(February 24, 2009 Stillwater, OK) – Dr. John Kirkpatrick was named the 2009 Oklahoma Veterinarian of the Year by the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) at its 94th Annual Convention and Expo held recently in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Kirkpatrick earned his DVM degree at Oklahoma State University in 1965. Following graduation he joined Drs. Charles Love and Louis Nightengale in their private mixed animal practice in Ardmore, Okla. In 1972, he started a private mixed animal veterinary practice in Shattuck, Okla. In 1992, he joined OSU’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences where he held a number of faculty positions. In 1998, Kirkpatrick was named director of the center’s Boren Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, a position he held until retiring in 2005.

“I was very surprised. Dr. Alvin Baumwart’s remarks stating that this person had worked in private practice and in academia, which could have been a number of colleagues I know,” smiles Kirkpatrick. “But when he said, ‘to present this award tonight, we have somebody from Wisconsin, Mr. David Stearns,’ I knew it was me.”

Kirkpatrick hired Stearns when Stearns graduated from the Veterinary Technician Program at Colby Community College, Colby, Kan., in 1978.

“David worked with us for about 12 years and was a very important member of our team.

“Knowing there are many colleagues out there who are very qualified to have this honor bestowed upon them makes this (Oklahoma Veterinarian of the Year) very special for me. I truly feel honored,” says Kirkpatrick.

Kirkpatrick resides in Stillwater with his wife, Donna, of 48 years. He is still active in veterinary medicine consulting and continues to assist the Western Veterinary Conference in administering clinical proficiency examinations several times a year in Las Vegas, Nev.

Of the 28 Oklahoma Veterinarian of the Year awards given by the OVMA since inception of the award, 19 have been graduates of the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine.

The Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences is one of 28 veterinary colleges in the United States and is fully accredited by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association. The center’s Boren Veterinary Medial Teaching Hospital is open to the public and provides routine and specialized care for small and large animals. It also offers 24 hour emergency care and is certified by the American Animal Hospital Association. For more information, visit www.cvhs.okstate.edu or call (405) 744-7000.

###