| Shirley D. Johnston, D.V.M., Ph.D., Joins Found Animals Foundation As Director of Scientific Research |
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LOS ANGELES (Sept. 14, 2009) - Shirley Johnston, D.V.M., Ph.D., a leading expert on animal reproduction and a revered veterinarian, has been appointed Director of Scientific Research for the Found Animals Foundation (www.foundanimals.org), a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization dedicated to animal welfare issues and led by business and medical professionals. Dr. Johnston oversees the Foundation’s Michelson Prize & Grants in Reproductive Biology, a $75 million initiative developed and funded by Found Animals Founder, Gary Michelson, M.D., a renowned orthopedic surgeon and inventor. The purpose of the Michelson Prize & Grants is to inspire qualified researchers from a variety of scientific fields to pursue the development of a low cost, non-surgical sterilization product for cats and dogs. Such a product would help end the epidemic number of dog and cat deaths that occur worldwide due in part to the birth of unwanted litters. According to the Humane Society of the United States, every year, between six and eight million dogs and cats enter U.S. animal shelters; some three to four million of these animals are euthanized, most simply for the lack of an available adoptive home. “Dr. Johnston is one of the most respected experts on animal reproduction, a highly regarded leader in the field of veterinary medicine, and she cares deeply about animal welfare issues – we’re thrilled to have her onboard as Director of Scientific Research,” added Aimee Gilbreath, Executive Director of Found Animals. A devoted animal advocate and professional, Dr. Johnston’s career spans more than 30 years and includes academic faculty and administrative experience in veterinary medicine, focusing on canine and feline reproductive endocrinology. She established and led the Endocrine Laboratory as well as Small Animal Reproduction Clinical Services at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota (1975-1996), and has lectured on canine and feline reproduction to more than 10,000 veterinarians on six continents. In addition, Dr. Johnston was the founding dean (1998–2007) of the 28th College of Veterinary Medicine in the United States, the College of Veterinary Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California. Prior to joining Found Animals, Dr. Johnston served as Vice President of University Advancement at Western University (2007-2009). In her role as Scientific Director, Dr. Johnston will also oversee the recently appointed Found Animals Michelson Prize & Grants Scientific Advisory Board, comprised of leading experts in a wide range of fields including reproduction, veterinary medicine, pharmaceutical research and development, and animal welfare. For a complete list of board members, please visit http://www.foundanimals.org/index.php/About-Michelson/scientific-advisory-board.html Dr. Johnston’s Credentials Dr. Johnson was educated at the University of Washington, Seattle (B.S. Zoology, 1967), Washington State University, Pullman (D.V.M., 1974), and the University of Minnesota, St. Paul (Ph.D., Theriogenology, 1981). She is a diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists (ACT), the veterinary specialty board for animal reproduction and served as ACT’s first woman president. Dr. Johnston’s honors include the Norden Award for Distinguished Teaching of Veterinary Medicine (1984, 1988), the Distinguished Service Award, Association for Women Veterinarians (1992), and the David E. Bartlett Award from ACT. She is the senior author of Johnston SD, Root Kustritz MV, Olson PNS: Canine and Feline Theriogenology, WB Saunders Co., Philadelphia, 2001. Dr. Johnston currently lives in Southern California, with her husband, Gary, a veterinary radiologist, their dog Kona, and cats Blinky and Brenda. Their son, Gary, is a teacher in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and their daughter, Alison, is pursuing her Ph.D. at the London School of Economics. About Found Animals The Found Animals Foundation (www.foundanimals.org) is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization dedicated to animal welfare issues and led by business and medical professionals. The Found Animals team brings their skill sets to work directly within the animal welfare community to: improve animal shelter processes, fund pet sterilization research, promote effective animal welfare policy, provide funding to area shelters and spay/neutering clinics, as well as sponsor and promote pet adoption, spay/neutering, and micro-chipping programs and events. |
