Teller Receives Southwest Veterinary Symposium ‘Visionary’ Award
Dr. Lori Teller, a clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM), has been awarded the 2019 Southwest Veterinary Symposium (SWVS) Visionary of the Year Award.
The annual award is presented to an individual who is recognized by the profession and actively engaged in a private, public, or corporate veterinary practice, as well as whose contributions elevate the standards and goals of veterinary medicine.
“I was very much humbled and honored to receive this award,” Teller said. “It means a lot to me because I have spent many years encouraging veterinarians and our associations to think progressively and to consider new ways to educate clients and improve business models.
“The award inspires me to keep pushing,” she said. “There are so many amazing people who’ve received this award and I feel awed to now be in their company.”
As the first full-time telehealth veterinarian in academia, Teller is pioneering a telemedicine program at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) to improve patient care and provide remote practitioners with easy access to CVM specialists.
“Telehealth and telemedicine are going to greatly impact the profession over the next several years, and I think it’s important that it be done well and done right,” Teller said. “Veterinarians should be leading the way in what works and what doesn’t for our profession, and being at TAMU, a place that believes strongly in innovation, makes it a no-brainer to implement a virtual care program here.”
Teller was presented with the Visionary of the Year Award on Sept. 28 during the SWVS President’s VIP Reception in San Antonio.
“SWVS is one of my favorite continuing education meetings because it is just the right size—not too big and not too small,” Teller said. “The people who attend are always friendly, especially from the five partner states. I love getting to catch up with old friends and meet new people.”
Teller was nominated for the Visionary of the Year Award by the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) and selected as the recipient by the SWVS Awards Committee. Selection criteria for the award are based on contributions to the profession that include veterinary practice, continuing education, publications, public education, and civic activities.
The SWVS provides continuing education for veterinary professionals in the Southwest region of the nation, including Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The annual symposium includes exhibits, interactive labs, and social activities for DVMs, RVTs, hospital personnel, veterinary and technician students, and suppliers who provide the products and services that support veterinary medicine.
Outside of the CVM, Teller is active within the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and played a key role in the development of its telemedicine policy in 2017. She serves as both vice chair and District VIII representative on the AVMA board of directors and as chair of the AVMA’s State Advocacy Committee
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Contact Information: Jennifer Gauntt, Interim Director of CVM Communications, Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Science; jgauntt@cvm.tamu.edu; 979-862-4216
