MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine can once again boast about having the "best vet."

Dr. A. Wayne Groce, a professor assigned to the CVM Office of Special Programs and home-based in the Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, was named Veterinarian of the Year by the Mississippi Veterinary Medical Association for his contributions to the field of veterinary medicine. The award was announced at the 2003 MVMA annual summer convention in Gulfport.

"Dr. Groce was chosen as Veterinarian of the Year because of his competence and commitment to this field," said Dr. Richard Hopper, an associate professor with MSU-CVM and current MVMA president. "Dr. Groce always does things right regardless of the effort it may take. He always takes the extra effort to make sure things are done the way they should be done."

The Veterinarian of the Year is selected by the executive board from individuals nominated by the MVMA membership. To be considered for the award, an individual must be a member for five years and attend a majority of the MVMA meetings.

Groce's accomplishments during his 20-year tenure as a professor at MSU include having taught almost half of the veterinarians currently practicing in Mississippi.

"Dr. Groce has helped extensively and tirelessly with the programs of the Mississippi Veterinary Medical Association and Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine," Hopper added.

Groce earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, and a doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Michigan State University. He also earned a doctoral degree in animal nutrition from Michigan State.

Awarded by the MVMA annually since 1970, the Veterinarian of the Year award was given in 2002 to Dr. John Thomson, current dean of the CVM.