Richards Honored For Lifetime MentorshipApril 17, 2009 The Cat Writers’ Assn. recently named the late James Richards, DVM, the recipient of its 2007 Shojai Mentor Award, which recognizes a Cat Writers’ Assn. member who goes beyond mentorship duties by offering guidance, encouragement and support to fellow members. Dr. Richards, who was director of the Cornell Feline Health Center at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, was a spokesman for feline health and awareness campaigns. The most recent was the KNOW Heartworms initiative, which aims to tackle myths of feline heartworm disease. He also founded the Cornell Feline Health Center Veterinary Issues Award. The award, renamed in his honor, encourages writers to undertake difficult stories on the topics of technological or medical advances, research or innovations in feline veterinary medicine. Richards died in April to a motorcycle accident in New York. <HOME>
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Equine Vets Enter Hall Of FameApril 17, 2009 Two veterinarians who have helped raise the level of care for horses have been inducted into the International Equine Veterinarian Hall of Fame, sponsored by the American Farriers Journal. G. Kent Carter, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, chief of medicine at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine, has been working in conjunction with farriers for more than two decades. He also established an instructional rotation dedicated to equine lameness at the college. Jay Merriam, DVM, operates the referral clinic Massachusetts Equine Clinic in Uxbridge, Mass., which specializes in sports medicine and equine podiatry. He also initiated a clinical internship program linking his practice with the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. <HOME>
Mizzou’s Dr. Cook Wins National HonorApril 17, 2009 James Cook, DVM, Ph.D., director of the Comparative Orthopedic Laboratory at the University of Missouri, has been named the grand-prize national winner of the “Thank Your Vet for a Healthy Pet” essay contest for going above and beyond when it comes to caring for animals. “I’ve been fortunate to receive a number of different awards in my career, but this award is probably the most meaningful,” Dr. Cook said. “I want my work and my life to make a difference in people’s lives and animals’ lives. “In these cases, making a difference in a dog’s life made such a difference in these special people’s lives, and this award helps me always remember that and be motivated by it.” Cook, who was also the Midwest regional winner, was chosen from more than 1,000 nominations made by pet owners throughout the country. All the vets received attractive certificates recognizing their nominations. The contest to recognize America’s best veterinarians was sponsored by the Morris Animal Foundation of Denver; Merial Ltd. of Duluth, Ga., and BowTie Inc., publisher of Veterinary Practice News, Dog Fancy and Cat Fancy magazines. Michael Ray of Deltona, Fla., was one of Cook’s nominators. …
Mark Morris Jr. Honored With Lifetime Achievement AwardApril 17, 2009 Hill’s Pet Nutrition of Topeka, Kan., posthumously honored Mark L. Morris Jr., DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVN, with the 2008 Mark L. Morris Sr. Lifetime Achievement Award. “Dr. Morris truly established his own legacy by taking his father’s vision and turning it into reality,” said Mary Beth Leininger, DVM, director of professional affairs for Hill’s. “He has made a difference in millions of animals’ lives and changed the way the entire veterinary profession thinks about nutrition.” At the time of his death in January 2007, Morris had developed more than 130 nutritional products. In recognition of his lifetime of service, Hill’s will donate $20,000 to the Morris Animal Foundation in his name. The award was established in memory of Morris’ father and is presented annually at the North American Veterinary Conference. <HOME>
Pathobiologist RecognizedApril 17, 2009The American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology recently presented John Harvey, DVM, Ph.D., a professor at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, a lifetime achievement award. Dr. Harvey, a former president of the clinical pathology society, discovered and named the Ehrlichia platys organism that infects platelets in dogs and, along with co-workers, first recognized and reported four inherited erythrocyte enzyme deficiencies. <HOME>
Eli Lilly And Co. Names New CEOApril 17, 2009 Eli Lilly and Co. President and Chief Operating Officer John Lechleiter, Ph.D., will assume the role of chief executive officer on April 1. He replaces CEO and Chairman of the Board Sidney Taurel, who spent nearly 37 years with the company. Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly is parent company of Elanco Animal Health in Greenfield, Ind. <HOME>
Dee, Meyer Join AVMA Executive BoardApril 17, 2009 Larry Dee, DVM, of Hollywood, Fla., has been elected to represent District IV of the American Veterinary Medical Assn. He succeeds Dr. Larry Corry representing Florida, Georgia and Puerto Rico. Dr. Dee, who is co-owner of a companion animal hospital, is also an alternate delegate for Florida to the AVMA House of Delegates. Thomas Meyer, DVM, of Vancouver, Wash., has been elected to represent District XI. He succeeds Dr. Richard Coon for the district that comprises Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. Dr. Meyer, who is co-owner with his wife, Dr. Jean Meyer, of a mixed animal practice, has been on the House of Delegates as a delegate or alternative delegate since 1995. Thomas Meyer, DVM Both terms will run from 2008-2014. AVMA will install the two executive board members at its annual convention in New Orleans on July 23. <HOME>
Vet Public Relations Leader DiesApril 17, 2009 Ralph Lee, president of the Veterinary Assn. Management of Maury, N.C., died unexpectedly on March 23. He was 68. After graduating from Atlantic Christian College, now Barton College, Lee worked with the North Carolina Board of Health and later pursued his interest in country music as a promoter and producer of country performances. In the 1980s, Lee began his 24-year career in public relations in veterinary medicine. During this time, Lee and his wife, Martha, directed the South Carolina Assn. of Veterinarians, and in 1996, helped three veterinarians organize the Virginia Academy of Small Animal Medicine. More recently, Lee helped form the North Carolina Animal Academy. <HOME>
Company Unveils Canine Breed TestApril 17, 2009A human and animal health life sciences company says it is launching one of the first commercial DNA-based diagnostic tests that can genetically determine the breed composition of dogs. MetaMorphix Inc. subsidiary MMI Genomics is launching Canine Heritage, a diagnostic test that uses DNA technology to certify up to 38 major breeds. The test requires only a cheek swab sample to be mailed to the company for analysis. Results are returned to owners in four to six weeks. Once the test is available, owners of mixed-breeds and dogs without breed registration papers could take advantage of the technology to directly determine pedigree. The company believes that dog breed analysis will help dog owners and veterinarians address health and behavior issues, as well as satisfying curiosity. A list of the 38 identifiable breeds as well as more information on the new product will be available on the company's website: www.metamorphixinc.com. <HOME>
UC Davis IT Executive To Lead New Eklin DivisionApril 17, 2009 Previously, Dr. Ballance served as director of hospital information technology at the University of California, Davis, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. He has also consulted with industry software companies and the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at North Carolina State University. In addition, Ballance is co-chair of the industry’s DICOM Standards Committee along with William Hornof, DVM, Dipl. ACVR, Eklin’s chief medical officer. The company has also named Larry Sullivan as director of corporate IT and Telecom services. He has more than 15 years managing IT, Telecom and network departments. <HOME>
