Published 5/8/2024

Craig Franklin, DVM, PhD, DACLAM, professor emeritus of veterinary pathobiology at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine and director of the Comparative Medicine Program, was recently named the recipient of the Graddie Award by the University of Missouri Graduate School. According to Graduate School Dean Jeni Hart, the award is only given out for exceptional circumstances and honors those who have risen to a prestigious level of commitment to the graduate education at Mizzou.

Franklin has served as the director of the Comparative Medicine Program since 1998 and has been instrumental in its continued growth and success through the years. He has served as a principal investigator on a postdoctoral National Institutes of Health training grant in comparative medicine since 2000. The training grant is one of only three at the university and it is the longest consistently renewed T32 training grant at MU.

Shelly Nail, coordinator for the CMP, wrote a nomination letter in support of Franklin. “Dr. Franklin is passionate about mentorship and student success,” wrote Nail. “He is highly committed to the growth and development of future scientists. He has served as program advisor for over 90 post-DVM trainees and has been or is currently the primary or co-advisor for five MS and 11 PhD candidates. Dr. Franklin has served on an additional 90 MS or PhD committees and coordinated externships and summer fellowships for over 700 veterinary students interested in exploring research.”

Franklin said he is proud to receive the award but credits his colleagues for the recognition. “I was so honored to receive the Graddie Award, as it reflects the greatest joy and passion of my career – working with residents, graduate students and veterinary students,” says Franklin. “With that said, this award really recognizes the many amazing colleagues I have in the Comparative Medicine Program and Veterinary Research Scholars Program, as well as all the stellar residents and students who have been a part of these programs. Simply put, a program director is only as good as their team, and I’ve been fortunate to be part of the best teams imaginable.”

By Nick Childress