Equine group honors former large animal medicine professor

Alfred Merritt, D.V.M., the former Appleton Professor of Equine Studies and retired director of the Island Whirl Equine Colic Research Laboratory at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, has received the Florida Association of Equine Practitioners' lifetime achievement award.

FAEP members honored Merritt, a UF faculty member from 1978 until his retirement in 2003, in September during the group's annual meeting in the Bahamas.

Award presenter Carol Clark, D.V.M., completed her residency in large animal medicine at UF.

"There is probably not a person at this meeting whose life has not been touched by Dr. Merritt," she said.

Merritt's primary research interests were the function and malfunction of the equine gastrointestinal system. The Island Whirl laboratory is a resource for faculty, staff and student research in the area of equine colic.

Merritt served as editor or co-editor of four books and has written 20 book chapters. Two of his books, "Equine Medicine and Surgery" and "Veterinary Gastroenterology," are widely used in veterinary courses throughout the world.

While at UF, Merritt was recognized with several teaching awards, including the Norden Distinguished Teacher Award, which is bestowed by college faculty. Veterinary students chose Merritt three times as Large Animal Clinician of the Year.

"I felt extremely honored to receive this recognition from this first-class organization, especially since numerous former students and residents were involved in the decision to name me," Merritt said. "What could be more gratifying than knowing that your life's work has had some lasting positive impact?"