University of Kentucky Equine Infectious Disease Expert Named AAEP Distinguished Educator

Peter Timoney, MVB, MS, Ph.D., FRCVS, professor and the Frederick Van Lennep Chair in Equine Veterinary Science at the University of Kentucky’s Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, received the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ 2017 Distinguished Educator – Academic Award for his influential contributions to the body of knowledge on equine infectious diseases.

The Distinguished Educator – Academic Award honors an individual who by his or her actions and commitment has demonstrated a significant impact on the development and training of equine practitioners. Dr. Timoney was honored Nov. 20 during the President’s Luncheon at the AAEP’s 63^rd Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

Throughout his five-decade career, Dr. Timoney has provided key insight, guidance and authorship to numerous infectious disease control documents and guidelines—benefitting veterinarians and horse owners around the world. He also has advised and provided technical expertise to thousands of equine practitioners through individual communication and presentations at international veterinary gatherings.

Kenton Morgan, DVM, an equine specialist with Zoetis and former AAEP board member, praised Dr. Timoney’s selfless dedication to the betterment of his fellow practitioners. “No matter how busy he may be, there is always time for Peter to talk to practitioners with questions on any aspect of how to prevent, diagnose and control infectious diseases of the horse,” he said. “On the topic of equine infectious diseases, there is none more respected or admired, either locally or internationally.”

Dr. Timoney earned his MVB with honors from the National University of Ireland’s Dublin campus in 1964. He received his MS from the University of Illinois in 1966, his Ph.D. from the University of Dublin in 1974, and his FRCVS credentials in 1978. In 1979, he returned to the United States and spent three years at the Cornell University diagnostic laboratory as a senior virologist.

Dr. Timoney has been on faculty at the University of Kentucky’s Department of Veterinary Science for 34 years. He served as chair of the department from 1990-1999 and in 2002; and as director of the Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center from 1990-2008.

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.