The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) announced its 2024 award winners during the 70th Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida. The announcements took place during the President’s Luncheon on Dec. 10.
Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare Receives AAEP’s A. Gary Lavin Equine Welfare Award
Kelley Stobie, executive director of Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare (CTA), accepted the 2024 A. Gary Lavin Equine Welfare Award in recognition of the nonprofit’s dedication to the rehabilitation and rehoming of retired racehorses and its advocacy for the humane treatment of horses.
Formerly known as the Lavin Cup, the A. Gary Lavin Equine Welfare Award recognizes a nonveterinary organization or individual that has distinguished itself through service to improve the welfare of horses. The award is named in honor of the late A. Gary Lavin, VMD, an influential and widely respected equine veterinarian who served as AAEP president in 1994.
Located in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, CTA is a nonprofit organization that rehabilitates Thoroughbreds after their racing careers. Since 2017, CTA has cared for more than 310 equines, of which 236 have been adopted. CTA receives up to 77 horses each year.
In 2017, CTA helped raise funds and goods to provide life-saving relief to horses in Puerto Rico and other islands in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. In 2021, the organization was a leading voice denouncing the inhumane practice of shipping inexpensive Thoroughbred racehorses from the United States to Puerto Rico via modified cargo containers. As a result of its efforts, and those of racing entities in the U.S., the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission enacted more stringent cargo shipping requirements in December 2022.
“The work of the CTA is to watch out for the good treatment of horses, help in the care of abandoned equines in the streets, as well as provide guidance on the laws that cover animal treatment in Puerto Rico,” said Stobie. “We appreciate this recognition, and we will continue to work in favor of horses in Puerto Rico.”
For more information about Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare, visit www.ctahorse.com.
Esteemed Equine Infectious Disease Investigator Dr. Noah Cohen Receives AAEP Research Award
The AAEP presented its 2024 Research Award to Noah Cohen, VMD, MPH, PhD, DACVIM, for his recent research into equine strangles and Rhodococcus equi.
The AAEP Research Award recognizes an individual who has completed research that has or will make a significant impact on the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of equine disease. Cohen’s efforts have resulted in significant advances in understanding the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of these diseases.
Cohen is a distinguished professor and associate department head of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at the Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Throughout his career, he has authored or co-authored 293 papers and 35 review articles in refereed journals. His recent research involves the pathophysiology of R. equi, including detection, risk factors, antibiotic resistance, hyperimmune plasma treatment, and use of an RNA vaccine. He has also completed research on Streptococcus strains in horses.
According to co-nominators Drs. Nathaniel White, Bill Moyer, and C. Wayne McIlwraith, “Both diseases represent significant morbidity with a negative economic impact on the horse industry. Dr. Cohen’s recent inventions include a serological test for strangles and an RNA vaccine for Rhodococcus foal pneumonia both in the past two years.”
Cohen received his veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1983. After two years in private equine practice, he completed MPH and PhD degrees in epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University followed by a large animal internal medicine residency at Texas A&M. He joined the Texas A&M faculty as an assistant professor of equine medicine in 1991.
Cohen has served on the AAEP’s Infectious Disease and Research committees, and he delivered the Frank J. Milne State-of-the-Art Lecture on the topic of equine epidemiology at the 2011 Annual Convention. His numerous other accolades include the 2002 John Hickman Memorial Lecture at the British Equine Veterinary Association Congress, 2008 Schering-Plough Applied Equine Research Award, 2015 Zoetis Award for Excellence in Research, and 2019 AVMA Clinical Research Award.
Dr. Bruce Whittle Honored With AAEP Distinguished Service Award
The AAEP presented its 2024 Distinguished Service Award to Bruce Whittle, DVM, owner of Honey Creek Veterinary Hospital in Trenton, Missouri, for his longstanding leadership of the AAEP’s Essential Skills Workshops for students and his staunch advocacy on veterinary scope of practice issues.
The Distinguished Service Award honors exemplary service to the AAEP or a similar organization to the benefit of the horse, horse industry, or profession of equine veterinary medicine.
Whittle is the longtime linchpin of the AAEP’s Essential Skills Workshop in dentistry, an immersive weekend program for AAEP student chapter members at veterinary schools across North America. Since its inception, Whittle has served as an instructor at 45 workshops. Additionally, he recruits AAEP members to serve as volunteer workshop instructors; coordinates with local faculty to make live horses and cadaver heads available for student training; and regularly reviews and updates the workshop curriculum to ensure student education is rooted in sound primary care practices.
“Since its beginnings in 2009, Dr. Whittle has truly been the ‘captain’ of the AAEP volunteer team who makes this program a reality,” said co-nominator Dr. Kenton Morgan. “Through his efforts, Dr. Whittle has personally helped educate hundreds of veterinary students in the art and science of equine dentistry, directly impacting the health and welfare of horses and the profession of equine veterinary medicine.”
Beyond his deep-seated commitment to veterinary students, Whittle has championed the horse and profession through his volunteer service with the AAEP and Missouri Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA), particularly on public policy and scope of practice issues. He has been directly involved in state-level legislative action to deregulate equine dentistry, and he has personally educated veterinary medical associations about the potential negative professional, ethical, and healthcare effects of unlicensed veterinary practices. In conjunction, he directly participated in crafting AAEP position statements on Dentistry, Levels of Supervision, Practice of Veterinary Medicine, and Roles of Healthcare Providers in Veterinary Medicine.
Whittle, who received his veterinary degree in 1994 from the University of Missouri, is a past president of the MVMA and a former chair of the AAEP’s Welfare and Public Policy Advisory Council.
Dr. Katie Sheats Receives AAEP’s Distinguished Educator – Academic Award
Katie Sheats, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, FHEA, associate professor of equine primary care at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, received the 2024 Distinguished Educator – Academic Award for her innovative leadership with veterinary students.
The Distinguished Educator – Academic Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a significant impact on the development and training of equine practitioners.
Sheats received her veterinary degree in 2005 from North Carolina State University, where she subsequently completed a rotating equine internship, equine internal medicine residency, and PhD in comparative biomedical science. She joined the university faculty as assistant professor of equine primary care in 2014. In addition to her teaching duties, she runs a successful lab and has served as primary advisor and committee member for numerous graduate students.
As leader of the Equine Primary Care rotation, Sheats developed the school’s first formal distributive clinical education program. She partnered with local and regional practices to create an introductory “boot camp” to ensure participating students are prepared for what they will encounter in the field upon graduation. She also developed training and evaluation materials to support the partner practices in providing educational opportunities and feedback to the students.
As co-coordinator for the third-year Equine Medicine and Surgery Course, Sheats has updated numerous lectures to focus more on equine primary care, introduced active learning methods to encourage in-person class attendance, and created two new equine courses, one of which teaches unique aspects of husbandry and nutrition for less familiar species such as horses.
Sheats is coordinator for a new third-year preceptorship that offers students a four-week experience in a veterinary practice or workplace setting. In addition, she teaches numerous lunch sessions on equine veterinary topics, and she regularly engages students with wet labs by taking them on weekend farm calls for authentic experiential learning.
“Dr. Sheats is an innovator and master educator whose research and work in veterinary education and curricular development has and will continue to shape the way that we train equine veterinarians at NC State,” said nominator Dr. Anthony Blikslager.
Dr. Tom Riddle Receives Distinguished Educator Award for Mentorship
Tom Riddle, DVM, renowned authority on equine reproduction and the retired co-founder of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, received the 2024 Distinguished Educator – Mentor Award, which honors an individual who has made a significant impact on the development and training of equine practitioners through mentoring.
After receiving his veterinary degree from the University of Georgia in 1978, Riddle spent four years at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, before joining Dr. Bill Rood in his ambulatory practice to form Rood & Riddle in 1982. Three years later, the pair broke ground on their landmark hospital, and the practice has grown exponentially since.
Through his dedication to teaching and mentoring, Riddle has profoundly influenced the careers of veterinary interns who have come through the practice. As a result of his guidance, many of Riddle’s interns went on to complete theriogenology residencies, attain board certification, and become influential mentors themselves.
“The consequence of Dr. Riddle’s mentorship has had a trickle-down effect,” said co-nominator Dr. Virginia Reed, “creating generations of skilled, enthusiastic equine veterinarians ready and willing to mentor other veterinarians throughout their careers.”
In addition, Riddle has spearheaded immersive continuing education events focused on equine reproduction, including a low-cost symposium for theriogenology residents to acquire hands-on knowledge and skills with the support of established theriogenologists keen to contribute to the growth of veterinary residents.
“Dr. Riddle’s guidance and support have shaped the careers of so many veterinarians,” added co-nominator Dr. Meghan Connor. “His ability to provide leadership while allowing the personal and professional growth of his mentee is unmatched. His upstanding morals and dedication to honesty instilled great ethics that have stayed with me into many aspects of veterinary practice.”
Dr. Sara Langsam Receives 2024 AAEP President’s Award
Sara Langsam, VMD, who as chair of the Racing Committee has spearheaded the AAEP’s efforts to address catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses, received the 2024 AAEP President’s Award.
The President’s Award recipient is selected by the sitting AAEP president and honors an AAEP member who has demonstrated a dedication to the associations during the past year by contributing significant time and expertise to benefit the health and welfare of the horse.
In October 2023, Langsam coordinated a Thoroughbred safety and injury prevention summit meeting of veterinary experts. From that meeting emerged an ambitious year-long project to begin in January 2025 under Langsam’s oversight to evaluate the suitability of six different wearable biometric sensors for widespread use in initial screening of the Thoroughbred racing and training population in the U.S. The goal is early identification of horses at risk for musculoskeletal injury.
“Getting this project from idea to reality has been a Herculean task, involving defining the parameters of the research project, securing funding, communicating with the companies involved, navigating complex politics, facilitating the logistical details, and so much more,” said 2024 AAEP President Katie Garrett, DVM, DACVS. “Dr. Langsam has done all of this, while also finding time to coordinate initiatives like the incredibly successful Day at the Races program, which brings veterinary students to racetracks so they can learn about veterinary careers in the racing industry. She is also a full-time practitioner and serves on the AAEP’s board of directors, so how much she has achieved this year is truly remarkable.”
After receiving her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 2002, Langsam completed an in-hospital internship at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. She joined Teigland, Franklin and Brokken DVMs, Inc. (TFB Equine) in July 2003 and became a partner in 2009. In 2012, she expanded the practice to provide year-round services for its clients at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.
Langsam serves as an AAEP On Call veterinary spokesperson in support of live telecasts of Thoroughbred racing. She previously served on the Educational Programs Committee and Professional Conduct and Ethics Committee. Beyond the AAEP, Langsam is a member of the Horsemen’s Advisory Group of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority.
About AAEP
The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its over 9,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry.
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