Accolades

Practice

The National Academies of Practice, an interdisciplinary organization of health care practitioners and scholars, held a March 23-24 forum on “Successful Interprofessional Practice in a New Health Care Environment.” Among other speakers, Dr. Alice E. Villalobos and social worker Carolyn Messner spoke about “Illness, Quality of Life, and the Human-Animal Bond.”

Dr. John R. Herbold, NAP president-elect, hosted the banquet and induction of new members. The NAP inducted the following two veterinarians.

Dr. James O. Cook (AUB ’76) has owned a mixed animal practice in Lebanon, Ky., since 1977. He was AVMA president for the 2008-2009 Association year. He was a member of the AVMA Executive Board from 2001-2007, serving as chair for the final year. While on the board, Dr. Cook was chair of the AVMA Task Force on the Legal Status of Animals and AVMA Task Force on Legal Remedies. From 1996-2001, he was Kentucky representative in the AVMA House of Delegates. Dr. Cook is a past president of the Kentucky VMA and was chair of the Kentucky Practice Act Revision Committee.

Dr. James G. Fox (COL ’68) directs the Division of Comparative Medicine in the Department of Biological Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Tech¬nology. He is an adjunct professor at the veterinary schools at Tufts University and the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Fox is a past president of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, and Massachusetts Society for Medical Research. He has authored or edited many publications about in vivo models of disease and comparative medicine, and he has trained many veterinary students and veterinarians in biomedical research. He is a member of the Institute of Medicine.

Academia

Three University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine graduates were honored March 24 during the college’s 49th annual Veterinary Conference and Alumni Weekend.

Dr. Kimberly Lewis Carney of Harrogate, Tenn., received a Young Achiever Award from the UGA-CVM Alumni Association. Since receiving her DVM degree in 2001, Dr. Carney has earned the reputation of a veterinary trendsetter, missionary, and educator. She spearheaded the effort to create a shared emergency service with other veterinary practices in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia.

For the past nine years, Dr. Carney has served as an adjunct professor in the veterinary technology program at Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee.

Later this year, Dr. Carney will move to Bolivia as part of a Christian Veterinary Mission project. There, she will spend three years teaching at the veterinary college in Santa Cruz and working with indigenous subsistence farmers.

The Alumni Association honored Dr. John R. Glisson of Watkinsville, Ga., with a Distinguished Alumnus Award. Internationally recognized for his knowledge of poultry medicine, Dr. Glisson retired as head of the University of Georgia Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center in 2011.

Dr. Glisson earned his DVM degree in 1980 and joined the UGA CVM faculty four years later. Within 12 years, he had advanced from instructor to professor and clinical service chief for the Department of Avian Medicine.

In 2003, Dr. Glisson was selected to lead the department and oversaw its transition into the Department of Population Health, which includes the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center, the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, the food animal health management program, and the laboratory animal program.

Dr. Glisson currently directs research for the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association’s Harold E. Ford Foundation.

Dr. Michael Zager of Ellijay, Ga., also received a Distinguished Alumnus Award. A mixed animal practitioner known for his expertise in camelids, Dr. Zager in his practice provides veterinary care for companion and farm animals in the Georgia-Tennessee-North Carolina region.

Dr. Zager began working with llamas and alpacas about a decade after earning his DVM degree in 1979. Today, he is a much sought-after speaker in the treatment of camelids and is recognized throughout the Southeast as a knowledgeable veterinary resource for these animals.

Additionally, Dr. Zager provides mentoring and learning opportunities for UGA veterinary students and has been an active participant in bolstering legislative support for the college’s proposed veterinary medical learning center, which will replace the current veterinary teaching hospital.

Organization

The Massachusetts VMA presented four awards during its annual fundraising gala, March 31 in Newton.

The Distinguished Service Award went to Dr. David J. Schwarz of Ashland, who has owned and operated Ashland Animal Hospital for 35 years. He was honored for his dedication and service to veterinary medicine in Massachusetts. A past president of the MVMA, Dr. Schwarz serves on the board of MVMA Charities and the New England VMA, and is president of the State of Massachusetts Animal Response Team.

For commitment to animals in public service, the Merit Award was presented to Roderick J. Fraser, Boston; Kelly M. Kemp, Berkshire County; and Leona J. Pease, Shrewsbury.

Together with MVMA Charities, Commissioner Fraser of the Boston Fire Department led an initiative that put a pet oxygen mask in every fire station in Boston.

Kemp is assistant district attorney in Berkshire County. Pease is animal control officer for the town of Shrewsbury.

American College of Veterinary Microbiologists

The American College of Veterinary Microbiologists certified nine new diplomates following the board certification examination it held Dec. 4, 2011, in Chicago.

The new diplomates are as follows:

Immunology

Tamara Gull, Stillwater, Okla.

Virology

Melissa Bourgeois, Atlanta
Yun Young Go, Lexington, Ky.
Baibaswata Nayak, College Park, Md.

Bacteriology/Mycology

Kris Clothier, Ames, Iowa
Abdul Lone, Lethbridge, Alberta
Jean Mukherjee, North Grafton, Mass.
Ashutosh Verma, Lexington, Ky.

Dr. Anurag Sharma, New York, received dual certification in immunology and virology.

Indiana VMA

Event: 128th annual meeting, Feb. 9-12, Indianapolis
Program: The meeting drew more than 400 veterinarians and 200 veterinary technicians and assistants, and offered in excess of 140 hours of continuing education.
Awards: Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Robert “Pete” Bill, West Lafayette, for cumulative service and accomplishments benefiting the profession, organized veterinary medicine, and the community. A 1980 graduate of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Bill is director of the veterinary technician program at Purdue. Dr. Bill is a past president of the Indiana VMA and chaired the IVMA Practice Act Task Force in 2008. Volunteer of the Year: Dr. John Johnston, Indianapolis, for leadership or service to a particular project or program of the association. A 1967 graduate of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Johnston worked for the Indiana Board of Animal Health until retirement. Earlier, he was with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Meat and Poultry Inspection Program. Dr. Johnston has been a longtime member of the IVMA Annual Meeting Planning Committee. Achievement Award: Dr. Nathan Rich, New Castle, won this award, given to a member who has graduated within the past five years and made outstanding accomplishments in veterinary research, civic duties, academia, or organized veterinary medicine. A 2006 graduate of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Rich owns Country Acre Animal Clinic. Dr. Rich represents District X on the IVMA board of directors and chairs the IVMA Membership Committee. President’s Award: Dr. Kristi Graham, Carmel. A 1995 graduate of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine and a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Dr. Graham works as an internist for Idexx Laboratories. Dr. Graham is chair of the IVMA Continuing Education Committee.
Officials: Drs. Paul Clemente, Fort Wayne, president; Philip Borst, Indianapolis, president-elect; John T. Feutz, Princeton, vice president; Aileen McDivitt, Kokomo, treasurer; and Lori Thompson, Kirklin, immediate past president

American Board of Veterinary Practitioners

Event: 17th annual symposium, April 12-15, San Antonio
Program: This year’s symposium drew 332 diplomates, applicants, and candidates; other veterinarians; and veterinary technicians. Twenty-two hours of continuing education were offered. The symposium featured eight concurrent tracks, including a technician track and ones in avian, canine, equine, exotic companion mammal, feline, food animal, and reptile and amphibian medicine. A wet lab was held on “tricks and techniques” for exotic companion mammals and a dry lab on endoscopy in cats and dogs.
Awards: Companion Animal Student Case Report Award, sponsored by Merial: Christopher Bailey, Michigan State University, for “Chronic hydrothorax secondary to unilateral kidney disease.” Drs. Kim Buck, Birch Run, Mich., and Craig Datz, Columbia, Mo., were honored for their unwavering support and dedication to the ABVP. Drs. David Harling, Greensboro, N.C., and Henry Childers, Cranston, R.I., were each recognized for recertifying for a third time. Initially accredited in 1983, they are recertified through 2023.
Officials: Drs. Stephen Foulke, Lititz, Pa., president; Michael Erskine, Mount Airy, Md., president-elect; Amy Vogt, Richmond, Texas, vice president; Nicholas Nelson, Lynwood, Wash., treasurer; Craig Datz, Columbia, Mo., immediate past president; Kemba Marshall, Phoenix, avian regent; Robert Sager, Columbia, Mo., beef cattle regent; Norris McGehee, Memphis, Tenn., canine/feline regent; Scott Poock, Booneville, Mo., dairy regent; Bill Folger, Houston, feline regent; Billy Smith, Kennett Square, Pa., food animal regent; James Kober, West Olive, Mich., swine health management regent; Michael Dutton, Weare, N.H., exotic companion mammal regent; John Dascanio, Basseterre, St. Kitts, equine regent; Eric Klaphake, Colorado Springs, Colo., reptile and amphibian regent; and Tracey Jensen, Wellington, Colo., regent-at-large