The Ohio Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) has named American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) President Fred Gingrich, DVM, the 2015 Veterinarian of the Year. Outgoing OVMA President Dr. Brad Garrison presented the award, largely considered the Association’s highest honor, during a special award ceremony at the annual Midwest Veterinary Conference. A 1995 graduate of the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Gingrich is the owner of Country Roads Veterinary Services and Ashland Veterinary Clinic in Ashland, Ohio, where he practices dairy and small animal medicine. Dr. Gingrich is a champion for the Ohio Dairy Veterinarians Association and has worked to educate veterinarians and dairy producers across the state on responsible drug use. On a national level, his involvement in organized veterinary medicine includes serving on the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Task Force on Veterinary Compounding Legislation, the Clinical Practitioners Advisory Committee and the Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents. A long-time member of the AABP, Dr. Gingrich is also a past winner of the organization’s Preventative Medicine Dairy Award and recently assumed the role of president. “To rise to such national prominence obviously speaks well of his talents and standing with his veterinary colleagues,” Dr. Garrison said. “Equally impressive are the countless and perhaps less visible things he does in serving his community and clients—from mentoring veterinary students, to providing medical care and fundraising for the Feline Sanctuary in Ashland, to caring for service animals of wounded veterans.” Gingrich lives in Ashland with his wife Michelle and their four children. The Ohio Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) is a non-profit organization providing services to its members in the areas of continuing education, advocacy on public policy matters, and access to variety of professional resources. The OVMA represents more than 2,500 veterinarians practicing in various fields and specialties. The OVMA’s principal purpose and mission is to foster life-long learning, stewardship, compassion and community in veterinary medicine. For more information, visit their website.
