Prestigious Veterinary Teaching Award Presented to PVM Alumnus

March 13, 2020

Purdue Veterinary Medicine graduate Jerome Masty (PU DVM ’78), a member of the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine faculty, recently was honored as the recipient of the 2019 AAVMC Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award.  Considered as one of the most prestigious teaching awards in international academic veterinary medicine, the award recognizes excellence in professional veterinary medical education.

Dr. Masty is presented with his award plaque on stage at AAVMC
PVM alumnus Jerome Masty (far right), a faculty member at the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, received the prestigious AAVMC Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award at the 2020 AAVMC Annual Conference earlier this month in Washington, D.C.

Sponsored by Zoetis, the AAVMC Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award is presented to an educator whose sustained record of teaching excellence and ability, dedication, character, and leadership has contributed significantly to the advancement of the veterinary medical profession.  After graduating in the Purdue DVM Class of 1978, Dr. Masty went on to earn both his master’s and PhD degrees in veterinary anatomy at Purdue.  Currently an associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Biosciences at Ohio State University (OSU), Dr. Masty primarily teaches first-year gross anatomy, second-year neuroanatomy of the nervous system, and three second-year elective classes in surgical anatomy, feline anatomy, and neuroanatomy.

Dr. Masty has received numerous teaching awards during his tenure on the OSU faculty.  He describes his teaching approach as one that goes beyond passive listening to engage students through interactive notes and illustrative diagrams that help students to visualize and remember how different parts of the body work together. He also continuously solicits and responds to student feedback.

Dr. Masty also has fulfilled the role of mentor to numerous other instructors throughout various disciplines at OSU.  Assistant Vice Provost Alan Kalish, who has worked with Dr. Masty on numerous teaching enhancement projects for nearly two decades, wrote that he is “one of the most popular and innovative instructors at Ohio State.”

“Zoetis is proud to sponsor the prestigious AAVMC Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award,” said Dr. Christine C. Jenkins, Zoetis U.S. Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Veterinary Medical Services and Outcomes Research. “Recipients like Dr. Masty represent the very best of veterinary medical education, and we are honored to celebrate his achievement and dedication to excellence in preparing future generations of veterinary professionals.”

The award was presented during the AAVMC 2020 Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. March 6-8. Click here to view a complete news release about the award.

Writer(s): Maya Sanaba, PVM Communications Intern, and Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

Contraceptive vaccine reduces fertility in animals to address wildlife overpopulation

A Purdue University contraceptive vaccine seeks to address animal overpopulation by markedly reducing fertility in feral horses, deer, swine and other animals. Dr. Harm HogenEsch, distinguished professor of immunopathology in Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and Dr. Raluca Ostafe, director of Purdue University’s Molecular Evolution Protein Engineering and Production Facility, both members of the Purdue Institute for Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, have designed the vaccine based on the IZUMO1 mammalian sperm protein. It induces a robust and long-lasting immune response and infertility in female mammals.

“Paws Up” – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week Dr. Kristy Faulkner, a specialty intern in neurology, is being appreciated for supporting students’ morale and being a “baker extraordinaire,” taking extra steps in sharing her beautifully decorated cupcakes with the Small Animal Internal Medicine team.

Coppoc One Health Lecture Brings Co-leader of Innovative Dog Aging Project to PVM

“One Health at Home: Dogs as Sentinels of Environmental Exposure” is the title of the 2026 Coppoc One Health Lecture presented by Dr. Audrey Ruple, co-principal investigator for the largest animal-health research initiative to date – the Dog Aging Project.  Dr. Ruple, the Dorothy A. and Richard G. Metcalf Professor of Veterinary Medical Informatics at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, gave her talk February 26 in Lynn 1136. The lecture was free and open to the public.

Three More Years: How Specialized Care Helped Extend One Dog’s Life

When Ella, a pittie beagle mix, was diagnosed with bladder cancer at age 11, Jennifer Turner knew she wanted to make every decision count. What she did not yet know was that a cross country drive to Purdue University would give her three more years with the dog she described as her constant companion.

“Paws Up” – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week we feel grateful for Anita Wolf, RVT, who is a veterinary technician in Intermediate Care in the Brunner Small Animal Hospital facility.

In Memory – Dr. Janet Weiss (PU DVM ’91)

The Purdue Veterinary community is saddened by the recent passing of Dr. Janet Weiss, an alumna who served as a dedicated veterinarian in Northwest Indiana. A resident of La Porte, Indiana, Dr. Weiss passed away February 20, 2025. She was 61.

Upcoming PVM Veterinary Nursing Symposium Features Hands-On Learning

Veterinary professionals in the field of veterinary nursing have a special opportunity to expand their expertise and earn continuing education (CE) at Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Annual Veterinary Nursing Symposium. The one day continuing education program will be held at Lynn Hall on the Purdue campus March 23, 2025.

Zebra Foal Gets Lifesaving Help at Purdue University Equine Hospital

It’s not surprising to see a foal receiving emergency care at the Purdue University Equine Hospital during foaling season. The hospital’s team of expert clinicians and veterinary nurses are used to coming to the rescue when foals need special help to survive. But it was a surprise to see a foal named Marty arrive at the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit in February, because Marty is a zebra, and the hospital is in Indiana.