Texas A&M VET Receives NAVC Gives Award
for Treating and Saving Hundreds of Animals During the State's
Largest Fire
ORLANDO,
Fla., April 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The North
American Veterinary Community (NAVC) today announced Texas A&M's Veterinary Emergency Team (VET) as
a 2024 NAVC Gives award recipient for its admirable response to the
historic Smokehouse Creek fire in the Texas Panhandle and continued dedication to
veterinary education. The NAVC Gives award includes a $10,000 contribution in recognition of this
herculean work.
"NAVC Gives recognizes those who are making
a profound difference in the lives of veterinary professionals and
animals," said NAVC CEO Gene
O'Neill
"The Smokehouse Creek fire caused unimaginable injury and pain
to farm and companion animals across the Panhandle," said NAVC CEO
Gene O'Neill. "Texas A&M VET
sprang into action during a historic moment, providing
critical services for affected animals and support for the
community. Their work and commitment capture the spirit and intent
of NAVC Gives to recognize those who are making a profound
difference in the lives of veterinary professionals and
animals."
On Feb. 26, 2024, the Smokehouse
Creek fire set ablaze in the northeastern Texas Panhandle, going on to burn more than 1
million acres of land and become the largest fire in the state's
history. Just two days after the fire began, the Texas A&M VET
was on the ground to help. A team of 36 Texas
A&M faculty, staff and veterinary students deployed
across five counties in the region, providing veterinary care to
hundreds of animals. Over 10 days, the team checked 672 cattle and
performed exams on 271 animals including cattle, horses, goats,
dogs, cats and more. They also provided an invaluable educational
experience for veterinary students during a lengthy emergency
deployment.
"Thanks to the generosity of organizations like NAVC Gives, the
Texas A&M VET is able to respond quickly and assist the animals
and people impacted when disaster strikes," said Dr. Deb Zoran, VET director. "Our donors also
empower us to train the next generation of veterinarians — who are
more likely to serve a community affected by a disaster than
generations before them — in both disaster preparedness and
response. The VET is incredibly thankful for NAVC Gives' support,
which has empowered us in our service and teaching missions."
Texas A&M VET is a group of faculty, staff and students that
responds to natural and human-made disasters by offering veterinary
care for search and rescue teams and resident animals.
Additionally, this team offers unique education experiences for
veterinary students in the field of emergency response and
management. It was officially formed in 2010, at the request of the
Texas Animal Health Commission and the Texas Division of Emergency
Management, with the goal of being prepared for future
disasters.
Created in 2023, NAVC Gives is a board-directed award program
that has been initially funded by a $1
million commitment from the NAVC. Through this program, the
NAVC will recognize and support individuals, groups and
organizations around the world that have made a significant
difference in the lives of veterinary professionals and animals.
Unlike most award programs that have a set timetable for accepting
nominations, NAVC Gives will recognize accomplishments and
notable achievements throughout the year based on the merit and
impact of the application. Multiple awards may be given out each
year and applications may be submitted throughout the year.
NAVC Gives builds upon the NAVC's long-standing commitment to
philanthropic pursuits, which amount to hundreds of thousands of
dollars each year to members of the international veterinary
community through scholarship programs such as the Dr. Earl H.
Rippie Veterinary Nurse Leadership Scholarships, the Michael J. Day
AFSCAN Scholarship, the Colin F. Burrows International Scholar
Program, free education subscriptions and conference registration
and other charitable donations. Learn more about NAVC Gives and
submit nominations at https://navc.com/gives/.
About the NAVC
The North American Veterinary
Community (NAVC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to
supporting and advancing veterinary professionals worldwide. As the
world's leading provider of veterinary continuing education, the
NAVC delivers essential training, tools and resources for
veterinary professionals to stay abreast of advances in animal
medicine and provide the best care for animals everywhere. Through
its commitment to innovation and excellence, the NAVC has developed
a diverse portfolio of products and services, including:
educational events, headlined by VMX (Veterinary Meeting &
Expo), the world's largest, most comprehensive continuing education
conference and launchpad for new products and innovations within
the veterinary industry; VetFolio.com, a robust digital platform
for virtual learning and engagement; NAVC Media, the veterinary
industry's largest and award-winning portfolio of trade
publications; and Embrace, an advocacy arm which unites the
veterinary community and pet lovers. The NAVC was founded in 1982
and is headquartered in Orlando, FL. Since 2017, the NAVC has been
recognized annually as one of the Top Workplaces by the Orlando
Sentinel. To learn more about the NAVC's products and brands, visit
https://navc.com/. To see our schedule of upcoming events, visit
https://navc.com/calendar/.
About Texas A&M's Veterinary
Emergency Team (VET)
The Texas A&M VET is part of the
Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical
Sciences. Formed in 2010 at the request of the Texas Animal Health
Commission and the Texas Division of Emergency Management, the VET
has become the most-sophisticated and most-deployed veterinary
medical emergency team in the U.S.
The Texas A&M VET plays an important role in educating
future Aggie veterinarians who are more likely to serve in a
community affected by a disaster than generations before them. The
team's world-class, first-of-its-kind, two-week clinical rotation
supports hands-on learning opportunities for 150 veterinary
students annually, assists Texas
counties in developing disaster preparedness plans that include
animals, and has successfully helped more than 80 students graduate
with the American Veterinary Medical Association's Veterinary First
Responder Certificate. To learn more about Texas A&M's VET, visit
https://vetmed.tamu.edu/vet/
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SOURCE North American Veterinary Community (NAVC)