American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians

Event: 55th annual meeting, Oct. 15-23, 2012, Greensboro, N.C.
Awards: E.P. Pope Award: Dr. M. Grant Maxie, Guelph, Ontario, for noteworthy contributions to the AAVLD and the field of veterinary diagnostic laboratory medicine. A 1969 graduate of the University of Saskatchewan Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Maxie is the director of the Animal Health Laboratory and executive director of the Laboratory Services Division at the University of Guelph. He is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and a past president of the AAVLD and Canadian Animal Health Laboratorians Network. Distinguished Service Award: Dr. Donal O’Toole, Laramie, Wyo., for volunteering time, energy, and professionalism to substantially enrich and advance the AAVLD and the field of diagnostic veterinary medicine. A 1977 graduate of the University College Dublin School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. O’Toole is a professor in the Department of Veterinary Sciences at the University of Wyoming College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. During his tenure, he has served as director of the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory and headed the Department of Veterinary Sciences. Dr. O’Toole is a past president of the AAVLD. Thermo-Scientific Award for Excellence in Diagnostic Veterinary Microbiology: Mike Donahue, PhD, Lexington, Ky., for research accomplishments that advanced veterinary medicine and animal health. Dr. Donahue earned his doctorate in microbiology at the University of Missouri in 1971 and joined the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory as chief of the bacteriology section. He served in that capacity for 41 years until retirement in 2012. Dr. Donahue’s research focused on several equine-specific diseases and conditions, including nocardioform placentitis in mares, equine pericarditis, equine abortion and premature birth, equine arthritis and osteomyelitis, and the microbiology of the equine placenta. Pioneers in Virology Award: Dr. Bruce W. Calnek, Ithaca, N.Y. A 1955 graduate of the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Calnek is Steffen Professor of Veterinary Medicine emeritus at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. During his tenure at the college, he also served as chair of the Department of Avian and Aquatic Animal Medicine for nearly 20 years. A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists and American College of Poultry Veterinarians, Dr. Calnek focused his research on encephalomyelitis in chickens, and viral neoplasms of chickens and other infectious agents, including Mycoplasma bacteria, reovirus, adenovirus, infectious laryngotracheitis virus, reticuloendotheliosis virus, and Rous sarcoma virus. Life Membership Award: Dr. Pat Blanchard, Tulare, Calif. A 1982 graduate of the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Blanchard is branch chief of the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System’s Tulare laboratory. She is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and a past president of the AAVLD. J. Lindsay Oaks Best Student Molecular Biology Oral Presentation-Poster Award: Dr. Christa Goodell, Iowa State University, for “Influenza A virus isolation from oral fluid and nasal swabs in IAV inoculated pigs.” Richard Walker Best Student Bacteriology Oral Presentation-Poster Award: Dr. Fabbio Vannucci, University of Minnesota, for “Species specificity and molecular typing of porcine and equine Lawsonia intracellularis isolates.” AAVLD/ACVP Resident Pathology Travel Award: Dr. Brian Butler, Cornell University, for “Canine colorectal polyps and progression to malignancy: A retrospective study of 100 canine colorectal epithelial polypoid tumors (1997-2012).” Best Graduate Student Oral Presentation Award: Dr. Christa Goodell, Iowa State University, for “Influenza A virus isolation from oral fluid and nasal swabs in IAV inoculated pigs.” Best Graduate Student Poster Award: Dr. Stephanie Ostrowski, University of California-Davis, for "Idiopathic generalized soft tissue mineralization in an Appaloosa filly." Best JVDI Manuscript: Dr. Roxann S. Brooks, University of California-Davis, for “Quantitative duplex TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction for the assessment of the etiological agent of epizootic bovine abortion.” Best JVDI Brief Communication: Dr. David Bemis, University of Tennessee, for “Isolation of a variant Porphyromonas sp. from polymicrobial infections in central bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps).” ACVP/AAVLD Diagnostic Pathology Travel Award: Dr. Amanda Crews, University of Tennessee. AAVLD Trainee Travel Awards: Drs. Kenitra Hammac, John Schaefer, Melissa Macias Rioseco, Noah Hull, Kerry Sondgeroth, Barbara Brito, Celeste Foster, Misa Komine, and Stephanie Ostrowski
Officials: Dr. Thomas McKenna, Madison, Wis., president; Catherine Barr, PhD, College Station, Texas, president-elect; Dr. Francois Elvinger, Blacksburg, Va., vice president; Dr. John Adaska, Tulare, Calif., secretary-treasurer; Dr. Timothy Baszler, Pullman, Wash., immediate past president; and Jim Kistler, Navarre, Fla., executive director