LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) – Dr. Ron Warner, KCBD’s longtime expert on mosquito diseases, has published a book about his veterinary career spanning nearly three decades.
Warner provided expert advice in 32 Healthwise segments over the years, including coverage of the Zika virus outbreak 10 years ago. During that time, he reassured viewers that local Aedes mosquitoes were not infected with Zika.
The recently retired Texas Tech Health Sciences Center instructor has written “Pigs, Pets and Public Health: One Veterinarian’s Journey.”
“It was a labor of love. It took me about 30 months,” Warner said.
From farm to veterinary school
Warner’s journey began on his family farm in a small Ohio town, where he witnessed his first veterinary miracle at age 6. He watched a veterinarian inject a sick dairy cow with something that saved her from milk fever.
“In 25 minutes, she’s able to stand. She allows her calf to come up and nurse and I say that’s a miracle. I need to learn how to do that,” Warner said.
Warner began his career as a veterinarian before earning additional degrees in public health and epidemiology. He taught epidemiology to the first two classes at the veterinary school in Amarillo.
“Never did I imagine that I would help found a veterinary school in Amarillo,” he said.
Broad medical training
Warner said veterinary medicine is considered a “one health provider” because human health and animal health overlap in many ways.
“So many people today have no real good idea of what it takes to put bacon in a package and unwrap that and fry it. Or the eggs from the carton. You know they don’t understand all that’s behind that. All the disease prevention,” he said.
He said veterinary medicine is the broadest medical degree available.
“We have to understand the anatomy of seven different species at least. Dogs, cats, cows, horses, sheep, swine and poultry. That’s a lot of anatomy,” Warner said.
The book includes practical advice, such as not giving aspirin to cats while aspirin for dogs is acceptable.
Book signing event
Reviews suggest the book would be good reading for young people considering veterinary careers.
“I hope that those stories will encourage people to keep pursuing their dream, even though you may bump into a wall at some point. There’s a way around that wall and I think that I just hope it encouraged, and I hope it informs,” Warner said.
Warner is a polio survivor who overcame numerous challenges throughout his career.
A book signing is scheduled for Monday, November 17th at LCU in the Collier Auditorium. The book signing begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by a presentation with guest speakers at 6:30 p.m. The event is designed for students considering careers in medicine or public health.
Warner said he is grateful to his friend Tom McGovern for encouraging him to write the book. The book was released in May 2025, but McGovern died before it was published.
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