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Alumni News
Weicht wins Morris Animal Foundation Award
Dr. Kirk Weicht, a 1983 graduate
of the Texas A&M University College
of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical
Sciences, has been chosen from more
than 370 nominees as this year’s national
and southwest regional winner
of the “Thank your vet for a healthy
pet” contest. The contest is conducted
by Morris Animal
Foundation, a nonprofit
organization dedicated to
funding research studies
to protect, treat and cure
both companion animals
and wildlife. It is also
sponsored by Hill’s Pet
Nutrition and BowTie Inc.
Winners are nominated
by their clients for their
dedication to veterinary
medicine demonstrated
through outstanding care
and treatment, commitment
to promoting the
human-animal bond, and
community service.
Weicht received the
award at the North American Veterinary
Conference in Orlando, Florida,
in January.
“It feels very nice to be recognized by
the people you serve,” said Weicht, who
50 • CVM Today • Summer 2010
has been associated with Brown Trail
Animal Hospital in Bedford, Texas,
since 1977.
Excellence, compassion, and devotion
to his profession have earned
Weicht a reputation of being an
exceptional veterinarian among his
clients, staff, and community. It was
“Dr. Weicht is an amazing
person to work for” and
“he’s always there for his
staff,” said Gina DeGennaro,
a long-time employee,
who also nominated Weicht
for the award.
these qualities that Diana Beck, one of
Weicht’s clients, wanted to honor him
by nominating him for the award.
“He’s just relentless in his quest for
the right diagnosis,” said Beck, who
Dr. Kirk Weicht has been associated with Brown Trail Animal Hospital, in Bedford, TX, since
1977.
has consulted Weicht for treatment for
her pets for more than 20 years. “He
doesn’t stop when he runs up against a
brick wall. The health and well-being
of the animals in his care are always his
first priority. Without his intervention,
our dogs would not be alive today.”
For Gina DeGennaro, Weicht’s longstanding
employee, the
award is fitting recognition
for a veterinarian
whose skill at his work
is surpassed only by his
kindness to his staff.
“Dr. Weicht is an amazing
person to work for,”
DeGennaro said, who also
nominated Weicht for
the award. “He’s always
there for his staff, whether
it’s encouraging them to
pursue continuing education
courses or comforting
them when a pet has to be
put down.”
Beck and DeGennaro
have also been moved by
Weicht’s willingness to set aside time
for charitable causes. For example,
Weicht has helped raise funds for food
and treatment for Weimaraner Rescue
of North Texas, Inc. Also, on learning
from the Meals on Wheels charity
that elderly pet owners were splitting
their food with their pets, Weight got
together with his staff, clients and pet
food companies and donated several
hundred pounds of pet food to the
charity.
Whether it’s offering free first-time
examinations for pets from rescues
or holding weekly meetings to evaluate
and improve the clinic’s services,
Weicht’s devotion to his work is evident.
In the future, Weicht aims to continue
to sets high goals for his practice,
one of which is to offer new diagnostic
modalities.
“Updating diagnostic services makes
the practice interesting and helps you
to not stay in a rut,” Weicht said.
For Weicht, who has been involved
in veterinary medicine in one way or
another since he was 14, being a veterinarian
is a job he can’t believe he gets
paid for.
“I love walking into the clinic every
morning,” Weicht said. “As long as I
stay healthy and do a good job, I will
continue to work as a veterinarian.”