Honoring a life dedicated to horses, students and service
by Anna Holton-Dean
Many Oklahoma Horses readers came to know Dan Burba, DVM, through the expert advice he shared in our pages. A respected large animal surgeon, educator and mentor, Burba generously contributed his time and expertise to several of our recent articles before his unexpected passing this spring. In remembering his life, we want to recognize not only his extraordinary career but also the lasting impact he had on the students and horse owners whose lives he touched.
Burba earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1986. He completed an internship in large animal medicine and surgery at Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine, followed by a residency in equine surgery, which he finished in 1990. After completing his training, Burba joined Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. He later returned to Oklahoma State University, where he served as a professor of equine surgery and held the McCasland Professorship in biomedical laser surgery. During his time at the OSU CVM, Burba also served as the department head of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.
Burba’s career speaks for itself, but his greatest legacy wasn’t found in his titles or accomplishments. It was in the students he encouraged, challenged and inspired throughout his career, including those who had the privilege of learning from him at Oklahoma State University.
Jade Wilkinson, Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine student and president of the OSU chapter of the Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA), first met Burba in 2023 at the beginning of her veterinary journey. She initially knew him as her academic advisor and SAVMA faculty advisor, but their interactions soon grew beyond routine advising conversations into a lasting mentorship.
“What began as routine conversations about meetings, budgets and organizational logistics gradually evolved into discussions about leadership, mentorship, life and the kind of people we hoped to become,” Wilkinson shares. “Through those conversations and through traveling together to many leadership summits and conferences, our professional relationship naturally grew into a genuine friendship. He became one of the most influential mentors I have ever had, not because he pushed me toward a particular career, but because he invested in me as a person.”
For Wilkinson, what stood out most about Burba was not only his expertise as a surgeon, educator and horseman, but the way he made people feel valued. His knowledge was extensive, but she says he never led with his accomplishments. He led with compassion.
“Whether he was teaching in the classroom, working with a horse or simply having a conversation in the hallway, he approached every interaction with humility, patience and genuine curiosity. He had a way of making everyone feel like they mattered, regardless of their experience or accomplishments,” she says.
For Wilkinson, one simple conversation during veterinary school revealed the depth of Burba’s mentorship. It showed that his greatest interest was not simply in shaping future veterinarians, but in understanding and supporting the people they were becoming.
“One of my favorite memories is actually a simple conversation during my third year of veterinary school,” Wilkinson recalls. “We were talking about my upcoming clinical year when I mentioned that my goal was to become an equine surgeon. He looked at me with genuine surprise and excitement and said, ‘How did I not know this about you?’ At first, I thought it was funny that after years of working together, we had never talked about my career aspirations.
“But as I reflected on it later, I realized why. Our conversations had never centered on accomplishments or career paths. They were about leadership, family, life and becoming good people. That moment perfectly captured the kind of mentor he was and showed how he cared far more about knowing the person behind ‘Jade,’ rather than the future veterinarian.”
While he will no longer be in the classroom, Burba’s influence will continue through the veterinarians he inspired and the example he set.
“I think Dr. Burba’s greatest legacy will live on through the way his students choose to treat others,” Wilkinson says. “He modeled empathy, humility, kindness and servant leadership every day, often without realizing how closely people were watching. His influence extends far beyond the countless horses he treated or the students he taught in the classroom.
“It lives in the mentors his students will become, the environments they create for future generations and the compassion they show to clients, colleagues and patients. Personally, I hope to honor his legacy by creating the same kind of supportive environment for students and young veterinarians that he created for me.”
Thank you, Dr. Burba, for your service to your students, your patients and the entire equine community.
