Albert Jergens

2009 Outstanding Alumni
Dr. Albert E. Jergens, '83

Dr. Jergens earned Bachelor of Science degrees in both Biomedical Science (1977) and Veterinary Science (1981) from Texas A&M University before completing his DVM in 1983. He followed these with a Master of Science degree in Veterinary Pathology (1994) and a PhD in Immunobiology (2005) from Iowa State University.

Board certified in Internal Medicine, Dr. Jergens began his career as an Associate Veterinarian in Houston, Texas. From there he went on to a residency in small animal internal medicine at the University of Missouri-Columbia College of Veterinary Medicine and then became a Clinical Assistant Professor of the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. In 1989, he moved to the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, where he currently holds a position as Professor. In 2004, he became an NIH Mentored Clinical Scientist.

While at Iowa State University, Dr. Jergens has received several teaching awards, including the Norden Distinguished Teaching Award in 1990 and the SCAVMA Teaching Award for Teaching Excellence in Clinical Sciences in 1995. In 2005, he was named as a Center for Teaching Excellence Miller Fellow. He has served on numerous university, college and departmental committees during his tenure at ISU. In addition, he has served on several committees for the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, including its Board of Regents since 2005. Since 2004, he has been a working member of the Gastrointestinal Histology Standardization Group for the World Small Animal Veterinary Association. He is also a member of Phi Zeta (both at Iowa State University and the University of Missouri), the Texas Veterinary Medical Association, the Comparative Gastroenterology Society, the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Gastroenterology Association.

In addition to his NIH funded research, Dr. Jergens is presently funded through grants from the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, American Kennel Club, Waltham Pet Foods, and the Comparative Gastroenterology Society. His over-arching research emphasis is on mucosal immunology, murine models of intestinal inflammation, and inflammatory bowel diseases in the dog and cat.

He serves on numerous graduate POS committees as major professor and committee member - at present he oversees four PhD graduate students in Immunobiology and Veterinary Microbiology as well as serves as the departmental officer in charge of graduate education in his home department of VCS.

Apart from his professional endeavors, Dr. Jergens devotes time to his family and community. He is an Assistant Scout Master for Ames Troop #230 and is an assistant coach for youth soccer and Little League. He has served as President of the St. Andrew's Lutheran Church congregation and continues to be a member of the Education Committee, a Sunday school teacher, and supporter of the Puppet Ministry. He provides parental input for the long-range district committee of the Ames Community School District.

Dr. Jergens is married to Dr. Kristina Miles, an Associate Professor in Veterinary Radiology at ISU and has a 12 year-old son, Travis. Dr. Jergens enjoys Boy Scouting with Travis, as well as camping, biking and running. He and Travis are now preparing to attend the 2010 National Jamboree in Virginia celebrating 100 years of scouting. Al enjoys riding vintage steam locomotives as he hunts for railroad artifacts and he collects antique clocks.