Interview with Derek B. Fox

Year of graduation from where and posts after graduation before going to Missouri?

• DVM – Michigan State University 1998
• Internship – Small Animal Medicine and Surgery – University of Missouri 1999-2000
• Residency – Small Animal Surgery – University of Missouri 2000 – 2003
• PhD – Pathobiology – University of Missouri – 2004
• Assistant Professor of Small Animal Surgery – University of Missouri – 2004 – 2011
• Associate Professor of Small Animal Surgery – University of Missouri – 2011 – current
• Chief of Small Animal Surgery – University of Missouri – 2013 – current

When did you decide to become a veterinarian and did any particular individual have a bearing upon your decision?

I got my undergrad degree from Indiana University where I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology.  During this time, my favorite courses were in anatomy and vertebrate zoology.  I was also very active in art and based a lot of my drawings and paintings on anatomical specimens I found on display at the School of Biology in Jordan Hall on IU’s campus.  I think those initial sparks of interest in animal anatomy were what got me thinking about pursuing veterinary medicine.  I was mentored, like most at that early stage, by a veterinarian in my parent’s home town: Dr. Kenneth Kornheiser.  He is an incredibly intelligent, conscientious and hard working individual.  We had many conversations about life and non-veterinary related topics in the cab of his pickup while driving to farm calls all over southwestern Michigan.

During your career, what incident or individual led you to decide to specialise in Orthopaedics?

Once in veterinary school, I maintained my involvement with art and during the summers between my first and second year I got a job with the department of anatomy at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University doing medical illustrations of cadaver specimens.  This allowed me to study anatomy in more detail while also pursuing my love of art.  Once some of the clinicians learned I was doing medical illustration, I got a lot more job opportunities illustrating medical procedures in the small animal hospital.  This allowed me to work with Dr. Gretchen Flo, Charlie DeCamp and Loic Dejardins before ever entering the clinic as a student which was a huge thrill.  I thought the world of each of these individuals as they took me under their collective wing, and I still think they walk on water.  They inspired me to want to pursue a surgical residency and specialize in orthopedics.  Working as an unofficial medical illustrator opened up the opportunity to work for Dr. Steven Arnoczky in MSU’s Laboratory for Comparative Orthopedics where I was involved in a lot of different orthopedic based translational research which only continued to cement my desire to become an orthopedic surgeon.