Meet the 2022 FVMA Annual Awards honorees
FVMA service awards honor veterinarians, team members and citizens in the state of Florida who have made outstanding contributions to the association, veterinary medicine, animal health and the human-animal bond. Typically awarded at the FVMA Annual Conference each spring, nominations normally open in the fall the year prior.
Pet Hall of Fame
Each year the FVMA selects a Pet Hall of Fame inductee to honor the outstanding contributions animal companions make to human lives.
Bella Bray (Owner: Teresa Bray)
Bella Bray has served as a therapy dog in several different capacities and in several different programs over the last 10+ years.
She has helped countless children as they face the challenge of the loss of a parent or loved one. For almost a decade, children have benefitted by Bella’s presence as they learn coping mechanisms to deal with their grief. Whether with Camp Braveheart, Reading Pals, Parker Street Ministries or Chapter Health’s Hospice House, Bella’s efforts throughout Florida have made a substantial impact in the lives of people.
Citizen of the Year
The Citizen of the Year Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the advancement of animal well-being and veterinary medicine in Florida.
Cameron Moore
Cameron Moore leads the consultation program at the University of Florida’s Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program, its related VEM5890 consultations in shelter animal medicine clerkship for veterinary students and their shelter consultation mentorship for professional continuing education program working professionals.
Cameron has been unrelenting in her pursuit to teach humane organizations how to move animals into foster and forever homes more efficiently.
Team Member of the Year
The Team Member of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding veterinary care team member.
Katy Young
Katy was hired by the Veterinary Clinic of Okaloosa in February of 2015 as the office manager after an emergency crisis developed within the company, and was noted for her trustworthiness, competence, and work ethic. Katy oversaw the establishment of a second emergency clinic location, staffing and operation amid the challenges of the COVID pandemic.
CVT of the Year
The CVT of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding technician for their tremendous teamwork in the veterinary field.
Angela Osborn
Angela works hard behind the scenes and ensures everyone else is getting recognition for their efforts. The first on the spot to help guide, teach or hear others out in times of need, it is Angela’s dedication to her peers that makes her so commendable. Angela recently underwent a nutritional counselor program so she could tackle conversations on diet and what to feed patients with her practice’s clients.
Gold Star Awards
Gold Star Awards are presented to FVMA members who have contributed much of their time and energy to our association and/or their respective local associations for the advancement of veterinary medicine.
Dr. Anna Champagne
Dr. Champagne has trained and mentored more than 45 Lap of Love veterinarians, who provide in-home hospice and euthanasia services across the country. She has also trained more than 20 veterinary students in the hospital’s externship program and presented a lecture on delivering pentobarbital in alternative routes in front of families at the 2021 IAAHPC Conference.
Dr. Trisha Lynn Doswell
Dr. Doswell participated in the FVMA’s inaugural Power of 10 and is part of veterinary medicine’s promising future. While practicing in Marathon, she was lead of the hospital’s oncology cases. She now resides in Melbourne Beach.
Dr. Daniel Jones
Dr. Jones is a veteran leader in the veterinary industry, with over a decade of experience serving as PSIvet’s director of operations and business development and in various leadership roles with Banfield Pet Hospital.
Dr. Stephanie D Jones
Dr. Stephanie Jones is co-owner of the Animal Hospital of Ft. Lauderdale. Her passion for surgery, innovative medicine, and optimal patient care allowed for the Animal Hospital of Fort Lauderdale to be one of few hospitals in South Florida to offer stem cell therapy. In addition to being a practice co-owner and veterinarian, Dr. Jones also serves as president of the Broward County Veterinary Medical Association.
In 2019, Dr. Jones became the CEO and founder of Pets Help the Heart Heal, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the social, physical and emotional health of youth through the human-animal bond.
Dr. Barbara Lewis
Dr. Barbara Lewis was elected in 2020 as the District 7 representative on the FVMA Executive Board. She serves the Charlotte Veterinary Medical Association, Southwest Veterinary Medical Association, Caloosa Veterinary Medical Society and Manatee Veterinary Medical Society.
Dr. Sharon MacIvor
Dr. MacIvor is the current president of the SFVMA. She serves on the host committee for the Humane Society, is currently a board member of the Miami Zoological Society and has started numerous animal hospitals in South Florida.
Dr. Hillary Maedel
Dr. Maedel currently serves as president of the Pinellas County Veterinary Medical Association and on
the executive board of the Pinellas Animal Foundation. She excels at dermatology, internal medicine
and dentistry, though she is passionate about all aspects of preventative care and family medicine.
Dr. Julie Moodoyan
Dr. Moodoyan has just been named the FVMA’s District 1 representative. Dr. Moodoyan has been involved in the FVMA’s advocacy efforts and has been involved in veterinary medicine from a young age, as she graduated from both Florida State University and the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Lynda Perez
Dr. Perez is a noted trainer of new veterinarians at Banfield Animal Hospital. She is an exceptional teacher, as trainer of new veterinarians joining her hospital’s staff. She remains updated on the latest veterinary treatments, techniques, and protocols in small animal medicine and is greatly admired by her peers.
Dr. Sherry Heather Rowe
Dr. Rowe operates Green Cove Animal Hospital in Green Cove Springs, Fla. with her husband after caring for animals in the Florida panhandle for seven years. She has been an active member of the FVMA in the Green Cove area in the past four years and has helped local rescue organizations as well as helping out at local schools.
Dr. Heidi Ward
Dr. Ward has a gift as a diagnostician in complicated and difficult cases. She goes above and beyond in caring for her patients. She coordinates, organizes and funds continuing education programs for local veterinarians at no cost to them, and serves also as an active member of the South West Veterinary Medical Association.
Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Service Award recognizes a member who has made exceptional contributions toward the advancement of veterinary medicine.
Dr. Amy Stone
Amy Stone has been critical to the Alachua County VMA’s operation as its treasurer. An FVMA member since graduation from Veterinary School, she has encouraged multiple colleagues to become active in their local and state associations. A frequently awarded professional and educator, she is a well-respected and distinguished Clinical Professor in the Primary Care and Dentistry Service at the University of Florida Small Animal Hospital. Her dedication to the profession through teaching and research is unmatched.
She has earned the Pfizer Distinguished Teacher Award, the 2009 University of Florida Superior Accomplishment Award, the 2009 University of Florida Teacher of the Year Award, the FVMA Gold Star Award in 2007 and 2004, and many more awards across her storied career.
Dr. Richard Williams
Dr. Williams is the Alternate Delegate to the AVMA on the FVMA Executive Board. He previously served on the board as District 2 Northeast Representative and FVMA Treasurer. He is Chair of the FVMA Legislative Committee.
He also has served as Jacksonville Veterinary Medical Society treasurer, continuing education chairman and president.
Operating Hidden Hills Animal Hospital in Jacksonville, he was named Veterinarian of the Year in 1991. He was selected by the FVMA to receive the Gold Star Award in 2003 and 2006, and Veterinarian of the Year Award in 2010.
Veterinarian of the Year
The Veterinarian of the Year Award recognizes a distinguished, unselfish and dedicated FVMA member, who goes above and beyond for the association and the veterinary profession.
Dr. Dana Zimmel
Dr. Zimmel was appointed Dean of the UF College of Veterinary Medicine in June 2021, after having served as interim dean since December 2019.
She previously was lead administrator of the UF Veterinary Hospitals, serving as associate dean for clinical services since 2015, and before that, for five years as chief of staff and chief medical officer for the clinical enterprise. Under her leadership, hospital caseload grew from 20,542 patients in fiscal year 2011 to 41,811 patients seen in fiscal year 2019, with another 6,578 animals treated at the UF Pet Emergency Treatment Services clinic in Ocala. In 2012, Dr. Zimmel spearheaded the effort to create UF PETS, which has evolved as a hugely successful collaboration with Marion County-area veterinarians. The UF Small Animal Hospital gained accreditation through the American Animal Hospital Association in 2015, under Dr. Zimmel’s leadership, and is now a Level 1-certified facility as designated by the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Open to senior active or retired FVMA members, the FVMA Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to those who have made outstanding contributions to our association and to the advancement of veterinary medicine over at least 30 years of membership.
Jim Kanzler
Jim Kanzler is a native Floridian who, after serving 4 years in the Navy, received his DVM from Auburn University. He then returned to his hometown where he has practiced ever since. He is currently semi-retired, after passing down his business – DeSoto Animal Clinic – to his son, Alex, and daughter-in-law, Ashley, who are also veterinarians.
Dr. Kanzler has been involved with UFCVM offering input as the college has expanded over the years. He has been on the Auburn CVM Alumni Advisory Council since 2013 and was an integral part of developing the Dean’s Circle of Excellence. Dr. Kanzler also served on the Executive Board and as President of the FVMA.
President’s Award
The FVMA Executive Board president selects an individual or group that has performed at a special level to move veterinary medicine forward.
Dr. Scott Richardson
Dr. Scott Richardson, worked tirelessly to advocate for the FVMA’s position during the last two legislative sessions in Tallahassee. Not only did this require a nonstop year of reconnaissance of legislative bills and legislative interactions, but also navigating the waters of explaining to the most engaged and aggressive veterinarian advocates how to tread lightly in areas where their enthusiasm might mistakenly derail ongoing efforts. When other FVMA board members were unable to testify in Tallahassee at legislative committee meetings, Scott took time away from his family and practice to stand and represent organized veterinary medicine with dignity and eloquence. His efforts contributed greatly to defeating the poorly written veterinary telehealth bills two years in a row.