Iowa State separates with top equine surgeon after ‘faculty-conduct complaints’

After 16 years, Iowa State University is parting ways with an award-winning equine surgeon and veterinarian after faculty-conduct complaints were filed against him, according to documents made public by the Board of Regents.

Details of the complaints against Scott R. McClure - associate professor in ISU's College of Veterinary Medicine and equine veterinarian and surgeon at ISU's Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center - were not made public. A separation agreement indicates only that McClure was accused of engaging in 'conduct prohibited by the faculty handbook.”

According to the agreement, McClure disputed the charges and accused the institution of violating his rights as a tenured faculty member. But because both sides 'have a mutual interest in amicably resolving” their disputes, they negotiated McClure's voluntary resignation and noted the agreement doesn't constitute admission of wrongdoing or violation of law or policy.

ISU spokesman John McCarroll declined to comment on behalf of the university. McClure couldn't be reached for comment.

The agreement indicates McClure's resignation is effective at midnight Dec. 31. Although a receptionist for the university's veterinary medical center on Wednesday said McClure has resigned from the clinic, and the agreement outlines 'modified job duties” that include working off-site.

The off-site research must not be animal related and limited to analysis of data collected through McClure's research efforts before Feb. 12, 2016. McClure, in the agreement, is prohibited from accessing client information or hospital data.

He's also barred from contacting any Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center clients. And the agreement prohibits him from accessing, taking, using, or disclosing client information that is not publicly available.

The modified job duties require McClure to relinquish active grants to the university, but they do not prohibit him from engaging in freelance clinical or consulting work.

He will continue to earn his salary - listed at $146,425 - until his employment ends. After his resignation, the university will pay out his accrued vacation and sick leave totaling more than $27,000. The agreement allows him up to $3,000 to attend the 62nd Annual American Association of Equine Practitioners convention in Orlando in early December.

McClure, who received his veterinary degree from Iowa State in 1990 and completed equine surgery residency and doctorate programs at Texas A&M, joined the ISU faculty in 2000, according to McCarroll.

During his time at Iowa State, McClure served as equine surgery section chief from 2006 to 2012 and instructed students on clinical rotations - also serving on Master of Science committees for four graduate students and as the American College of Veterinary Surgeons resident adviser for eight residents - three of whom are board certified surgeons on faculty at Iowa State.

Last year, he became Iowa's first veterinarian to earn board certification from the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation.

According to his resume, McClure has generated hundreds of thousands in research funds - including $500,000 in extramural research dollars, $234,000 in contract research funds, $40,000 in intramural research funds, and $32,000 in unrestricted gifts.

While at Iowa State, he authored or co-authored 37 papers - in addition to eight co-authored publications in peer-reviewed journals and four manuscripts pending publication. He authored three book chapters and 30 scientific abstracts and delivered 22 international invited lectures in 12 countries.

According to a reference letter Iowa State provided as part of the settlement agreement, McClure reported on his resume 'consulting efforts with multiple companies in the development of pharmaceuticals and devices for the equine veterinary medicine.”

He served on various national boards and committees, along with several at Iowa State.

McClure over the past 15 years has functioned as adviser to the Iowa State University Rodeo Club and Cyclone Stampede and has met with 'a large number of 4-H and FFA and school groups” to discuss science, veterinary medicine, and their careers.