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Faculty members honored at Celebrating Distinction ceremony

Dean James W. Lloyd is shown with Dr. Nick Bacon, the Jean Imparato Clinical Associate Professor of Surgical Oncology. (Photo by Jesse Jones)

Two University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine faculty members who occupy new or recently-filled endowed professorships  were honored Oct. 10 at the second annual Celebrating Distinction ceremony, held at the McKnight Brain Institute on the UF Health campus.

Appointment to a professorship or chair is one of the highest honors a college can bestow on a faculty member and is reserved for scholars of national and international acclaim.

Sponsored by the UF Foundation and UF Health, the event provides an opportunity to recognize both the faculty member and the donor that created the endowed professorship. Twenty-five faculty members from most of the Health Science Center colleges were honored during the ceremony, which lasted about an hour and a half and was followed by a reception.

Honored from the UF veterinary medical college were Dr. Nick Bacon, the Jean Imparato Clinical Associate Professor of Surgical Oncology, and Dr. Maureen Long,  the Fern Audette Professor of Equine Studies.

Bacon is a clinical associate professor of oncology in the department of small animal clinical sciences. Long is an associate professor of infectious diseases in the department of infections diseases and pathology.

The college’s dean, Dr. James W. Lloyd, introduced both faculty members during the ceremony

“Dr. Long’s work in the area of infectious diseases, specifically West Nile virus, has long been appreciated by Florida’s agricultural industry representatives and horse owners alike. An equine clinician by training, her dedication to infectious disease research has significantly advanced our understanding of disease transmission and prevention in horses,” he said.

Dean James W. Lloyd is shown with Joan Audette and Dr. Maureen Long, the Fern Audette Professor of Equine Studies.  (Photo by Jesse Jones)

The dean also acknowledged Joan Audette, the donor who created Long’s professorship, who was on hand for the occasion. Joan Audette created the endowed professorship in honor of her late husband, Fern Audette, whom she has described as “a magazine publisher with a vision and a caring man who devoted his life and resources to the horse industry.”

In acknowledging Bacon, the dean noted, “Dr. Bacon has made, and will continue to make, a huge difference in the lives of pets with cancer. He is renowned for his ongoing and passionate commitment to the exploration of new and improved techniques for cancer treatment in small animals.”

The late Jean Imparato was a client of Dr. David Tollon, who lives in the Tampa area, for more than 20 years. She sought his counsel when planning her estate after the passing of her husband, Edward, Tollon encouraged Imparato to consider a gift to the college, which was designated to support an endowed professorship that would have a meaningful impact on canine oncology research.