Three Iowa State University veterinarians are the recipients of the 2009 Stange Award for Meritorious Service in Veterinary Medicine. The award is presented annually and recognizes distinguished alumni for outstanding professional achievements. It is the highest honor given to alumni of Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. The award was presented during special ceremonies held by the university and the college on Oct. 16.
Dr. Thomas Johnson
Dr. Johnson is the executive director of the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association. Since becoming the director in 2002, Johnson has transformed the IVMA into a proactive association that is the pride of its members and the envy of other state veterinary associations. Membership in the association has increased. Continuing education for Iowa veterinarians has been enhanced and improved. And the most transformed area has been in the political action arena. Under Dr. Johnson’s leadership and direction, the IVMA has significantly influenced the creation of Iowa legislation that improves both animal and human health.
Prior to serving as the executive director, Dr. Johnson owned and operated a small animal clinic in his hometown of Spencer, Iowa. He gained a reputation for practicing high-quality medicine and surgery, and 15 percent of his business was from neighboring practices that referred cases to him. During his years in practice, Dr. Johnson was a guest lecturer and instructor at Northwest Community College in Sheldon, Iowa, and Spencer School of Business in Spencer. Dr. Johnson was also an assistant professor at Colorado State University from 1974 to 1976 and an instructor/resident at Washington State University from 1972 to 1974. He received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Iowa State University in 1971.
Dr. Johnson is the recipient of several awards, including the 1999 Clay County 4-H’s volunteer of the Year award, 2004 President’s Award by the IVMA, the 2005 William P. Switzer Award by Iowa State’s College of Veterinary Medicine, the 2005 Outstanding Service Award by the Iowa State Veterinary Medical Alumni Association, and the 2009 Impact Award by the ISU Alumni Association.
Dr. Michael Langford
Dr. Langford is the Research Operation Director for the Department of Homeland Security’s National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasure Center (NBACC) in Frederick, Md. Long recognized as one of the leading authorities in biodefense research, he spent 29 years of his 32-year career devoted to the development of vaccines and therapeutics for bioterrorism agents and infectious diseases.
During the past 10 years Dr. Langford has held several senior leadership positions in the biodefense industry: technical director and chief scientific officer for DynPort Vaccine Company, president of Emergent Product Development Gaithersburg, LLC, and now research operations director for Battelle National Biodefense Institute, which is contracted to operate the NBACC for the Department of Homeland Security. Prior to this, Dr. Langford served 22 years in the U. S. Army, retiring with the rank of colonel with his final assignment at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research as the Director of Pathology.
He is a member of the American Society of Microbiology, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and the Society of Toxicological Pathologists.
Dr. Langford obtained his board certification from the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 1983, received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1977, earned his Ph.D. in tropical medicine, virology from the University of Hawaii in 1990, and graduated from the U.S. Army War College in 1996. During his military career he was the recipient of numerous awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Overseas Service Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters.
Dr. Allen Y. Miyahara
As the American Veterinary Medical Association’s ambassador for the Pacific Rim, Dr. Miyahara has devoted most of his career to creating a stronger international veterinary profession. His efforts stem from his belief that a stronger, united profession will be more successful at meeting current and future challenges, especially in the areas of zoonotic diseases and bioterrorist threats. His tireless commitment resulted in more than 750 attendees from the Pacific Rim at the 2006 AVMA convention held in Honolulu.
Dr. Miyahara has been an advocate and promoter of veterinary continuing education, organizing one of the earliest programs about the human-animal bond in 1980. He has enhanced continuing education for veterinarians nationally, particularly in his home state of Hawaii. For decades he has also helped improve continuing education in Pacific Rim countries, starting in Japan in the 1970s.
Active in organized veterinary medicine, Dr. Miyahara served as the AVMA vice president (1995-1997) and represented Hawaii in the AVMA House of Delegates from 1970 to 1995. He was the director of the Pacific Rim for the Western Veterinary Conference from 2002 to 2005.
Dr. Miyahara was recognized for his efforts in international veterinary medicine by the AVMA in 2004 with the President’s Award and in 2006 when he was the recipient of the AVMA Award. In 1990 he received the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association Service Award where he has actively served since 1958.
Dr. Miyahara received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (1954) and his M.S. in Veterinary Pathology (1960) from Iowa State University. He and his wife, Sue, reside in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The Stange Award was established in 1970 and is named for Dr. Charles H. Stange, who was dean of the college from 1906 to 1936.