AAEP pulls in a crowd, but not the largest
The 54th annual AAEP meeting last month was the group's third largest.
SAN DIEGO — The 54th annual convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) last month was the group's third largest, final attendance figures show.
A total of 6,579 attended the San Diego meeting, including 3,201 veterinarians, students and technicians, 938 paid guests and 2,440 exhibitors.
The 2007 convention in Orlando was the largest ever, with 7,238 attendees, and the 2006 meeting in San Antonio was second with 6,842.
Harry W. Werner, VMD, a North Granby, Conn., practitioner, was installed as the 2009 president; Nathaniel A. White II, DVM, is the new president-elect and William Moyer, DVM, is the 2009 vice-president.
Named to two-year terms on the AAEP Board of Directors, replacing members whose terms expired in 2008, were: District I (North Atlantic region), Peter C. Bousum, VMD, of Ringoes, N.J.; District II (Middle Atlantic), B.A. Rucker, DVM, of Lebanon, Va.; District III (South Atlantic), Scott A. Hay, DVM, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla; District IX (Northwest), Debora Sellon, DVM, PhD, associate dean of the graduate school at Washington State University; Director at large, Carol Clark, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, of Ocala, Fla.; and international board member, Des Leadon, MA, MVB, MSc, FRCVS, from County Kildare, Ireland.
Jeffrey T. Berk, VMD, of Ocala, Fla., was named to the Executive Committee and will serve as association treasurer.
The following awards were presented:
DISTINGUISHED EDUCATORS: Timothy R. O'Brien, DVM, MS, PhD, retired from the University of California-Davis; and the late John V. Steiner, DVM, Dipl. ACT, an equine reproductive expert who practiced in Rhinebeck, N.Y.
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD: Susan L. White, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, associate dean for public service and outreach at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.
DISTINGUISHED LIFE MEMBER: Larry R. Bramlage, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, a partner at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky.
GEORGE STUBBS AWARD: For outstanding contributions to veterinary medicine by a non-veterinarian, John K. and Marianne Castle, of Pennsylvania, who help sponsor the semi-annual International Equine Conference on Laminitis and Diseases of the Foot.
THE LAVIN CUP: To Hanover Shoe Farms, of Hanover, Pa., for treatment of retired horses in an effort to reduce the population of unwanted horses.
The 2009 AAEP convention will be Dec. 4-9 in Las Vegas.
