Athens, Ga. – A mixed-animal practitioner known for her devotion to veterinary education, research, service and her alma mater was recently recognized as a “Distinguished Alumna” by the Alumni Association of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.
Dolores J. Kunze (DVM ’76) of Boiling Springs, S.C. received the award at a ceremony held March 26, during the college’s 48th Annual Veterinary Conference and Alumni Weekend.Kunze’s practice is Boiling Springs Animal Clinic.
Kunze, a native of Madison County, Ga., has been an assistant professor of large animal, food animal and equine medicine in colleges of veterinary medicine at both Michigan State University and North Carolina State University.
Kunze helped found the Veterinary Emergency Clinic of Spartanburg, S.C., and 20 years later continues to serve on its board. Most recently, she served two terms on the UGA Veterinary Alumni Association board, service that included work on several committees. She also was instrumental in the alumni board’s evaluation of the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s handling of referral cases.She has been active in her local community and in encouraging young students to enter the field of veterinary medicine.
“She freely has given her time to help educate and train 4-H’ers on preventative medicine, horse show judging, horsemanship and veterinary medicine,” wrote one nominator. “This shows her involvement with her community, and she is always encouraging prospective students to enter veterinary medicine and particularly food animal/mixed animal medicine.”
In addition to being a consistent donor to the college, Kunze also founded and sponsors the Dr. Morrow B. Thompson Award in Clinical Pathology, which is awarded annually, since 2002, to the senior student or veterinary resident who excels in veterinary clinical pathology.
The college’s alumni association recognizes a few 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/.