Larry R. Bramlage, DVM, MS, and John E. Madigan, DVM, will be recognized today (Dec. 5) as recipients of the Distinguished Service Award during the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ (AAEP) 52nd Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas. To be awarded to an individual who has provided exemplary service to the AAEP or a similar organization to the benefit of the horse, horse industry or the profession of equine veterinary medicine, Bramlage and Madigan will be honored for their work as the co-presenters of the popular Kester News Hour held each year during the annual convention.

The Kester News Hour, a two-hour session held annually as part of the AAEP convention’s scientific program, provides highlights of the past year in equine medicine and research. The session, named in honor of the late AAEP past president and executive director Dr. Wayne “Sage” Kester, was first held ten years ago as one of several programming choices for convention attendees. The popularity of the News Hour quickly grew, however, and it is now featured as one of the key sessions on the opening day of the annual convention. Bramlage and Madigan have served as co-presenters of the session since its inception, and their witty delivery and ability to capture the truly meaningful news from equine veterinary medicine have made the Kester News Hour a perennial favorite with convention attendees.

When they are not working on the Kester News Hour, Bramlage is an equine orthopedic surgeon who is a partner at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky.  Madigan is a professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of California-Davis and heads its Veterinary Emergency Response and Helicopter Rescue teams