E. P. Pope Memorial Award

Abstract

The E. P. Pope Memorial Award is presented in memory of Dr. Edward P. Pope who was one of the founders of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) and who served with distinction as its Secretary-Treasurer from 1959 to 1972. The award was established in his honor in 1974. The Pope Award is the highest award given by the Association and is presented to an individual who has made noteworthy and significant contributions to the Association in regard to implementing and advancing the recognition of the specialty of veterinary diagnostic laboratory medicine. The 2006 Pope Memorial Award was presented to Dr. David H. Zeman at the 49 annual meeting of the AAVLD in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dr. Zeman received a BS degree in Animal Science from North Dakota State University, a DVM degree from Oklahoma State University, and a PhD in Pathology from Louisiana State University. Dr. Zeman is currently Professor and Head of the Veterinary Science Department, and Director of the Animal Disease Research & Diagnostic Laboratory (ADRDL) at South Dakota State University, Brookings. Prior to his administrative appointments in 1997, he served as a diagnostic pathologist in the laboratory since his arrival there in 1986 and is still an active diagnostician. He is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. He has authored/coauthored 35 refereed journal publications, 97 published abstracts, three book chapters, and has made dozens of invited presentations across the country. His professional interests include diagnostic pathology, infectious diseases of livestock and laboratory administration. He has served the AAVLD in many capacities including: Vice President, President Elect, the 2000 annual meeting Program Chair, President in 2001, Past President, Pathology Committee Chair, Awards Committee Chair, Government Relations Committee, Foundation Committee, and the JVDI Editorial Board. He joined the AAVLD Accreditation Committee in 2002 and has conducted 16 laboratory accreditation site visits to date. He currently chairs the Strategic Planning Committee. The Executive Board faced some major decisions while he served as an officer. He worked diligently alongside other AAVLD leaders to finalize the first Memorandum of Understanding with USDA NVSL which he signed on behalf of the organization in 2001. The MOU stated that AAVLD and NVSL would jointly work to establish a national strategy to provide quality diagnostic services for the nation. One of the first action items from that MOU was the establishment of the concept for a National Animal Health Laboratory Network. Objectives of the proposed network were established and a campaign was launched in Washington, DC for funding. Later, those objectives were fully adopted by the first NAHLN Steering Committee. Also during those years, the Executive Board worked closely with the Accreditation Committee as they evaluated options for transforming our accreditation standard into one that would be internationally recognized. The decision was made to keep the accreditation process in the organization, rather than outsourcing it to a third party, and to transform our accreditation standard to match the requirements of the OIE guide. Dr. Zeman serves veterinary diagnostic medicine through other channels as well including service on the board of directors of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges and as chairman of the Emerging Disease Committee of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture. He was recently appointed to the NAHLN Steering Committee. He was South Dakota Veterinarian of the Year in 2003. Dr. Zeman has been married to Colleen for 31 years and they have two adult children, Erik and Angela. In his spare time he enjoys gardening, tennis, camping, hiking and traveling. A word from Dr. Zeman Fellow Diagnosticians and Friends, I wish to thank you all for recently honoring me with the E. P. Pope Memorial award for contributions to the organization and veterinary diagnostic medicine. It has been most rewarding to work together over the years and accomplish some things for our discipline. The AAVLD is truly an outstanding organization, in large part due to the strong spirit of volunteerism, professionalism and dedication found throughout our membership. Any successes for diagnostic veterinary medicine that I have shared in were built upon the hard work of those that came before me and continued by many others afterwards. Our organization is in sound hands, thanks to all of you. Thank you so much again for this honor. David H. Zeman J Vet Diagn Invest 19:1 (2007)