Vet School pioneer gets award

It may surprise people that Josephine Deubler, the first woman to graduate from Penn's School of Veterinary Medicine and a renowned dog-show judge, does not keep any pets in her home. "It's hard to keep a dog in an apartment," Deubler said with a smile. Last month, Deubler, 80, was honored as the "Best of Show Judge" at the Westminister Kennel Club Show in New York. Although she may no longer have a pet of her own, Deubler has been a pioneer in the veterinary field since graduating from the Vet School in 1938. When reflecting on whether she was affected by the experience of being the only woman in her class, Deubler casually said, "I didn't really think about it." Between 1939 and 1944, Deubler continued with her studies and obtained her doctorate and master's degree. In addition to being the only woman in her classes, Deubler has had to overcome another obstacle -- she has been severely hearing impaired since infancy. Deubler's hearing loss is the result of a childhood disease she suffered at the age of one or two. She now has help from hearing aids that were not available when she was younger. Deubler's lack of hearing prevented her from ever opening her own veterinary practice. Instead, she concentrated on research and dog breeding. She has judged dog shows since 1962. In 1943, Deubler became the first female faculty member of the Vet School. She officially retired in 1987, but still spends time in her office at the Vet School every morning. Deubler's career choice followed in the footsteps of her family. Her father and brother were both veterinarians while her brother took care of horses and mules as a U.S. Army Veterinary Corp member during World War II. Deubler has entered her dogs into shows and became an American Kennel Club judge in 1962. She specializes in judging terriers and hounds and chairs the Bucks County dog show in May, the country's largest outdoor dog show. As a sign of the Vet School's appreciation for Deubler's contributions throughout her career, the school last year named the Dr. Josephine Deubler Genetic Disease Testing Laboratory in her honor.

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