AVC faculty member awarded 2018 Atlantic Award of Excellence
Dr. Étienne Côté, professor of cardiology at the Atlantic Veterinary College, is the winner of the College’s 2018 Atlantic Award of Excellence in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Care.
Dr. Greg Keefe, dean of AVC, presented the award to Dr. Côté in front of a large crowd of AVC alumni and friends at the Atlantic Provinces Veterinary Conference in Halifax on April 13. Dr. Côté was nominated by Dr. Ameet Singh, a former student who is now an associate professor of surgery at the Ontario Veterinary College.
Dr. Côté came to AVC in 2003 as a small animal internal medicine clinician and set up a cardiology practice in 2004. He is passionate about teaching, and his dedication to veterinary students and residents is exemplary. He is known for his innovative teaching methods and consequently has received numerous teaching awards, including being named a 3M National Teaching Fellow.
“Dr. Côté’s dedication to his patients and his students has earned the respect of his colleagues at AVC and beyond,” said Dr. Keefe. “As a clinician and teacher, he is an inspiration to veterinarians, veterinary students, and others concerned about the health and welfare of animals.”
He is one of the most well-known and respected clinicians at AVC, committed to providing outstanding care to his patients and their owners, and to working with referring veterinarians. He has advanced the knowledge base of the veterinary profession, giving continuing education presentations and contributing to publications including Clinical Veterinary Advisor, Feline Cardiology, and the Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, the seminal reference book for internal medicine.
“Dr. Côté has been a tremendous mentor for me… He is wise beyond his years, and I am fortunate to have him as a sounding board,” said Dr. Singh in his nomination letter.
Dr. Darcy Shaw, professor emeritus, supported Dr. Côté’s nomination, saying that he has advanced the veterinary profession through his clinical and publishing work but also through entrepreneurship. He developed a veterinary drug index app that allows veterinarians and students select and prescribe medications with their smartphones or tablets. And he co-founded Veterinary Board Games, which developed Veterinary Board Exam Flash Cards (vols 1, 2, and 3) to help students prepare for the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE).
Dr. Shari Raheb, a former student now doing a residency in cardiology at the Ontario Veterinary College, knows Dr. Côté as a teacher, mentor, and colleague. In supporting his nomination, she praised him for his dedication to student veterinarians and residents he has taught.
“Étienne’s compassion and respect towards his patients, veterinary students, and colleagues serve as an example for veterinarians everywhere,” said Dr. Raheb.
