Assemblies

American Association of Zoo Veterinarians

Event: Annual conference, Oct. 25-30, 2009, Tulsa, Okla.
Program: The conference drew 379 attendees representing 25 countries.
Awards: Emil P. Dolensek Award: Dr. Dan Janssen, San Diego, for exceptional contributions to the conservation, care, and understanding of zoo and free-ranging wildlife. A 1978 graduate of the University of California-Davis, Dr. Janssen is corporate director of animal health at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Wild Animal Park. He is a diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine, past president of the AAZV, and past chair of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Animal Health Committee. AAZV/Morris Animal Foundation Post-Graduate Student Manuscript Competition: First place—Dr. Peter Black, St. Louis, for "Pharmacokinetics of tramadol hydrochloride and its metabolite O-desmethyltramadol in peafowl (Pavi crustatys)"; and second place— Dr. Maren Connolly, Bronx, N.Y., for "Evaluating the efficacy of oral vs. intramuscular administration of distemper vaccine and intramuscular rabies vaccine in captive African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus)." AAZV/Wildlife Pharmaceuticals Inc. Under-Graduate Student Manuscript Competition: First place—Dr. Christy Rettenmund, Houston, for "Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) titers in African elephants (Loxodonta africana) at Disney's Animal Kingdom"; and second place—Bridget Cummings, Madison, Wis., for "Tramadol analgesic and respiratory effects in red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta)." Safe Capture International Inc. Poster Competition: First place—Dr. Bill Swanson, Cincinnati, for "Assessment of combination drug prophylaxis for prevention of vertical toxoplasma transmission in Pallas' cats (Otocolobus manul)"; and second place—Dr. Diana Boon, Denver, for "Use of Kinesio Tex Gold tape for correction of angular limb deformity in an American flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) chick."
Officials: Drs. Jan Ramer, Musanze, Rwanda, president; Kay Backues, Tulsa, Okla., president-elect; Kirk Suedmeyer, Kansas City, Mo., vice president; Paul Calle, Bronx, N.Y., secretary; Victoria Clyde, Milwaukee, treasurer; Thomas Meehan, Chicago, immediate past president; and Robert Hilsenroth, Yulee, Fla., executive director

American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists

Event: Annual meeting, Nov. 4-7, 2009, Chicago
Awards: Resident's Award, sponsored by Acrivet Inc.: Best basic science paper—Dr. Sara Thomasy, University of California-Davis, for "Pharmacokinetics of famciclovir and penciclovir following single-dose oral administration of famciclovir to cats"; Best clinical science paper—Dr. Kenneth Pierce, Michigan State University, for "Sildenafil reversibly suppresses rod-mediated erg responses in dogs"; Dr. Cynthia Wheeler Memorial Award, sponsored by I-Med Pharma Inc.: Dr. Peter Accola, University of Georgia, for "Anterior segment pathology and corneal wound healing in Pax6 heterozygote mice."
New diplomates:
Carl Budelsky, Indianapolis
Martin Coster, Boston
J. Seth Eaton, Little Falls, N.J.
Sinisa Grozdanic, Ames, Iowa
Nathan Kice, Portland, Ore.
Joanna D. Norman, Avondale, Ariz.
Christina Sandberg, Kirkland, Wash.
John Warren, Estero, Fla.
Officials: Drs. Cynthia Cook, San Carlos, Calif., president; Carmen Colitz, West Palm Beach, Fla., president-elect; Brian Gilger, Raleigh, N.C., vice president; Michael Paulsen, Arlington, Texas, secretary-treasurer; and Cynthia Powell, Fort Collins, Colo., immediate past president

American College of Zoological Medicine

Event: Annual conference, Oct. 24, 2009, Tulsa, Okla.
Awards: ACZM Student Manuscript Award: Dr. Robert A. MacLean, New Orleans, for "Propofol anesthesia in loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles." ACZM Presidential Award for service: Drs. Stephen J. Divers, Athens, Ga.; Gregory J. Fleming, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.; Beth C. Nolan, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.; and Jonathan M. Sleeman, Madison, Wis.
Officials: Drs. Craig A. Harms, Morehead City, N.C., president; Mark L. Drew, Caldwell, Idaho, vice president; R. Scott Larsen, Davis, Calif., secretary; Gregory J. Fleming, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., treasurer; and James W. Carpenter, Manhattan, Kan., immediate past president

American College of Veterinary Radiology

Event: Annual meeting, Oct. 20-24, 2009, Memphis, Tenn.
Awards: Resident Author Award: Dr. Jerome Benoit, Basildon, United Kingdom, for "Effect of wetness level on the suitability of wet gauze as a substitute for Superflab as a bolus material for use with 6MV photons." Dr. Benoit's paper was based on research performed while he was a resident at North Carolina State University.
New diplomates: Twenty-six new diplomates were welcomed into the ACVR in 2009. They are as follows:
Radiology
Jennifer Brisson, Woburn, Mass.
Matthew Cannon, Sacramento, Calif.
Kari Childs, San Antonio
Joana Coelho, East Lansing, Mich.
Robert Cruz, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Sarah Davies, Blacksburg, Va.
Sophie Dennison, San Francisco
Bunita Eichelberger, College Station, Texas
Jason Francis, Ventura, Calif.
Sean Freer, Wychoff, N.J.
William Gross, Seattle
Victoria Heffelman, Gold Canyon, Ariz.
David Jimenez, Watkinsville, Ga.
Julia Knuppel, Austin, Texas
Cody Laas, San Antonio
William Lee, Raleigh, N.C.
Isabelle Masseau, Columbia, Mo.
Jodi Matheson, Urbana, IL
Sharon Mortenson, Greensboro, N.C.
Steven Ringold, Gaithersburg, Md.
Julian Rodriguez Arroyo, Baton Rouge, La.
Ajay Sharma, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Lisa Woolman, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Radiation Oncology
Jennifer Arthur, Atlanta
Michael Deveau, Madison, Wis.
Genevieve Hammond, Davis, Calif.
Officials: Drs. Martha Moon-Larson, Blacksburg, Va., president; Valerie Samii, Columbus, Ohio, president-elect; and Jonathon Shiroma, Worthington, Ohio, immediate past president

Veterinary Dental Forum

Event: 23rd annual forum, Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2009, Phoenix
Program: The forum, co-sponsored by the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry, the American Veterinary Dental College, and the American Veterinary Dental Society, attracted almost 1,000 participants. The specialist-in-training module focused on radiology. Also offered were lectures and laboratories for veterinary dental technicians. Robert Roda, DDS, delivered the keynote address, an update on endodontics. The Peter Emily International Veterinary Dental Foundation presented a report on the state of the foundation. Special events included a silent auction held by the Foundation for Veterinary Dentistry and the Digital Horserace, a demonstration of the diagnostic quality of digital dental radiographs and the rapidity with which they can be obtained. The forum also served as the venue for the annual meeting of the Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians, who recognized newly certified technicians.

American Veterinary Dental College

Awards: AVDC Peter Emily Service Award, sponsored by Virbac Animal Health: Dr. Patrica Frost-Fitch, Battleground, Wash., for outstanding contributions made to further the field of veterinary dentistry. A 1979 graduate of Colorado State University, Dr. Fitch owns Veterinary Dental Consulting, serving clients and providing continuing education in Washington and Oregon. She is a diplomate and past treasurer of the AVDC and co-author of the text "Veterinary Dental Techniques for the Small Animal Practitioner." AVDC Robert Wiggs Outstanding Candidate Award, sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health: Dr. Kendall G. Taney, Gaithersburg, Md. A 2002 graduate of Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Taney is a partner at the Center for Veterinary Dentistry and Oral Surgery in Gaithersburg. She is a diplomate of the AVDC.
New diplomates:
Glenn Brigden, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Bert Gaddis, Pelham, Ala.
John Huff, Denver
Gwenn Schamberger, Waukesha, Wis.
Chris Snyder, Madison, Wis.
Jason Soukup, Madison, Wis.
Curtis Stiles, Boston
Tammy White, Longview, Wash.

Academy of Veterinary Dentistry

Awards: AVD Fellow-of-the-Year Award, sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health: Dr. David O. Klugh, Yamhill, Ore., for contributions made to further the field of veterinary dentistry. A 1981 graduate of Washington State University and the first equine fellow of the AVD, Dr. Klugh owns Newberg Equine Clinic in Newberg, Oregon. He is editor of "Principles of Equine Dentistry." AVD Research Grant Award: Dr. Edward T. Earley, Williamsport, Pa., for "Etiology of the syndrome involving equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis: An in-depth evaluation of 15 cases to determine any possible causes or associations." 2009 AVD Fellows of the Academy: Small animal—Drs. Robert Baratt, Salem, Conn.; Diana Eubanks, Mississippi State, Miss.; Jerzy Gawor, Krakow, Poland; Larry Kimberlin, Greenville, Texas; Hanny Retzkin, Hertzelya, Israel; Kendall Taney, Gaithersburg, Md.; and Andrea Van de Wetering, Corvallis, Ore. Equine—Drs. Robert Barratt, Salem, Conn.; and Stephen Galloway, Somerville, Tenn.

American Veterinary Dental Society

Awards: AVDS Education and Research Award, sponsored by Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc.: Dr. William R. Gengler, Middleton, Wis., for contributions toward advancing dentistry through efforts in research and/or education. A 1972 graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, Dr. Gengler is the associate dean of clinical affairs at the University of Wisconsin, where he also serves as the section head and resident program director of the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service. He is a diplomate and president of the AVDC.

Foundation for Veterinary Dentistry

Awards: Award of Excellence, sponsored by Miltex Corporation: Dr. Clarence G. Sitzman, Fort Collins, Colo., for outstanding contributions to veterinary dentistry and vision in establishing and leadership in guiding the FVD. A 1975 graduate of Colorado State University, Dr. Sitzman practices at Front Range Veterinary Clinic. The FVD awarded the AVDC scholarship to Dr. Boaz Arzi of the University of California-Davis, the AVD Scholarship to Dr. Christopher Smithson of Gaithersburg, Md., and the AVDT Scholarship to Jill Jecevicus of the University of Wisconsin.
Officials: American Veterinary Dental College—Dr. William R. Gengler, Middleton, Wis., president; Academy of Veterinary Dentistry—Dr. Curt R. Coffman, Phoenix, president; American Veterinary Dental Society—Dr. John R. Lewis, Drexel Hill, Pa., president; and Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians—Vickie Byard, Warminster, Pa., president

Illinois State VMA

Event: 127th annual convention, Nov. 13-15, 2009, Peoria
Awards: Dr. Erwin Small First Decade Award: Dr. Jennifer A. Ostrom, Worden, won this award, given to a veterinarian who has graduated within the past 10 years, for contributions and participation in organized veterinary medicine. A 2003 graduate of the University of Illinois, Dr. Ostrom practices at Greenville Veterinary Clinic in Greenville. She is a member of the ISVMA Membership Services Committee and a past president of the Southern Illinois VMA. Veterinary Service Award: Dr. Ronald E. Gill, Bone Gap, for special attention to or promotion of the human-animal bond in Illinois, and for outstanding work as an association member. A 1975 graduate of the University of Illinois, Dr. Gill owns Gill Veterinary Clinic in West Salem. He is known as an advocate and mentor for veterinary students and his efforts helped establish the Illinois Veterinary Student Loan Repayment Program Act. President's Award: Midwest Veterinary Supply was recognized for their support of the association and for providing educational opportunities for the veterinary profession.
Officials: Drs. Lydia F. Gray, Elburn, president; Michael P. Thomas, Washington, president-elect; Stephen J. Dullard, Mendota, vice president; Steven Cairo, Highland Park, treasurer; and Sheldon B. Rubin, Wilmette, immediate past president