On this episode of Root of The Matter, we have Dr. Paul Plummer as out guest. Plummer has been Dean of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine for about a year now. A third‑generation Tennessean and UTCVM alumnus, Dr. Plummer returns home after his time at Iowa State University, where he served as Associate Dean for Research & Graduate Studies, as well as Anderson Endowed Chair in Veterinary Sciences. Plummer describes how his early experiences on his family’s farm in Sevierville shaped his passion for large‑animal medicine, antimicrobial resistance, and veterinary education. He talks about his vision for UTCVM’s future — from expanding partnerships with producers to elevating animal health, rural veterinary outreach.