veterinarian receiving award at conference
Dr. Shirley Kot receiving the 2023 AVDC Wiggs Outstanding Candidate Award.

Dentistry Team Receives National Awards

veterinarian giving speech at podium
Dr. Maria Soltero-Rivera accepting the 2023 AVDC Peter Emily Service Award.

Faculty and residents from the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service received several awards and certificates at the Veterinary Dental Forum (VDF) held recently in Louisville. Hosted by a combination of the Foundation for Veterinary Dentistry (FVD), the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry, and the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC), VDF is the largest veterinary dental conference in the world.

Accomplishments at the forum included:

  • Faculty member Dr. Maria Soltero-Rivera received the AVDC Peter Emily Service Award. This award is presented annually to an outstanding AVDC Diplomate for contributions in the service of the AVDC and also to further the field of veterinary dentistry.
  • Graduated resident Dr. Shirley Kot received the AVDC Wiggs Outstanding Candidate Award, given annually to an outstanding veterinarian on successful completion of an approved training program.
  • Faculty members Drs. Maria Soltero-Rivera and Stephanie Goldschmidt each received the FVD Research Grant Award, given to encourage, support, and share quality research and educational development in veterinary dentistry.
  • Graduated residents Drs. Mercedes DePaolo, Shirley Kot, and Da Bin Lee received their AVDC Diplomas, making them board-certified veterinary dentists/oral surgeons. To receive Diplomate status, one must complete a three-year resident training program and pass certification examinations.

The VDF was founded in 1987 for the purpose of advancing the knowledge, education, awareness, and skills involved in veterinary dentistry among veterinarians, veterinary technicians, veterinary students, veterinary staff, and anyone else with an interest in veterinary dentistry. It strives to provide the best veterinary dental program in the world with the finest lectures and labs from the top experts in the veterinary dental field.

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Listen to Dr. Kot on the Veterinary Vertex podcast discussing her research.

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