The 2024 College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) Education Day celebrates not only the pursuit of knowledge in veterinary medicine but also those whose teaching contributions have a profound impact on the students they instruct.  

Each year, teaching awards recognizing the exemplary work of faculty and staff throughout the College are presented as part of the Education Day program, which also included a poster session, presentations, and a workshop. 

"Congratulations to all of our award recipients," CVM Dean Dr. Laura Molgaard said following the awards presentation on May 17, 2024. "I'm really proud to have all of you here at the College, and I know that the room is filled with past recipients as well. We're really lucky to have such great faculty."

The following awards were presented during Education Day: 

Zoetis Distinguished Teaching Award

Recipient: Dr. Jennifer Granick

The award is given to veterinary educators in recognition of their character and leadership qualities as well as their outstanding teaching abilities. This Zoetis-sponsored award is the most prestigious CVM faculty teaching award. The winner is selected by veterinary students in all years.

Granick is an associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. 

CVM Outstanding Staff Teaching Award

Recipient: Melissa Wolfe

This award acknowledges the outstanding contributions made by a staff member to the experience of students in the DVM curriculum. The winner is selected by students in years I-III.

Wolfe is an education program specialist with the Teaching Technician Team. 

AAVC Faculty Achievement in Teaching Award

Recipient: Dr. Jennifer Granick

This award is presented annually to a member of the AAVC who has achieved national recognition through their efforts in veterinary medicine.

Granick is an associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. 

Undergraduate Teaching Award

Recipient: Dr. Mitch Willette

The recipient is chosen from nominations by the department chairs and vice-chairs to recognize faculty who have made outstanding contributions to undergraduate student learning.

Willette is an assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine. 

Distinguished Experts in the Academy of Veterinary Educators

Recipients: Drs. Peggy Root and Perle Zhitnitskiy

The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges in partnership with the Academy of Veterinary Educators announced   Root and Zhitnitskiy are among 32 veterinary educators chosen to oversee the Academy-Certified Expert Educator credential.

Root is the associate dean of education and a professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Zhitnitskiy is an associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine .

 

Excellence in Course Coordination Awards

The award is given to a faculty member in recognition of outstanding contributions to student learning through excellence in course coordination.

• Year I recipient: Dr. Emily Truckenbrod and Sarah Brown. Truckenbrod and Brown are assistant professors in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences.
• Year II recipient: Dr. Christie Ward, an assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine.
• Year III recipient: Dr. Jennifer Granick, an associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.
• Year IV recipient: Dr. Lindsey Knox, an assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.

  

Veterinary Clinical Sciences awards

Excellence in Teaching Award

Recipient: Dr. Jennifer Granick

The recipient is selected by the third-year students as the most outstanding teacher during their first three years of veterinary school.

Granick is an associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. 

Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award

Recipient: Dr. Lindsey Knox

The recipient is selected by the fourth-year students as the most outstanding clinical teacher during their fourth year of small animal clinical rotations.

Knox is an assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. 

Resident Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching 

Recipient: Dr. Colleen Hickey

The recipient of the award is selected by the fourth-year Small Animal Track students as the most outstanding clinical teacher during their fourth year of small animal clinical rotations.

Hickey is a resident working on the Veterinary Medical Center Anesthesia Service.

Veterinary Population Medicine awards

Faculty Award for Excellence in Didactic Teaching

Recipient: Dr. Erin Malone

The recipient is selected by the third-year students as the most outstanding teacher during their first three years of veterinary school.

Malone is the assistant dean for curriculum and a professor in the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine.  

Faculty Award for Excellence in Clinical or Diagnostic Teaching

Recipient: Dr. Alex Bianco

The recipient is selected by the fourth-year Large Animal/Mixed Track students as the most outstanding clinical teacher during their fourth year of large animal clinical rotations.

Bianco is an associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine. 

Resident/Intern Award for Excellence in Clinical or Diagnostic Teaching

Recipient: Dr. Katie McDermott

The recipient was selected by the fourth-year Large Animal/Mixed Track students as the most outstanding clinical teacher during their fourth year of large animal clinical rotations.

McDermott is a pathology resident with the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab.

Veterinary Biomedical Sciences awards

Outstanding Teacher Award 

Recipient: Dr. Erin Burton

The recipient is selected by students in all years as the most outstanding teacher during the first three years of their veterinary training.

Burton is the senior associate dean of academic and student affairs and an associate professor in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. 

Graduate Programs awards

Outstanding Graduate Advising/Teaching Award

Recipient: Kim VanderWaal

The recipient is nominated by students in the Graduate Programs.

VanderWaal is an associate professor in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. 

Veterinary Medical Center awards

Excellence in Small Animal Clinical Teaching (Technician)

Recipient: Siri Rea

The recipient is selected by the fourth-year students as having contributed significantly to their clinical year.

Rea is a certified veterinary technician in the Veterinary Medical Center Anesthesia Service. 

Excellence in Large Animal Clinical Teaching (Technician)

Recipient: Sarah Myers

The recipient is selected by the fourth-year students as having contributed significantly to their clinical year.

Myers is a certified veterinary technician at Piper Equine Hospital.