[July 15, 2010; Philadelphia, PA] – Penn Vet’s Kenneth J. Drobatz, DVM, MSCE, DACVIM, DACVECC and director of Emergency Service at Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania (Ryan-VHUP), has been honored by his alma mater, University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

The Alumni Achievement Award honors outstanding personal and professional contributions to veterinary science or one of its branches, contributions to veterinary practice in any of its forms, or service to mankind and the advancement of human welfare.

Kenneth J. Drobatz, D.V.M., M.S.C.E., DACVIM, DACVECC, of Landsdowne, PA, has received the honor in recognition of leadership in veterinary emergency service and critical care as well as his dedication to teach and inspire students.

Drobatz is a professor and chief of critical care at Penn Vet, where he is also associate chair for education in the Department of Clinical Studies — Philadelphia.

It is in all of his roles that he has contributed significantly to the growth of the critical care specialty in veterinary practice and has provided leading-edge training to students and specialists in the field.

Having earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from UC Davis in 1985, Drobatz went on to complete an emergency medicine residency at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2002, he earned a Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology (M.S.C.E.) from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.

Drobatz has written or edited many publications related to health emergencies such as trauma, electrolyte emergencies and respiratory emergencies in small animals and has received several teaching awards during his tenure.

During commencement June 11, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Dean Bennie Osburn conferred the school's highest honor, the Alumni Achievement Award, to five distinguished graduates. In addition to Drobatz, honorees included Michael D. Kock, B.Vet.Med., M.P.V.M., MRCVS; Terry Paik, DVM; Jeff W. Tyler, DVM., MPVM., PhD., DACVIM; and Constantin Genigeorgis, DVM, MS, PhD., DECVPH.