Skip to main content

Purdue Veterinary Medicine Graduate Inducted into National Academies of Practice

man wearing a suit jacket, glasses and a tie

A member of Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s DVM Class of 2009, Dr. Miguel Ortiz is one of ten veterinarians recently inducted into the National Academies of Practice (NAP) as professional members and veterinary fellows. The Class of 2026 inductees include veterinary faculty, entrepreneurs, and the current AVMA president. 

According to an article published April 1 by the AVMA, Dr. Ortiz is among six veterinarians added as new professional members of the NAP in the veterinary medicine category. Dr. Ortiz is the founder and medical director of Pittsburgh Animal Wellness, which provides veterinary consultation, education, and clinical relief services throughout western Pennsylvania. 

Born and raised in Guatemala, Dr. Ortiz moved to the U.S. where he earned his undergraduate degree at Purdue University in Animal Sciences before enrolling in the College of Veterinary Medicine and earning his DVM degree. He also holds a master’s in international development from the University of Pennsylvania. 

A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Dr. Ortiz has served as a primary care veterinary clinician at various veterinary practices, animal shelters, and telehealth consultation services. In 2024, he was elected to the board of directors of the Western Veterinary Conference, now Viticus Group. He also formerly served as secretary-treasurer of the Multicultural VMA.

The NAP is an interdisciplinary organization of health care professions established in 1981.  Today it represents ten interdisciplinary academies including medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy and nursing. In addition to the veterinarians added as new professional members, four veterinarians were inducted as fellows of the Veterinary Medicine Academy during the organization’s annual meeting March 12-14 in Indianapolis.

The complete AVMA news story is available here.

Writer(s): PVM News | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

DVM and Veterinary Technology students gain job opportunity insights at fall PVM Career Fair

Purdue Veterinary Medicine's Fall Career Fair brought veterinary and veterinary technology students together with employers on October 30 at the Purdue Memorial Union. Students explored career opportunities, internships and externships while meeting representatives from veterinary practices and organizations.

In Memory: Dr. Mary Beth Leininger (PU DVM ’67)

Purdue Veterinary Medicine remembers Dr. Mary Beth Leininger (DVM 1967), who died November 6, 2026, at age 83. The first woman elected president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, she spent nearly three decades in private practice and held leadership positions in veterinary medicine, industry and education.

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

Kayla Fuqua, the day-shift Emergency and Critical Care receptionist at our veterinary hospital, is this week's Paws Up honoree. A colleague recognized her for supporting clients, coworkers and veterinary students, answering questions and helping her department during busy shifts.

MMAS Symposium at Purdue provides hands-on learning about Medicine of Mammalian and Avian Species

More than 80 participants joined Purdue Veterinary Medicine's 2026 Medicine of Mammalian and Avian Species Symposium on October 31 and November 1. Organized by the Exotic Animal Club, the two-day event combined presentations on exotic animal medicine with hands-on training in parrot handling, rabbit examinations, avian clinical pathology and other specialized topics.

Costumed characters boost Halloween spirits in Lynn Hall

Halloween brought Minions, the Lorax, Super Mario Bros. characters and plenty of other costumes to Purdue Veterinary Medicine. Students, faculty and staff celebrated with costume contests, trick-or-treating and a Halloween dessert competition in Lynn Hall, the Reed ADDL and the Veterinary Hospital.