Dr. Jan Hawkins, Purdue Veterinary Medicine professor of large animal surgery and Large Animal Surgery section head, is the new president elect of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS). The election results were announced recently by the ACVS, following the 2022 ACVS Surgery Summit held October 11-15 in Portland, Oregon.
A 1991 DVM graduate of North Carolina State University, Dr. Hawkins completed an internship in large animal medicine and surgery at Texas A&M University in 1992 and a residency in large animal surgery at the University of Pennsylvania in 1995 before becoming board certified by the ACVS the following year. Dr. Hawkins is the author of numerous peer-reviewed manuscripts regarding equine surgery with an emphasis on disorders of the upper respiratory tract and the use of surgical lasers. He is a co-author of the textbook Respiratory Diseases of the Horse and an editor and author for Advances in Equine Upper Respiratory Surgery.
Dr. Hawkins also has been actively involved as a member of the ACVS and has served on the Board of Regents. His other areas of service to the ACVS include being a member of the Veterinary Surgery editorial review board, the Resident Credentialing Committee, Symposium Planning Committee, and Residency Program Compliance Committee. As a board liaison, he was involved with the Continuing Education and Fellowship Committees as well as the Veterinary Surgery journal. He has served as a session chair for the American College of Veterinary Surgeons annual meeting and has lectured at the College’s annual meeting on multiple occasions.
Each year, the ACVS Nominating Committee submits a proposed slate of candidates for president-elect, one small animal regent, and one large animal regent to the ACVS Board of Regents for approval. The approved slate is then forwarded to the membership for a vote.
Founded in 1965, the ACVS is the specialty board which sets the certification standards for advanced professionalism in veterinary surgery and provides the latest in surgical educational programs. ACVS is the AVMA-Recognized Veterinary Specialty Organization™ for certification of veterinarians in large animal surgery and small animal surgery. Following the 2022 certification examination, ACVS membership now includes more than 2,300 Diplomates. For more information see www.acvs.org.