AKC Canine Health Foundation to Honor Dr. Edward Breitschwerdt at Upcoming Canine Health Conference as the 2017 Asa Mays DVM Award Recipient

Purina Has Sponsored Biennial Conference Since 1997

The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to prevent, treat and cure diseases in all dogs, announces that Dr. Edward Breitschwerdt, a specialist in veterinary internal medicine and infectious diseases at North Carolina State University (NCSU), is the recipient of its 2017 Asa Mays DVM Award for Excellence in Canine Health Research.

Dr. Mary Smith, CHF Board Member and Chairman of the CHF Scientific Review Committee, will present the award to Dr. Breitschwerdt on August 12 at the 2017 AKC Canine Health Foundation National Parent Club Canine Health Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. Sponsored by CHF partner, Purina, the conference is a biennial event that features distinguished researchers presenting the latest medical and scientific advances in canine health. The conference will be held on August 11-13.

“Dr. Breitschwerdt’s leading-edge research in the field of infectious disease has advanced our knowledge of deadly pathogens that cross species barriers, contributing to both canine and human health,” said Dr. Smith. “As a clinician, research scientist and educator, he has impacted not only our current understanding, but has prepared many young scientists to continue this work into the future.”

Named for Dr. Asa Mays, a founding board member of the AKC Canine Health Foundation, the Asa Mays DVM Award for Excellence in Canine Health Research is presented to an investigator who demonstrates meritorious advancements in identifying, characterizing, and treating canine diseases.

In addition to his position at NCSU, Dr. Breitschwerdt is an adjunct professor of medicine at Duke University Medical Center, and a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. He has most notably contributed to innovative research in the areas of animal and human bartonellosis, and is internationally regarded as an expert in vector-borne diseases. Dr. Breitschwerdt’s research group has published more than 350 manuscripts in peer-reviewed scientific journals. In 2013 he received the Holladay Medal, the highest award bestowed on a faculty member at NCSU. He is also the recipient of the 2017 Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges Excellence in Research Award. In a recent interview with CHF, Dr. Breitschwerdt chronicled his discovery of a new Bartonella species, the first isolate of Bartonella in a dog, and the groundbreaking work that followed. Over the years, CHF has awarded Dr. Breitschwerdt five grants for research in bartonellosis and lymphoma.

“In recognizing the work of Dr. Breitschwerdt and his team, we feel that the National Parent Club Canine Health Conference is the perfect venue to present him with this award. The conference brings together CHF-funded researchers, Parent Club members, breeders, veterinarians, veterinary students and other canine health professionals to exchange the latest in research and new ideas for the health of dogs. The AKC Canine Health Foundation is extremely proud of our 20-year partnership with Purina,” said Dr. Diane Brown, CHF CEO. “This Conference is an example of the success of our shared commitment to provide education to help improve the health of all dogs.”

In addition to sponsoring CHF’s biennial National Parent Club Canine Health Conference, Purina supports the Foundation’s mission as a corporate partner and through the Purina Parent Club Partnership Program, which has contributed $6.5 million since 2002, with half of the funds going to canine health research sponsored by CHF and half going directly to Parent Clubs. Purina also has selected CHF as their nonprofit partner in the annual #DogThanking social media campaign during the National Dog Show. Since 1997, Purina and CHF have shared a mission of supporting canine health research to benefit all dogs.

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Posted by chesliepickett on Aug 14 2017. Filed under Breaking News, Health & Training. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.