CVM 2021 Awards Ceremony Held

MU College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Carolyn Henry, DVM, MS, and Associate Dean for Student and Academic Affairs Angela Tennison, DVM, announced scholarships and honors for the Classes of 2024, 2023 and 2022 during a virtual awards ceremony Wednesday night. The awards were presented to recognize scholastic achievement, clinical proficiency, community service and leadership. An awards ceremony for the Class of 2021 was held in May.

The awards and recipients can be found here.

Awards were also presented to CVM faculty members, residents, interns and a technician.

The Dadd Award honors excellence in veterinary medicine teaching as judged by peers. George Dadd was a veterinarian and physician born and trained in England. He promoted the earliest formal veterinary medical education in the United States. Dadd equated veterinary medicine to human medicine, sought the best students for veterinary medicine, and pioneered the clinical use of anesthesia in animals. The 2021 Dadd Award recipient is Dawna Voelkl, DVM. Voelkl is an associate teaching professor of theriogenology in the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery.

Faculty members also nominate the recipient of the Zoetis Award for Veterinary Research Excellence. The award is presented to a faculty member or graduate student whose research related to veterinary medicine holds the promise of national recognition. This year’s winner is David D. Kline, PhD, professor of biomedical sciences, Kline’s research focuses on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

Zoetis also sponsors the student-selected Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award. The student body votes for an outstanding teacher whose ability, dedication, character and leadership contributes to the advancement of the profession. The 2021 award was presented to Erica Malone, PhD. Malone is an associate teaching professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences.

Students in each academic class select an outstanding teacher to receive a Golden Aesculapius Teaching Award. The Class of 2024 honored David Cross, DVM, PhD, teaching professor in biomedical sciences. The second- and third-year classes both selected Saundra Sample, DVM, assistant professor of clinical pathology in the Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, as the recipient of their 2021 Golden Aesculapius.

Members of the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) in the first- and second-year classes select a faculty member who has made immense contributions to their education and progression through the veterinary curriculum for the SAVMA Teaching Award for Basic Sciences. Brian Frappier, DVM, PhD, associate teaching professor of biomedical sciences, is the 2021 honoree.

The SAVMA Teaching Award for Clinical Sciences is awarded by third- and fourth-year students based on dedication to student education, progression toward clinical competency and development of professional abilities. Lindsay Donnelly, DVM, MS, assistant professor of veterinary oncology in veterinary medicine and surgery, is this year’s winner.

Christopher P. Baines, PhD, associate professor of biomedical sciences, received both the undergraduate and graduate Harrison-Kaplan Online Teaching awards for excellence in online student engagement, online course development and online course management and delivery.

Kelsey Walker, DVM, a resident in food animal medicine in veterinary medicine and surgery, received the E. R. Price Public Health Scholarship in Veterinary Medicine.

Each year the graduating class honors a veterinary technician who had an impact on their clinical experience. Laken Schwarzlose, RVT, an anesthesiology technician in the Veterinary Health Center, received the Technician Award. The Class of 2021 also selected an intern who had the greatest impact on their clinical experience in terms of teaching and spending extra time to help them learn. Thomas Bevelock, DVM, an intern in small animal medicine and surgery in the VHC, was selected for the honor.

The Kim Ringen Translational Oncology Award was established in honor of Kim Statham Ringen, DVM, an oncology resident at the CVM from 2008-2011. The award is given to a house officer, graduate student, or veterinary student who has a strong interest in translational oncologic research. This year’s recipient is Hayley Ashworth, BVSc, a radiation oncology resident in the VHC.

The L.N. Atkinson, DVM, Memorial Award is presented to an intern who demonstrates interest and proficiency in canine medicine and surgery. Chelsea Tynan, DVM, an intern in the small animal medicine and surgery section in the VHC, received the award.

The Redhage Awards are presented to five residents entering their final year of residency who have demonstrated an interest and proficiency in canine medicine and surgery and strong relationship skills with clients and their animals. The 2021 honorees are Melanie Anderson, DVM, radiology, Allison Fuchs, DVM, ophthalmology, Bathilda Lake, DVM, small animal emergency and critical care, Lauren Ross, DVM, oncology, and Deepinder Sidhu, DVM, small animal surgery.

The William H. Fales Clinical Veterinary Microbiology Award recognizes an undergraduate, graduate, professional veterinary medicine student or postdoctoral student who demonstrates an exceptional interest and proficiency in diagnostic veterinary microbiology. Hatem Kittana, DVM, PhD, DACVM, a resident in microbiology in the Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, is this year’s recipient.