AAVMC recognizes veterinary faculty, student for accomplishments; names new officers
The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges recognized the 2019 recipients of five awards during its Annual Conference March 8-10 in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Gayle B. Brown (Illinois '86) received the Distinguished Teacher Award, presented by Zoetis. Dr. Brown is a senior lecturer at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she teaches immunology, emerging and exotic diseases of animals, and microbiology laboratory.
Dr. Brown is also a veterinary specialist at Iowa State's Center for Food Security and Public Health. She is responsible for the Emerging and Exotic Diseases of Animals and U.S. Department of Agriculture Initial Accreditation Training course, which is used, in some form, by all U.S. veterinary colleges.
Dr. Guy Palmer (Kansas State '80) was honored with the Excellence in Research Award.
Dr. Palmer is a professor of pathology and infectious diseases and the chair in global health at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Palmer is the founding director of WSU's Paul G. Allen School for Global Health and leads global health programs in Africa and Central America. His research has led to discoveries in pathogen emergence and diagnostic testing. Dr. Palmer's work aims to reduce livestock disease, improve food security, and control influenza outbreaks using one health.
Dr. Gerald W. Parker Jr. (Texas A&M '77) received the Senator John Melcher, DVM Leadership in Public Policy Award. Dr. Parker is campus director and associate dean for the Global One Health initiative at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.
Dr. Parker has become an essential resource in Washington, D.C., on biodefense, high-consequence emerging infectious disease, global health security, all-hazards public health, and medical preparedness.
Dr. Parker is also the director of the pandemic biosecurity policy program at the Bush School of Government Service. He is a former commander and deputy commander of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases and has held senior executive–level positions at the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Defense. Dr. Parker currently serves on the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity, among others.
The Iverson Bell Award was presented to Dr. Kenita S. Rogers (Louisiana State '82), an executive associate dean and director of college inclusion and diversity at Texas A&M's veterinary college.
Dr. Rogers developed memorandums of agreement with four Texas A&M University System schools for pipeline recruitment. She has added diversity and cultural competency initiatives to the veterinary college's curriculum. Dr. Rogers' efforts have led to the veterinary college being awarded the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award for Diversity in Health Professions for two years.
Dr. Rogers is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in specialties of internal medicine and oncology.
Elizabeth Strand, PhD, clinical associate professor at the University of Tennessee colleges of Social Work and Veterinary Medicine, received the Billy E. Hooper Award for Distinguished Service. Dr. Strand is also the founding director of the Veterinary Social Work program at UT.
Dr. Strand provides students with a complete foundation in veterinary social work by focusing on knowledge and skills needed to integrate animals into social work practice. She also teaches how to manage compassion fatigue and stress. Dr. Strand recently launched the Suicide Awareness in Veterinary Education training program to better educate veterinary professionals and students about mental health issues.
The Patricia M. Lowrie Diversity Leadership Scholarship was awarded to India Napier. She is student chair of the Tufts Veterinary Council on Diversity and is the co-president of the Class of 2020. Napier has been key to Tufts' involvement in the This is How We Role outreach program, which is meant to teach veterinary lessons to young children from underrepresented groups and encourage them to pursue veterinary medicine as a profession.
New AAVMC officers were also installed at the 2019 AAVMC Assembly meeting held during the conference. The new officers are Drs. Michael Lairmore, dean of the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, president; Mark Markel, dean of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, president-elect; Calvin Johnson, dean of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, past president; Ruby Perry, dean of the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine, secretary; and Mark Stetter, dean of the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, treasurer.