Dr. Jamie Clark is First Recipient of AAEP’s Rising Star Award

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) bestowed its inaugural Olive Kendrick Britt Rising Star Award upon Jamie Clark, DVM, a Montana-based equine ambulatory relief veterinarian who is prioritizing retention efforts in equine veterinary medicine.  

The Olive Kendrick Britt Rising Star Award honors an AAEP member within the first decade of their career for leadership or engagement within the AAEP and/or profession or for design and delivery of research that advances horse health or veterinarian wellbeing. Dr. Clark accepted her award Dec. 9 during the President’s Luncheon at the AAEP’s 71st Annual Convention in Denver, Colo.  

After receiving her veterinary degree from Washington State University in 2019, Dr. Clark completed an equine field service internship at Colorado State University before joining Montana Equine Medical and Surgical Center in 2020 as an associate in its Helena division. She embarked on equine ambulatory relief work in 2025 and will be launching 360 Equine Performance in spring 2026. The equine ambulatory service will focus on performance horse care and be based primarily in Helena, Mont., with winters in Ocala, Fla. 

Beyond her daily practice, Dr. Clark has embraced and actively contributed to AAEP’s equine veterinary sustainability efforts. She has been integral to the growth and success of the AAEP’s Foundational Skills in Equine Practice continuing education event, designed to equip early career practitioners with essentials skills for long-term success. Dr. Clark served on the planning committee to organize lectures and wet labs for 60 participants for the initial event in February 2022. She stepped into a leadership role by serving as program co-chair for the second edition of the meeting in October 2023 and continued with the event series as an instructor for the third renewal in August 2025. 

Reinforcing her commitment to professional sustainability, Dr. Clark served as co-moderator of a Table Topic on modern parenting in equine practice at the 2024 AAEP Annual Convention; and she is an original member of the AAEP’s Early Career Committee, established in late 2024 to engage with recent graduates as well as develop resources and networking opportunities. 

“Dr. Clark is passionate about the horse, her family, and helping others reach their goals,” said nominator Dr. Luke Bass. “Not only has Dr. Clark found her calling in life to be an equine veterinarian, but she also is dedicated and passionate about AAEP and its educational mission.” 

Award namesake Dr. Olive Kendrick Britt was the first female large animal intern/resident at the University of Pennsylvania who also practiced as the first woman equine veterinarian in Virginia.  

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. 

# # #