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Internationally Known Scientist Recognized by Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine

Wednesday, October 1, 2008 - 9:06am

Dr. Alexander (Sandy) de Lahunta will be recognized with the College of Veterinary Medicine's Alumni Association's Daniel Elmer Salmon Award for Distinguished Alumni Service. To be presented at the New York State Veterinary Conference, on October 4, 2008, the award recognizes and honors Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine graduates who have distinguished themselves in service to the profession, their communities or to the College.

Lahunta The award is named in honor of Cornell's first DVM graduate, who is remembered for his pioneering work in controlling contagious animal diseases in the early 20th century. D.E. Salmon was one of Dr. James Law's first students when Cornell University opened its doors in 1868. He received the Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree in 1872 and entered practice in Newark, NJ. He continued his advanced research at Cornell and in 1876 he was awarded the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. This was the first DVM degree to be awarded in the United States of America.

Dr. D., as Dr. de Lahunta is affectionately known, is a legend in the College of Veterinary Medicine. He has earned status as a scientist, an astute diagnostician, an exceptional and exceptionally dedicated educator, and a valued mentor and friend to many.

Few people have brought greater distinction to the College in recent decades. Always a humble and hardworking man (legendary for conducting 3 am rounds), Dr. de Lahunta is internationally known as a pioneer and leader of veterinary neurology. He is equally well known as an anatomist. Alone, and in collaboration with Cornell colleagues, he has published five leading text books in these disciplines and is the author of 266 peer reviewed publications in professional and scientific journals. Dr. de Lahunta is also renowned as an exceptional educator. Within the College he was four times the recipient of the Norden Distinguished Teacher Award. In 1991, he was recognized by the national veterinary student organization as the best teacher in basic sciences. In 2000, he received the Robert W. Kirk Distinguished Service Award of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Dr. de Lahunta has been granted honorary membership by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (2002) and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (2005).

Dr. Alexander de Lahunta received his DVM and PhD degrees from Cornell University in 1958 and 1963, respectively. He practiced veterinary medicine in Concord, NH, from 1958 to 1960, when he joined the faculty of the Department of Anatomy at Cornell University as Instructor. He became Assistant Professor in 1963 and was promoted to Associate Professor in 1966 and Professor in 1973. Dr. de Lahunta served as Chief of the Medical and Surgical section of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (now the Cornell University Hospital for Animals) from 1975 to 1976 and as Hospital Director from 1976 to 1982. He chaired the Department of Clinical Sciences from 1977 to 1986, and the Department of Anatomy from 1986 to 1991. In 1992, he was elevated to James Law Professor of Anatomy.

Cornell Graduates Recognized at Veterinary Conference

Cornell Graduates Recognized at Veterinary Conference At the awards banquet hosted by the New York State Veterinary Medical Society and the Cornell Veterinary Alumni Association, Cornell graduates were recognized for outstanding service, distinguished life service, and Dr. Alexander de Lahunta was presented with the Daniel Elmer Salmon Award for Distinguished Alumni Service. Arthur Kronfeld and Wayne Warriner, Jr., were recognized at the New York State Veterinary Conference with the Distinguished Life Service award and the Veterinarian of the Year award, respectively. The conference was held October 2-5, 2008, at Cornell University.

Kronfeld DVM '59, who was named New York State Veterinarian of the Year in 1988, was the director/owner of the Port Washington Animal Hospital on Long Island from 1963 to 2000. Kronfeld is a shareholder and continues to work part-time at the practice. His Distinguished Life Service award pays tribute to a lifetime of good and faithful contributions to the profession and to the New York State Veterinary Medical Society (NYSVMS).

Kronfeld is an active member of the Long Island Veterinary Medical Association and served on its board of directors and as president. He was elected by his colleagues to represent them on the New York State Veterinary Medical Society executive board and served from 1978 to 1984. During this time, he served on several committees, including government relations, management relations, site selection, and awards committee, which he chaired. Under his leadership, the awards committee revised and improved recognition for outstanding contributions to the profession.

Warriner DVM '67 owns Avon Animal Hospital, a small animal practice. Active in the Finger Lakes Veterinary Medical Association, he served as treasurer, board member, and president. Like Kronfeld, he was elected by his colleagues to represent them on the NYSVMS executive board and served two terms, from 1997 through 2004.

Warriner also volunteers for community organizations. He has been a member of the Avon Rotary for 22 years and served as president, treasurer, and chairman of several committees. He has been a member of the Dunkirk Kiwanis for 16 years and has been president and a board member.

Warriner's dedication to veterinary medicine has earned him numerous accolades from his colleagues, and he epitomizes what the Veterinarian of the Year award was established to recognize: commitment, fellowship, and volunteerism.