The VMA of NYC began its annual awards program in 1984 and presents awards in five categories:
MERIT AWARD
Presented to members in recognition of their significant contributions to the Veterinary Medical Association of New York City and the advancement of the veterinary profession.
VETERINARIAN OF THE YEAR
The Veterinarian of the Year Award is given to members who over the course of many years have served the Veterinary Medical Association of New York City and the veterinary profession in an exemplary and distinguished manner.
DISTINGUISHED LIFE SERVICE
The Distinguished Life Service award is the highest honor conferred on members of the VMANYC. This award honors individuals of the highest caliber in the profession; one who has been a good and faithful member for a period of 35 years and who has actively and fully partaken in association activities.
OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO VETERINARY MEDICINE
The Outstanding Service to Veterinary Medicine Award recognizes individuals who through their efforts in education, research, practice, or some veterinary-related activity significantly contribute to the advancement and improvement of veterinary medicine in New York City.
SERVICE TO THE VETERINARY COMMUNITY & THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS
The Service to the Veterinary Community & the Welfare of Animal Award recognizes the outstanding contributions and accomplishments of faculty and staff who have devoted their time and talent to make substantial, enduring contributions to the veterinary community and to the welfare of animals.
EXCEPTIONAL EFFORT
The Exceptional Effort Award was given in recognition of service to the veterinary profession throughout the challenges of the COVID years.
OUTSTANING YOUNG PROFESSIONAL
The Outstanding Young Professional award celebrates the notable contributions of young veterinarians who excel in their workplaces and the broader veterinary community. This award aims to recognize and honor an outstanding young vet who leads, inspires, and exceeds expectations early in their career.
ANIMALS OF DISTINCTION
The Animals of Distinction award honors remarkable animals and their handlers that have made an extraordinary impact on the lives of individuals or the community. This award celebrates the unique bond between humans and animals, highlighting exceptional animals whose actions, loyalty, or service have profoundly enhanced the well-being and quality of life of those around them.
MERIT AWARD
- 1984 – Dorfman, Sam†
- 1984 – Grossman, Alfred
- 1984 – Hershhorn, Bernard
- 1984 – Kessler, Sidney†
- 1984 – Stern, Irving
- 1985 – Bandes, Gerald†
- 1985 – Diamond, Lewis†
- 1985 – Garvey, Mike
- 1985 – Karmin, Leo†
- 1985 – Rogoff, Edward†
- 1985 – Rosen, Bernard†
- 1986 – Robinson, Gordon
- 1986 – Schrader, Steven
- 1986 – Tilley, Larry
- 1986 – Wilkins, Robert
- 1987 – Burke, Ronald
- 1987 – McLellan, Susan
- 1987 – Tait, Lloyd
- 1988 – Berman, Lewis
- 1988 – Fox, Philip
- 1988 – Kram, Malcolm
- 1989 – Jacobson, Linda
- 1989 – Kuhlman, Jay
- 1989 – Peterson, Mark
- 1990 – Abney Pamela
- 1990 – Gross, Steve
- 1990 – Kolodny, Sy†
- 1991 – Helton, Karen
- 1992 – Keating, Lee
- 1993 – Lange, Richard
- 1993 – Levine, Leonard†
- 1994 – Lee, Lincoln
- 1995 – Soliman, Sameh†
- 1996 – Karmin, Andrew
- 1997 – Hohenhaus, Ann
- 1998 – Esposito, Lisa
- 1998 – Haddock, Sally
- 1999 – Butler, Julie
- 1999 – Wallace, Melissa
- 2000 – Pidgeon, Guy
- 2001 – Bregman, Eric
- 2002 – Korin, George
- 2002 – Reisman, Robert
- 2003 – Kalvig, Barbara
- 2004 – Attas, Amy
- 2005 – Sangiorgio, John
- 2006 – Levy, Jeffrey
- 2007 – Burya, Erin
- 2007 – Morimoto, Mari
- 2008 – Shaw, Neil
- 2009 – Bregman, Allan
- 2009 – Wohlstadter, David
- 2010 – Slavinski, Sally
- 2011 – Salemi, Mark
- 2011 – Sykes, John
- 2012 – Chiaramonte, Deirdre
- 2013 – Yousry, Gamal
- 2014 – Buelow, Mary
- 2014 – Langston, Catherine
- 2015 – Mossa, Danielle
- 2016 – LoBasso, Thomas
- 2017 – Zheng, Lu (John)
- 2018 – Janeczko, Stephanie
- 2019 – Farrelly, John
- 2020 – Sykes, John
- 2024 – Britton, Brooke
VETERINARIAN OF THE YEAR
- 1984 – Meisels, Ray†
- 1985 – Hershhorn, Bernard
- 1986 – Dorfman, Sam†
- 1987 – Tierney, Fred
- 1989 – Marder, Mike
- 1990 – Robinson, Gordon
- 1991 – Grossman, Alfred
- 1992 – Jacobson, Linda
- 1993 – Miller, Alex
- 1994 – Abney, Pamela
- 1995 – McLellan, Susan
- 1997 – Karmin, Andrew
- 1997 – Tait, Lloyd
- 1998 – Berman, Lewis
- 1998 – Zweighaft, Harold
- 1999 – Manning, Keith
- 2000 – Borzio, Frank†
- 2001 – Pidgeon, Guy
- 2002 – Greene, Richard
- 2003 – Salemi, Mark
- 2004 – Soliman, Samuel†
- 2005 – Korin, George
- 2006 – van der Woerdt, Alexandra
- 2007 – Marghoob, Azra
- 2008 – Reisman, Robert
- 2009 – Sangiorgio, John
- 2010 – Esposito, Lisa
- 2011 – Bregman, Eric
- 2012 – Peterson, Mark
- 2013 – Bregman, Allan
- 2014 – Wohlstadter, David
- 2015 – Sykes, John M.
- 2016 – Chiaramonte, Deirdre
- 2017 – Palma, Douglas
- 2018 – Rocha, Timothy
- 2019 – Slavinski, Sally
- 2020 – Marimoto, Mari
- 2024 – LoBasso, Thomas
DISTINGUISHED LIFE SERVICE
- 1984 – Bloom, Frank†
- 1985 – Lawrence, David
- 1986 – Kessler, Sidney†
- 1986 – Stone, Earl†
- 1986 – Wilkins, Robert
- 1987 – Fletcher, Charles†
- 1987 – Tait, Lloyd
- 1988 – Meisels, Ray†
- 1989 – Karmin, Leo†
- 1990 – Stern, Irvin
- 1991 – Livingston, Abby†
- 1992 – Bandes, Gerald†
- 1993 – Zweighaft, Harold†
- 1994 – Dorfman, Sam
- 1995 – Rogoff, Edward†
- 1996 – Rosen, Bernard†
- 1997 – Levy, George
- 1998 – Whitehead, Jack
- 1999 – Wallace, Melissa
- 2000 – Higgins, John
- 2001 – Tierney, Fred
- 2003 – Bregman, Jack
- 2004 – Grossman, Alfred
- 2005 – Marder, Mike
- 2006 – Kuhlman, Jay
- 2007 – McLellan, Susan
- 2008 – Berman, Lewis
- 2009 – Lange, Richard
- 2010 – Jacobson, Linda
- 2011 – Miller, Alexander
- 2012 – Borzio, Frank†
- 2013 – Wyler, Steven
- 2014 – Alexandru, Adrian
- 2015 – Soliman, Sameh†
- 2016 – Luckow, Scott
- 2016 – Malihan, Adelaide
- 2017 – Berkowitz, Jay
- 2017 – Eisenkraft, Barry S.
- 2017 – Scott, Richard
- 2017 – Sheirr, Bruce
- 2020 – Maccia, John
- 2024 – Haddock, Sarah
- 2024 – Lucas, Anne
OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO VETERINARY MEDICINE
- 1987 – Tilley, Larry
- 1989 – Greene, Richard
- 1990 – Bicks, Jane
- 1991 – Liu-Si-Kwang†
- 1992 – Abney, Pamela
- 1993 – Hardy, William
- 1994 – Hohenhaus, Ann
- 1995 – Garvey, Mike
- 1996 – Zweighaft, Harold†
- 1998 – Tierney, Fred
- 1998 – Kay, William
- 1998 – Maloney, Carolyn
- 1999 – Cohen, Susan
- 1999 – Miller, Lila
- 2000 – Cooper, Effie
- 2001 – Washburn, Annabell
- 2002 – ***
- 2003 – Haddock, Sally
- 2004 – Esposito, Lisa
- 2005 – Kinnear, Paul
- 2006 – Attas, Amy
- 2006 – Maccia, John
- 2007 – Butler, Julie
- 2008 – Peterson, Mark
- 2009 – Connick, Charles
- 2010 – Bregman, Eric
- 2011 – Soliman, Sameh
- 2012 – Salemi, Mark
- 2013 – Sangiorgio, John
- 2014 – Prata, Raymond
- 2015 – van der Woerdt, Alexandra
- 2016 – Reisman, Robert
- 2017 – Smith, Donald F.† (posthumus)
- 2018 – Bregman, Allan
- 2019 – Fox, Philip
- 2019 – Hohenhaus, Ann
- 2020 – Bond, Betsy
- 2024 – Fischetti, Anthony
*** In 2002 this award was given to “all who served at Ground Zero caring for search and rescue dogs and those who helped reunite pet owners with their companion animals following the disaster in New York City. The plaque was given to City of New York and is part of the permanent 911 memorial exhibit.
SERVICE TO THE VETERINARY COMMUNITY AND THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS
- 2012 – Costello, Patricia
- 2013 – Salemi, Mark
- 2014 – Varis, Agnes† (posthumus)
- 2014 – Pastore, Michael
- 2014 – Solutions+ of New York
- 2015 – Gibson, Eleanor
- 2016 – New York City Police Department
- 2017 – Levitzke, Brett
- 2018 – The Sato Project
- 2019 – Casey, Sean
- 2019 – Miller, Lila
- 2020 – Rosenthal, Jana
- 2024 – Siegel, Steven
EXCEPTIONAL EFFORT
- 2023 – Animal Care Centers of New York City
- 2024 – Slavinski, Sally
OUTSTANDING YOUNG PROFESSIONAL
ANIMALS OF DISTINCTION
- 2024 – NYPD Transit Bureau Canine Unit
