Dustin Liechty ('14)
SUU to Emergency Veterinarian
Originally published on February 24, 2026.
Southern Utah University helped carve a path to veterinary school for Dustin Liechty, who came to campus from Mountain Crest High School in Cache Valley’s Hyrum, Utah.
“I have loved animals since I was a child and always knew I wanted to be a veterinarian,” he says. “I chose SUU because of the affordability and high quality of education, and I was offered a competitive scholarship. I started at SUU in 2006, left to serve an LDS mission from 2007 to 2009, and then was back from 2009 to 2014.”
He is today a veterinary ER doctor in Salt Lake City.
The science program at SUU was indeed thorough and gave Dustin a solid base for vet school, and he felt confident starting an advanced degree.
Also, he says, he was mentored by great professors.
“Dr. Bill Heyborne was extremely helpful to me and became a close lifelong friend. I was able to design my own course and study one-on-one with him about zoo medicine, design, and operations,” he said. “Kay Andersen was someone who always believed in me and pushed me to be better and taught me lessons through dance that I have continued to apply in areas of my life not related to performing arts. He is still my personal hero, and I hope to one day be half the person he is.”
Although a biology major, Dustin gives thanks to SUU for allowing him the opportunity to be heavily involved in the performing arts. He says that is something that would have been impossible at another institution, and the opportunity helped him to find community and drive. He was able to meet his best friends on campus and also to travel and perform throughout the United States. This was extremely helpful for him to have an outlet outside of the classroom and studying, and it kept him academically motivated, he says.
“The Ballroom Dance Company gave me most of my favorite memories, but I also enjoyed hiking in Zion National Park, running the Red Rock Relay three times with the SUU chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa, and performing in SUU's production of Chicago,” he says.
Dustin graduated from SUU in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology/Zoology degree, with a minor in dance performance.
“I learned that I am a hard worker, that I can achieve what I set my mind to, and that I can do more than what I thought was possible for myself. I learned that I can have joy in my life outside of my education and work, that my life can be rounded and varied,” he says. “I am very proud of my doctorate degree and the ability to provide quality emergency medicine for animals in need.”
Tags: Alumni