AAEP Past President Charles D. Vail, DVM, will be recognized for his contributions to veterinary medicine and the AAEP today (Dec. 5) at the President’s Luncheon during the 52nd Annual AAEP Convention.

Vail, a Colorado native, graduated from the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1960. Upon graduation, he went to work for Drs. Harry W. Johnson and G. Marvin Beeman at the Littleton Large Animal Clinic in Littleton, Colo., and he continues practicing there today.

An AAEP member since 1963, Vail has been very active within the association. In addition to serving as president in 1985, he has served on the AAEP Hospital Planning, Audit and Budget, Educational Programs, Proceedings Book, President’s Advisory, Nominating, Problems Analysis, Public Relations, International Liaison, Political Liaison, Constitution and Bylaws, Infectious Disease, and Legislative Network committees. Vail also authored the AAEP’s 50th anniversary publication, “The History of the American Association of Equine Practitioners: The Second 25 Years.”

Vail has had a career-long commitment to organized veterinary medicine and continuing education. He has been president of the Denver Area Veterinary Medical Society, the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association, the Western Veterinary Conference, the Littleton Rotary, the Animal Assistance Foundation, the Rocky Mountain Stroke Association, and the Colorado State University Alumni Association.
 
The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse.  Currently, the AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its 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