adjunct appointments at the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Madras Veterinary College in Chennai, India, and at OSU’s veterinary center in Stillwater.
In July 2017, Tyler was appointed Distinguished Research Fellow at Amgen, Inc., where he served as advisor and mentor to young pathologists and toxicologists as well as strategic and development program advisor to senior managers. In July 2019, he became Senior Scientific Fellow with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Johnson and Johnson with similar responsibilities as well as review of regulatory submissions.
Tyler edited or co-edited multiple editions of three textbooks of veterinary cytology and hematology. He authored or co-authored more than 100 scientific articles and book chapters and chaired or presented at numerous professional meetings. He has been affiliated with many professional organizations including the American College of Veterinary Pathologists Examination Committee; International Life Sciences Institute/Health and Environmental Safety Institute; Visiting Scientist, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology; Science and Technology Advisory Board to the Governor of North Carolina; and American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology to name a few.
In addition to this prestigious award, Tyler has received the National Humanitarian Award from the Republic of the Philippines (1969) and the Lifetime Achievement Award from The American Society for Clinical Pathology (2014). Tyler resides in Harlingen with Reba, his wife of 49 years.
All three will be honored at the veterinary center’s Distinguished Alumni Award Luncheon on Friday, Nov. 15, at 11:30 a.m. in Wes Watkins Center on the OSU Stillwater campus. Tickets may be purchased through Sharon Worrell, alumni affairs and event specialist at the veterinary center, at 405-744-5630 or sworrel@okstate.edu.
MEDIA CONTACT: Taylor Bacon | Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator | 405-744-6728 | taylor.bacon@okstate.edu