October 2024 Issue

Page 24 October 2024 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN AAEP press release James Lewis, DVM, Lac, Mount Airy, MD was recently honored by the American Asso- ciation of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Good Works for Hors- es campaign, for his volunteer efforts to give a second chance to rescue horses in Maryland. Good Works for Horses, sponsored by AAEP Educa- tional Partner Zoetis, honors AAEP-member practitioners whose volunteer efforts are having a positive impact on the equine community. Dr. Lewis was among more than a dozen AAEP-member veterinarians nominated for the award by horse owners and equine organizations. Also recognized for their industry altruism were runners-up Keith Bogatch, DVM, a racetrack vet- erinarian based in Elmont, N.Y.; and Alyssa King, DVM, owner of King’s Kreatures, Ltd. in Yoder, Colo. A member of Damascus Equine Associates, Dr. Lewis volunteers his services with Safe Haven Equine Warriors, a Sykes- ville, Md., nonprofit established in 2017 to rescue, rehabilitate, retrain and rehome equines either suffering from or in imminent danger of abuse or neglect. Dr. Lewis serves on the advisory council and supports the rescue’s mission in multiple ways. He volunteers his ex- pertise to oversee the health of the rescue’s herd, treating and managing often difficult con- ditions to give rescued horses a new lease on life. Dr. Lewis also leads difficult discussions with sensible compassion, and he enjoys teaching and igniting a passion for equine medicine in local youth. “Just recently, he came to our summer students’ program with his ‘bones’ and taught them all about teeth, jaws, skulls, legs and hooves with real bones they could touch,” said Dr. Lewis’ nominator Tina Snyder, founder of Safe Haven Equine Warriors. “The volunteers and interns were fascinated and so excited. Ques- tions went on for almost an extra hour! I’d bet a veterinary career was born that day!” Dr. Lewis’ indomitable spirit of volunteerism dates back over four decades. After graduating from the University of Turin School of Veterinary Medicine in Italy in 1981, Dr. Lewis spent much of the next 10 years providing veterinary services in developing countries through volunteer organizations such as the Peace Corps and Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assis- tance. Dr. Lewis worked exten- sively in Central America, North Africa and Southeast Asia. After a year in Cambodia, he returned to Maryland in 1992 and joined Damascus Equine Associates the following year. For more information on nominating a veterinarian for this program, contact Grace Barrier at gbarrier@aaep.org . Dr. James Lewis Lauded for Volunteer Work with Rescue Horses