At the finish line in Nome, Stu Nelson is there to meet the dogs.

We’d like to extend our congratulations to Dr. Stuart Nelson, Jr., Chief Veterinarian for Iditarod.  Dr. Nelson is the recipient of the 2015 American Veterinarian Medical Association Meritorious Service Award. Out of three finalists for this award, Dr. Nelson was selected.  He will will be honored at this year’s AVMA Annual Convention in July.

“The AVMA Meritorious Service Award recognizes an individual veterinarian who has brought public honor and distinction to the veterinary profession through personal, professional, or community service activities that are conducted outside the scope of organized veterinary medicine or research. The House Advisory Committee will review the applications and forward up to three candidates to the Executive Board for its consideration.”  https://www.avma.org/ProfessionalDevelopment/Awards/Pages/meritorious-service-award.aspx

As Chief Vet for Iditarod, Dr. Nelson heads up an incredible team of about 55 veterinarians  plus vet techs and other volunteers who work before, during, and after the race.  The vets work the pre-race vet checks, Millennium Headquarters dog drop, checkpoints from Anchorage to Nome, drug testing, and he even has two pathologists on the team.  This is a well planned program designed to make sure the dogs of Iditarod are priority one. 

Stu and Race Marshall, Mark Nordman

At the finish line, Stu chats with mushers.

When a musher arrives in Nome, Stu is at the finish line and can be seen observing and examining the dogs.