UF veterinary college names 2007 Distinguished Award winners

A small-animal practice owner, a livestock reproduction specialist and a North Florida dairyman have been honored in the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine alumni council's 2007 Distinguished Awards program.

Three awards were designated: one for alumni achievement, one for distinguished service to the veterinary profession and one for special service.

This year's Alumni Achievement award recipient is Link Welborn, D.V.M., a 1982 graduate of the college. Welborn, co-owner of several small animal practices in Tampa, is a past president of the American Animal Hospital Association. He has served on the college's alumni council and advisory committee and helped establish the Jim Himes Alumni Scholarship in honor of an emeritus dean of students at the college. Welborn was named Veterinarian of the Year by the Florida Veterinary Medical Association in 2006.

"Dr. Welborn is a stellar example of one who models professionalism across all slices of life," said Gail Kunkle, D.V.M., a professor of small animal dermatology and associate chair for instruction at the college, in a letter supporting Welborn's nomination. "He is an ambassador for veterinary medicine nationwide as well as serving as an ambassador for our college."

Maarten Drost, D.V.M., a professor emeritus at the college and an internationally respected expert in livestock reproduction, has received the Distinguished Service award. Drost pioneered studies in embryo transfer techniques and was the first person in the world to perfect that technique in water buffaloes.

A 1962 graduate of Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, Drost has received numerous awards for teaching as well as for his scientific accomplishments. Drost officially retired from UF in 2003 but has remained active, completing a Web atlas of animal reproduction using thousands of visual aids that are freely available to students and scientists worldwide.

Donald Bennink, owner of North Florida Holsteins dairy farm in Bell, Fla., has received the Special Service Award. North Florida Holsteins is the UF Veterinary Medical Center's longest-standing client.

"They have been the backbone of the food animal teaching program for many years," said Art Donovan, D.V.M., a professor of food animal medicine at the college. "With the exception of the charter class, nearly every student that has graduated from our college has passed through the gates of Don's farm. The students have had the opportunity to hone their clinical and problem-solving skills using his cows in a production setting. He also has provided a significant caseload to the food animal hospital, where more intense case management could be provided."

More than 30 veterinary residents and 20 interns in the Food Animal Medicine and Reproduction Service, as well as six graduate students from 16 different countries, have received a substantial portion of their training at North Florida Holsteins, Donovan added.

The awards will be presented at 2 p.m. May 26 at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts during college commencement exercises.