WCVM Dean Dr. Douglas Freeman presents a framed Faculty Gold Medal certificate to Dr. James Kirkham. Photo: Debra Marshall.
WCVM Dean Dr. Douglas Freeman presents a framed Faculty Gold Medal certificate to Dr. James Kirkham. Photo: Debra Marshall.

Awards night honours WCVM Class of 2012

More than $55,000 in awards were presented to students and instructors during the Western College of Veterinary Medicine's 2012 Spring Awards on June 7.

The special evening, which was held in Saskatoon's TCU Place, drew more than 500 people — including family and friends of the 76 veterinary graduates who convocated from the University of Saskatchewan earlier in the afternoon.

Members of the WCVM's Class of 2012 began their veterinary education in August 2008. This is the second class of WCVM students to use the college's revised curriculum for all four years of their DVM program

Dr. Roberta Templeton gave the valedictory address for the Class of 2012 while Dr. Katina Stewart (WCVM '04) spoke to the graduates on behalf of U of S and WCVM alumni. Dr. Elemir Simko of the WCVM's Department of Veterinary Pathology, was invited as the evening's guest speaker.

WCVM Dean Dr. Douglas Freeman led the awards ceremony that included a total of 42 award presentations. Dr. James Kirkham, who received the 2012 WCVM Faculty Gold Medal during the U of S Convocation, was presented with a framed certificate to commemorate his honour.

Kirkham also received four other awards: the Aventix Animal Health Award in Small Animal Ophthalmology, the Dr. F.W. Schofield Prize in Veterinary Pathology, the Evelyn Margaret Manfield Scholarship, and the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society Award for Proficiency and Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Medicine.

Dr. Deanne Wilkinson

A new prize, the Vandi Award for Excellence in Equine Care, was presented to Dr. Deanne Wilkinson for quality care and advocacy of equine patients during her fourth-year clinical rotations.

The Heather Ryan and L. David Dubé Foundation Inc. created the $7,500 award in honour of the couple's registered quarter horse mare, Vandi Solis, that passed away in 2011.

Ryan and Dubé also sponsor two additional awards in memory of their deceased animals. The Buddy and Dr. Snead Award in Small Animal Care went to Dr. Marina Leis while the Dino and Dr. Ashburner Award in Equine Care was presented to Dr. Anne Marie De Leenheer.

Drs. Erin Borrow and Taryn Holtby

Dr. Rhea Plesman, a small animal surgery resident, received the Dr. Dennis Shute Memorial Award. This honour is annually presented to a WCVM graduate student, intern or resident in small animal medicine or surgery who has written the best case report.

The evening's two final awards celebrated the high calibre of teaching at the WCVM. Dr. Casey Gaunt, a clinical instructor in critical care, earned the Merial Award of Excellence in Clinical Teaching while small animal clinical associate Dr. Karen Sheehan received the prestigious Stan Olson Clinical Teaching Professor of the Year Award.

View the WCVM's Spring Awards program that lists all of the 2012 award recipients.
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