AAEP veterinary conference nets hike in attendance over last year

San Antonio, Texas

— Attendance jumped nearly 14 percent over last year at the 57th Annual Convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) in San Antonio Nov. 18-22. This year’s event ranks as one of the five best-attended AAEP events of all-time, the association reports.

Nearly 6,400 veterinary professionals, guests and exhibitors attended the annual convention, according to AAEP, which is up from total attendance of 5,500 from last year.

At the conference, Dr. John S. Mitchell of Boca Raton, Fla., was sworn in as AAEP President during a Nov. 21 luncheon. Mitchell retired from practice in April 2011 after working as a racetrack and pleasure horse practitioner since 1975. Mitchell practiced part-time at Pompano Park Racetrack from 2004 to 2011, following a hiatus from 1994 to 2004 during which he cared for his late wife, Lynne. An AAEP member since 1972, Mitchell served on the Educational Programs, Racing, Practice Management and Foundation Advisory committees, and as AAEP treasurer from 2002 to 2005. He is also credited with developing the AAEP Practice Management Seminar.

Also sworn in were Drs. Ann E. Dwyer of Scottsville, N.Y. as president-elect; Jeff A. Blea of Sierra Madre, Calif., as vice president, James Morehead of Lexington, Ky., as treasurer; and William Moyer of College Station, Texas, as immediate past president.

New members of the AAEP Board of Directors include Carolyn Weinberg of Newtown, Conn., for District I; Steven S. Trostle of Earlysville, Va., for District II; Margo L. Macpherson of Gainesville, Fla., for District III, Elizabeth S. Metcalf of Sherwood, Ore., for District IX; and Karen A. Nyrop of Calgary, Alberta, Canada as director at large.

A number of awards were presented at the Nov. 21 luncheon, as well, including the George Stubbs Award to Sue McDonnell, PhD; the Distinguished Educator Award to Jill Beech, VMD; the Distinguished Life Member Award to Douglas G. Corey, DVM; and the President’s Award to Dr. David D. Frisbie and David Foley.

Silent and live auctions during the Foundation Celebration raised more than $80,000, which will help fund veterinary student scholarships, benevolence work and equine research, AAEP adds.

Drs. Mary Beth Hamorski and Christina Wilson of Califon Animal Hospital in Lebanon, N.J., were presented with the Good Works for Horses Veterinarian of the Year Award during the Foundation Celebration. A $1,000 donation will be made in each of their names to Mylestone Equine Rescue, an equine organization the two veterinarians support. In addition, Pfizer Animal Health donated $1,000 in vaccines for use at the rescue organization.