Awards

Dr. Alan Brightman

Since 1989 Dr. Brightman has served as full professor of Clinical Sciences at K- State College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. He specializes in the entire spectrum of medical and surgical ophthalmology of all animal species. His research interests include primarily tear film protective mechanisms and the role of aldose reductase inhibitors in diabetic cataracts and vacular disease. He is board certified and a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.

Dr. Brightman completed undergraduate Bachelor of Science degrees at KU and K-State in 1966 and 1972 and finished his DVM at K-State in 1974. He then completed an internship at the University of California-Davis and an ophthalmology residency and Master's Degree at the University of Illinois. For 12 years he served on the faculty at the University Of Illinois College Of Veterinary Medicine before coming back to K-State.

For Dr. Brightman, a 36-year military career started with his ROTC program, Second Lieutenant Commission received at the completion of his first undergraduate degree in 1966. He served three years of active duty in the Regular Army's 43rd Artillery and 75th Ranger Regiments, completing Officer Basic and Ranger Training schools; he then came back to Kansas and K-State where he started a 33-year career in the United States Army Reserves (USAR).

Reserve and active duty assignments during his University career at both the University of Illinois and Kansas State included: the Laser Laboratory at the Letterman Army Institute Research (LAIR) at the Presidio in San Francisco, the Armed Forces Medical Intelligence Center, Ft. Detrick, in Frederick, Maryland, the 308th Civil Affairs Group, Homewood, Illinois, Group Veterinarian and Group Surgeon for the 12th Special Forces (Airborne), Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, and he served on the general staff of the 5th United States Army as an Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer to FEMNA Region VII and the State of Nebraska. He also attended the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College.

Awards and decorations received by Dr. Brightman during his long military career are many. They include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medals, Army and Air Force Commendation Medals. He was an airborne, ranger, air assault qualified soldier who also earned the Expert Infantry Badge and Expert Field Medical Badge. During his career he had eight overseas assignments. He traveled to Germany, Thailand, Paraguay, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Nepal. In April of 2003, Dr. Brightman retired from the United States Army Reserve after 36 years of military service.

Throughout his professional career he has authored over 80 scientific articles and book chapters. Service to his profession has included: President of the Eastern Illinois Veterinary Medical Association; member of the Illinois Licensing Board; member of the Board of Scientific review for the Journal Of Veterinary Research; Chair of the National Phi Zeta Awards committee; and is past President of the Kansas Veterinary Medical Association. His professional memberships include the American Veterinary Medical Association, Kansas Veterinary Medical Association and American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. Honor society memberships include, Gamma Sigma Delta, Phi Zeta and Sigma Xi.

Dr. Brightman and his wife, Ingrid, reside in Manhattan. They have three sons, Shawn 16, Harry 2, and Robert 1 month. Dr. Brightman serves as the faculty advisor to the Delta Chi fraternity and is a member of the FEMA region VII interagency steering committee. He has served six years on the Manhattan economic development advisory board.