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05/07/2025
Inspired by his dog’s cancer treatment, Alex Shanks pursued veterinary medicine at UTCVM. Soon to be "DR" Shanks, he emphasizes the importance of service, leadership, and advocacy in veterinary medicine. Herbert College of Agriculture University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
“Being a Volunteer means embracing a lifelong commitment to service, leadership and advocacy,” said UTCVM-University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine graduate student Alex Shanks. “As a veterinarian, this means championing animal welfare, improving patient care and advancing treatment options.”
Inspired to pursue veterinary medicine by the doctors who treated his dog’s rare cancer, Shanks returned to UT, where he got his undergraduate in animal science, to pursue his doctorate in veterinary medicine. He discovered a passion for researching swine medicine thanks to the unique experiences and supportive researchers he worked with at UT.
Shanks commends the professors and researchers who enhanced his learning experiences and guided him to his postgraduate career. In particular, Shanks says Professor Brian Whitlock helped him during his clinical year with his approachability and kindness.
“I hope to one day be the veterinarian–and human–he is,” said Shanks.
Shanks was also able to participate in the Summer Scholar program, where he presented at the annual swine veterinarians conference. He was awarded a scholarship and met a mentor at Iowa State University. Thanks to his mentor, Shanks now has the opportunity to join the Swine Medical Education Center as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate.
Shanks’s strong research foundation earned him third place in the veterinary college’s Research Day event as well as four co-authored publications in reputable journals.
As he leaves UT, Shanks says he will miss two things most of all: “I’ll miss the sea of orange in the fall, and most of all the friends and colleagues I’ve had the privilege of working alongside.”
