Contact:          Tania Banak, University Relations Specialist
608/263-6716, banakt@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu
Date issued:    May 4, 2009

MADISON - Teaching and research skills were the main criteria for multiple awards bestowed on University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine faculty and staff during the school's annual Awards Celebration on Saturday May 2, 2009.

Dr. John Svaren, associate professor of veterinary biochemistry in the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine's Department of Comparative Biosciences, received the Pfizer Animal Health Research Excellence Award.  This award is presented to further foster innovative research by recognizing a faculty member for outstanding research efforts and productivity.  Dr. Svaren studies gene expression by early growth response transcriptional activators as they apply to myelination disorders of the central nervous system.

Dr. Lauren Trepanier, associate professor of internal medicine in the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine's Department of Medical Sciences, received the Carl Norden-Pfizer Distinguished Teacher Award.  She was selected based on nominations from the four classes of veterinary medical students and departments in the School based on strength of character, leadership and teaching ability in the DVM curriculum.  Dr. Trepanier teaches internal medicine to fourth-year veterinary medical students and is Director of the school's Clinician Scientist Training Programs.

Dr. Mary Behan, a professor of veterinary neuroanatomy and neurophysiology in the school's Department of Comparative Biosciences, received the Walter F. Renk Distinguished Professor Award.  This award is given to the faculty member who is voted by faculty colleagues to have made outstanding contributions to the school's mission and academic programs, having demonstrated exemplary performance within the school.

Dr. Kim Lord Plummer, a lecturer in anatomy in the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine's Department of Comparative Biosciences, was chosen as SCAVMA (Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association) Instructor of the Year.  Classes nominate the instructor they feel exhibits distinguished teaching and exemplary contributions to the students of the School.  Dr. Plummer teaches students about gross anatomy and neuroscience.

Tina Wahl, a certified veterinary technician (CVT) formerly in the UW-Madison Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital's large animal service, received the Veterinary Technician of the Year Award.  Students vote on the veterinary technician who demonstrates distinguished teaching and exemplary contributions to the students in the School.

Dr. Jennifer Ginn, resident in small animal internal medicine at the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine's Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, received this year's Bayer Small Animal Resident of the Year Award.  This is awarded to the small animal resident who is elected, by a vote of the fourth-year class, as outstanding in their contribution of time and expertise as a teacher.

Dr. Laura Hardefeldt, resident in large animal internal medicine at the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine's Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, received the Bayer Large Animal Resident of the Year Award.  The recipient is elected by vote of the fourth-year class based on outstanding contribution of time and expertise as a teacher.