The American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) and the ACVS Foundation announced the recipients of three prestigious awards at the recent 2024 ACVS Surgery Summit in Phoenix, AZ: the ACVS Founders’ Award for Career Achievement, the Al and Carolyn Schiller Distinguished Service Award, and the ACVS Foundation Lynn Wheaton Philanthropy Award.
ACVS Founders’ Award for Career Achievement
The ACVS membership selected Amy S. Kapatkin, DVM, MAS, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons (DACVS), to receive the ACVS Founders’ Award for Career Achievement. The award recognizes the service of an ACVS Diplomate distinguished by contributions to the development of surgical techniques and methodology and disseminating knowledge to colleagues, residents, and students.
Dr. Kapatkin was passionate from the start of her career about providing outstanding clinical care and serving as a mentor and role model for veterinary surgery residents and colleagues. She taught orthopedics in a didactic and clinical environment at the University of Pennsylvania and for the past 20 years at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis).
Dr. Kapatkin became a clinical expert in hip dysplasia, gait analysis, total hip replacement, and nonunion management. She gained international recognition for her work using bone morphogenetic protein-2 to manage nonunions and for publishing seminal research influencing sacroiliac luxation management. She taught more than 200 courses in North America, Europe, and Asia, primarily with AO North America and has published research in biomechanical testing and gait analysis; she has more than 80 peer-reviewed studies. Dr. Kapatkin is an ACVS Founding Fellow in Joint Replacement Surgery.
Dr. Kapatkin mentored approximately 40 veterinary surgery residents and coordinated a long-term succession plan at UC Davis. She played a key role in developing the new UC Davis outpatient surgical center with state-of-the-art operating rooms.
Dr. Kapatkin was an ACVS regent and liaison to the Resident Credentialing and Public Relations Committees and represented ACVS on AVMA’s American Board of Veterinary Specialties and the Veterinary Specialty Organizations Committee. As chair of the AO VET North America Education Committee and as president of AO North America, Dr. Kapatkin has been instrumental in efforts to increase diversity in veterinary orthopedic education as the first veterinarian and first woman to lead AO North America.
Al and Carolyn Schiller Distinguished Service Award
The ACVS Board of Regents (BOR) selected Karen K. Cornell, DVM, PhD, DACVS, as recipient of the Al and Carolyn Schiller Distinguished Service Award for exceptional contribution to ACVS.
Dr. Cornell began volunteering as a member of the editorial review board for Veterinary Surgery upon becoming board-certified with ACVS. She transitioned to continuing education with the Small Animal Surgery Scientific Session Committee. Dr. Cornell served on the Examination Committee and as its chair. She served as a regent on the Board of Regents and as ACVS president and chair. During this time, Dr. Cornell led the organization through strategic planning, the creation of fellowship programs, and the move to a digital examination process. Dr. Cornell has been a frequent speaker at the ACVS Surgery Summit and former ACVS Veterinary Symposium, demonstrating her prominence as a surgeon and communication skills leader.
In addition to her ACVS service, Dr. Cornell has demonstrated a passion for professional development and surgical training of all veterinary professionals in her faculty roles at the University of Georgia and at Texas A&M University, where she continues to serve as a trusted consultant and educator in the surgical curriculum. Dr. Cornell has been responsible for the surgical education of more than 4,000 veterinarians. Her passion for teaching is clear in the multiple accolades with which she has been honored, including the Carl J. Norden/Pfizer/Zoetis Distinguished Teaching Award twice, the Student AVMA Community Outreach Excellence Award, and the Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professorship.
Dr. Cornell trained over 330 veterinary faculty from 36 veterinary schools in the communication discipline as a lead facilitator for the Institute for Healthcare Communication. Thus far in her career, she has provided 151 hours of continuing education to veterinary practitioners and authored 12 textbook chapters on surgical conditions in companion animals and essential veterinary skills.
ACVS Foundation Lynn Wheaton Philanthropy Award
The ACVS membership selected Shannon K. Reed, DVM, MS, DACVS, to receive the ACVS Foundation Lynn Wheaton Philanthropy Award. The award recognizes ACVS Diplomates who demonstrate intentional and altruistic social responsibility through their work with their community, an association, or other nonprofit organizations. Recipients give their time and talent to positively impact the quality of life of people and animals and show generosity of spirit and civic responsibility.
Dr. Reed is recognized for her outstanding contributions to the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) and veterinary education. RRP facilitates the placement of Thoroughbred ex-racehorses in second careers in equestrian sports. Dr. Reed has worked with the RRP for over ten years and has developed several programs related to the Thoroughbred Makeover, the RRP’s flagship program. She implemented a required arrival exam for participants that emphasizes soundness, body condition, and microchipping. This program protects the well-being of the horses and is a groundbreaking solution to improve equine welfare standards. Her work earned her the ASPCA Good People for Good Horses Award in 2020 and the Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Ambassador Award in 2021.
Dr. Reed designed a veterinary student volunteer program that invites students to participate in the arrival exams with veterinarians passionate about the equine industry. This program helps to address the decline in the number of veterinarians entering equine practice. She arranges travel stipends and housing for the students and provides proctored examinations, if necessary, so the students’ education is not affected during their time away.
Dr. Reed also developed a mentorship program for horse owners taking part in the Thoroughbred Makeover. This program has increased the owners’ knowledge and skills and improved the well-being of RRP horses.
