Association of Shelter Veterinarians – March 27, 2025

Event

The Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) held its annual member reception on March 27 in San Antonio.

Awards

Meritorious Service Award

Dr. Cynda Crawford (Florida ’89), Gainesville, Florida. Dr. Crawford is a clinical assistant professor in shelter medicine and the Fredrica Saltzman Endowed Professorship Chair in Shelter Medicine at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. Her research interests include canine and feline infectious disease and immunology, diagnostic tests and vaccines for infectious diseases, and transfusion medicine and blood banking. Dr. Crawford is known for her role in identifying canine influenza and developing a vaccine for it, helping to reduce respiratory disease outbreaks in shelters across the country.

Veterinary Student of the Year

Varsha Ramachandra, Athens, Georgia. The inaugural recipient of this award, Ramachandra is a second-year veterinary student at the University of Georgia. With a keen interest in shelter medicine, she is active with the Clarke County Shelter, where she participates in medical rounds, helps train staff, and supports volunteers and foster parents. Ramachandra attends conferences and webinars and consults veterinary professionals to keep up with new information and to gain insight into improving shelter operations and protocols.

Officials

Drs. Staci Kehir, Fair Play, South Carolina, president; Brendan Bergquist, Auburn, Alabama, vice president; Dianne Brown, Beaverton, Oregon, secretary; Emily Purvis, Gig Harbor, Washington, treasurer; and Lena DeTar, Ithaca, New York, immediate past president

A version of this story appears in the August 2025 print issue of JAVMA