Richardson, others recognized for contributions
Michigan veterinarian Dr. John H. Richardson received the AAHA's highest honor when he was named Practitioner of the Year at the association's 67th annual meeting. The award is given for dedication to the advancement of veterinary medicine.
An advocate of responsible pet ownership, Dr. Richardson emcees annual pet shows organized by his practice, the Plaza Veterinary Hospital in Farmington, Mich, where he is hospital manager. He also gives classroom presentations at area schools, offers hospital tours to youth groups, and makes regular appearances on television news shows and radio talk shows.
Dr. Richardson received his DVM degree in 1957 from Michigan State University. In the late '50s he served in the Air Force Veterinary Corps. With the AAHA Dr. Richardson was regional coordinator for Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana, and member representative for southeastern Michigan.
Other veterinarians were honored for their contributions to the profession at the Toronto meeting.
Dr. Carl A. Osborne received the Waltham Award for helping improve the well-being of companion animals in the international veterinary community.
In addition to being a professor of small animal clinical sciences at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Osborne is a well-known author. His interests are internal medicine with an emphasis on nephrology and urology. Dr. Osborne is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
The Hill's Animal Welfare and Humane Ethics Award was given to Dr. Robin Downing, who owns the Windsor Veterinary Clinic, PC, in Windsor, Colo, where she is also hospital director. She encourages pet owners to remain true to the human-animal bond, even when their pets are afflicted with chronic illness, cancer, or a physical disability.
Aside from her own veterinarian-client-patient relationships, Dr. Downing promotes the bond through her weekly column in the Sunday Denver Post. She wrote an essay published in "Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul," and has written a book for AAHA to help pet owners whose pets have cancer.
Dr. Jody Lulich received the Innovative Veterinary Diets Award. The award is given in recognition of substantial contributions made by a veterinarian to the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery, in general, and small animal veterinary medicine or surgery, in particular. Dr. Lulich is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and an associate professor of small animal clinical sciences at the University of Minnesota.
The Friskies PetCare Award went to Dr. Gary M. Landsberg, who works at the Doncaster Animal Clinic and Steeles Veterinary Office in Thornhill, Ontario. The award is given in recognition of outstanding contributions to canine and/or feline behavior medicine.
Dr. Landsberg, a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, counsels pet owners about pet behavior problems and conducts telephone behavior consulting for other veterinarians. He extends these services to veterinary professionals online.
Also honored were animal hospitals that have met the AAHA's standards for veterinary care as hospital members for 50 and 25 years. The 50 Year Hospital Award recipients were Ambassador Animal Hospital Inc, Silver Spring, Md; Basking Ridge Animal Hospital, Basking Ridge, NJ; Belvoir Pet Hospital, Cleveland; Friendship Hospital for Animals, Washington, DC; Gaston Veterinary Hospital Assoc PA, Gastonia, NC; Hollywood Animal Hospital, Hollywood, Fla; McClave Veterinary Hospital Inc, Reseda, Calif; McGilvray Veterinary Hospital, Toronto; Montgomery Animal Hospital, Cincinnati; Northside Animal Hospital Inc, Carmel, Ind; Riser Animal Hospital, Skokie, Ill; Roanoke Animal Hospital, Roanoke, Va; Sandy Memorial Animal Hospital PA, Hartsville, SC; and Westcott Veterinary Care Center, Detroit.