Dr. Anna Elizabeth Worth, AAHA past president, dies

Lakewood, Colo.

-- Dr. Anna Elizabeth Worth, VMD, past president of AAHA, died May 16 after a long battle with cancer.

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) made the announcement May 19.

Dr. Anna Elizabeth Worth

"It is with heavy hearts and deep sadness that we say goodbye to such a compassionate and talented individual," Dr. John Albers, AAHA executive director said of the organization's 2008-09 president. "AAHA will be forever indebted to Anna's unwavering devotion and leadership to the association and our profession."

In addition to serving as AAHA's president, Worth was a member of AAHA's board of directors since 2002. She also served AAHA's student work group, mentoring guidelines work group and referral task force, and helped create the AAHA Helping Pets Fund.

Outside of AAHA, Worth was past president of the Society for Veterinary Medical Ethics and the Vermont Veterinary Medical Association. She was the Vermont delegate to the American Veterinary Medical Association. She served as chair to the Vermont Animal Cruelty Task Force, the Vermont Animal Welfare Committee and the Euthanasia Board for Animals. Worth was named Veterinarian of the Year in 1992 by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. She volunteered with the Bennington County Humane Society, the Vermont Women's Fund and local parent-teacher associations.

A 1978 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Worth practiced with and is survived by her husband, Dr. Bob Bergman. The two owned and served as hospital directors for West Mountain Animal Hospital in Shaftsbury, Vt., for more than 25 years.Other survivors include a son, Bo Bergman, who just earned his DVM degree from North Carolina State University, his wife Megan and their newborn daughter; and a daughter, Sarah Bergman, who works for the Center for Biological Diversity in Tucson, Ariz.

A memorial service is scheduled May 31 at 10 a.m. at Greenwall Auditorium at Bennington College in Bennington, Vt. Burial will be private. Contributions can be made in Worth's memory to the AAHA Helping Pets Fund online at www.aahahelpingpets.org or the Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center by check made out to "Southwestern Vermont Cancer Resource Fund" through the office of Mahar and Son Funeral Home, 628 Main St., Bennington, Vt. 05201.