Neil K. Harpster, VMD, DACVIM (Cardiology)

Former Director, Cardiology Department, Angell Animal Medical Center - Boston

Dr. Neil Harpster is a pioneer in the field of veterinary cardiology and was among the first to pursue specialization at a time when veterinary specialty medicine was in its infancy. His impact on not only animals and their owners but the profession and countless residents and interns throughout the course of his career is immeasurable, and his legacy continues on through current and future generations of veterinary cardiologists.

“Neil embodies the qualities that essentially define what a Lifetime Achievement Award is meant to recognize. Separately, his innovations and his clinical service each could fill a whole career to the brim. Together, they set a bar that may never be cleared for what the ultimate in  selfless service means in veterinary cardiology and even in veterinary medicine outright.” - Etienne Côté, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology, SAIM)

Stephanie J. Valberg, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (LAIM), DACVSMR

Director, Valberg Neuromuscular Diagnostic Laboratory

With over three decades of leadership and accomplishment in clinical specialty practice, clinical research and veterinary education, Dr. Stephanie Valberg’s work has been a “guiding light” in the field of LAIM, particularly in advancing the understanding of equine neuromuscular physiology and disease. Her record of more than 200 peer-reviewed articles, 32 book chapters, and countless prestigious national and international awards attest to her lifetime of productivity and research excellence. Perhaps an even greater contribution, however, has been her remarkable ability to translate these scientific advances into practical strategies for improved clinical management of equine muscle disease, which she has then communicated effectively to veterinarians and horse owners around the world. 

"Dr. Stephanie Valberg is an exemplar of the Clinician-Investigator that our specialty strives to produce, and toward which we focus the training and mentorship of our residents. Her contributions as clinician, scientist, and educator are unmatched; they are clearly evident in the tremendous impact she has had on horse health and welfare over the four decades of her illustrious career, and in the specialists and investigators she has trained and mentored." - Christie Ward, DVM, MVSc, PhD, DACVIM (LAIM)

Dennis Chew, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), Honorary ACVNU

Professor Emeritus, The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine

In his over 47 years as an ACVIM Diplomate, Dr. Dennis Chew has made incredible contributions to the small animal internal medicine specialty and veterinary medicine as a whole. His accomplishments as a clinician, educator, mentor, speaker and researcher exemplify the mission of the ACVIM, and, in particular, his contributions to the field of nephrology and urology cannot be overstated. In 2023, Dr. Chew published the definitive textbook Urinalysis in the Dog and Cat based almost entirely on his lifetime of experience with the goal to share his knowledge with the next generation of specialists. 

“Dennis Chew’s outstanding  professional accomplishments as a clinician, educator, mentor and researcher exemplify our mission as a specialty. He has gained world-wide recognition as an investigator and educator in veterinary internal medicine.  His work has advanced our knowledge in the understanding, diagnosis and therapy of nephrology, urology, calcium disorders and fluid-electrolyte therapy to name but a few.  Dennis is [also] a devoted educator in academia, in our specialty and in training veterinarians from around the world.” – David C. Twedt, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM)