ASV AWARDS

Meritorious Service Award

Established in 2010, this award recognizes remarkable members of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians who have made significant contributions to the advancement of shelter veterinary medicine via leadership, public service, research, education, advocacy, and/or clinical practice. The ASV's intent in conferring this award is to bring attention to excellence in shelter medicine by recognizing those who serve as exceptional ambassadors of the profession. Veterinarians, veterinary students, and affiliate ASV members are eligible; current ASV Board Members are ineligible. Anyone may nominate qualified individuals who are members of the ASV for this award. Recipients receive a plaque, a shelter medicine textbook of their  choice, a $250 donation to a non-profit organization of  their choice, and are recognized at the ASV Annual Meeting, held in conjunction with the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners Symposium in October. Funding is available to help cover the recipient’s travel expenses.  A nomination form, the nominee’s curriculum vitae (CV) and a cover letter with a brief sketch of the nominee's professional background and a statement pertaining to the individual's qualifications for the award should be submitted by e-mail to [email protected]. Deadline for submission is May15th. Additional letters seconding, endorsing, or supporting nominations for awards will not be used in evaluating candidates, nor will self-nominations be accepted. The nominations committee will review the nominations and recommend a recipient to the ASV Board, and the ASV Board will vote on the recipient.

Nominators accepting the 2019 Meritorious Service Award on behalf of co-recipient Dr. Claudia Baldwin. Dr. Baldwin has had a diverse and compelling career in academia, demonstrating her passion for shelter medicine education and advancement. Initially trained as an internal medicine specialist, Dr. Baldwin served for years as director of the Iowa State University Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program, where she developed and expanded shelter medicine education. She was also a member of the Shelter Medicine Residency Standards Task Force and a strong advocate for the development of a shelter medicine specialty. Her student-focused approach, collaboration with community partners, and consistent encouragement and mentorship had a profound influence on her students, many of whom have gone on to become leaders in the field of shelter medicine. Nominators and Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni pictured include Drs. Elise Gingrich, Uri Donnett, Katherine Polak and Chelsea Reinhard.  

2019 Meritorious Service Award co-recipient Dr. Gary Patronek, with nominators Drs. Erin Doyle, Chumkee Aziz and Brian DiGangi. Dr. Patronek has been a pioneer in animal welfare and shelter medicine, in his leadership roles with the Animal Rescue League of Boston, the Center for Animals and Public Policy, and the Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium. He has published extensively on the subject of animal hoarding and the most sustainable and effective interventions for animal hoarders, but also on many other topics within shelter medicine. He has served as an exceptional ambassador in his collaborations with experts in other fields, including mental health and law enforcement, and through his years of excellence in education, advocacy, and research. Not pictured are nominators Drs. Stephanie Janeczko and Lila Miller. 

Previous Meritorious Service Award Recipients 

                   

 

 

Veterinarian of the Year Award

Established in 2018, this award recognizes remarkable members of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians who have been outstanding in their role as a veterinarian to improve community animal health and wellbeing. The ASV's intent in conferring this award is to bring attention to excellence in shelter medicine by recognizing those who serve as exceptional role models of the profession. Veterinarians serving in municipal, private, and/or non-profit shelters and other community animal endeavors are eligible; current ASV Board Members are ineligible. Anyone may nominate qualified eligible individuals who are members of the ASV for this award. Recipients receive a plaque, a shelter medicine textbook, and a $250 donation to an organization of their choice, and are recognized at the ASV Annual Meeting, held in conjunction with the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners Symposium in October. A nomination form, the nominee’s curriculum vitae (CV) and a cover letter with a brief sketch of the nominee's professional background and a statement pertaining to the individual's qualifications for the award should be submitted by e-mail to [email protected]. Deadline for submission is May 15th. Additional letters seconding, endorsing, or supporting nominations for awards will not be used in evaluating candidates, nor will self-nominations be accepted. The nominations committee will review the nominations and recommend a recipient to the ASV Board, and the ASV Board will vote on the recipient.

2019 Veterinarian of the Year Award recipient Dr. Katherine Polak, with nominators Drs. Staci Cannon, Catherine McManus, Jen Bolser and Amie Burling.  Dr. Polak has completed shelter medicine residency training, a masters in Veterinary Forensics, and is board certified in both Preventive Medicine and Shelter Medicine. She lectures internationally and is co-editor of the Field Manual for Small Animal Medicine. So far in her career, she has tackled some of the most challenging problems in shelter medicine and animal welfare on multiple continents, including animal hoarding, puppy mills, international sheltering, international dog transport, community dog and cat population management, and the dog and cat meat trade. She succeeds and has a lasting impact because of her practical yet evidence-based approach, and her strength and courage to confront and change unimaginable cruelty, particularly in her investigations of live dog and cat meat markets. She currently resides in Thailand, where she serves as Head of Stray Animal Care – Southeast Asia for FOUR PAWS International. Not pictured are nominators Drs. Alana Canupp, Julie Levy, Cynda Crawford, Yoonju Cho, Tess Kommedal, Martha Smith-Blackmore, Sara White, Brian DiGangi, Shelia Robertson and Elizabeth Berliner.

Previous Veterinarian of the Year Recipients 

        2019 - Dr. Katherine Polak

        2018 - Dr. Sara White