JOIN US FOR EDUCATION DAY MAY 27th!

Graduate Studies

EXCELLENCE IN GRADUATE ADVISING/TEACHING AWARD
This award recognizes strong mentorship and training of graduate students.
Award Winner: - Dr. Tiffany Wolf (VPM Department), nominated by Dr. Montse Torremorell 

EXCELLENCE IN COURSE COORDINATION AWARD

Presented to a faculty member in each DVM year in recognition of outstanding contributions to student learning through excellence in course coordination. 

Award Winners:

Year I – Dr. Kerry Kuhle AND Dr. Susan Spence, CVM 6904 & 6909 Clinical Skills I & II
Year II – Dr. Sandra Koch, CVM 6971 Dermatology
Year III: Dr. Laura Motschenbacher, CVM 6958 Small Animal Problems

Year IV: Dr. Allison Masters, CVM 6636 Cardiology  

Veterinary Clinical Sciences

EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD
Presented to the VCS faculty member selected by third-year students as the most outstanding instructor during the first three years of veterinary school.
Award Winner: Dr. Lauren Bernstein 

EXCELLENCE IN CLINICAL TEACHING AWARD
Presented to the VCS faculty member selected by fourth-year students as the most outstanding instructor during small animal clinical rotations.
Award Winner: Dr. Caitlin Tearney

EXCELLENCE IN CLINICAL TEACHING AWARD FOR RESIDENTS
Presented to the VCS resident selected by fourth-year Small Animal Track students as the most outstanding instructor during small animal clinical rotations.
Award Winner: Dr. McKenna Andelin, Anesthesia

Veterinary Population Medicine

EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD
Presented to the VPM faculty member selected by third-year students as the most outstanding instructor during the first three years of veterinary school.
Award Winner: Dr. Kerry Kuhle

EXCELLENCE IN CLINICAL OR DIAGNOSTIC TEACHING AWARD
Presented to the VPM faculty member selected by fourth-year Food Animal/Mixed Track students as the most outstanding instructor during large animal clinical rotations.
Award Winner: Dr. Whitney Knauer

EXCELLENCE IN CLINICAL OR DIAGNOSTIC TEACHING AWARD FOR RESIDENTS & INTERNS
Presented to the VPM resident selected by the fourth year Food Animal/Mixed Track students as the most outstanding instructor during clinical rotations.
Award Winner: Dr. Joanna Echenique, Anatomic Pathology

Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences

EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD
Presented to the VBS faculty member selected by students as the most outstanding instructor during the first three years of veterinary school.
Award Winner: Dr. David Brown

EXCELLENCE IN INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT & TEACHING AWARD FOR STAFF

This award acknowledges the outstanding contributions made by a staff member to the experience of students in the DVM curriculum. It is selected by students in Years 1 - 3.
Award Winner: Tanya Heacock, Teaching Tech Team

EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD FOR UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

Department chairs and vice-chairs nominate faculty who have made outstanding contributions to undergraduate student learning.
Award Winner: Dr. Chris Hergenrader

Veterinary Medical Center

EXCELLENCE IN CLINICAL TEACHING AWARD FOR TECHNICIANS
Presented to two VMC technicians, one each from the Small and Large Animal Hospitals, selected by the fourth year students as having contributed significantly to their clinical year.
Award Winners: 

Small Animal: Kelsey Brown
Large Animal: Shannon Hullett

College of Veterinary Medicine Educational Impact Award

This year, we introduce the Educational Impact Award to honor a transformational educator who has redefined excellence in instruction and curriculum innovation. 

Award Winner: Dr. Sue Spence

From her 'spay in a box' model to specialized left-handed tutorials, Dr. Spence’s tireless dedication ensures every student graduates as a confident, practice-ready veterinarian.

Zoetis Distinguished Teaching Award

The Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award, presented by Zoetis, recognizes excellence in professional veterinary medical education. It is the most prestigious teaching award in veterinary medicine and is presented to an educator whose sustained record of teaching excellence and ability, dedication, character and leadership has contributed significantly to the advancement of the profession.

2026 Nominees:
Dr. Lindsey Knox, Dr. Emily Truckenbrod, Dr. Perle Zhitnitskiy, Dr. Susan Spence, Dr. David Brown, and Dr. Christie Ward.

Award Winner: Dr. Perle Zhitnitskiy 

In a highly competitive field, Dr Zhitnitskiy’s work as a pedagogical innovator and unwavering commitment to excellence truly sets her apart. Her dedication to scholarly teaching ensures a profound, enduring impact on students and the future of the veterinary profession.

Dr. Perle Zhitnitskiy will also be submitted to the national competition for the Distinguished Veterinary Educator — Emerging Leader Award.

We invite proposals for Education Day 2026 to explore how Spectrum of Care (SOC) shapes veterinary education, clinical practice, and community engagement.

Sessions will examine:

• Contextually appropriate, evidence‑based veterinary care

• Strategies for integrating SOC into courses and curricula

• Opportunities for collaboration across departments and communities

• The meaning and application of SOC across veterinary roles and settings

• Legal, liability, and standards‑of‑care considerations within SOC

This year’s event will also highlight Educational Research, specifically the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). We especially encourage proposals that showcase evidence‑informed teaching practices, educational innovations, and research that drives meaningful change in veterinary education.

Presentation Format Options

Poster‑ish Session - Interactive show-and-tell session for sharing projects, innovations, or works in progress related to SOC or Educational Innovation/s. Presenters can display an electronic poster or lead a roundtable.

PechaKucha Presentation (5 minutes) - Fast‑paced, high‑impact presentations designed to spark ideas and conversation around SOC‑related practices, partnerships, or concepts.

Proposal Requirements

• Title

• Author(s)

• Type of presentation: Poster‑ish; PechaKucha

• Short Description (100 characters max): Concise overview of the session to be included in program

• Abstract (250 words max): Summary of content, objectives, and intended audience

We welcome submissions from all members of our community. Proposals that promote interaction, reflection, and collaboration are especially encouraged. We look forward to a day of shared learning and collective insight.