After more than four decades of service to the University and the Rochester community, Jeff Wyatt, DVM, MPH, will retire at the end of 2025. As Attending Veterinarian, Executive Director of Animal Resources, and Professor in the Departments of Comparative Medicine and Environmental Medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Wyatt has advanced biomedical research, environmental restoration, and global conservation鈥攁lways guided by his belief that human, animal, and ecosystem health are deeply interconnected.
A Career Built on Connection
Wyatt arrived in Rochester in 1982 as a young veterinarian beginning a residency in research and wildlife medicine. Over the years, he built one of the nation鈥檚 most respected animal research programs鈥攐ne known for scientific excellence and compassionate care. In 1995, he became the first veterinarian to earn a master鈥檚 in public health from the University, deepening his focus on how environmental and animal health influence human well-being.
That combination of expertise and vision quickly translated into institution-wide impact. His leadership strengthened the animal research infrastructure鈥攆rom daily operations to long-term planning鈥攅nsuring investigators had the support, expertise, and environment they needed to pursue complex scientific questions. His collaborative, solution-oriented approach reinforced that foundation and modeled the principles of team science long before they became a formal institutional priority.
鈥淛eff鈥檚 impact on our institutional research enterprise, on the Rochester community鈥攁nd even globally鈥攃an鈥檛 be overstated,” said Vice President for Research Steve Dewhurst, PhD. “Animal models touch a majority of scientific work happening at this institution, and Jeff made that possible鈥攏ot only by ensuring the highest standards of care, but also by helping our investigators in myriad ways.”
Colleagues who worked closely with Wyatt over the decades describe him as a steady, strategic leader whose guidance shaped both teams and individuals. Diane Moorman-White, a longtime veterinarian on the Animal Resources team, says 鈥淗is ability to navigate complex situations, mentor staff, and solve problems with creativity and calm had a lasting influence on the department and the broader University community.鈥�
That same systems-level perspective guided his work beyond the Medical Center. His vision linked human, animal, and environmental health, leading to decades of research connecting ecosystem quality and community well-being. His work on the Genesee River and Great Lakes ecosystems helped reveal how wildlife can serve as indicators of environmental recovery. Through projects such as the , his team demonstrated measurable improvements in water quality and aquatic wildlife鈥攕uccesses that contributed to the recent as an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Area of Concern.
鈥淢other Nature is so resilient,鈥� Wyatt said in a November 2024 interview for . 鈥淭he pollution stopped, and sh别鈥檚 cleaning up the river as long as we give her the opportunity to do so. The sturgeon are thriving, and we鈥檙e seeing what鈥檚 possible when science, community, and patience come together.鈥�
Conservation Without Borders
Beyond the Rochester area, Wyatt鈥檚 leadership extended to collaborations linking the University鈥檚 community revitalization mission to global ecosystem health. His two decades of work in Borneo and Madagascar, the world鈥檚 third and fourth largest islands, helped protect critically endangered orangutans and lemurs by partnering with local communities to provide healthcare and sustainable livelihoods鈥攁n approach credited with saving thousands of animals and transforming public health outcomes.
Through EPA and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation-funded projects, h别鈥檚聽worked alongside Rochester communities from聽different cultural聽backgrounds to raise awareness about safe fish consumption and promote healthier choices for families who rely on local waterways for food.
Although retiring from his University role, Wyatt will continue his mission globally and locally through partnerships with and NYS Environmental Justice programs.
Welcoming Pradeep Dumpala
As Wyatt concludes his distinguished career, SMD welcomes Pradeep Dumpala, DVM, PhD, DACLAM, previously associate director in the Department of Laboratory Animal Resources at SUNY Upstate Medical University, to lead the University鈥檚 animal care and use programs.
A board-certified laboratory animal medicine specialist, Dumpala brings more than 15 years of leadership in animal research operations, accreditation, and regulatory compliance. Colleagues who have worked with him point to his strong management skills, his experience running complex facilities, and his ability to build trusting relationships across teams.
鈥淚t was clear he was very good at making connections between people,鈥� says Craig Morrell,
DVM, PhD, professor in the Department of Medicine and head of the search committee. 鈥淗e finds a path to make something work.鈥�
鈥淲hat drew me to Rochester is its deeply collaborative and forward-thinking spirit,鈥� Dumpala says. 鈥淚鈥檓 inspired by the University鈥檚 commitment to scientific excellence and animal welfare and eager to contribute to its research mission.鈥�
A Legacy of Hope
Wyatt鈥檚 career reminds us that science and stewardship go hand in hand. His influence鈥攕panning laboratories, rivers, and rainforests鈥攍eaves an enduring lesson in optimism and interconnectedness.
鈥淩emember, we are all connected鈥攈umans, animals and the environment,鈥� he said. 鈥淯nless both the environment and people are healthy, neither can be.鈥�
