OVMA Awards of Excellence

At ceremonies held during the 2009 Oregon Veterinary Conference in Corvallis, the OVMA honored four individuals for their service to the veterinary profession:

2009 Meritorious Service Award: Dr. Scott Hendy

The OVMA's highest honor is the Meritorious Service Award, which is presented to a veterinarian who has generously contributed time and energy for the advancement of the organization and the profession as well as her or his community.

Eleven distinguished members of the OVMA have previously received this recognition, and many others are deserving of the award for their commitment, their dedication, and for their leadership. One such individual is Dr. Scott Hendy of Parkway Animal Hospital in Roseburg. He is an exceptional ambassador for the veterinary profession and the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association.

In 1988, Dr. Hendy served as the 63rd president of the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association. At the age of 36, he was – and remains – the youngest member to have held this office. Dr. Hendy is also active with his local organization, the Southwest Oregon Veterinary Medical Association.

Dr. Hendy’s activities with the OVMA read like a Who’s Who listing for the profession:

  • He has served as a regional director on the OVMA board of directors.
  • He served four years on the OVMA Executive Board, which included the role of president in 1988.
  • He has been a co-chair and/or a member of the OVMA's Continuing Education Committee for more than 23 years.
  • He is one of two OVMA representatives to the Wild West Veterinary Conference, having served in this capacity for 12 years, with two terms as president.

In addition to his volunteerism with organized veterinary medicine, Dr. Hendy has been actively supportive of his local humane shelters, where he has served on their boards of directors. He also regularly arranges educational programs for livestock owners in region, and he participates in 4-H events. He also participates in the Rotary exchange program.

2009 Veterinary Service Award: Dr. Jerry Boggs

The Veterinary Service Award recognizes an individual, group or organization that has promoted the veterinary profession and/or the well-being of animals.

Dr. Boggs of Bush Animal Hospital in Eugene is a past president of the Lane County Veterinary Medical Association and the OVMA, and he has been an outstanding spokesperson for the veterinary profession.

He worked to address the loss of services that had previously come to the Eugene-Springfield area to perform spays for feral cats on a quarterly basis. Dr. Boggs organized a cooperative partnership between the area veterinarians and the Green Hill Humane Society to provide these procedures. In addition, he coordinated with area practices to select a team leader and commit to staffing the clinic with a volunteer veterinarian on Sundays at the new surgery facility at the humane society. The first surgeries were performed in November 2008, and he has commitments for volunteers through the end of 2009.

He has volunteered on numerous occasions to help veterinary organizations, shelters, the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine, and to mentor young veterinarians in companion animal practice. Dr. Boggs has worked with other veterinarians in the community to establish and serve on the Board of Directors of the Springfield-Eugene Emergency Veterinary Hospital which serves the citizens of Eugene and Springfield.

2009 Animal Welfare Award: Dr. Doug McInnis

As president of the OVMA in 2006, and while serving as immediate past president and on the board of the Oregon Animal Health Foundation, Dr. Doug McInnis of West Ridge Animal Clinic in Klamath Falls advocated for the OVMA to develop and distribute materials to the veterinary and shelter communities on animal neglect and abuse.

This culminated in the production of a booklet entitled “The Recognition and Documentation of Animal Abuse,” which was written by Dr. Lila Miller of the ASPCA. The booklet provides veterinarians with specific guidelines for identifying and documenting abuse, and includes an appendix of Oregon’s humane animal laws.

With the leadership of Dr. McInnis, the OVMA also initiated the Animal Care Forum, an educational program that brings together those in the animal control, shelter and veterinary communities to discuss common issues, concerns and goals regarding the stewardship of animals in Oregon. Dr. McInnis has been instrumental in the development of the forum. In October 2008, we hosted our third forum – and with 150 registrants, the daylong program more than doubled attendance from the initial forum held in 2006.

Each forum has included leaders in the state’s animal communities – from veterinarians and technicians to shelter executives, managers and board members to executives with animal control to animal control officers and others. Additionally, all three forums have included an educational program for shelter staff on animal care issues, such as behavior and vaccinations.

2009 President's Award: Dr. Matthew Fricke

Outgoing OVMA president Dr. Scott Loepp honored Dr. Matthew Fricke, an associate veterinarian with McKenzie Animal Hospital in Springfield.

Dr. Fricke is one of two delegates – the other being Dr. Scott Hendy – to the Wild West Veterinary Conference, and he presently is serving as president of the board of directors. But his participation with this conference, one of our two major annual meetings, extends beyond this most recent service.

Since 2003, Dr. Fricke has been the moderator chair of the Wild West Veterinary Conference, ensuring that the speakers are introduced and that their speaking needs are taken care of during the meeting. In addition, he established and has chaired the Complementary and Alternative Medicine track at the WWVC.

Volunteer service with the Wild West Veterinary Conference requires a significant commitment. Aside from various committee assignments, the position calls for attending several board meetings in Reno each year, as well as attendance at – and work during – the annual five-day conference.

Past Award Winners

Centennial Award

1963    Dr. Vic Oliver

Honorary Membership

1952    S.L. Brown, Charles Evans, T. Sims
1954    E.L. Peterson
1972    Walter Leth, James Short
1989    Morrie Craig
1993    Nan Dewey
2000    Kelvin Koong

Award of Merit

1961    Dr. Herb Muth
1966    Dr. E. Derflinger, Dr. Ralph Plamondon
1970    Dr. Gary Bryan
1973    Dr. Dallen Jones
1976    Dr. Ed Wedman
1983    Dr. Linda Blythe, Dr. Daryl Leu
1985    Dr. Elwyn Coon, Dr. Norm Hutton, Dr. Charles Seagraves
1989    Dr. Jack Hardesty, Dr. Fay Rankin, Dr. Ron Schmidtke
1991    Dr. Gordon Cunningham, Dr. Richard Hillmer, Dr. DuWayne Penfold
1995    Dr. Andrew Mach, Dr. Ed Wedman, Dr. Robert Whittaker

Meritorious Service

Presented to a veterinarian who has generously contributed time and energy for the advancement of the profession and community.
1996    Dr. Richard Werner
1997    Dr. Billy Kuhl
1998    Dr. Dick Reid
1999    Dr. Roy Peterson
2000    Dr. Richard Coon
2001    Dr. Don Bailey
2002    Dr. Stan Blinkhorn
2003    Dr. Leo van Dijk
2004    Dr. DuWayne Penfold
2005    Dr. Marty DeWees
2006    Dr. Jerry Boggs
2009    Dr. Scott Hendy

Outstanding Industry Representative

Recognizes an individual who has exhibited outstanding service to the OVMA and the profession.
1996    Terrie Corcoran, Burns Veterinary Supply
1997    Leroy Ostrem, The Butler Company
1998    Rick Casey, Hoechst Roussel Vet
1999    Jim Houts, Summit Medical Equipment
2000    Linda Melton, IDEXX Veterinary Services
2001    Loren Heryford, The Butler Company
2003    Marge Strother, Merial
2004    Bruce Mackey, Hill's Pet Nutrition
2005    John Herkner, Pfizer Animal Health

President's Award

Given at the discretion of the president to an individual who has made an exceptional contribution to the OVMA.
1996    Dr. Martha DeWees, Dr. Scott Hendy
1997    Dr. Jerry Boggs
1998    Dr. Merry Crimi
1999    Mr. Glenn Kolb
2000    Dr. Doug McInnis
2001    Mr. Dave Barrows
2002    Dr. Kurt Schrader
2003    Dr. Steven Brown
2004    Ms. Marcia Keith
2005    Dr. Gordon Cunningham
2006    Spouses and Partners of Veterinarians
2007    Dr. Rich Holdren
2008    Marge Strother, Lilly Companion Pet
2009    Dr. Matthew Fricke

Veterinarian of the Year

Awarded to a veterinarian who has made outstanding contributions to the profession through service to local, state and/or national organizations.
1969    Dr. E.R. Derflinger
1996    Dr. DuWayne Penfold
1997    Dr. Doug Corey
1998    Dr. Don McCoy
1999    Dr. Andrew Clark
2000    Dr. Marty DeWees
2001    Dr. Scott Hendy
2002    Dr. Brad Frank
2003    Dr. Heidi Buehner-McKenzie
2004    Dr. Leon Pielstick
2006    Dr. Paul Jones
2007    Dr. Jon Betts

Animal Welfare Award

Recognizes a veterinarian who has demonstrated outstanding compassion and/or developed programs that have been for the welfare of animals.
1998    Dr. Doug Evans
1999    Dr. Laird Goodman
2000    Dr. Bob Franklin
2002    Dr. Brad Pope
2004    Dr. Ken Fletcher
2009    Dr. Doug McInnis

Veterinary Service Award

Recognizes an individual, group or organization that has promoted the veterinary profession and/or the well being of animals. Emphasis for this award is placed on educating the public, research, or the practice of  veterinary medicine.
1998    Kim Singer, KPTV-12
1999    Feral Cat Coalition
2000    Deborah Wood, The Oregonian
2001    Dr. Barclay Slocum
2002    The Halo Group
2003    Evan Kalik, Cat Adoption Team
2005    Dr. Howard Wagner
2006    Oregon Humane Society
2008    Dr. Matthew Maberry
2009    Dr. Jerry Boggs

Practice/Office Manager of the Year

Recognizes the role of the practice/office manager in clinical practice and salutes an individual who has exhibited exceptional professionalism in leading the practice.
2006    Linda Parisotto
2007    Lee Barg
2008    Debee Brown

Technician/Staff of the Year

Recognizes a veterinary technicians and/or veterinary staff in clinical practice who has risen above and beyond the expected responsibilities of the practice to provide outstanding client and patient service, with community service also considered.   
2006    Leah Kennon CVT
2007    Gillian Cook CVT
2008    Kathy Charpilloz