Dr. Julie Dechant was recognized with the 2023 Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award for excellence in teaching in the classroom and the clinic. As a Professor of Clinical Equine Surgical Emergency and Critical Care in the Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences and Assistant Director of the Large Animal Clinic, Dechant received her DVM from the University of Saskatchewan and completed both a MS Degree and Residency in Large Animal Surgery at Colorado State University. She is a Diplomate of both ACVS and ACVECC. She joined the UC Davis faculty in 2004. In 2018, she completed the Post Graduate Certificate in Veterinary Education at Royal Veterinary College.

Dechant teaches in all four years of the DVM curriculum, in VET405, VET409, VET415, VET431, VET432 A, B &C, VET434A & B and VET435A, with guest lectures in VET 435B & C. She also mentors in the VET407 and 416 Connections courses. Her teaching load is among the highest in the school. With a commitment to maintaining our broad species expertise, she has provided didactic content for the camelid species for all three large animal streams in year 3 and she serves as the faculty advisor for the Equine and Camelid Medicine Club.

A strong theme of mentorship runs through all the comments from students, thanking Dechant for the hours she spends answering questions about career choices both as an equine emphasis adviser and as Chair of the Clinical Education Committee.  One student commented, “She is continually there for the students and super supportive. She is so responsive to our concerns and emails.”  A key area where Dechant has worked hard to support students is in surgery labs—both small animal and large animal—taking the time to prepare, coach, and debrief them. 

While Dechant receives high marks for her classroom instruction, her clinical teaching is outstanding as well. Student evaluations of Dechant as a clinical instructor comment that she gives "students opportunities to be very involved," that she provides an "amazing learning environment," and is "non-judgmental" in her approach to student teaching. Evaluations from interns and residents are also very strong, stating that she is "a great communicator," "always available to discuss patient care," and that she has led "excellent problem-based learning sessions." She is clearly a gifted teacher and is dedicated to students at all levels.