The Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association to Celebrate Veterinarians!

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., March 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The MVMA will host a premier event celebrating the 2010 Distinguished Service Award Honoree, several Merit Award recipients, and veterinarians throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

As the MVMA's premier social event of the year, the dinner is also a fundraiser for the MVMA Charities, Inc. A silent auction will be held to benefit the charity and is expected to raise $5,000.

Honorees this year are:

Distinguished Service Award: Dr. Seymour Bigman

Merit Award Recipients:

• Dr. Monica Mansfield and Marc Serra for the production of a video highlighting most aspects of veterinary life and practice in the commonwealth.
• Dr. Catherine Brown, State Public Health Veterinarian at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, for her contribution to veterinary medicine and public health in Massachusetts.
• Roger Lauze for his extensive work at the MSPCA as the founder of the Equine Ambulance Program and his tireless efforts to rescue horses in the state and across the country.

This is an exciting time for the Association and the Charity as we are honoring Dr. Bigman for his 40 years of dedication and service to veterinary medicine in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Dr. Bigman has enjoyed a career of much variety working as a USDA inspector, a corporate veterinary representative, a private practitioner in Waltham, a longtime volunteer with MEMA (Massachusetts Emergency Management Association)/SMART (State of Massachusetts Animal Response Team), 20 years as the Inspector of Animals for the City of Newton, and 25 years on the Waltham Board of Health, 15 years as Chair. Most recently, Dr. Bigman is credited as founder and the driving force behind the MVMA Charities, Inc. Pet Oxygen Mask project, in which a free oxygen mask is made available to each town in the commonwealth.

Dr. Bigman is being honored for his many good works and taking his charges seriously to contribute to our state's veterinary community in such diverse ways.

Event sponsors include Antech, Iams, NEVSCO, and Novartis.

The MVMA Celebrate Veterinarians! Dinner takes place Saturday, April 2, 2011, 6:00 - 11:00 pm at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel, located at 1657 Worcester Road, Framingham, MA 01701.

To purchase tickets or for more information, please call the MVMA office at 508-460-9333.

SOURCE Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association