MVMA Elects Officers, Honors
Service During Convention

Click here for photos from the 2008 MVMA 116th Annual Convention

More than 600 veterinarians, and veterinary technicians, staff and students attended the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association’s 116th Annual Convention Jan. 25-27 in Branson. The convention offered continuing education lectures to participants and was highlighted by an awards banquet during which Dr. Gregory Hammer, American Veterinary Medical Association president, discussed the profession’s national priorities and issues.

Awards presented included:

Missouri State Veterinarian Dr. Taylor H. Woods (MU CVM 1959), California, Mo., was honored with the Veterinarian of the Year Award. MVMA directors present the award to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to community, state and people whose lives they have touched.

Woods has a distinguished career serving the public at both the state and federal level. From 2002 to 2005, he served as Missouri’s state director of animal health and state veterinarian. Prior to that position, he was a veterinary medical officer with the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, and was the director/state veterinarian for the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Division. He is a lifetime member of MVMA and serves as an ex-officio member of the animal health and regulatory medicine, emergency management and public health, and the veterinary technician committees.

The President’s Award for Outstanding Service recognizes individuals who were instrumental to the president’s efforts to advance the veterinary profession for the betterment of animal health in the state. Dr. William A. Wolff, Columbia, Mo., a retired faculty member at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, was this year’s honoree.

Born and raised in Colorado, Wolff received a doctorate of veterinary medicine in 1954 from Colorado State University, along with a master’s degree in experimental surgery. He served two years in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps, 14 years in general practice in western Colorado, and spent many years teaching and conducting research in foreign animal diseases, including spending two years in Colombia in South America and four years in Kenya in Africa. He is a member of AVMA, MVMA, and past chair of the emergency management committee. He is presently chair of the Missouri Volunteer Veterinary Corps; a group of volunteers who are trained to offer their services during disasters.

Dr. Charles W. Monsees (MU CVM 1954), Lake Ozark, Mo., received the Honorary Membership Award of the Missouri Academy of Veterinary Practice. MAVP honorary members have rendered distinguished or meritorious service to the veterinary profession.
Monsees is a lifetime MVMA member, joining in 1957. He served as president in 1982. He is also a retired member of AVMA.

Dr. George F. Fischer (MU CVM 1954), and his wife, Doris, of Amity, Mo., were honored as the recipients of the Missouri Veterinary Medical Foundation Distinguished Service Award. The award is given to individuals who have dedicated themselves to helping the foundation expand its goals of public and professional education and charitable giving to other worthy organizations.

He has a diverse veterinary background, serving as a commander and educator with the U. S. Army Veterinary Corps and for the United States government. He is a past president of MVMA, and the Northwest VMA. He is a board member of the Missouri Veterinary Medical Foundation, and lifetime member of MVMA, which named him the 2007 Veterinarian of the Year. Doris Fischer has been a partner member for many years, and with her husband is an active volunteer with the foundation.

MVMA officers for the upcoming year installed during the conference include:

President Dr. Steve M. Strubberg (MU CVM 1989), Hermann, Mo.
Strubberg is the owner/practitioner of Hermann Veterinary Clinic and operates an additional office in New Haven. As president he will preside at all general membership meetings, serve as chair of the board of governors, be an ex-officio member of all committees, and report to the executive board on matters pertaining to the goals of the association.
Strubberg is currently serving as a member of the Missouri Stocker/Feeder Quality Assurance Program Committee and Rural Veterinary Service Task Force. He is a member of AVMA, American Association of Bovine Practitioners, Society of Theriogenology, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, MU Alumni Association, Missouri Dairy Association and local service organizations.

Chairman of the Board Dr. Michael Pfander (MU CVM 1982), Springfield, Mo.
Pfander, owner and practitioner of Cottage Veterinary Hospital in Springfield, will chair the executive board; serve on the nominations committee, budget committee and long-range planning committee; and be a member of the board of governors.
Pfander has been an MVMA member since graduation. He specializes in small-animal medicine at his clinic in Springfield. He was past chair of the public relations committee, and he serves as a member of the convention planning, legislative and emergency management and public health committees. He is also a member of AVMA and is an adjunct professor at Drury University in Springfield.

President-elect, Dr. Scott A. Fray (MU CVM 1991), Boonville, Mo.
Fray is the owner and practitioner of Cooper County Animal Hospital in Boonville. As president-elect, Fray will perform the duties of the president in his absence; serve on the executive board and board of governors; chair the convention planning committee; and serve as a member of the budget committee. He will automatically succeed to the office of president.

Fray is a member of the emergency management and public health, legislative and public relations committees. He is also a member of AVMA, Society for Theriogenology, Missouri and National Cattlemen’s associations.

Dr. Bruce P. Whittle (MU CVM 1994), vice president, Trenton, Mo.
Whittle is the owner and practitioner of Honey Creek Veterinary Clinic in Trenton. As vice president, Whittle will chair the statewide membership committee, serve as a member of the budget committee, and fulfill the responsibilities of the president and president-elect in their absences. He and his wife, Dr. Gayla Whittle, established Honey Creek Veterinary Hospital upon graduation.

He has served as the north central district delegate to the executive board, chairs the equine committee, and is a member of MVMA LLC Board of Managers. He is also an MVMA member and member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

Dr. Shelia L. Taylor (MU CVM 1992), secretary/treasurer, Springfield, Mo.
Taylor, an instructor in life sciences at Ozarks Technical College, Springfield, will serve as recording secretary at meetings of the executive board, board of governors, budget committee, and general membership meetings. She will retain and secure all MVMA documents for not less than five years; serve as a member of the executive board, board of governors, and budget committee, and be responsible for all MVMA funds.

Taylor serves on the executive board as the southwest Missouri district delegate and is a long-standing member of the veterinary technician committee. She has also served on the convention planning committee and is past president of SWVMA.

Richard Antweiler serves as the organization’s executive director.

2008 Missouri Academy of Veterinary Practice officers include:

Dr. Jonathan L. Renfro, president, Richmond, Mo.
Dr. Peggy T. Fisher, president elect, Jackson, Mo.
Dr. Christopher C. Morrow, Independence, Mo.
Richard Antweiler, executive secretary/treasurer, Jefferson City, Mo.

2008 Missouri Veterinary Medical Foundation officers include:
Dr. V.M. Wilt, chairman of the board, Paris, Mo.
Dr. William J. Shore, vice chairman of the board, St. Louis, Mo.
Ann White, secretary/treasurer, Perryville, Mo.
Dr. James Howard, museum director, Jefferson City, Mo.

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