Katie Flynn, BVMS, MRCVS, received the AAEP President’s Award during the Dec. 10 President’s Luncheon at the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ 65th Annual Convention in Denver, Colo.

The President’s Award, selected by the sitting AAEP president, honors an AAEP member(s) who has demonstrated a dedication to the association during the past year by contributing a significant portion of time and expertise to benefit the health and welfare of the horse.

Dr. Flynn is the equine staff veterinarian for the California Department of Food and Agriculture Animal Health Branch. She also serves as chair of the AAEP Infectious Disease Committee.

“It’s hard to believe that a person could accomplish this much work for the association, in such a complete and excellent manner with sometimes little or no notice, and still hold down a day job,” said 2019 AAEP President Dr. Jeff Berk. “As the chair of the Infectious Disease Committee, she has spearheaded much-needed initiatives in response to the membership and the association.

Under Dr. Flynn’s leadership, the Infectious Disease Committee has developed in a short time a number of new and important disease guidelines vaccination, educational opportunities for other segments of the industry regarding biosecurity, and more. I am truly appreciative of the work of this committee, and of the work Dr. Flynn has done this year as the driving force behind it.”

Dr. Flynn received her undergraduate degree in animal science from the University of Massachusetts in 1995, and her veterinary degree from the University of Glasgow, Scotland, in 2001. Dr. Flynn’s area of interest is biosecurity, specifically equine event biosecurity, and she has developed biosecurity educational materials which have been distributed to all 50 states and 12 countries.

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.