Winners announced in UF College of Veterinary Medicine awards program

A catfish and tropical fish disease specialist, a world-renowned veterinary ophthalmologist and two individuals whose longtime service has added to the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine’s growing national reputation have been honored in the college’s 2002 Distinguished Awards program.

The program, an initiative of the veterinary school’s Alumni Council, spotlights distinguished alumni, faculty and friends of the college. Three awards are given, including one for alumni achievement, one for distinguished service and one for special service.

After receiving nominations from alumni, faculty and staff, as well as veterinarians throughout the state, a committee chaired by Dr. Karen Zimmerman, ‘87, of Apopka, made the selections. The awards will be presented during the college’s May 25 commencement ceremony at University Auditorium.

Receiving the college’s Alumni Achievement Award is Dr. Ruth Francis-Floyd, a professor of aquatic animal medicine and a member of the college’s class of ‘83. Board-certified by the American College of Zoological Medicine, she also serves as extension veterinarian for aquaculture with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, where she holds a joint appointment in the department of fisheries and aquatic sciences. Francis-Floyd is assistant director of the veterinary college’s marine mammal medicine program and a past president of the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine.

This year’s recipient of the Distinguished Service Award is Dr. Kirk Gelatt, a world-renowned expert in the area of canine glaucoma. Gelatt is a distinguished professor of comparative ophthalmology and board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. He is editor-in-chief of Veterinary Ophthalmology, a professional journal, and has been a member of UF’s faculty since 1976. A former dean of the UF veterinary college, Gelatt previously received the 1998 American Kennel Club Career Achievement Award and the 2000 Mark L. Morris Sr. Lifetime Achievement Award.

A tie for the Special Service Award this year resulted in two winners sharing the honor: Professor Emeritus Dr. A.C. “Woody” Asbury, and horse farm owner and longtime college benefactor, Mrs. Louise Courtelis.

Asbury spent two decades as a teacher, equine reproduction specialist and top administrator at the UF veterinary college before retiring in 1996. For five years before retiring, he served as the Appleton Clinical Professor in equine medicine, and for two years, he chaired the department of large animal clinical sciences. Asbury served as interim dean of the college from 1988-1989 and played a key role in helping the college upgrade its public image at that critical time in the college’s history.

Working closely with Courtelis and her late husband, Alec, for whom the college’s equine teaching hospital is named, Asbury helped pave the road for the college’s renewed — and subsequently continued — accreditation through targeted fundraising and legislative efforts.

Now a member of UF’s board of trustees, Courtelis owns Town and Country Farm in Micanopy, one of the largest Arabian horse-racing facilities in the United States. Courtelis’ history of efforts both as a volunteer and fundraiser working perpetually on behalf of the veterinary college have endeared her to faculty, staff and administrators over the years.