Pet Exchange Corner

In one of his final acts as president of the American Veterinary medical association (AVMA), Dr. Jose Arce provided three AVMA President’s awards to those who have made a positive effect on health, veterinary organizations as well as the profession.

This year’s recipients are Phil Hinkle, Dr. Martha Littlefield as well as Dr. James Brett.

Phil Hinkle

Phil Hinkle
Dr. Arce chosen Phil Hinkle, former executive director of the Florida Veterinary medical association (FVMA) for an AVMA President’s award for his leadership, commitment as well as advocacy in behalf of the veterinary profession, the FVMA as well as the AVMA.

“Phil was a visionary leader, who continues to be admired by numerous in our profession, including veterinarians, university of Florida faculty as well as students, industry, as well as AVMA volunteers as well as staff,” stated Dr. Arce. “He was a tireless advocate of Florida’s veterinary neighborhood as well as his enthusiasm served as an motivation to numerous past as well as present veterinary leaders.”

Hinkle served the FVMA for 34 years, including 13 years as executive director, where he oversaw a doubling of FVMA membership. Under Hinkle, the FVMA repositioned its grassroots outreach to a veterinary neighborhood that serves diverse professionals, numerous with worldwide backgrounds. A proponent of protecting veterinary experts at the legislative level, Hinkle was accountable for numerous securities given to those across the veterinary field in Florida. He partnered with the AVMA to enhance the connections between FVMA members as well as Florida’s members of Congress concerning legislative issues. Hinkle put emphasis on the human aspect of veterinary medicine, making it a concern to link with the people who spend their careers taking care of other people as well as their animals. He died in 2020 at the age of 58. His wife, Janet Fricke-Hinkle, accepted the award on his behalf.

Dr. Martha Littlefield

Dr. Martha Littlefield 
Dr. Arce provided a 2022 AVMA President’s award to Dr. Martha Littlefield, now-retired professor at the Louisiana specify university institution of Veterinary Medicine, for the guidance, the high requirements she set as well as the encouragement she provided him while he was a trainee at the school.

“The professionalism, commitment as well as servant leadership she has offered to veterinary medicine, the Louisiana specify university institution of Veterinary medicine as well as the specify of Louisiana have been an motivation to many,” stated Dr. Arce. “Her mentorship has been instrumental in the advancement of numerous veterinarians as well as leaders of our profession.”

Dr. Littlefield (Louisiana specify ’82) has practiced little animal medicine in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; served as Louisiana assistant specify veterinarian; as well as taught at Louisiana specify university institution of Veterinary Medicine, from which she retired in 2019 as a medical partner professor of anatomy. She teaches trainees remotely at St. Matthew’s university institution of Veterinary medicine in the Cayman Islands as well as continues to instruct acupuncture anatomy to fourth-year veterinary trainees at Louisiana State. In addition, Dr. Littlefield has served on various councils as well as committees of local, state, as well as national veterinary organizations. In 1986, she recognized the Louisiana specify animal reaction Team, which offers catastrophe training, response, as well as shelters to state, parish as well as regional areas.

Dr. James Brett

Dr. James Brett’s
“His field, mentor as well as research study experiences have made him a respected professional in food animal medicine as well as a strong advocate in support of food animal veterinarians, resulting in a stronger as well as much more inclusive AVMA,” stated Dr. Arce. “He has influenced numerous present as well as future veterinarians, as well as is many deserving of this award.”

Dr. Brett spent almost 25 years in personal method in Montezuma, Georgia, as well as for over 20 years was the owner of a rural mixed animal practice, with a main focus on big animal ambulatory service as well as food animal production medicine. He is a past president of the Georgia Veterinary medical Association, served on the Georgia specify Board of Veterinary medicine as well as was the Georgia alternating delegate in the AVMA home of Delegates. In 2007, he returned to his alma mater of Mississippi specify university to serve as a medical professor. Dr. Brett served as the Mississippi alternating or delegate to the AVMA home of Delegates as well as was a member of the Mississippi Veterinary medical Association’s executive board.

Source: AVMA press release