The sound of three bladder stones landing on a table more than 30 years ago was music to  Jody Lulich’s ears. Their successful removal from a dog using a nonsurgical technique he was testing—voiding urohyropropulsion—would shape the course of his career, his medical speciality, and the lives of future patients.  

In the time since that novel stone removal, Lulich, a professor of internal medicine and co-director of the Minnesota Urolith Center (MUC) at the University of Minnesota (UMN) College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), has forged a path as a pioneer in the field of nephrology and urology. 

For his decades of contributions that have made a significant impact on the well-being of animals and advanced the veterinary profession, the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) recently recognized Lulich with the Robert W. Kirk Award for Professional Excellence. The award was presented during the 2026 ACVIM Forum in Seattle, Wash.

Among his noted accomplishments are pioneering or collaborating on the development and use of several treatments for urinary stones in pets. This includes developing minimally invasive methods for removing stones and using research to demonstrate that diet can be an effective means of dissolving stones. 

“His work is really responsible for a paradigm shift,” says Jennifer Granick, professor of internal medicine at CVM. “The way we treat animals with lower urinary tract disease is largely influenced by what he’s done in his career.”

Over the span of that nearly 40-year career, Lulich has been recognized as a global leader in research and education. He has published more than 400 papers in journals, textbooks, or scientific proceedings, and has been awarded more than $6,000,000 in funded research. He is also a founding member of the American College of Veterinary Nephrology and Urology, creating a path to advanced training in the field.

Lulich’s dedication to the field and improving patient care was inspired in part by his mentor—and another Kirk Award winner—Carl Osborne. A member of the CVM faculty for more than 50 years, Osborne founded the MUC and is known for applying his research to improve the health of paralyzed veterans. 

“He was encouraging, he was helpful,” Lulich says of Osborne. “When I first started my PhD with him, we would read articles together. And you know, I hold on to that same philosophy and that legacy. When I teach my graduate students in their first year, we read books, and we read articles together.”

Lulich joined CVM as an assistant professor in 1990 and has held the Osborne/Hills Endowed Chair in Nephrology and Urology since 2008. His work as an educator has been lauded by students and peers alike, particularly his emphasis on empathy and compassion in teaching.

His impact as an educator has been felt globally. Lulich has spoken at hundreds of conferences and has mentored learners across education levels, including high school students, undergraduate students, veterinary students, veterinary interns and residents, and graduate students.

“He's a very engaging teacher,” says Sherry Sanderson, an associate professor at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and a former student. “He makes you think at the same time, and he never tries to make you feel stupid if you don't know the answer. He will teach you if you don't know it.

“He just has a way of teaching that you remember things once you've heard it from him.”

Lulich’s dedication to teaching has earned him more than a dozen teaching awards from CVM and outside organizations, and membership in the UMN Academy of Distinguished Teachers and the UMN Academy for Excellence in Clinical Practice. 

Whether teaching, mentoring, caring for patients or conducting research, Lulich’s presence has been a bright spot in the lives of many.

“Dr. Lulich is kind of like veterinary Mr. Rogers,” says Eva Furrow, co-director of the MUC and a professor of internal medicine. “He is a ray of sunshine. He is all about compassion and encouraging creativity.”