Nathaniel A. White II, DVM, MS, DACVS, whose tireless efforts saw his concept of the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) become reality in 2016, received the President’s Award during the Dec. 6 President’s Luncheon at the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ 62^nd Annual Convention in Orlando, Fla.

The President’s Award, selected by the sitting AAEP president, honors an AAEP member who has demonstrated a dedication to the association during the past year by contributing a significant portion of time and expertise to benefit the health and welfare of the horse.

Dr. White is professor emeritus of equine surgery at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine’s Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center. He serves as director and administrative consultant with the EDCC, the industry-funded hub for efficient communication of information about equine infectious diseases and disease outbreaks.

In addition to his role with the EDCC, Dr. White chairs a research task force investigating alternative management strategies for exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage that has evolved into an ongoing EIPH research collaborative effort. He has also represented AAEP’s interests in several USDA initiatives and been instrumental in developing an Equine Injury Database for the National Steeplechase Association and helping implement strategies to decrease jump race injuries.

Dr. White, who received his veterinary degree from Cornell University in 1971, is a past president of the AAEP and former chair of the AAEP Foundation, the charitable arm of the AAEP that has distributed more than $3.7 million since 1994 to improve the welfare of the horse.

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.

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