Contacts: Tracy Ann Raef, College of Veterinary Medicine, (515) 294-4602
October 29, 2012
Four alumni of the College of Veterinary Medicine were honored this weekend, as part of the college’s Homecoming activities. Recipients of the Stange Award for Meritorious Service and the Switzer Award in Veterinary Medicine were recognized at an all-college breakfast at the Gateway Hotel, and later at the university awards ceremony at Scheman Building.
Stange Award for Meritorious Service
The award is presented annually and recognizes distinguished alumni for outstanding professional achievements. It is the highest honor given to alumni of Iowa State’s College of Veterinary Medicine. The 2012 recipients are Drs. Bruce Heath (’62), Arthur Lage (’67), and Steven Leary (’71).
Dr. Robert Bruce Heath
Ft. Collins, Colo.
An early pioneer in the field of veterinary anesthesiology, Dr. Bruce Heath developed an outstanding reputation as a clinician, teacher, and scholar. During his career, Dr. Heath advanced the knowledge of veterinary anesthesiology in animals, ranging from large and small animals to marine mammals.
Dr. Heath’s fieldwork on wild and captive marine mammals in the North Pacific Ocean and in South America has made significant contributions to the conservation of several species. When Steller sea lions were added to the endangered species list in the mid- 1990s, it became necessary to handle these large mammals in the field. Dr. Heath developed a field anesthesia capability (equipment and techniques) that gave researchers the ability to handle up to 2,000-pound sea lions over long periods of time. This key contribution led to a rapid and essential expansion of the knowledge of the sea lions when their populations were plummeting. Dr. Heath himself has anesthetized over 6,000 sea lions in the Pacific Rim for research and conservation purposes.
Dr. Heath was a founding fellow of the College of Veterinary Anesthesiology. While at The Ohio State University, he built the second-largest animal anesthesia machine to be used in the United States. At Colorado State University, he was the first to evaluate safe positioning of and appropriate padding for large animal patients requiring prolonged anesthesia.
His ability to convey difficult concepts, his depth of knowledge, and his thoroughness in developing an anesthetic plan for a patient were hallmarks of his teaching and research career.
Dr. Arthur Lage
Boston, Mass.
Dr. Arthur Lage has led a distinguished career that has advanced public health, veterinary medicine, and human medicine.
After successfully building one of the largest private specialty practices on the Atlantic Coast, Dr. Lage joined the faculty at Harvard University, where today he is director of the Harvard Center for Comparative Medicine. One of his accomplishments at Harvard has been the implementation of the One Medicine approach at the Harvard Medical School’s Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery, which he served as director for 10 years. At the center, veterinarians, physicians, and other scientists work together to share their expertise. With this approach the group has been able to adapt devices and techniques for a variety of surgical applications, especially in the area of pediatric medicine.
Within the field of veterinary medicine, Dr. Lage is an international expert in renal physiology. A board-certified veterinary internist, Dr. Lage is a past president and chairman of the board of regents of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM). He was instrumental in establishing the Veterinary Medical Forum, one of the outstanding continuing education programs in North America. In 2008, he received the distinguished service award from the ACVIM.
Dr. Lage is the past chairman of the Animal Welfare Committee for the State of Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association. He is also a member of the board of directors for the Massachusetts Society for Medical Research and a board member for the New England Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases. He also volunteers his veterinary services for the South Shore (Massachusetts) community.
Dr. Steven Leary
St. Louis, Mo.
During his 40-year career, Dr. Steven Leary has been a leader in organizations that support the humane and judicious use of animals in research and promote humane transport of all animals.
Dr. Leary is recognized internationally for his expertise in long-term planning for institutional research animal care and use programs, as well as his forward-thinking yet practical approach to laboratory animal housing facility planning and design. As the assistant vice chancellor for veterinary affairs at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., Dr. Leary directs one of the largest, most species-diverse, complex, and challenging research programs in the country.
A board-certified laboratory animal specialist, Dr. Leary participates in many organizations and activities?that promote animal research and advocate animal welfare. He served as chair of the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Animal Welfare Committee, the 2011 Panel on Euthanasia, and is currently chair of the Panel on Humane Slaughter. He worked with the National Association for Biomedical Research and U.S. Congress on the development and passage of a law that places criminal penalties on animal rights extremist activities that target researchers and seek to prevent further life-saving research.
Dr. Leary is an emeritus member of the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, International and a past president of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine. In 2011, he was recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association with the Charles River Prize, an award presented to those who have made distinguished contributions to laboratory animal science and who promote educational growth in the field.
In the words of one colleague, “His sincere commitment and dedication to improving the care and welfare of research animal models is nothing short of exemplary.”
William P. Switzer Award in Veterinary Medicine
Established in 1998 to recognize exemplary individuals who have made significant contributions to society through their achievements, or have made major contributions to the enhancement of the College of Veterinary Medicine. The 2012 recipient is: Dr. Roy Schultz (’60).
Dr. Roy Schultz
Avoca, Iowa
Throughout his 50-year career, Dr. Roy Schultz has stood out among a very elite cadre of swine veterinarians who have established themselves through education, hard work, and outstanding service to the profession and the industry.
Schultz is a world-recognized authority on the pathogen actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae in growing swine. His groundbreaking discoveries for cultivation and the characterization of the organism and his efforts in diagnostic testing improvements have led to the prevention and control of this once- devastating disease.
His commitment to the college and its alumni has been evidenced through his support of educational programs and mentorship of numerous veterinary students and new graduates. He has been a resource for practical information and solutions for several generations of veterinarians.
A charter member of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, Dr. Schultz has served as its president and been the recipient of many of its awards, including the prestigious Heritage Award for lifetime achievements in swine medicine. He was named one of the 50 innovators in pork production by National Hog Farmer magazine in 2000 and one of 10 Pork Masters in 2002.
Now retired, Dr. Schultz continues his efforts as a conservationist. He is the co-founder of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, a nonprofit conservation organization. Through his efforts more than $75 million has been raised and the population of wild sheep has expanded from 40,000 to over 250,000 in the 30 years of the project.