The American Association of Equine Practitioner bestowed its 2021 Distinguished Life Member Award upon renowned educator and disaster medicine expert William “Bill” Moyer, DVM, for his consequential leadership and service to the association during his 51 years of membership.

The Distinguished Life Member Award honors an AAEP member who has made outstanding contributions to the association throughout their career. Dr. Moyer, who retired from Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences in 2015 but continues to serve as a professor emeritus, received the award during the December 7 President’s Luncheon at the AAEP’s 67th Annual Convention in Nashville, Tenn.

Throughout his esteemed career, Dr. Moyer has been an enthusiastic advocate of the AAEP and a leading voice for its educational programs. Those efforts have been instrumental in recruiting up-and-coming academic leaders to become more involved with the association. Dr. Moyer’s two terms on the AAEP board of directors culminated in his role as president in 2011. Since 1981, he has served on numerous councils, committees and task forces, including as chair of the Nominating and Equine Insurance committees, and member of the Farrier Liaison, Professional Conduct & Ethics, Public Policy and Racing committees.

Dr. Moyer remains active within The Foundation for the Horse, specifically assisting in the area of disaster medicine. Relatedly, he served as lead author of the AAEP’s Disaster Medicine Guidelines published in May 2021 as a blueprint for veterinarians contemplating disaster response participation.

“Dr. Moyer has served our association in many and varied capacities for over 40 years,” said nominator Dr. Harry Werner. “Chairing or sitting on multiple committees, forums and task forces as well as serving on our board of directors and as our president, Dr. Moyer has helped shape the vision and achieve the goals of the AAEP throughout his career.”

Dr. Moyer received his veterinary degree from Colorado State University in 1970, and he completed his surgical residency at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center in 1973. In 1993, he joined Texas A&M University following 13 years on faculty at New Bolton Center.

About AAEP

The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its over 9,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry.