UTCVM Distinguished Alumni
In 1994, the UTCVM Distinguished Alumni Awards were created to recognize some of the outstanding graduates of the college. Nominees are UTCVM graduates who excel in at least one of the five areas of veterinary medicine: private practice, teaching, research, public service, or organized veterinary medicine. In addition to these two awards, an award for First Decade Achievement is also given to a graduate of UTCVM with a DVM degree within the last ten years. The awards are presented at the graduation and hooding ceremony each spring.
2024 FIRST DECADE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
KATHRYN DUNCAN, DVM, PHD, DACVM (PARASITOLOGY)
Dr. Kathryn Duncan is a Knoxville native and graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in 2018. During her time at UTCVM, she participated in the summer research program and developed an interest in parasitology. Because of this experience, she went on to complete her residency in parasitology through the National Center for Veterinary Parasitology and to obtain a PhD in biomedical sciences at Oklahoma State University. In 2022, Dr. Duncan became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists, board-certified in parasitology. Now, she serves as assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology at Oklahoma State University and as Co-Director of the National Center for Veterinary Parasitology. She maintains a research lab that focuses on parasitic diseases of domestic animals and teaches in the graduate program and the veterinary curriculum. Dr. Duncan is often asked to deliver continuing education to veterinarians across the United States, and she has authored numerous publications discussing parasites and parasitic diseases of importance to animals and humans, such as ticks, tick-borne diseases, and gastrointestinal parasites.
2024 NON-PRIVATE PRACTICE AWARD
Samuel Jones, DVM, PhD
Dr. Samuel Jones graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in 1988, completed an internship in large animal medicine and surgery at Texas A&M University, and a residency in equine internal medicine at the University of California, Davis. He was board certified by the ACVIM in 1995. He received a PhD in Immunology from Washington University School of Medicine in 1997, where he studied the mechanisms of neutrophil integrin activation. He joined North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1998 and was appointed as the first Herbert Benjamin Distinguished Professor at NC State University in 2012.
Dr. Jones’ clinical interests include inflammatory diseases and gastroenterology. He continues research investigating mechanisms of neutrophil activation in order to identify new targets for anti-inflammatory drug development. Jones is also investigating phytochemical modifiers of inflammation. He has published over 100 research papers and book chapters in the areas of neutrophil biology, inflammation, and equine gastroenterology.
Dr. Jones leads several efforts at NC State to develop new research training programs for veterinary students and veterinarians, aimed at meeting the critical national need for veterinary clinician scientists with expertise in basic and translational research. He is currently Director of the Summer Research Internship Program for veterinary students, the Combined DVM/PhD Program, and the Comparative Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program at NC State.
2024 PRIVATE PRACTICE AWARD
Jerry V. Wilhite, DVM
Dr. Jerry V. Wilhite is the co-owner of Old Hatchie Veterinary Hospital in Bolivar TN, a practice started by his father, Dr. Richard E. Wilhite, in 1953. Born and raised in Bolivar, Dr. Wilhite graduated from the University of Tennessee Martin in 1978 with a degree in animal science and went on to earn a Master’s degree in ruminant nutrition from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1980 and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from UTCVM in 1983. Recently retired, Dr. Wilhite still maintains an active presence at Old Hatchie, which has grown from a one man practice in 1953 to a five doctor clinic that includes his youngest brother, Dr. Frank Wilhite, and his niece, Dr. Whitney Wilhite Jones. To honor his late father and his family’s legacy in the fi eld of veterinary medicine, Jerry established the Richard E. Wilhite Scholarship Endowment for students who are accepted to UTVCM after completing undergraduate work at UTM, the first scholarship of its kind to link students between the two schools.
Dr. Wilhite is a longtime member of the TVMA where he served on the Executive Board and recently was awarded Practitioner of the Year (2024). He has also served on the Tennessee Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.
Dr. Jerry Wilhite has been an active supporter of the University of Tennessee over the years. He serves as a senior member on the UTCVM Board of Advisors and is proud to call UT his alma mater
2024 PRIVATE PRACTICE AWARD
Elizabeth Shull, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology), DACVB
Dr. Elizabeth A. Shull is a Tennessee native, the daughter of a country physician from Whitwell, TN. She was honored to be accepted into the first class at UTCVM in 1976, graduating in 1979. Prior to veterinary college she received a BS degree in zoology and attended graduate school in animal behavior at UTK.
She completed a small animal internship at Michigan State University and a neurology residency at UTCVM. During the residency she established the Veterinary Behavior clinical service and the elective behavior course. She achieved board certification in ACVIM-Neurology (1986) and became a charter diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behavior (1993). Dr. Shull served on the faculty at UTCVM (1983-2000) teaching neurology and behavior clinical services and classes in behavior and neurology. After leaving for private practice, she continued as adjunct faculty, teaching courses in behavior and psychopharmacology.
Dr. Shull was on the organizing committee and became President of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (2002-2004). She served in other organizations as well, including: AVMA, ACVIM-Neurology, American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior and Knoxville Veterinary Medical Association. In 2000, Dr Shull established Appalachian Veterinary Specialists, a referral practice in Knoxville. She currently is a consultant in neurology and behavior for Antech Diagnostic Laboratory.
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