Purdue Veterinary Nursing Student Wins IVTA Golden Stethoscope Award

April 28, 2023

Stephanie smiles holding her award plaque with Crystal and Myranda standing on either side of her outside the VPTH building on campus
Veterinary Nursing student Stephanie Stewart receives the IVTA Golden Stethoscope Award from IVTA President Crystal Schaeffer (right) and IVTA Central Indiana District Representative Myranda Stoner.

Monday, April 24, proved to be a special day in class for Purdue University Veterinary Nursing student Stephanie Stewart. That’s when she learned she won the Indiana Veterinary Technician Association’s (IVTA) Golden Stethoscope Award. The award recognizes exemplary veterinary nursing students who have the fortitude to represent the veterinary nursing profession through communication with veterinarians, patient advocacy, and a holistic approach to patient management.

Stephanie is a member of the Veterinary Nursing Class of 2025. To recognize her, the award was presented at the start of one of her classes on this the last week of spring semester classes. Instructional Technologist Jennifer Smith, RVT, RLATG, announced the award and then the commemorative plaque and a check for $350 were formally presented to Stephanie by IVTA President Crystal Schaeffer, BS, RVT, and IVTA Central Indiana District Representative Myranda Stoner, RVT. 

Stephanie was chosen for the award out of a field of nominees from across the state. As part of the selection process, three nominees from each AVMA accredited veterinary nursing/technician program in Indiana were chosen by program instructors from among current degree-seeking students. The nominees then had to submit an essay outlining why they should be selected to receive the award. Stephanie’s essay was picked as the winning entry, and the two IVTA representatives who presented the award drove up from Indianapolis in order to congratulate Stephanie in person.

Indeed, congratulations Stephanie! 

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

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

Today we’re extending a huge Paws Up to Dr. Ana Aghili, clinical assistant professor of small animal emergency and critical care.

Two Purdue Veterinary Medicine Graduates Honored at WVC Annual Conference for Commitment to Food Animal Practice

At this year’s WVC Annual Conference in Las Vegas, two Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumni who graduated within the last five years received national recognition as recipients of the Dr. W. Bruce Wren Food Animal Incentive Awards (FAIA). Dr. Kayla Baird and Dr. Kallie Knott, of the Purdue DVM Classes of 2021 and 2025, respectively, were among just five total FAIA award recipients honored during the annual veterinary conference hosted by Viticus Group (formerly WVC). The event is considered one of the largest and longest-running veterinary education conferences in the U.S.

Equine Wellness Once Again Proves Popular as Topic of Annual Forum for Horse Enthusiasts

More than 150 people turned out in person and virtually for the perennially popular Equine Wellness Forum hosted by the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine recently at Lynn Hall, as the latter days of winter started to give way to thoughts of spring rides on horseback.  The all-day continuing education program for horse owners and equine industry professionals on Saturday, February 7, featured insightful presentations as well as engaging demonstrations.

New Intern Joins PVM Communications Team 

The Purdue Veterinary Medicine communications team is pleased to welcome a new intern, Caroline Keim, who started February 14. Caroline is a senior studying media and mass communications, as well as professional writing, through the Brian Lamb School of Communications in the College of Liberal Arts.

In Memory – Dr. Carole Ann Bolin (PU DVM ’82)

The Purdue Veterinary Medicine community is saddened to learn that a dedicated alumna, Dr. Carole Bolin, passed away Wednesday, February 12, in Lansing, Michigan, after a long and courageous battle with metastatic breast cancer. She was 67.

PVM Alumnus Kyle Shipman Named as New State Veterinarian

It’s official – Dr. Kyle Shipman (PU DVM 2015) is the new Indiana State Veterinarian. The decision to select Dr. Shipman to fill the vacancy was made by the 11 members of the Indiana State Board of Animal Health during their regular January meeting, which was followed by formal approval from the governor.

New Faculty Member Joins Comparative Pathobiology Department and Reed ADDL

The College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology recently welcomed Dr. Rachel Soltys as clinical assistant professor of diagnostic microbiology. Dr. Soltys, who started January 20, also serves as section head of Bacteriology in the Willie M. Reed Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL).

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

Today we are happy to highlight Brittany Laflen, RVT, VTS (Neurology), who is a veterinary technician in Neurology / Small Animal Surgery.

College Appoints Experienced Agricultural Leader to Strengthen Constituent Relationships

Julia Wickard, a longtime agricultural leader in Indiana, was appointed as the college’s new constituent liaison and executive director of the Purdue Veterinary Alumni Association, effective Feb. 24. Wickard, of Greenfield, Indiana, previously served as the state executive director of the USDA Farm Service Agency . Her new position represents a homecoming for the Purdue alumna, who earned her BA degree in agricultural communications and political science.