Ronnie Elmore, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Receives AAVMC's 2013 Iverson Bell Award

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kansas State University Associate Dean Ronnie G. Elmore marveled about how much times have changed when he was notified that he would receive the Association of American Veterinary Medical College's (AAVMC) 2013 Iverson Bell Recognition Award for his extraordinary contributions to advancing inclusion and diversity in academic veterinary medicine.

"After presenting what turned out to be a rather controversial paper at an Iverson Bell Symposium several years ago I had thoughts that I might get fired," quipped Elmore, who serves as associate dean for academic programs, admission and diversity at KSU's College of Veterinary Medicine.

Instead, his achievements will be celebrated on Friday, March 8, during  the AAVMC's 2013 Annual Conference in Alexandria, Virginia, as part of the biennial Iverson Bell Symposium, the oldest symposium dedicated to promoting ethnic, gender, and racial diversity in the veterinary medical profession.

In nominating Dr. Elmore for the award, Dr. Ralph Richardson, dean of KSU's College of Veterinary Medicine wrote that, "There has never been a time in the history of this college when the number of historically underrepresented students is as large as what we are currently experiencing. This is due almost exclusively to Dr. Elmore's faithful and extensive travels to historically black colleges and universities throughout the United States ... Dr. Elmore's devotion and dedication to a more integrated and culturally aware veterinary profession is inspiring to all of us who share his vision."

Elmore is a prolific writer, having published more than 250 journal and magazine articles, abstracts and book chapters. He has written a weekly column for Copley News Service for more than 30 years.  He created an elective course at KSU, "Practicing Veterinary Medicine in a Multicultural Society," which is designed to help students develop an awareness and appreciation of diversity in all of its dimensions in order to communicate effectively with those from cultures that are different from their own.  Elmore is also an in-demand speaker on diversity topics and many credit him with raising awareness of the need to address a lack of diversity in the veterinary profession.

After earning his veterinary degree at the University of Illinois, Elmore was in private practice in Ohio, on the faculty of the University of Missouri-Columbia and on the faculty of Texas A&M University before joining Kansas State University in 1990.

He has served as the associate dean for admissions and diversity programs at KSU's College of Veterinary Medicine for more than 20 years.

Elmore received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Greenville College and a Bachelor of Science degree and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana. His master's degree is from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

The AAVMC's award is named in honor of Iverson Bell, DVM, who left an outstanding legacy of leadership and contributions in the promotion of opportunities for minorities in veterinary medical education. Dr. Bell spent more than 30 years working as a veterinarian and civic leader in Terre Haute, Ind., and was a vice president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA.)

The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) is a nonprofit membership organization working to protect and improve the health and welfare of animals, people, and the environment by advancing academic veterinary medicine. Its members include all 33 veterinary medical colleges in the United States and Canada, eight departments of veterinary science, eight departments of comparative medicine, 12 international schools or colleges of veterinary medicine, and four affiliate international colleges of veterinary medicine:  www.aavmc.org

SOURCE Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges