Four ACVS Diplomates were recognized for their outstanding contributions to veterinary surgery, education, research, and the veterinary profession at the recent Mark W. Allam Lecture and Awards Ceremony in Charlotte, NC. ACVS and the ACVS Foundation announced the recipients of the ACVS Founders’ Award for Career Achievement, the Al and Carolyn Schiller Distinguished Service Award, the ACVS Foundation Lynn Wheaton Award, and the ACVS Rising Star Award. ACVS President Kelly Farnsworth presided over the meeting.
ACVS Founders’ Award for Career Achievement
The American College of Veterinary Surgeons has selected Anthony T. Blikslager, DVM, PhD, Diplomate, ACVS to receive the ACVS Founders’ Award for Career Achievement. The award recognizes the service of an ACVS Diplomate distinguished by contributions to the development of surgical techniques and methodology, and disseminating knowledge to colleagues, residents, and students.
An internationally recognized large animal surgeon, Dr. Blikslager has advanced equine gastrointestinal medicine, particularly in the areas of colic, intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury, and mucosal biology. For more than three decades as an ACVS Diplomate, he has translated science into clinical advances that improve equine patient care.
Dr. Blikslager directed a comparative gastrointestinal physiology laboratory for twenty years, secured more than $21 million in research funding, and authored more than 150 peer-reviewed articles, 44 book chapters, and the landmark reference The Equine Acute Abdomen. His work has received more than 10,000 citations, reflecting its lasting influence on the profession.
His service to the College includes serving on the ACVS Board of Regents, the Resident Credentialing Committee, and as chair of multiple ACVS Veterinary Symposium (now Surgery Summit) seminars.
He mentored graduate students, residents, postdoctoral fellows, and international trainees who have become influential academic, clinical, and research leaders. Known for his generosity, commitment to trainee growth, and dedication to translating discovery into better care, he stands as a pillar of the equine research and surgical communities, with an enduring national and international legacy.
Al and Carolyn Schiller Distinguished Service Award
The ACVS Board of Regents selected Jan F. Hawkins, DVM, Diplomate, ACVS as the recipient of the Al and Carolyn Schiller Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his exceptional contributions to ACVS through decades of dedicated volunteer leadership and service.
Dr. Hawkins became an ACVS Diplomate in 1996 and began volunteering with ACVS shortly thereafter, serving on the Veterinary Surgery Editorial Review Board and as a longtime speaker and seminar chair at the ACVS Veterinary Symposium (now Surgery Summit).
He has held numerous College leadership roles, including the chair of the Resident Credentialing Committee, assistant chair of the Symposium Committee, large animal regent on the ACVS Board of Regents, ACVS president-elect, ACVS president, chair of the Board of Regents, and chair of the Nominating Committee.
Dr. Hawkins helped shape the strategic direction of ACVS, strengthen standards in surgical training and certification, and advance professional development for members at every career stage. As chair, ACVS Board of Regents, he helped lead major bylaws revisions and governance changes that continue to strengthen the College. His lasting impact is reflected in the many ACVS surgeons who credit him as a mentor and leader, earning him recognition as an ACVS Honored Mentor in 2023.
ACVS Foundation Lynn Wheaton Award
Heather S. Hadley, BS, DVM, MS, Diplomate, ACVS (Small Animal) is the 2026 recipient of the ACVS Foundation Lynn Wheaton Award. The award recognizes ACVS Diplomates who demonstrate intentional and altruistic social responsibility through their work with their community, associations, or other nonprofit organizations. Recipients give their time and talent to positively impact the quality of life of people and animals and show a generosity of spirit and civic responsibility.
Dr. Hadley has made it her mission to address the access to care crisis in veterinary care, where the cost of advanced procedures creates a financial barrier that many pet owners cannot cross. She joined Mission Animal Hospital in Minnesota and transformed it into a high standard surgical environment that operates within a nonprofit framework. She mentored the staff, streamlined protocols for efficiency and cost-effectiveness, reimagined how cases are triaged and costs communicated, and made sure that postoperative care could be accomplished in a diverse set of home environments. Her empathy for clients is evident when she guides them through medical decisions with care, with compassion for their financial constraints, and seeing obstacles not as barriers, but as something to be navigated.
Outside of the Mission Animal Hospital, Dr. Hadley is also an outspoken advocate for their mission, volunteering her time as a trail veterinarian for sled dog racing and working with other specialists to see how their fields can also shift from traditional veterinary medicine to the growing field of community medicine. Her work has saved countless lives and kept families together. It demonstrates an achievable goal for all in the veterinary profession and has garnered support throughout the field.
ACVS Rising Star Award
The American College of Veterinary Surgeons is pleased to recognize Kyla F. Ortved, DVM, PhD, Diplomate, ACVS (Large Animal), DACVSMR as the first recipient of the ACVS Rising Star Award. The award recognizes early- to mid-career Diplomates who have demonstrated exceptional achievements and contributions beyond standard expectations while excelling in surgical practice and inclusive leadership.
Since becoming an ACVS Diplomate in 2011, Dr. Ortved has earned international recognition for her contributions to equine orthopedic surgery, regenerative medicine, and translational research. As an associate professor of large animal surgery at the University of Pennsylvania New Bolton Center, she holds the Jacques Jenny Endowed Chair of Orthopedic Surgery.
Dr. Ortved’s pioneering research advances regenerative therapies to improve musculoskeletal healing and prevent post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Her work in gene therapy, stem cell biology, and immunomodulation has helped bridge veterinary and human orthopedic medicine and advance scientific knowledge across disciplines.
An accomplished clinician, Dr. Ortved is recognized for her expertise in advanced orthopedic and minimally invasive surgical techniques. As an ACVS Founding Fellow in Minimally Invasive Surgery (Large Animal Orthopedics), she has helped shape standards within this evolving specialty while maintaining a commitment to excellence in patient care and client communication.
Dr. Ortved is a dedicated educator, mentor, and leader. Through her service to ACVS, AO VET, and numerous professional and institutional organizations, she has fostered the development of future veterinary surgeons while exemplifying innovation, leadership, inclusivity, and commitment.
