The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has named John Stick, DVM, the chief of staff at Michigan State University’s (MSU) Large Animal Teaching Hospital, April’s honored practitioner for the Good Works for Horses campaign.

Since 1999, Stick has served as a veterinary advocate for the Michigan chapter of the Communication Alliance To Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses (CANTER). Operated solely by volunteers, CANTER offers Thoroughbred owners and trainers a solution for horses that can no longer race by providing rehabilitation, medical procedures, training, and adoption services. The organization’s efforts are funded by charitable donations, which include contributions from the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine and the Large Animal Teaching Hospital.

Stick was instrumental in creating the partnership between the MSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital and CANTER that provides life-saving surgeries for injured racehorses coming off the track. While the primary goal of the partnership is to rehabilitate racehorses, it has become a valuable teaching tool for veterinary students. With Stick’s supervision, MSU students have performed arthroscopic surgery, removed bone fragments, and repaired fractures on CANTER horses.

"This has been a God-send to be able to teach students about these types of injuries," Stick said. "Students know they get to do the work on the horses. It’s a great teaching tool