Emergency Cooperative Advocate Dr. Amanda McCleery Receives AAEP’s Inaugural Solo Practitioner Award

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) presented its inaugural Margaret Phyllis Lose Solo Practitioner Award to Amanda McCleery, DVM, a predominantly equine ambulatory practitioner in Florida whose adoption and subsequent advocacy of the emergency cooperative coverage model has improved sustainability and life balance for herself and countless other equine veterinarians.  

The Margaret Phyllis Lose Solo Practitioner Award honors an AAEP member in solo practice who demonstrates commitment to the advancement of the equine veterinary profession while also striving for work-life harmony, thereby serving as an exemplary role model for others in the association, particularly those in private practice. Dr. McCleery accepted her award Dec. 9 during the President’s Luncheon at the AAEP’s 71st Annual Convention in Denver, Colo.  

A 2009 veterinary graduate of Texas A&M University, Dr. McCleery established McCleery Equine Veterinary Service near Gainesville, Fla., in October 2014. She initiated the 2017 formation of the North Florida Large Animal Emergency Cooperative, comprised of four solo ambulatory practitioners who share emergency coverage responsibilities and meet monthly for case discussion and collegiality.  

The following year, she joined Decade One, a professional development and peer support program for early career practitioners, and shared with her Decade One group the beneficial impact of her emergency cooperative. Group members began to explore and initiate their own emergency cooperatives, and the idea spread to other Decade One groups across the US.  

Dr. McCleery helped spearhead the 2020 AAEP Emergency Coverage Survey, the results of which she presented at the 2021 AAEP Annual Convention highlighting how perceived challenges and concerns with emergency cooperatives can be addressed or mitigated. 

When her Fulbright Scholar husband received the opportunity to spend a research year in South Africa in 2023, Dr. McCleery added an associate veterinarian to care for her clients during her absence with periodic returns to tend to the practice. When the associate left after four months, Dr. McCleery met clients’ needs through support from her emergency cooperative, more cross-Atlantic travel, and inclusive and transparent communication with her clients on Facebook. 

“Dr. McCleery has had a distinct impact on her peers and on the veterinary profession through her demonstration of living a full life that blends a priority on family, unique experiences, professional dedication and success, and cooperative collaboration with colleagues,” said her nominator Dr. Amy Grice. 

Award namesake Dr. Margaret Phyllis Lose was a racetrack practitioner who established the first equine-only practice owned by a woman.  

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.