The Liebl family: Dr. Barbara Wensel; Dr. Gus Liebl and his wife Beatrice; Dr. Stephen Liebl; Susan Dewell; and Dr. Tom Liebl

Kansas State alumni honored

Several graduates of Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine were honored by the Kansas State Veterinary Medical Alumni Association in January and February, including a family of four veterinarians. All the honorees were recognized for advancing the profession and for being exemplary role models for future alumni.

Drs. Barbara E. Wensel, Stephen A. Liebl, Thomas G. Liebl, and their father, Dr. Elwyn A. Liebl, received Alumni Recognition awards at the K-State alumni reception Jan. 11 in Topeka, Kan., held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Kansas VMA.

Dr. John Harvey Dr. Mark Skeels

Drs. John W. Harvey and Mark N. Skeels received Alumni Recognition awards at the K-State alumni reception, held Jan. 13 in conjunction with the North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando, Fla.

Drs. Michael Cavanaugh and Ross Clark were honored with Alumni Recognition awards during an alumni reception, held Feb. 11 in conjunction with the Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas.

Dr. Michael Cavanaugh Dr. Ross Clark

The career of Dr. Elwyn Liebl ('51) spans almost 50 years. In addition to having co-owned a mixed practice in Dodge City, Kan., Dr. Liebl served as president of the Kansas VMA in 1970 and was named Kansas Veterinarian of the Year in 1975. He served in the AVMA House of Delegates for eight years during the 1970s.

Three of the four Liebl children were inspired to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. A small animal practitioner, Dr. Barbara E. Wensel ('77) has worked at a practice in Austin, Tex., for the past 16 years. Dr. Stephen A. Liebl ('81) owns a small animal practice in Hermosa Beach, Calif. Dr. Tom G. Liebl ('85) has been an associate at a practice in Lawrence, Kan., since 1990. He achieved diplomate status in the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners and is currently serving as a board member of the Douglas County Board of Health.

Regarding the two veterinarians honored during the North American Veterinary Conference, Dr. Harvey ('70) joined the University of Florida faculty in 1974 and became a professor in 1984. A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (Clinical Pathology), Dr. Harvey discovered and namedthe Ehrlichia platys organism that infects dog platelets and, along with coworkers, first recognized and reported four inherited erythrocyte enzyme deficiencies, according to Kansas State University. Dr. Harvey is a former president of the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.

Dr. Skeels ('86) began a company that performs ultrasound examinations in veterinary hospitals in the New Jersey and New York area. In 2000, he merged his company with one of his largest users of telemedicine services, a move that enabled the mobile ultrasound services to go nationwide and reach eight other major cities. Dr. Skeels is also co-founder of a franchise organization providing radiation treatment for cats with hyperthyroid disease.

After graduation, Dr. Cavanaugh ('83) began working in small and mixed animal hospitals, and in 1990, he opened an animal cremation business. A diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, Dr. Cavanaugh joined Pfizer Animal Health in 2000 and is a senior area veterinarian to the Rocky Mountain area.

Dr. Clark ('63) opened a clinic in Tulsa, Okla., in 1966. He is a co-founder of a company that operates 75 animal hospitals in 12 states. He is practice management editor for Veterinary Economics magazine and has published multiple books and articles on practice management and genetics. From 1991–1999 he served as director, vice president, president-elect, and president of the Western Veterinary Conference.