The Robert W. Kirk Award for Professional Excellence provides an avenue for recognition of outstanding achievements and dedicated service to the veterinary profession by ACVIM Diplomates. Recipients have outstanding careers in veterinary medicine with national and international recognition for their contributions and service in such activities as clinical medical practice, instruction, research and/or public service. Nominations are accepted annually.
Dr. Mark Kittleson is currently a professor emeritus (University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine) and working at Veterinary Information Network. During his career he paved the way in the understanding of myocardial function in veterinary cardiology. From his earliest work, to his co-discovery, with Paul Pion, of the critical role of taurine in myocardial disease in cats, and later dogs, Mark has spent much of his career examining how the heart contracts and relaxes. His fundamental work with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats, maintaining and studying a colony of Maine Coon cats that led to the discovery of the first genetic mutations in cardiac disease in dogs and cats, showed his resolute dedication to the field of cardiology. |
Dr. I.G. Joe Mayhew received the award virtually during the 2021 ACVIM Forum.
Dr. David Twedt received the award virtually during the 2020 Forum On Demand.
Dr. Brad Smith received the award in Phoenix,
Arizona.
Dr. Mark Peterson received the award in Seattle, Washington.
Dr. Carolyn Henry received the award in National Harbour, Maryland.
Dr. Sharon Center received the award in Denver, Colorado.
Dr. Tom Divers received the award in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Dr. Michael Lappin of Colorado State University received the award in Nashville, Tennessee.