January 15, 2021

Event

Pacific Northwest Veterinary Conference, virtual meeting, Oct. 2-4, 2020

Awards

Veterinarian of the Year
Dr. Brian Joseph (California-Davis ’84), Gig Harbor. Dr. Joseph has served as state veterinarian with the Washington State Department of Agriculture since 2016. He previously served as senior director of animal management and conservation at the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg, Manitoba. During his career, Dr. Joseph has also worked as chief veterinarian at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma; served as director of the Living Coast Discovery Center in Chula Vista, California; and participated in livestock development projects in Africa, Central America, and the Middle East while serving in the Army Reserve Veterinary Corps.

Distinguished Achievement Award
Dr. Ron Wohrle (Washington State ’77), Puyallup. Dr. Wohrle recently retired as state public health veterinarian with the Washington State Department of Health. He was recognized for his dedication and contributions not only to veterinary medicine but also to the citizens of Washington state and beyond through his work in environmental public health. Dr. Wohrle’s commitment to the one-health concept has helped protect against zoonotic diseases such as rabies and leptospirosis, and his leadership in combating antimicrobial resistance has led to statewide efforts, bringing together health experts from several professions and raising awareness with regard to drug-resistant infections.

Washington State University Faculty Member of the Year
Dr. Katie Kuehl (Wisconsin ’12), Seattle. Dr. Kuehl is a clinical instructor and serves as veterinary medical director for the shelter medicine program at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She is also involved with the COVID-19 and Pets Study, a pilot study sampling companion animals of COVID-19 patients to learn more about the role animals play in the coronavirus outbreak. The study is being led by the University of Washington’s Center for One Health Research in collaboration with the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Washington State University.

Distinguished Veterinary Staff Award
Benita Altier, Easton. A licensed veterinary technician and a veterinary technician specialist in dentistry, Altier works at Pawsitive Dental Education. She was recognized for exceptional leadership in the education of veterinary technicians.

Allied Industry Partner Award
Dr. Shlomo Freiman (Cornell ’94) and Allon Freiman, Bellevue, won this award, in recognition of their exceptional service to the veterinary profession via their co-founding of Petriage, an online triage service that connects pet owners with veterinarians to help them assess the need for veterinary care. Dr. Freiman owns Animal Hospital of Factoria, and his son, Allon, serves as chief strategy officer for Petriage.

Humane-Animal Welfare Award
Ann Graves, Seattle, for advancing animal welfare through extraordinary service. Graves is director of the Seattle Animal Shelter. She previously served as the shelter’s animal care officer and law enforcement supervisor and manager. Graves was recognized for her advancement of animal welfare and community well-being via her career in animal welfare and shelter organizations.

Business

For the upcoming year, the association’s strategic goals will center on member, professional, organizational, and public well-being. Work will continue in assisting members during the pandemic; developing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; developing an initiative on responsible pet ownership; and improving access to care for pet owners in the state.

Officials

Dr. Richard DeBowes, Pullman, president; Dr. Lindsey Hornickel, Seattle, vice president; Dr. Jennifer Bennett, Seattle, secretary; Dr. Michael Kiefer, Olympia, treasurer; Dr. Gary Marshall, Mercer Island, immediate past president, director, and AVMA alternate delegate; Dr. Diana Thomé, Richland, AVMA delegate; Candace Joy, Snowqualmie, chief executive officer; and directors—Drs. Blair de Vries, Richland, and Jennifer Koenig, Snohomish