The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) recognized a California regulatory veterinarian for his leadership and advocacy in protecting the horse from infectious diseases when presenting its 2018 Distinguished Service Award to Kent Fowler, DVM.

The Distinguished Service Award honors exemplary service to the AAEP or a similar organization to the benefit of the horse, horse industry or profession of equine veterinary medicine. Fowler was honored Dec. 4 during the President’s Luncheon at the 2018 AAEP Convention in San Francisco, California.

Fowler is the Animal Health Branch chief for the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), in Sacramento. He was an early advocate for creation of the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) and the National Equine Health Plan, participating in initial planning meetings in 2010 and playing an instrumental role in advancing the concepts and obtaining acceptance and use of the EDCC by state veterinarians