Valerie J. Parker, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM, Nutrition), 2024 Veterinary Hero in nutrition, understands the intricate relationship between an animal’s nutrition and their wellbeing.

“As an internist, nutrition plays a role in management of every single one of my cases…. So, it meshes so well with the specialty of internal medicine, it's almost just like they were meant to be done together,” Parker told 

in an interview. “I think it’s cliché, but we all say it, that…food and diet and nutrition make such an impact on an animal’s overall health and well-being. And so having that additional ability to influence a patient outcome by providing nutritional support and guidance for the animal and for the owner, it is something that gives me great satisfaction.”

Parker is a clinical professor at The Ohio State University, where she has been a faculty member for 12 years. She obtained her doctorate in veterinary medicine from Tufts University in North Grafton, Massachusetts. Thereafter, she completed a small animal internship at the Animal Medical Center of New York, New York, followed by a small animal internal medicine residency at Iowa State University in Ames and a nutrition residency at Tufts.

Nutrition has always been a passion for Parker, she explained in an interview. “I've just, I've really always loved nutrition, even in undergrad, taking general nutrition classes for all different species. It always was really interesting to me, and then getting to that school and getting to explore it a little bit more deeply, especially in the realm of small animal nutrition, it always just struck me as a really, I hate to say the word interesting so many times—it really struck me as something so interesting,” Parker said.

For Parker, the key to improving veterinary care goes beyond just treating individual pets: it’s about equipping the next generation of veterinarians with the knowledge to provide nutritional guidance to pet owners. “Providing nutritional guidance is something that every veterinarian should be able to do. It doesn't require special tools. It doesn't require a ton of special training. You're not doing surgery. You know, any veterinarian can provide nutritional guidance,” explained Parker. “And so, my hope is that I can continue to not only provide guidance for specific pets and specific clients and pet parents, but also to help guide future veterinarians of how to provide this guidance for clients and for pets.”

She explained that teaching the next generation of veterinarians and veterinary professionals is what inspires her to get up and go to work every day. “That's a major part of why I come to work every day, and especially in the context of nutrition, it makes me really proud when I go out and talk to veterinarians in practices and they tell me how great it is working with my former students or my former residents who just are so much more confident and competent in nutrition than they might even feel themselves,” she emphasized.

Winning the Veterinary Hero Award in nutrition served as a powerful source motivation for Parker to keep pursuing her work with the same passion and dedication. “It just helps validate that everything I’ve been doing has purpose. I think as veterinarians, in academia especially, we are here because we want to help clients, help pets, to teach the next generations of veterinarians. And so…it’s nice to have somebody tell you every once in a while, ‘You’re doing a good job.’ It helps remind you why you’re doing what you’re doing, and it’s motivation to just keep showing up every day and doing what I’m doing—that it’s making a difference,” she said.

In honor of Parker and 11 other Veterinary Heroes inductees, an award ceremony will be held during the 

2024 Fetch dvm360 conference in Long Beach

, California, where the winners will be recognized for their unwavering commitment and extraordinary efforts within the veterinary profession. The ceremony will take place at the Long Beach Convention Center on Sunday, December 8, 2024, at 11:30 AM PST. All Fetch Long Beach registrants are invited to attend the award ceremony for no additional fee.

The 2024 Veterinary Heroes program is supported by corporate sponsor Schwarzman Animal Medical Center

The nutrition category for the 2024 Veterinary Heroes program is supported by Blue Buffalo Natural.

Articles

Guiding the next generation of veterinary professionals and improving patients’ health through nutrition is the driving force for 2024 Veterinary Hero in nutrition, Valerie J. Parker, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM, Nutrition)

Veterinary Heroes: Valerie J. Parker, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM, Nutrition)

Susan V. Whittred, DVM, the 2024 honoree in feline medicine for the Veterinary HeroesTM program, has been a veterinarian for 21 years, working in private practice for most of her career. She is the executive director of the Patricia H. Ladew Foundation, Inc, a cage-free cat sanctuary in Long Island, New York, which Whittred has run since graduating from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, New York, in 2003.

“We rescue cats from municipal shelters and provide all the medical [care] that they need and get them into good homes,” Whittred told 

 in an interview. This includes spay and neuter services and other routine services, according to an individual that nominated Whittred for the award.

Whittred also introduced the “Seniors for Seniors” program at the foundation, which allows senior citizens to adopt senior cats. “What [the program] does is senior citizens who are 65 years [of age] and older can adopt a cat 7 years and older from us, and we cover the medical care for the cat for the rest of its life. If something happens to the [owner], they can just bring the cat back to us,” said Whittred.

“Veterinary medicine has gotten really expensive, and I think it's hard for seniors, and they don't want to commit to adopting an older cat, because that's when [cats start having health] problems,” Whittred explained. “But I tell you, with this program, senior [cats] have been getting adopted like I have never seen before. It's fantastic. So, we're always pulling senior [cats] from other municipal shelters, knowing that we can get them homes now, which is really—it's amazing.”

According to Whittred, there are now 55 cats in the program. “It's just changed people's lives,” she added.

asked Whittred why she chose feline medicine. “I have just always loved cats. And even when I was in private practice, I always was…the cat lady vet. You go to vet school, you think you get rid of the cat lady title, it's absolutely not true. No, I'm just a cat lady vet. But I just always, my whole life, I've always loved cats,” Whittred shared.

She explained that the most fulfilling part of her work is the adoptions. “I just love the connection that people make with animals, and I just feel good that I'm in a position where I could, you know, pull them from a shelter where they might not have the same chance. You know, take care of any medical or dental that they need, and then place them into a home, and then have people call us up and say, ‘this is the most amazing cat,’ you know?” said Whittred. “They've given so much to me in my life, it's great to be able to give something back to cats.”

Whittred’s passion for veterinary medicine and cats is evident in her active involvement with numerous organizations. She is a member of numerous organizations, including the Feline Veterinary Medical Association (formerly the American Association of Feline Practitioners)—from which she has received an award—, Association of Shelter Veterinarians, Long Island Veterinary Medical Association, New York State Veterinary Medical Society, American Veterinary Medical Association, and the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association. She is also an adjunct member of the Animal Law Committee of the NY Bar Association and the New York director of the Paw Project—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to end feline declawing.

what winning the Feline Medicine Veterinary Hero Award means to her. “As a shelter vet, it’s just such an honor to win an award like [Veterinary Heroes]. I already feel privileged being able to take care of cats…but getting nominated and people voting for me...it’s amazing,” she expressed.

Describing what makes Whittred a veterinary hero, one nominator praised her commitment to supporting fellow veterinarians who face challenges with feline care. “Susan is very focused on helping other veterinarians who encounter issues with cats. She is very willing to discuss treatments and provide insight into what makes a successful outcome for cats in shelters,” they wrote.

In honor of Whittred and 11 other Veterinary Heroes inductees, an award ceremony will be held during the 

The love for felines that Susan V. Whittred, DVM, holds has fueled her dedication to rescuing cats and improving their care through shelter medicine and a new program for senior citizens and cats

Veterinary Heroes: Susan V. Whittred, DVM

Adrianne Hiller’s, BS, dedication to the veterinary profession began early in her life. In high school, she walked dogs and cleaned at her local animal clinic—helping where she could, gaining experience, and ultimately training to become a technician by the time she graduated. She began her career in the veterinary profession in 2001.

“My dad was always bringing home animals. [I] loved animals from a very young age. I wanted to go to vet school, so in high school, I just kind of really made it a point that I wanted to be a part of the veterinary industry in some capacity and learn and do as much as I can, so that's how I kind of ended up just kind of helping out at my local vet clinic in high school,” Hiller told 

in an interview. “I ended up ultimately not going to vet school because I went down the management path of things, but always knew that I had a passion for the industry for sure.”

Hiller attended Texas A&M University in College Station, earning a bachelor of science degree in wildlife and fisheries sciences while also taking on weekend overnight shifts in the Small Animal Teaching Hospital at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine, working with emergency care providers. She worked her way up in the profession, serving as a kennel technician, technician, and technician lead, and working emergency for some time. Eight years ago, Hiller decided to pursue practice management with CityVet.

As a natural “people person,” Hiller finds fulfillment in her role in practice management, where she can not only support her colleagues, but also to watch them grow and succeed. “I like to just kind of be a part of the discussions and what needs to happen, what works, what doesn't. [A] big thing in management is just being able to…work for everybody else. So, what do we need be the advocate for our coworkers? To figure out what would be best for them to be successful at their jobs and have good work life balances?” Hiller explained. 

When she made the leap into practice management, Hiller had the opportunity to work alongside a doctor she respects, and together, they opened their own practice. The experience has been nothing short of fulfilling, Hiller shared.

"It's just been very fulfilling to get to see the business grow and be successful, and getting to hire and see our individual employees grow, you know, starting kind of at the beginning and working their way up to receptionist or technicians or vet school—different experiences,” she said. Through this journey, Hiller discovered that “being able to be the person that…supports the team” is what she truly enjoys.

Speaking about what winning the Veterinary Heroes award in practice management means to her, Hiller said “it feels good to be recognized.”

“Not just me, [but] many people I work with, we work very hard. We want to…do our best every single day. We want to make sure we’re making a difference. And…so many people get into the industry being so animal focused, but it’s really a people- focused industry [too], and it feels good to know that the hard work is maybe paying off some—that people are recognizing and seeing it,” she said.

In honor of Hiller and 11 other Veterinary Heroes inductees, an award ceremony will be held during the 

A Veterinary Hero in practice management, Adrianne Hiller, BS, demonstrates her dedication to the profession through unwavering support of her team, helping the business and its employees grow

Veterinary Heroes: Adrianne Hiller, BS

Unlike other professionals within the industry, Khalfani Carr has an interest in veterinary medicine that came at an older age. He is now an honoree of the 2024 Veterinary Heroes program, as the award winner in the veterinary paraprofessional category.

 that he originally pursued a career as a veterinary paraprofessional because a friend was working in a similar position and encouraged him to get a similar job. Carr soon fell in love with the industry and continued to grow and work in the role. He got his start at the VCA Woodbridge in Virginia and expressed sincere gratitude to the team there for giving him his start.

In winning a Veterinary Heroes award, Carr said that he has shown that just by doing your job and applying yourself, you will eventually be recognized for that dedication and hard work and could potentially inspire others as well. “If you just keep your head down and just keep doing the work that you promised to yourself, someone somewhere is going to recognize you and you’re going to motivate other people who you don’t know about, because people may see the award, but they may not ever talk to you. That may motivate them to say, ‘Hey, next year, I want to go and get that award’ and they’ll change lives, better patients, and get more education,” Carr explained.

One of multiple colleagues who nominated Carr for the Veterinary Heroes award said he is the "mentor of all mentors" and recently a clinic develop a program for career growth. "He created the training program that my job recently adopted and [he] refuses to take credit. That's what makes him so valuable, his selflessness and humility to make all staff feel valued," this nominator wrote.

Although Carr has moved on from VCA Woodbridge to Regional Veterinary Referral Center in Springfield, Virginia, he has continued to do the work to better the lives of his patients, including the creation of his brand WOOFU2. Carr created WOOFU2 to advocate for breeds being bullied because of discrimination policies around the world. He advocates by educating people of all ages on how to understand and approach dog behavior. 

A second nominator for Carr's award said the paraprofessional changed their opinion on certain breeds through the WOOFU2 program. "We have a lot of heroes in the [veterinary] field but what makes him stand out, in my opinion, is that no matter what, rain or shine, he has a smile on," this nominator wrote. "He cares for all but has a soft spot for people with trouble situations whether it's money or life issues."

A third nominator noted Carr's work as a volunteer basketball coach, working with youth in his community. "What makes Fani a hero is his determination to spread positivity and lift everybody up. He wants everybody to be their best self and is willing to help them get there. Fani sees potential in everybody even if they don't see it in themselves," this nominator wrote.

Carr will receive his award alongside 11 other distinguished inductees of dvm360’s Veterinary Heroes program during a luncheon celebration at the Long Beach Convention Center. The special event will take place during the 

 on December 8, 2024, at 11:30 AM PST. All conference attendees are invited to attend.

The 2024 Veterinary Heroes program is supported by corporate sponsor Schwarzman Animal Medical Center.

The paraprofessional category for the 2024 Veterinary Heroes program is supported by Thrive Pet Healthcare.

Veterinary Hero: Khalfani Carr

Jan Bellows, DVM, DAVDC, DABVP (Canine, Feline), FAVD, has been a pioneer in the creation of the veterinary dentistry specialty. His achievements in the field have helped earn him recognition in the 2024 Veterinary Heroes program supported by corporate sponsor Schwarzman Animal Medical Center as an award recipient in the dentistry category sponsored by PRN Pharmacal.

Bellows had been working at a veterinary clinic for in Florida 10 years when a friend approached him about joining him at a dentistry wet lab. Bellows returned from that lab noticing how his patients really needed dental services. As luck would have it, his practice was located in a shopping mall, next to a human dentist whose practice was not super busy and who loved animals. The dentist next door would go on to teach Bellows about dentistry for several years.

“At the time, there weren’t very many veterinarians [who] were into dentistry. There were 5 of them [who] were going around the country and giving [educational] seminars. They were wanting to form a specialty, so they formed the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry, and I got certified by them. That was back in 1988. Then the [American Veterinary Medical Association. (AVMA)] said that is not an AVMA-approved specialty, it’s an academy. So the American Veterinary Dental College was formed in 1989, I believe, and I became the 13th board-certified veterinary dentist in 1990,” Bellows explained in a 

Photos courtesy of Jan Bellows, DVM, DAVDC, DABVP (Canine, Feline), FAVD

Bellows went on to become involved in the Foundation for Veterinary Dentistry and would go on to serve as its president for 6 years. Today, there are more than 250 veterinary dentists.

He practiced veterinary medicine for 1 year before opening his own practice in Pembroke Pines, Florida, according to his nominator. In 1999, he opened Hometown Animal Hospital and All Pets Dental in Weston, Florida, which continues to be operated by Bellows as the owner and a practitioner.

“He is known for his hometown vibe and bedside manner. The clients absolutely adore him,” the nominator wrote.

Over the course of his career, Bellows has worked on committees, helped provide grants for colleges, and educated veterinary professionals. His work within veterinary dentistry has allowed him not only to provide better care for his patients but also to help others across the globe provide better dental care for their patients as well.

“He has helped thousands of veterinarians and veterinary technicians advance their dentistry skills through lectures, webinars and wet labs,” his nominator wrote. “Dr Bellows offers his cell phone and personal email to anyone that has questions.He has Facetimed many general practitioners in the middle of a procedure to walk them through [it, which is] often a flap or interpreting a radiograph.”

Additionally, Bellows is an international speaker, who will be presenting sessions at the 

, California. He has also written 5 dental textbooks, book chapters and peer-reviewed articles, and has been featured in many veterinary magazines, according to his nominator. These publications include 

, which continues to feature his “Dentistry A to Z” series.

Bellows plans to receive his award alongside 11 other distinguished inductees of dvm360’s Veterinary Heroes program during a luncheon celebration at the Long Beach Convention Center. The special event will take place during the 

The dentistry category for the 2024 Veterinary Heroes program is supported by PRN Pharmacal.

The award recipient for dentistry is a pioneer in the specialty field

Veterinary Heroes: Jan Bellows, DVM, DAVDC, DABVP (Canine, Feline), FAVD

Meghan Solc, DVM, DACVD, a practitioner at Dermatology for Animals-Catonsville, a Thrive Pet Healthcare facility in Maryland, has a passion for inclusion and mentorship. Her service in those areas as well as her work as a practitioner earned her recognition in dvm360's 2024 Veterinary Heroes program as the honoree for dermatology.

The program recognizes those professionals who have positively impacted animal care, demonstrating leadership, expertise, and a commitment to improving the health and well-being of animals. These recognized individuals have excelled in their professional roles and influenced the broader veterinary community, setting new standards and inspiring others.

, Solc expressed surprise and gratitude for the award. “So many people have had such a positive impact on me, and to reflect on that and this period of time and where I am in my career, it's just amazing to see all that support that I've always had throughout that whole period of time,” Solc said. “The career itself is great. I love veterinarian medicine. I love dermatology. It really has grown me as a person, and there's so many people that I would thank [for the support].”

Photos courtesy of Meghan Solc, DVM, DACVD

Conversely, 5 colleagues nominated Solc for the Veterinary Heroes award. “She is a strong supporter of the LGBTQIA community and has worked to translate discharges and information sheets into other languages, to make it easier for our non–English-speaking clients,” one nominator wrote.

Furthermore, the nominator said, “Dr Solc is a compassionate and engaged veterinarian and constantly shows up for her clients, patients, and colleagues. She truly has an unmatched passion for dermatology. She is community minded and always an advocate for those in need.”

A second nominator highlighted Solc’s work in local communities, which extends to career fairs and talking with middle school-age children about future opportunities in veterinary dermatology. Additionally, Solc has spoken with local journalists about when dermatologic care for pets should be sought, and frequently works directly with clients to diagnose and treat their animals.

“Her focus is educating these owners on how to best care for their pets to improve their quality of life.She is always seeking the best evidence based treatment options for her patients,” the second nominator added.

In the interview, Solc was quick to express additional appreciation for her colleagues. “There are a lot of client-pet parent interactions that just go unseen from day to day. A lot of our veterinary technicians are so, so important on that front,” Solc said. “It’s not necessarily their technical ability, but their big hearts and how much they care for their doctor, and also for the pet parents and how much they do [for them] on a day to day basis. It's a hard job, and sometimes it's thankless, but I don't know where I would be without them.”

An active member of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD), Solc is also cochair of the organization’s annual resident education forum. The event provides in-depth seminars for ACVD members. “More and more veterinarians are becoming dermatologists.… It’s just amazing to see the interest and the commitment to that specialty, which is [something] we need more and more,” Solc said.

A graduate of Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada, Solc has directly mentored several doctors through their residencies and supported their board studies, according to her nominator. This year, she has also assumed the role of mentor for her first specialty dermatology intern. “I just want to give back, and I want to make sure that everybody has the same opportunities [I have had] if they can,” she said.

Solc will receive her Veterinary Heroes award alongside 11 other distinguished program inductees during a luncheon celebration at the Long Beach Convention Center. The special event will take place during the 