Center

The Association for Women Veterinarians Foundation has named Sharon Center, DVM, the 2012 Outstanding Woman Veterinarian of the Year. This award is presented to a female graduate of an accredited veterinary school to recognize special effort and achievement by a woman veterinarian in any area of veterinary medicine.

Center, a professor of medicine at Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine, is widely recognized for her development of a practical, affordable assay that revolutionized the diagnosis of common liver diseases; her investigations into various diseases that affect the liver and biliary tract that have resulted in the recognition and characterization of novel disorders; her leadership in the innovative use of new drug therapies to manage liver disease; and her work to improve our understanding of feline hepatic lipidosis.

Center received her veterinary degree from the University of California-Davis. She has delivered keynote addresses at eminent veterinary symposia worldwide and is a frequent speaker on hepatic diseases at regional, national and international veterinary meetings. She also is the recipient of the Norden Distinguished Teacher Award, presented to her by Cornell students.

"During her more than 30 years of dedicated service to our profession, Dr. Center has made extraordinary contributions in the fields of veterinary research, education and clinical practice," wrote John Randolph and Bud Tennant, Cornell professors and colleagues. "Her impressive accomplishments have resulted in recognition, respect and admiration from members of the veterinary profession throughout the world."