The Honored Mentor program recognizes ACVS diplomates who have made an impact on the lives and careers of new surgeons. Surgeons nominate their ACVS mentors and give donations to the foundation, which funds research, continuing education, and advances in veterinary surgery. The program, currently with 39 honored mentors, has raised over $50,000 since its launch.

Déjardin is the third diplomate from Michigan State University to achieve this status. Curtis Probst, DVM, DACVS, DACVIM, and Charles DeCamp, DVM, MS, DACVS, have both been recognized as Honored Mentors.

Déjardin earned his veterinary degree from the Toulouse Veterinary School in France in 1981, and completed his residency at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1994. He went on to earn his master’s in veterinary clinical and biomechanical sciences from Michigan State University in 1996. He became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1998.

When asked about his mentoring philosophy, Déjardin said, “Loyalty is the key word in mentorship. You have to have absolute loyalty both ways. You recruit them when they are young, you nurture their progression throughout their curriculum and you advise them to go for further training, for residencies, and that’s important. It takes a lot of time, but it is rewarding.”