Dr. Austen grew up in Lockport, Louisiana, and later received his B.S. in Biology from Nicholls State College. After teaching high school for a short time, Dr. Jack completed his M.S. degree in Biology (Microbiology) at Southeastern Louisiana University. Over the years, he served as a Research Assistant in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and later as a Graduate Assistant in the Virology Laboratory of Texas A & M College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Jack graduated from Texas A & M with his Ph.D. in Veterinary Microbiology in 1977. Soon after this, he joined Metairie Small Animal Hospital as our Chief Microbiologist.