Dear Colleagues,

It is with great pride and admiration that I stand before you today to honor a truly remarkable individual with the Award of Excellence. For those of us who have had the privilege of working alongside this person, we know that they are a powerhouse who thrives on staying busy, and what a force they have been in this College!

Since becoming a Diplomate of the College, they have dedicated themselves to advance the specialty by guiding and shaping the College’s future. Their contributions have been vast, serving on the Exam Committee from 2006 to 2008 and then stepping up as its Chair from 2008 to 2010. Their expertise and leadership didn’t stop there—they have been an active member of the Website Committee since 2002 and served on the Research Funding Committee from 2014 to 2019.

But their dedication extends beyond committees and titles. They have been instrumental in shaping educational resources as the Online Library Committee Chair since 2015, and their leadership continues as the Veterinary Dermatology journal liaison since 2019. Their invaluable insights led them to serve on the Board of Directors from 2014 to 2022, and now, they remain a guiding force as an Advisory Board member. Additionally, they lend their expertise as an Editorial Board Member for Veterinary Dermatology and act as a liaison for Companions-in-Crisis.

Despite this extensive list of accomplishments, this person somehow still finds time to enjoy the finer things in life. They appreciate a good heavy pour of chardonnay (because Sauvignon Blanc smells like cat pee), devour carrot cake, adore dogs, and never miss an opportunity to travel and take trips with friends. And let’s not forget their fascination with octopuses. Why? Maybe we can ask this person.

Their passion, boundless energy, love for SOPs, and desire for formatting have been the horsepower of this College for over a decade and continues to this day. Tonight, we celebrate not just their achievements but the extraordinary person that they are.

Please join me in congratulating this outstanding individual on this well-deserved Award of Excellence!

Dr. Emily Rothstein

As presented by Adam Patterson, DVM, DACVD®