Alabama VMA

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Dr. Riley
Dr. Allen Riley
Dr. Gard
Dr. Julie Gard
Dr. McMillan
Dr. Ken McMillan

 

Lorraine Alexander
Lorraine Alexander
Dr. Hammons
Dr. John Hammons
Dr. Branch
Dr. T.C. Branch


Event: Annual meeting, June 18-22, Sandestin, Fla.
Awards: Veterinarian of the Year: Dr. Allen Riley, Trussville. A 1985 graduate of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Riley practiced at Becker Animal Hospital until retirement in 2011. Earlier in his career, he worked at Alford Avenue Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Riley is a past president of the Jefferson County VMA and has served as program chair of the Southern Veterinary Conference for the past 20 years. Service Award: Drs. Jennifer Dexter of Birmingham, Julie Gard of Auburn, Clayton Hilton of Birmingham, and Ken McMillan of Cropwell, for their contributions to the association and the advancement of the veterinary profession. A 2000 graduate of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Dexter is an associate veterinarian at Hoke Animal Clinic and Green Springs Animal Clinic. Earlier in her career, she practiced at Cahaba Mountain Brook Animal Clinic. She is immediate past treasurer of the Jefferson County VMA. A 1996 graduate of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine and a diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists, Dr. Gard is an associate professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences at Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. She guided and coordinated the Our Oath in Action projects at Auburn and Tuskegee universities, raising awareness of disaster preparedness and the importance of veterinarians in the planning process during the Auburn project, and providing complimentary physical examinations and education to the community during the Tuskegee project. A 1997 graduate of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Hilton is vice president of animal care, education, and conservation at the Birmingham Zoo. He has been instrumental in establishing the zoo’s all-male African elephant herd, the first at a facility accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Earlier in his career, Dr. Hilton worked at the zoos in Montgomery, Alabama, and Abilene, Texas, and the Emergency Clinic of Abilene. A 1981 graduate of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. McMillan practices mixed animal medicine at Pell City Animal Hospital in Cropwell. He is chair of the ALVMA Legislative Committee and chaired a task force in 2014 to address issues related to tax-exempt entities in veterinary medicine and possible changes to the Alabama Veterinary Practice Act. Layman of the Year: Lorraine Alexander, Valley Grande, won this award, given to a nonveterinarian who has made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the veterinary profession and the association. Alexander is a rescue coordinator for Wannabe Rescued, a local pet rescue group that works with the Selma Animal Shelter. She has helped improve animal welfare at the shelter and coordinates treatments, spay-neuter procedures, inoculations, and pet adoption and transport.
Officials: Drs. John Hammons, Athens, president; T.C. Branch, Birmingham, president-elect; Harold Pate, Lowndesboro, vice president; H. Winston Pirtle Sr., Montgomery, treasurer; Charles Ashwander, Decatur, member-at-large; and William G. Bledsoe, Camden, immediate past president