Winter/Spring 2011 Aesculapian magazine - University of Georgia ...

All photos by Wingate Downs Photography © 2010.
Dr. Ryland Edwards III
(DVM ’90) was selected
as a Distinguished Alumnus.
Dr. Edwards is a
staff surgeon in private
practice at Fairfield
Equine Associates in Newtown,
Conn. He serves
on the board of the Morrie
Waud Equine Clinic at the
University of Wisconsin-
Madison.
Dr. Nina Marano (DVM
’84) was chosen as a
Distinguished Alumna.
Dr. Marano is considered
one of the world’s top
epidemiologists. She
heads the Quarantine and
Border Health Services
Branch for the Centers
for Disease Control and
Prevention’s National
Center for Preparedness,
Detection, and Control of
Infectious Diseases.
Our Distinguished Alumni
Dr. George McCommon
(DVM ’90) was selected as
a Distinguished Alumnus.
Dr. McCommon is the city
veterinarian for Macon,
Ga., serves as veterinary
adviser to the North
Central Georgia Public
Health Department, and is
an associate professor at
Fort Valley State University,
where he teaches undergraduate
classes in preventative
medicine, animal
care and all aspects of the
veterinary profession.
Dr. Michael J. Topper
(DVM ’80) was chosen as
a Distinguished Alumnus.
Dr. Topper is a boardcertified
pathologist, and
serves as the director
for clinical pathology and
immunology for Merck
& Co. He is retired from
22 years of service in
the U.S. Army Veterinary
Corps, and is the current
president of the Veterinary
Alumni Association.
Dr. Jeanine Peters-
Kennedy (DVM ’00) was
selected for the Young
Achiever Award. Dr.
Peters-Kennedy is doubleboarded
in veterinary pathology
and dermatology.
She currently serves as an
assistant professor in the
department of biomedical
sciences at Cornell University
College of Veterinary
Medicine. Her main interest
is dermatopathology.
Five alumni were honored in 2010 as being distinguished graduates from the College.
All were nominated by their peers, and chosen because of their contributions in one or more of the following areas:
• Animal and human health related public service;
• Professional service;
• Involvement in veterinary educational research and/or service;
• Contributions to the local community, state or nation;
• Involvement in veterinary associations at the local, state or national level;
• Contribution to the College’s Alumni Association.
The awards were presented at the 47th Annual Veterinary Conference & Alumni Weekend, on March 27, 2010.
Gov. Sonny Perdue receives
Dr. Fred C. Davison Award
Gov. Sonny Perdue (DVM ’71) received the 2010 Dr. Fred C. Davison Award for
Distinguished Service. The award was presented to the governor on March 25 by Drs.
Doris Miller (DVM ’76) and Larry Corry (DVM ’66).
Dr. Perdue received the award in recognition of his continuous exemplary public service
and leadership to his community, church, fraternity, as well as to the entire state.
Before being elected governor in 2002, Dr. Perdue had served as a captain in the U.S.
Air Force, was a successful small business owner, was a respected leader in his church and
community, and had served in the Georgia State Senate for 11 years.
The Dr. Fred C. Davison Award was established in 1986 by the Eta Chapter of the
Omega Tau Sigma Veterinary Fraternity in recognition of Dr. Davison’s many contributions
to the University of Georgia and the veterinary profession. Dr. Davison was the first
recipient of the award, which recognizes OTS alumni for their sustained public service
and leadership role in their community, the University, and the fraternity.
Dr. Davison was a 1952 graduate of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary
Medicine. He later served as: Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine; as Vice Chancellor
of the University System of Georgia; as President of the University of Georgia from
1967 to 1986; and as chief executive officer and vice chairman of the National Science
Center Foundation. He was also a member of Eta Chapter of Omega Tau Sigma.
Gov. Sonny Perdue (DVM ’71) receives the
2010 Dr. Fred C. Davison Award for Distinguished
Service. The award was presented
by Dr. Doris Miller (DVM ’76) and Dr. Larry
Corry (DVM ’66; not pictured).
28 The University of Georgia • College of Veterinary Medicine