Contact:
Kim Ralston
MVMA Communications
573-636-8612
Email: kralston@movma.org

AREA VETERINARIANS ATTEND MISSOURI VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION’S 132nd ANNUAL CONVENTION

(January 31, 2024) – Over 600 veterinarians, veterinary technicians, practice staff and veterinary students attended the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association’s 132nd Annual Convention on January 25-28, 2024 at the Holiday Inn Executive Center, Columbia, Mo. The convention offered over 60 continuing education lectures to participants.

Newly installed officers include:
Kacie Ulhorn, DVM – President, Hermann, Mo.
David Wilson, DVM – President-Elect, Columbia, Mo.
Lynn Martin, DVM – Vice President, Columbia, Mo.
Shelia Taylor, DVM – Secretary/Treasurer, Springfield, Mo.
Matt Silvius, DVM – Board Chair, Riverside, Mo.
Julie Braun, Jefferson City, Mo., serves as Executive Director

Awards included:

Kenton Morgan, DVM, Faucett, Mo., was honored as the recipient of the coveted 2024 Veterinarian of the Year Award. James Morehead, DVM, Lexington, Ky., presented the award to Dr. Morgan at the ceremony.

He practiced equine medicine for eleven years before joining Bayer Animal Health where he was a Senior Technical Services Veterinarian. Prior to joining Zoetis, Dr. Morgan managed the Equine Field Professional Services Team at Fort Dodge Animal Health.

He is well known and respected in the equine industry where he has served on numerous committees and task forces. Dr. Morgan currently sits on the MVMA Executive Board, AQHA Research Committee and the advisory committee of the Equine Disease Communication Center. He is a past board member of the AAEP. He has authored white papers/position statements for the AAEP on topics including Veterinary Compounding, Medical Devices and Equine Plasma products. He has also contributed to the reviews of AAEP guidelines regarding equine vaccination. Dr. Morgan co-chaired the External Parasite Control guidelines committee. He has chaired the AAEP’s Biologics and Therapeutic Agents committee, Reproduction and Perinatal committee and the Professional Conduct and Ethics committee. He also served on the Pediatrics and Leadership Development committees.

The Missouri Veterinary Medical Association’s Veterinarian of the Year award is the premiere recognition bestowed by the association. The award winner is determined annually by the MVMA Board members, who represent nearly 1,700 veterinary members of the MVMA in Missouri. The recipient of this highest honor is chosen based on their impeccable reputation as a skilled and knowledgeable veterinarian, their dedication and service to their patients and clients, their service as an integral participant in their community, the engagement and leadership in organized veterinary medicine, their mentorship to our future veterinarians, the admiration and respect held for them among their peers, and the positive impact they have had on the lives they have touched.

The MVMA’s annual President’s Award is given to individuals who were instrumental to the President’s efforts to advance the veterinary profession for the betterment of animal health in the state.

Dr. Matt Silvius, Riverside, Mo., MVMA past president, presented this year’s award to James Sparks, DVM, Parkville, Mo. Dr. Sparks is owner/practitioner at Eagle Animal Hospital, Riverside, Mo. He graduated from the University of Missouri in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in animal science. He earned his doctor of veterinary medicine from the same school in 1990. Before graduating, he completed an externship with the chief veterinarian of the Iditarod sled dog race in Alaska.

Dr. Sparks has practiced at Eagle Animal Hospital ever since and enjoys his role as principal owner. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association, and the Kansas City Veterinary Medical Association. His professional interest is focused on companion animal internal medicine. “I love veterinary medicine and surgery because the learning process is never done,” he says. “Every day offers new challenges and opportunities to learn and grow as a veterinarian, parent, husband – strengthening the human animal bond and becoming a better person one day at a time.”

Ronald Cott, DVM, Leawood, Kan., received the Richard D. Antweiler Servant Leadership Award. The award is presented to someone within the MVMA who exudes servant leadership qualities. Servant leadership is defined as a leadership philosophy built on the belief that the most effective leaders strive to serve others.

Dr. Cott retired as the Associate Dean for Student and Alumni Affairs and Executive Director of Advancement for the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri. He received his DVM from the University of Missouri in 1973. After spending three years in the Army, he entered into private companion animal practice in the Kansas City, Missouri area for the next twenty-five years. In 2001 he was appointed Associate Dean for Student and Alumni Affairs for the College of Veterinary Medicine and in 2008, he was additionally appointed Executive Director of Advancement. During this time, he served as course director for the college’s “Fundamentals of Veterinary Business Management” course and advisor to the Veterinary Business Management Association.

Lynn Martin, DVM, Columbia, Mo., received the MVMA’s Ortu Stella Award. The award for early career leadership was presented to Dr. Martin by Dr. Bruce Whittle, Trenton, Mo.

The Ortu Stella recipient must in some way shine brightly, aid comrades in navigating the veterinary profession, assist in illuminating the path for those around them, and/or demonstrate that they habitually strive to rise to the occasion.

Dr. Martin was recently elected as vice-president of the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association. She graduated from the University of Missouri in 2014 achieving her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Master of Public Health. She is currently an Assistant Teaching Professor of Equine Internal Medicine in the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery at the University of Missouri.

Outside of academia, she is a member of the MVMA Equine, Legislative, and 2024 Convention Planning Committees.

The MVMA 2024 Legislative Leadership Award was presented to Dr. Linda Hickam, Thompson, Mo. The award is in recognition for legislative leadership consistent with the MVMA mission; the protection of animal health and welfare; the relief of animal suffering; the conservation of animal resources; and the advancement of public health.

Dr. Hickam is past-Missouri State Veterinarian. She also served as Deputy State Veterinarian and State Epidemiologist. She is a 1990 graduate of the University of Missouri-College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Hickam is presently self-employed.

Philip Brown, DVM, Springfield, Mo., received the Distinguished Service Award from the Missouri Veterinary Medical Foundation (MVMF). Dr. Scott Fray presented the award to Dr. Brown.

Dr. Brown is owner/practitioner at Animal Care Center, Springfield, Mo. He is co-chair of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. He is a 1972 graduate of the University of Missouri-College of Veterinary Medicine.

Kenneth Vroman, DVM, Glascow, Mo., received the MVMA Academy Distinguished Service Award. The award was presented to Dr. Vroman by Dr. Mac Wilt.

Dr. Vroman is lifetime-retired member of the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA). He graduated from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 1969. He is a founding member of the MVMA Academy which recently celebrated it’s 50th anniversary. He is also a member of the MVMA’s legislative committee and Missouri Volunteer Veterinary Corps.

MVMA Academy Distinguished Service Award recipients are individuals who have rendered meritorious service to promoting and advancing continuing education in the veterinary profession.

2024 MVMA Academy officers include:
Jessica Gardner, DVM – President, Kearney, Mo.
Laura Moon, DVM – Vice President, Fayette, Mo.

2024 Missouri Veterinary Medical Foundation officers include:
Philip R. Brown, DVM – Co-Chair, Springfield, Mo.
Scott Fray, DVM – Co-Chair, Boonville, Mo.
Marcy Hammerle, Vice-chair, St. Charles, Mo
Bruce Addison – Secretary/Treasurer, Fayette, Mo.

The Missouri Veterinary Medical Association is the society for veterinarians in the state, dedicated to maintaining the highest standards for professionalism and ethics in animal healthcare in Missouri. The association was founded to help the veterinarian better serve the health and welfare of animals and their owners.

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The MVMA’s 2023 Veterinarian of the Year Award was presented to Dr. Kenton Morgan (right), Faucett, Mo. at ceremonies held January 27th. Dr. James Morehead (left), Lexington, Ky., presented the award to Dr. Morgan.

The MVMA President’s Award was presented to Dr. James Sparks (right), Parkville, Mo at ceremonies held January 27th. Dr. Matt Silvius (left), presented the award.

(From left:) Dr. Clark Fobian, Sedalia, Mo., AVMA past-president, with newly installed MVMA officers: Dr. Kacie Ulhorn, Hermann, Mo., president.; Dr. David Wilson, Columbia, Mo., president-elect; Dr. Lynn Martin, vice president; Dr. Matt Silvius, board chair, Riverside, Mo. and Dr. Shelia Taylor, Springfield, Mo.