Dr Lesley J. Smith, President of ACVAA writes in memory of Dr. John Thurmon

As many of you may know, Dr. John Thurmon passed away the week of March 20, 2017 from congestive heart failure. He was a remarkable person in many ways and had a longstanding devotion to the ACVAA. Over 45 years ago (1971) he was honored by his peers to be selected chair of the Ad Hoc Committee responsible for establishing the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists (ACVA). He was one of seven ACVA Charter diplomats. He had a distinguished career of over 30 years at the University of Illinois-College of Veterinary Medicine where he published extensively and emphasized the incorporation of advanced academic training within Anesthesia Residency programs. He was proud to be the research advisor for over 25 anesthesia residents and graduate students during his career. Many of these diplomates are now in private practice or hold faculty positions in academic institutions across North America and the rest of the world. Dr. Thurmon was also an early and significant supporter of the ACVAA Foundation, and suggested the establishment of a Resident Research Award to be granted by the Foundation, supplying seed money that he continued to contribute to over the years. In the early 1990s Dr. Thurmon accepted the task of becoming Editor-in-Chief of the 3rd edition of “Lumb and Jones Veterinary Anesthesia”. As a multi-species anesthesia and analgesia textbook, he viewed this work as a critical component in maintaining the legitimacy of veterinary anesthesiology as a specialty within the wider veterinary community. Indeed, Dr. Thurmon’s contributions to veterinary anesthesiology were consequential and significant.