Evans brings 'toxic' humor into his veterinary medicine classroom

by John McLaughlin, posted Feb. 24, 2010

If you ask Tim Evans, of the MU department of veterinary pathobiology, whether he could make an appearance outside of his lectures, he probably could not make the commitment. As with most of the other professors here at MU, he is a remarkably busy person. Do not fear, though, because ‘The Antidote," Evans’ astute alter ego, would be jubilant to help any student regardless of the situation.

When not teaching in the College of Veterinary Medicine, Tim Evans' alter ego, 'The Antidote,' makes occasional appearances.

“Dr. Evans enters a room as subtly as a tsunami. [With] a loud voice and bright flamboyant shirts to match, Dr. Evans is someone that cannot be ignored,” said Kelvin Urday, a student in the college of veterinary medicine. “Dr. Evans’ teaching style consists of three things: ridiculous stories, yelling, and ‘tox essentials’. His teaching style is unlike any other. He is dynamic, engaging and passionate. His love for toxicology and veterinary medicine is inspiring.”

Evans has taught in the department of veterinary pathobiology since he completed his doctorate in pathobiology at MU in 2002. He is an assistant professor in the department of pathobiology and a diplomat for both the American College of Theriogenologists and the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology.

Currently, Evans’ research includes how poisons, specifically myco-toxins, affect animal reproduction. He is involved in research using a swine model to analyze endocrine disruptions for human exposure as well.

Confused? Don’t be. Fortunately, Evans has a genuine educational philosophy that centers on understanding. 

“You have to do things that get students interested,” Evans said, and he has recently begun a series of pilot projects that revolve around student interaction. Specifically, one called ‘Pick your Poison’. In this exercise, Evans first reveals a scenario of events that include attributes of a particular poison; he then shows pictures of would be culprits — certain types of plants that might cause the said symptoms. Next, he exhibits another scenario with a different set of symptoms, but of the same poison; more pictures are released and finally the student dissects the given information into the correct prognosis.

“[Evans] takes what has the potential to be dry material and makes it exciting and memorable,” said Vicky Kasten, another student in the college of veterinary medicine. “Dr. Evans is a very dynamic and energetic teacher, and it is impossible to sit through his lectures without laughing!”

In his free time, Evans collects a variety of knick-knacks and trinkets, as well as strange gifts such as a bedpan that is kept in his office. He says he used to spend an inordinate amount of time in animal rectums when he was a practicing veterinarian and that “a cows rectum is a warm place to be on a cold Missouri morning.” 

Most importantly he lives by a very valuable rule: “You have to value what you do, but still be able to laugh at yourself.

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