CVM Faculty Member, Retired Associate Dean Among MVMA Honorees

Published 1/29/2024

MU CVM Assistant Teaching Professor Lynn Martin received the MVMA’s Ortu Stella Award.
MU CVM Assistant Teaching Professor Lynn Martin received the MVMA’s Ortu Stella Award.

The Missouri Veterinary Medical Association honored Lynn Martin, an assistant teaching professor at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, during its 132nd Annual Awards Ceremony Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Martin, DVM, MPH, DACVIM-Large Animal Internal Medicine, received the organization’s Ortu Stella Award. The award recognizes an emerging leader in the profession. 

The Latin name of the award means Rising Star and is presented to a young veterinarian, who, in some way, shines brightly, aids colleagues in navigating the veterinary profession, assists in illuminating the path for those around them, and demonstrates that they habitually strive to rise to the occasion, according to the MVMA.

Martin provides veterinary care in the equine internal medicine service at the Veterinary Health Center. She earned a bachelor’s degree at North Dakota State University, before going on to complete her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Master of Public Health degrees at the MU CVM. She completed an equine internship in San Antonio, Texas, and a residency at Mizzou.

She is active in the Missouri Horse Council, which promotes communication, education and advocacy within Missouri’s equine industry while working closely with the Missouri Department of Agriculture and other stakeholders. Martin has served as chair, vice chair, treasurer, and director of the organization.

The Ortu Stella Award was one of six awards announced during the ceremony.

Retired Associate Dean Ron Cott accepts the Richard D. Antweiler Servant Leadership Award from Abby Whiting, DVM, who earned her veterinary degree at the MU CVM in 2011. Also pictured is MVMA President Kacie Ulhorn, DVM, a fellow CVM alum, Class of 2010, who served as the emcee for the awards ceremony.
Retired Associate Dean Ron Cott accepts the Richard D. Antweiler Servant Leadership Award from Abby Whiting, DVM, who earned her veterinary degree at the MU CVM in 2011. Also pictured is MVMA President Kacie Ulhorn, DVM, a fellow CVM alum, Class of 2010, who served as the emcee for the awards ceremony.

Ron Cott, DVM, who retired in 2015 from his positions as associate dean for Student and Alumni Affairs and executive director of Advancement at the MU CVM, received the MVMA’s Richard D. Antweiler Servant Leadership Award. Cott received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from MU in 1973. After serving in the Army for three years, he spent 25 years in private companion animal practice in the Kansas City, Missouri, area. He was appointed associate dean for Student and Alumni Affairs for the CVM in 2001, and in 2008 he took on additional responsibilities as executive director of Advancement.

He served in the House of Delegates of the American Veterinary Medical Association as the delegate representing the MVMA until 2009. He has been honored as the MVMA Veterinarian of the Year, the 2010 Robert E. Hertzog Leadership Award recipient, the CVM Alumnus of the Year, and the university’s Gold Chalk and Excellence in Education awards recipient.

CVM Interim Dean Leah Cohn offers an update on the college during a breakfast sponsored by the MVMA and MU CVM.
CVM Interim Dean Leah Cohn offers an update on the college during a breakfast sponsored by the MVMA and MU CVM.

Cott founded the Veterinary Enrichment and Teambuilding orientation program for the CVM in 2005 after becoming a facilitator for the national Veterinary Leadership Experience.

The award is named for its inaugural recipient, MVMA Senior Executive Director Richard Antweiler, who retired from that role in April 2022 after 22 years. Cott presented the first Antweiler Award to its namesake.

The MVMA Convention took place Jan. 25-28 at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Columbia.

More than 20 CVM faculty members presented continuing education lectures and labs and participated in roundtable discussions. The convention also included a speed networking event for veterinary students, forums for recent graduates and technicians and a trade show.

The CVM cohosted a breakfast with the MVMA on the final day of the convention. During the breakfast, Interim Dean Leah Cohn, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, offered updates on the college, its facilities and programs and new veterinary programs across the country.

A photo album from the convention can be found on our Facebook page.