In Memory – Dr. Thomas A. Bryan, Retired Purdue Avian Diagnostician

The Purdue Veterinary Medicine community mourns the passing of a dedicated poultry veterinarian and esteemed avian diagnostician, Dr. Thomas A. Bryan, who passed away Feb. 21, 2025 in Carmel, Indiana, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 81.

A native of Scott City, Kansas, Dr. Bryan devoted his career to veterinary medicine, specializing in poultry health. He worked as a Purdue avian diagnostician for the Heeke Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) at the Southern Indiana Purdue Agricultural Center (SIPAC) in Dubois County, and served Indiana and the poultry industry with dedication for 30 years before retiring in 2011.

Dr. Bryan is remembered for the great joy he derived from driving his truck through the hills of southern Indiana to visit his poultry “patients.” Through his work at Purdue, he made significant contributions to his field, particularly in avian disease prevention.

In 1994, working with the turkey industry, Dr. Bryan and colleague Tom Hooper helped recognize turkey coronavirus and developed diagnostic tests that assisted in the disease being eradicated from Indiana. Dr. Bryan received the Indiana State Poultry Association’s prestigious Golden Egg Award in recognition of his groundbreaking avian coronavirus research and his impact on poultry health and disease control.

Dr. Bryan also was known as a quiet and thoughtful man who cherished his family and was deeply dedicated to his work, faith, and values. He taught Sunday school at Huntingburg United Methodist Church in Huntingburg, Indiana, for more than 35 years, and devoted many Saturdays to the church’s work at Maple Grove Campground.

A service to celebrate Dr. Bryan’s life was held at Huntingburg United Methodist Church Thursday, Feb. 27. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Maple Grove Campground and Foundation or the Carmel United Methodist Food Pantry at CarmelUMC.org, in honor of his lifelong dedication to faith and service. Bussell Family Funerals is handling arrangements. Click here to view a complete obituary.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

Purdue Veterinary Medicine Launches Pet Care App for Apple Platforms

As part of a partnership with Purdue University’s Spatial Computing Hub, the College of Veterinary Medicine launched Purdue Vet Med (PVM) Pro Tips for companion animal owners. The app, which is available for Apple Vision Pro, iPad and iPhone, offers step-by-step tutorials for providing at-home care to cats, dogs, horses and birds.

Registration Now Open for 2026 Purdue Veterinary Conference

Purdue Veterinary Medicine is preparing to host the 2026 Purdue Veterinary Conference September 23–26 on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus, and registration is now open. The annual event brings together veterinary professionals, educators, students, and industry partners for a week focused on continuing education, collaboration, and practical learning.

“Paws Up” for Dr. Makensie Anderson – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week, our DVM students took the opportunity to recognize a Purdue Veterinary Hospital resident who has made a meaningful impact on their learning experience this year.

PVM Global Engagement Director Receives Outstanding Leadership in Globalization Award

Purdue’s College of Veterinary Medicine is making strides far beyond the state of Indiana, thanks in large part to the tremendous efforts of Addison Sheldon, the college’s director of global engagement. Sheldon is a Purdue graduate who joined the PVM Office of Engagement in April of 2021. His contributions were recognized recently when he was selected, along with three other Purdue staff and faculty members, by the university’s Global Academic Committee to receive the 2025 Outstanding Leadership in Globalization Award.

Ruby’s Road to Stability: Purdue Veterinary Hospital Provides Collaborative Approach to Complex Care

Today we continue a series of articles about animals and their owners who’ve found help and healing at the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital as we share the story of a dog named Ruby.

How do landscape architects design spaces for animals?

With help from the Purdue Veterinary Hospital, a graduating senior in the Purdue College of Agriculture mastered the answer to that question through practical experience. The Purdue University Veterinary Hospital offers specialized medical care to both small and large animals often using outdoor areas like paddocks and dog runs. At first glance, these areas might seem like just a fence and a patch of grass. Over the past semester, Mary Schultz, a senior in horticulture and landscape architecture, has worked with the veterinary hospital to reimagine its outdoor spaces and brainstorm solutions for the landscape’s technical, maintenance and aesthetic issues.