Dr. Rebecca Gompf received her Bachelor's, Master’s, and DVM Degrees from The Ohio State University. She received the OSU Outstanding Young Alumna Award in 1984 and continued to demonstrate excellence as a veterinarian and service-oriented professional. Following her graduation, Dr. Gompf completed an internship and residency leading to specialty certification (ACVIM) in Cardiology. She was subsequently employed as a faculty member of The University of Tennessee (UT) Department of Small Animal Medicine, where she spent 42 years, most as the sole cardiologist. During her tenure at UT, she has taken on many roles to enhance the education of students with extensive volunteer work and mentoring of students, interns and residents.

Her service to the community has included Little League scorekeeper, church leadership, Ohio State University Alumni support, adult Literacy, student Literacy, Knox County Board of Health for 25 years, Knox County Animal Control Board, Human-Animal Bond Committee (HABIT), and numerous committees in The American College of Veterinary Medicine including the longest-serving secretary of the ACVIM Cardiology Specialty, to name a few. She has been recognized for her committed service with prestigious awards such as the UT Miles Award for Community Service, The Pendergrass Service Award, and national organization recognition with the ACVIM Pyle Service Award.

Dr. Gompf has been a lifelong supporter of  Ohio State’s Alumni Society from 1975 to the present, serving in multiple capacities. In addition, she is the proud holder of Buckeye season football tickets, volunteers on admission teams, and attends to many other requests made by her university. She continues to be an unwavering supporter of Ohio State and the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Kent Hoblet earned his DVM from Ohio State University in 1971 and an MS in 1984. From 1971 until 1983, he was a partner in a general mixed animal practice in Ashland, Ohio. He served on the College of Veterinary Medicine faculty from 1983 until 2006. During his tenure at Ohio State, he served as chair for the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and as the university’s Extension veterinarian for dairy cattle. 

In 2006, his career path led him to Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, where he served as dean for over 17 years. During his tenure at Mississippi State, enrollment of DVM students increased from 264 to 437 and faculty size increased from 81 to 120. Annual research expenditures grew from $7.4 M in 2007 to over $20 M in 2022. New educational initiatives implemented include a BS degree in veterinary medical technology, a joint DVM-PhD program, the establishment of a successful emergency and referral teaching practice in the state capital, and a study abroad program. The DVM curriculum at Mississippi State includes two full years of mentored clinical instruction. 

Mississippi State has the most comprehensive aquatic animal health program among US colleges of veterinary medicine. Aquatic animal activities range from conducting research and diagnostics to serving the catfish industry, leading a USAID Feed the Future Fish Innovation Lab that currently has 24 projects in 10 countries, and a teaching/research program involving rescue and conservation of dolphins and critically endangered sea turtles on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. After leaving the dean’s position in September 2023, he continues contributing to  Mississippi State’s College of Veterinary Medicine’s success in a part-time faculty role.

Dr. John Payne received his DVM in 1982 from The Ohio State University. He completed his Master of Science and Residency at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, followed by his certification in veterinary surgery in 1991. From there, he spent nine years at the University of Missouri as a professor of orthopedic surgery. His next career path took him to Tennessee Avenue Animal Hospital as a staff surgeon. He then went on to become a partner and founding owner of the Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center, which is now one of the largest specialty and emergency centers in the United States.

Dr. Payne has been invited to lecture and participate in ACL and Osteosarcoma research in the Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and is an adjunct associate professor of orthopedic surgery and sports medicine at the University of Pittsburgh College of Medicine. Throughout his career, he has presented over 200 lectures to groups ranging from the World Animal Hospital Association in Tokyo, Japan, to the Midwest Veterinary Conference in Columbus. Dr. Payne has been extremely active in the development and training of surgeons in arthroscopic surgery, having taught nearly 100 training laboratories in several countries.  He has over 50 publications in various aspects of veterinary surgery.

He has also spent his time volunteering on different committees for the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, served as the Chair of Orthopedic Surgery for the AVMA annual meeting, and has been a board member for the North Allegheny Lacrosse Association and Pittsburgh Zoo. He continues to give back to his alma mater through lectures, sharing his knowledge and expertise with current Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine Residents, most recently as a guest faculty member on the orthopedic service.

In his free time, Dr. Payne enjoys sailing his sailboat on Lake Erie, fly fishing and is a licensed pilot.  He is married to his wife Patty and has two adult children and two granddaughters.

Dr. Liesa Rihl Stone is a double alumna of The Ohio State University. She received her BS in Animal Science in 1980 and her DVM in 1983. After receiving her DVM, she completed one year of graduate work in clinical pharmacology at Texas A&M University. In addition to 13 years of private practice experience, Dr. Stone taught at both Texas A&M University and St. Petersburg Junior College. She was employed in the animal health industry for over 15 years, spending 10 years with The Iams Company/Procter & Gamble in technical support and brand marketing. Before joining Ohio State, Dr. Stone spent six years at Bayer Animal Health, leading the Veterinary Technical Services team, responsible for technical support of the companion animal business.

Dr. Stone joined Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine as the Chief Advancement Officer in 2012. In 2018, she was promoted to serve as the college’s Assistant Dean of External Relations. She spent one year as Ohio State’s Assistant Vice President of Advancement and Executive Director of Principal Gifts before returning to the college in February 2023. In her current role as Assistant Dean for Institutional Advancement, Executive Director of Strategic Engagements and Chief Advancement Officer, she oversees the college advancement model, driving strategic direction for alumni engagement, communications/marketing, continuing education and fundraising. Dr. Stone works closely with college leadership to build state legislative relationships and corporate partnerships. She has been active in organized veterinary medicine, serving as president of the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association and as Ohio’s representative on the AVMA House of Delegates.