MSU SAVMA typically awards the teacher of the year title twice, once for the graduating class and once for the class transitioning from didactic learning to clinics, recognizing an exceptional educator who guided them through the first part of veterinary education.

Dr. David Emery, assistant professor of primary care, was named teacher of the year by the DVM class of 2026.

Emery is an MSU alum from the class of 2010. In the time before pursuing veterinary medicine, he volunteered for the Peace Corps in Zambia. He has more than 10 years of experience as a veterinarian, including with commercial veterinary hospitals, private practice, and the Michigan Humane Society.

He joined the College of Veterinary Medicine as an assistant professor (HP) of primary care with the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences in 2021. He will also be extending his expertise and offering students a unique learning opportunity working in underserved areas of Michigan as the head of the new College's new mobile community medicine initiative.

“Dr. Emery paved our foundation for building client-doctor relationships through effective communication and trust. He has shown a true passion for helping us in every way he can. He advises the Michigan Community Street Clinic, which helps hundreds of people and their pets in need. He leads with compassion, dedication, and integrity to not only students but also to the veterinary field and truly embodies what it means to be a veterinarian,” says Travis Boling, outgoing SAVMA president and DVM class of 2026.

“The class of 2026 is near and dear to my heart—you might think, ‘You probably say that to all the classes!’ But I don’t. The very first lecture I ever gave was to this class in client communications. This is the first class I’ve ever been able to follow from first year until now. I think about the transformation that this class has undergone and it’s pretty incredible. To think I might have had the smallest impact on that progression is truly humbling,” says Emery.