Veterinary Medicine's Whittier, alumni honored during Virginia Veterinary Medical Association conference
One faculty member and two alumni from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech were honored by the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association during the annual Virginia Veterinary Conference held recently at The Hotel Roanoke in Roanoke, Va.
Dr. W. Dee Whittier, of Blacksburg, Va., a professor in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences and extension beef cattle specialist, was honored with a Virginia Veterinary Medical Association Veterinary Service Award. Whittier, who has served at the college for the past 28 years, earned his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the University of California at Davis in 1979 and a master’s of science degree from Virginia Tech in 1983. Whittier was also on the founding committee of the Virginia Academy for Food Animal Practice.
In presenting the award, the association’s President-elect Dr. Bill Tyrrell, a 1992 graduate of the veterinary college, said Whittier had provided “inspiration and guidance to many of our graduates who have followed in his large footsteps in caring for our commonwealth’s food animals.”
Dr. Tom Massie, of Washington, Va., a member of the veterinary college’s class of 1995, was honored with the “Mentor of the Year” award. “Mentors like Tom Massie instill the confidence and enthusiasm in students that is necessary to ensure progressive interest in the field of veterinary medicine,” wrote Class of 2011 student Nathaniel Burke in a letter of nomination. “He is truly an asset to the profession.” Massie was also installed as the president of the association during the conference and is the owner of Rose Hill Veterinary Practice.
Dr. Travis Taylor, of Warrenton, Va., a member of the veterinary college’s class of 2003, was presented the “Recent Graduate Leadership Award.” Taylor is a small animal clinician and hospital director at Centerville Animal Hospital.
Read more about Whittier:
- University Spotlight on Impact: “Food Animal Field Services veterinarians provide on-site care”
