Athens, Ga. – A veterinarian from Greenville, S.C. was recently recognized as a “Distinguished Alumnus” by the Alumni Association of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.
Walter C. Robinson III (DVM ’73) of Greenville, S.C. received the award at a ceremony held March 26 during the college’s 48th Annual Veterinary Conference and Alumni Weekend.Robinson owns East North Veterinary Clinic, located in Greenville.
Robinson has helped to nurture the careers of future veterinarians and veterinary technicians by serving on the Veterinary Technology Advisory Board for Tri-County Technical College and Newberry College, both located in South Carolina. He has lectured to many veterinary related groups at Clemson University, and he has given canine first-aid lectures to police K-9 units and dog rescue groups.
On the state and national levels, Robinson has served as president of the Greenville County Veterinary Medical Association, treasurer of the Greenville County Veterinary Emergency Clinic, and as secretary/treasurer of the Blue Ridge Veterinary Medical Association. He is an active member of the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians, having served as its president, chair of its membership committee, and as a member of its nomination, public information and awards committees. He also has served as SCAV’s director of its Small Animal Academy continuing education program.
Robinson served six years on the South Carolina Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, including a year as chair, and he served two four-year terms as an AVMA delegate from his state.
Robinson also served the South Carolina electorate as an eight-year member of the South Carolina State Election Commission, including six years as its vice-chairman. In 1998, the state’s governor recognized Robinson for his service by awarding him the Order of the Palmetto.
The college’s alumni association recognizes distinguished alumni each spring.Nominees must have graduated from the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine and made contributions in one or more of the following areas:
- Animal and human health related public service;
- Professional service;
- Involvement in veterinary educational research and/or service;
- Contributions to the local community, state or nation;
- Involvement in veterinary associations at the local, state or national level; and,
- Contributions to the College’s Alumni Association.
The UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, founded in 1946, is dedicated to training future veterinarians, to conducting research related to animal and human diseases, and to providing veterinary services for animals and their owners.Research efforts are aimed at enhancing the quality of life for animals and people, improving the productivity of poultry and livestock, and preserving a healthy interface between wildlife and people in the environment they share.The college enrolls 102 students each fall out of more than 560 who apply.For more information, see www.vet.uga.edu.
The current UGA College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital, built in 1979, serves more than 18,000 patients per year in one of the smallest teaching hospitals in the United States.The college is currently working to raise $15 million toward building a new Veterinary Medical Learning Center, which will include a new teaching hospital as well as classrooms and laboratories that will allow for the education of more veterinarians.The goal is to increase enrollment to 150 when the Veterinary Medical Learning Center is built.For more information, see http://www.vet.uga.edu/giving/campaign.php.
For more information about the Alumni Association of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, see http://vet.uga.edu/alumni/.
