Dr. James O. CookThis afternoon at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, the Association's new leaders take office as AVMA President Gregory S. Hammer installs his successor, Dr. James O. Cook of Lebanon, Ky., and new vice president, Dr. Gary S. Brown of Princeton, W.Va. The sold-out President's Installation Luncheon is sponsored by Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc.

First on the program, Dr. Hammer will bestow nine of the profession's top awards. Following are sketches of the recipients. The Sept. 1 issue of JAVMA News will carry more career highlights of these luminaries and those honored at the Opening Session.

Dr. Lila T. Miller (COR '77) earned the Animal Welfare Award. She holds the position of vice president of veterinary outreach at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, where she has worked for over 30 years. Dr. Miller teaches a shelter medicine course at the Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine. She coauthored a section on veterinary forensics in the book "Recognizing and Reporting Animal Abuse: A Veterinarian's Guide." Dr. Miller cofounded and serves on the board of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians.

Dr. Stephen W. Barthold (CAL '69) received the Charles River Prize from the Charles River Foundation for distinguished contributions to the field of laboratory animal medicine and science. Dr. Barthold, a distinguished professor at the University of California, is director of the UC-Davis Center for Comparative Medicine. He serves as chair of the National Academies Institute for Laboratory Animal Research Council. He is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine.

Rear Admiral William S. Stokes (OSU '79) earned the Karl F. Meyer-James H. Steele Gold Head Cane Award, sponsored by Hartz Mountain Corp., for achievements that have advanced human health through the practice of veterinary epidemiology and public health. Dr. Stokes serves as assistant surgeon general of the U.S. Public Health Service. He is director of the National Toxicology Program's Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, one of the National Institutes of Health. He is a diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine.

The late Dr. Charles C. Capen (WSU '60) was awarded the Lifetime Excellence in Research award. Dr. Capen was a distinguished professor at The Ohio State University. During his career, he made substantial contributions to the fields of endocrinology, toxicology, and veterinary pathology. He was renowned for his work in the use of animals to study human diseases. Dr. Capen was elected to leadership positions at the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, Society of Toxicologic Pathology, Association of Veterinary Pathology Chairpersons in North America, and Society of Toxicology.

Dr. Lila T. Miller

Dr. Stephen W. Barthold

Dr. William S. Stokes

Dr. Daniel E. Lafontaine (OSU '67) took home the AVMA Public Service Award for his outstanding contributions to public health and regulatory veterinary medicine. He serves as director of the South Carolina Meat-Poultry Inspection Department and assistant state veterinarian for South Carolina. He completed 26 years of active duty in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps and retired in 1993 with the rank of colonel. Dr. Lafontaine has served on numerous councils and committees. He is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine.

The AVMA Humane Award was presented to Sharon M. Harmon, executive director of the Oregon Humane Society. Harmon's most recent accomplishment is the Animal Medical and Learning Center, which is one of the first veterinary teaching hospitals in the nation to be connected to and provide 24-hour medical care to animals at a shelter. The partnership with the Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine serves as a national model and will help care for shelter pets while providing experience for veterinary students.

Dr. Charles C. Capen	Dr. Daniel E. Lafontaine	Sharon M. Harmon
Dr. Colin F. Burrows	Dr. Paul Maza	Dr. John H. Rossmeisl Jr.

Dr. Colin F. Burrows (LON '69) was the recipient of the XII International Veterinary Congress Prize for contributions to international understanding of veterinary medicine. Dr. Burrows is a professor of medicine and chair of the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. An honorary member of the Austrian and Russian small animal veterinary associations, Dr. Burrows has delivered continuing education presentations in more than 50 countries. He is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Dr. Paul Maza earned the Student AVMA Teaching Excellence Award in Basic Sciences. He graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1995. Since 2000, Dr. Maza has held a lecturer position at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, where he assists with a problem-based learning course on gross, microscopic, developmental, and radiographic anatomy. At the Cornell University Hospital for Animals, Dr. Maza is a consultant for students in the Community Practice Service. From 1997 to 2000, he was a small animal practitioner with Monroe Veterinary Associates in Rochester, N.Y.

Dr. John H. Rossmeisl Jr. (AUB '97) received the Student AVMA Teaching Excellence Award in Clinical Sciences for excellence, innovation, and enthusiasm in the field of clinical veterinary science and education. Dr. Rossmeisl is an assistant professor of neurology and neurosurgery in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. His research interests are vascular biology and tumor angiogenesis, primary brain neoplasms, traumatic brain injury, and endocrinology. He is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.