The American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) and the ACVS Foundation announced the recipients of three prestigious awards at the recent ACVS Surgery Summit in Seattle. Michael M. Pavletic, DVM, DACVS, Director of Surgical Services at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, is the recipient of The ACVS Founders’ Award for Career Achievement. The ACVS Founders’ Award for Career Achievement recognizes the service of ACVS Diplomates who have distinguished themselves in the pursuit of surgery by making significant contributions to the development of surgical techniques and methodology, and dissemination knowledge to colleagues, residents, and students. Dr. Pavletic has dedicated his entire veterinary surgical career to the pursuit of excellence in soft tissue surgery and has developed over 50 original reconstructive surgery techniques used in small animal surgery today. Dr. Pavletic's text, “Atlas of Small Animal Wound Management and Reconstructive Surgery,” has become the “standard” text for reconstructive surgery in small animals. In addition to serving on numerous ACVS committees and the ACVS Board of Regents, since 1982, Pavletic has demonstrated his commitment to ACVS and the training of young surgeons by teaching laboratories and speaking world-wide nearly every year. The Al & Carolyn Schiller Distinguished Service Award is presented to Nathaniel A. White II, DVM, MS, DACVS, of Leesburg, Va. The Al and Carolyn Schiller Distinguished Service Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated unusual and meritorious service to the ACVS. Not only has Dr. White served on numerous committees, he also is a past Regent and past President of ACVS. A hallmark of Dr. White’s contribution to ACVS has been his dedication to the delivery of unsurpassed continuing education. For nearly 20 years, he has been primarily responsible for the continued growth, impact, and success of the ACVS Surgery Summit. An additional indicator of his vision and leadership was his instrumental role in forming the ACVS Foundation in 1995. White was one of the five original Directors of the ACVS Foundation. Jon F. Dee, DVM, MS, DACVS, DACVSMR, Hollywood, Fla., is the recipient of the ACVS Foundation Legends Award. This award recognizes ACVS Diplomates who have developed a surgical or diagnostic procedure of significant value, proven by becoming the treatment or test of choice for a given condition. Dr. Dee was one of the primary surgeons responsible for defining fracture types and treatments in the carpus and tarsus in the racing dog. Dee developed numerous guidelines and techniques for dealing with these challenging injuries.
