The College has awarded Dr. Steven Rymal the Rooker Award for Excellence in Equine Practice and Dr. Lauren Fischer the inaugural Young Equine Practitioner Award.

"The field of equine veterinary medicine is blessed by the contributions of many skilled and knowledgeable practitioners, and we are honored to recognize two of them," says Dr. Annette O'Connor, department chair and professor of epidemiology. "Both Drs. Rymal and Fischer have made significant impacts in the lives of their fellow equine practitioners, of animals near and far, and of the students who they have mentored. Both are known for their passion and compassion for equine practice and the veterinary profession, and we appreciate the opportunity to honor them."

The awards were given during Large Animal Clinical Sciences Continuing Education Day. In addition to the awards ceremony, the day comprised of research updates and break-out sessions in which attendees could select production animal or equine tracks. View the event program in full here.

Dr. Steven Rymal, Rooker Award for Excellence in Equine Practice

Dr. Rymal is a 1971 graduate of the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine. After a few years at a few different practices, he joined with five other veterinarians to establish the Oakland Equine Center, a full-service central hospital that received referrals from all over the state. The Center was home to the quarterly Michigan Equine Practitioners Association’s continuing education meetings, a well-attended program that was important to Michigan equine veterinarians for more than a decade. Today, Dr. Rymal serves and supports Horses’ Haven, a rescue and rehabilitation center for at-risk equines.

The Rooker Award for Excellence in Equine Practice, established in 2012, is awarded by the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Equine Practice Committee of the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association to an outstanding Michigan equine practitioner that has devoted their career to the advancement of equine veterinary medicine and training of future generations of equine practitioners and professionals.

The award is named after its original recipient, Dr. James A. Rooker, a 1954 graduate of the College. In addition to a highly successful career caring for Michigan’s horses and their owners, Dr. Rooker was an excellent role model and mentor for many high school, undergraduate, and veterinary students—as well as veterinarians in the early stages of their careers. Further, Dr. and Mrs. Rooker had great success breeding and competing Arabian horses, and were strong contributors to the development of the Arabian breed and the Michigan and national Arabian horse industry.

Dr. Lauren Fischer, Young Equine Practitioner Award

Dr. Lauren Fischer graduated from the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine in 2016. Following graduation, she spent five years at the Cleveland Equine Clinic. She completed equine acupuncture training in 2015, and in 2021, began working at the Howell Animal Hospital in Howell, Michigan.

“What makes Dr. Lauren Fischer stand out is her dedication to relief work in underdeveloped countries. Not only does this help shape her as a practitioner and a person, but is also an important way to give back. In countries such as Mexico, working animals are crucial to many people’s way of living. Improving the health and welfare of the animals is so vital for their community. I have enjoyed watching her use her skills and time to go above and beyond in such a demanding profession. Being able to watch the excitement and satisfaction of knowing she is helping the welfare and health of the animals has been a true joy.” –Dr. Brett A. Berthold, Cleveland Equine Clinic