August 01, 2020
Colorado VMA
Event
Annual meeting, Sept. 12-15, Keystone
Awards
Veterinarian of the Year
Dr. Jon Geller (Colorado State ’95), Fort Collins. Dr. Geller is the founder and national director of The Street Dog Coalition, providing free medical care and related services to pets of people who are experiencing or who are at risk of homelessness. He is also the founder of The Ladybug Fund, providing free emergency veterinary care to pets of people who cannot afford it. Earlier in his career, Dr. Geller owned a mixed animal mobile practice in the Fort Collins area, served as an emergency relief veterinarian, and co-founded emergency clinics in Longmont, Greeley, Fort Collins, and Grand Junction. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners.
Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Ray Whalen (California-Davis ’76), Fort Collins. Following graduation and after earning a doctorate in comparative pathology in 1982 from the University of California-Davis, Dr. Whalen joined Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, where he is currently a transitional faculty member in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. During his tenure in the department, he has served as a professor and university distinguished teaching scholar, as associate head, and as director of the neurosciences division and of the preclinical curriculum. Dr. Whalen developed the Virtual Canine Anatomy program, a computer-based interactive tool that is used around the world.
President’s Award
Dr. Emily Graves (Pennsylvania ’99), Fort Collins. Dr. Graves serves as a senior large animal veterinarian for Zoetis’ Veterinary Medical Information and Product Support team, supporting cattle and equine businesses. Previously, she was an associate veterinarian at Colorado Equine Clinic in Littleton, taught at Colorado State University’s equine hospital, served as an equine consulting veterinarian, and did relief work. Dr. Graves is chair of the CVMA Education Commission.
Officials
Drs. Stacee Santi, Durango, president; Jackie Christakos, Sedalia, president-elect; Ashley Ackley, Denver, secretary-treasurer; Steven Dick, Arvada, secretary-treasurer–elect; William French, Sedalia, immediate past president; and AVMA delegate and alternate delegate—Drs. Rebecca Ruch-Gallie, Laporte, and Curtis Crawford, Monte Vista