Edward J. Robb DVM, MS, DACVN, received the Iron Paw Award, and On A Mission KC was presented with the Spirit of Service award, during the 2025 KC Animal Health Corridor Summit in Kansas City, Missouri opening session.

The Iron Paw is one of the industry’s highest awards, according to Matt Musselman, chief operating officer, farm services for Dairy Farmers of America and chair of the KC Animal Health Corridor Advisory Board. “The Iron Paw is given annually to someone from research, academia, industry or government, regardless of their title or years of service, who's made a significant impact contribution to the global animal health industry,” Musselman told the audience while presenting the award.

The Spirit of Service Award recognizes nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the health and welfare of animals. These organizations are frequently operating with limited resources to carry out their work.

Photo courtesy of KC Animal Health Corridor

2025 Iron Paw Award recipient Edward J. Robb DVM, MS, DACVN

A graduate of Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Robb completed a Master of Science degree in epidemiology and a residency in veterinary nutrition at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet). He was a clinical practitioner and lecturer at Penn Vet before transitioning to product development. Over the years, he has held various technical and business positions, leading to his role as vice president of research and development (R&D) at Boehringer-Ingelheim Vetmedica, where he grew the US R&D program from 90 to 240 full-time employees with research investment growing from less than $30 million a year to more than $70 million annually.

After taking on roles at Ceva Animal Health and Parnell Veterinary Pharmaceuticals, Robb founded BioPharmaPotentials (BPP) and currently serves as its CEO. BPP offers consulting for health product development and has a client list with many innovative projects across various therapeutic sectors, according to KC Animal Health Corridor.

In his acceptance speech, Robb said he was humbled by the recognition and reflected on his career in research and development. “Some of my opinions haven’t always been appreciated. Our industry vacillates between conformity…and focus on innovation. So at times, new ideas, new therapeutic options, new classes, new prevention treatments are not always popular. Over time, I've mellowed on some of these ideas. Setbacks and failures have taught me more,” Robb said. “So keep innovating. Let's keep opening up new therapeutic areas. Let's keep on building alliances to support One Health solutions. Let's continue to thrive and support interdisciplinary teams and, most importantly, we need to work together to keep attracting talented, creative, results oriented women and men to animal health.

Photo: Kristen Coppock Crossley, MA/dvm360

On A Mission KC founder Scott Poore (center) accepts the Spirit of Service Award from Kimberly Young (left), president of the KC Animal Health Corridor (AHC) and Matt Musselman, chief operating officer, farm services for Dairy Farmers of America and chair of the KC AHC Advisory Board, during the 2025 KC AHC Summit in Kansas City, Missouri. 

On A Mission KC is dedicated to helping long-term shelter dogs find love and stability by generating awareness of these pets and providing resources to assist their care. The organization’s work includes helping these canines find homes and providing support to families in crisis to help them keep their animals.On A Mission KC has helped more than 1500 long-term shelter dogs and has raised more than $1.5 million for shelters, rescues and outreach programs since 2016.

“They’re trying to do a lot with a little,” Scott Poore, founder of On A Mission KC, said in a video, during the award presentation. “What I do is I look for things that I know that they're going to need, while they tell me what they think they need, and usually it's something really simple and humble when I'm thinking much bigger picture.”

An example of On A Mission KC’s work was shown in the video. At Windsor Animal Shelter in Missouri, On A Mission KC provided fenced play yards so that the animals housed there could get outdoors more often and have places to be active. While working at the shelter, Poore noticed needs for heat and air conditioning in the kennel areas and a refresh for the facility’s aesthetic. On A Mission KC then provided the shelter’s first HVAC system and volunteers painted the building, which Poore said would help make the facility more visually appealing. “We want the volunteers, the staff members and potential adopters to be excited and walk into a building that looks happy,” he said.

At the summit, Musselman and Kimberly Young, president of the KC Animal Health Corridor, presented On A Mission KC with a symbolic check. Poore said the funding will help further the organization’s mission.

“I am so grateful for the spirit of service award, this donation is life changing for my organization. It's the largest donation we've ever received. We have so many projects now that we have put on hold that we can actually move forward with thanks to this generosity.” Poore said.

2025 Spirit of Service recipient. KC Animal Health Corridor. Accessed August 25, 2025. 

https://kcanimalhealth.thinkkc.com/events/Spirit-of-Service

2025 Iron Paw Award recipient. KC Animal Health Corridor. Accessed August 25, 2025. 

https://kcanimalhealth.thinkkc.com/events/kcahc-iron-paw-award

Articles

A veterinarian and a nonprofit organization were both recognized on stage at the 2025 KC Animal Health Corridor Summit.

The 2025 Iron Paw and Spirit of Service awards are presented

A new campaign aimed at expanding access to opportunity in veterinary medicine was launched at the 2025 Animal Health Summit in Kansas City, Missouri. The Animal Health Corridor (AHC) Workforce offers recruitment materials, digital tools for career seekers, and information on the various ways that individuals from many different job sectors can find their place in the animal health industry.

The campaign helps address the needs of the animal health industry workforce. “We are no longer just talking about the talent shortage. We are doing something about it…. [The campaign] is bold, it's needed, and it's long overdue,” Kimberly Young, president of the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor, said during the announcement for the campaign.

Kimberly Young, president of the KC Animal Health Corridor; and Matt Musselman, chief operating officer, farm services for Dairy Farmers of America, open the 2025 KC Animal Health Corridor Summit with the announcement of the Animal Health Corridor Workforce campaign.

Matt Musselman, chief operating officer of farm services for Dairy Farmers of America, who made the announcement with Young, noted that the AHC spent the last year listening to students, companies, and educators, ascertaining their needs. “What we heard was loud and clear: The next generation of young people don't have the full picture of what a career in animal health could look like…so we ask ourselves: What if we redefine our narrative? What if we stood together as a collective animal health industry and said animal health is more? That’s what inspired the launch of our new Animal Health Corridor Workforce campaign,” Musselman said.

According to a video presented during the announcement of the campaign, animal health takes all kinds of professions, encouraging the summit audience to help spread the word. “Tell the story. Lead the way. Let everyone know this industry has so much to offer everyone…. The corridor is growing. We need all kinds of people. We need to attract. We need to compete—for today [and] for tomorrow,” the video said.

, provides access to downloadable materials, opportunity insights, and other resources. It also explains how many different professions provide unique strengths to the animal care industry. These professions include transportation, shipping, data science, pharmaceuticals, machinery, academics, hospitality, sales, analysis, research, communication, and more.

 Under communication, a skilled writer, for example, can create content for trade publications such as industry news, feature articles, and creative stories that engage and inform animal health stakeholders.

The AHC Workforce campaign is fittingly launched as the AHC celebrates its 20th anniversary. Over time, the organization has significantly grown in reach and impact on the industry, Musselman explained.

“Since the inception of the corridor, 85 new companies have relocated to the Kansas City region, and many existing companies have chosen to invest and expand in this region. We have added an impressive 4500 new jobs, $405 million in new payroll, and [more than] $4 billion in new capital investments over the past 40 years,” he said.

According to Young, 2025 is an appropriate time to address the needs of the current and future generations. "Today is not just a gathering," she said of the summit. "It's a call to action.

“Twenty years ago, this summit started as an idea, a place to connect talent, innovation, and opportunity, and [to] just look around. That idea became a movement, one that is now leading the global conversation on what's next for our industry,” Young said. “As we have talked about for years, there's a growing talent gap threatening our industry, yet there's a generation out there full of passion, skill, and purpose, many of whom don't know yet that our industry needs them."

That notion was echoed later on stage, during the “Insights From Emerging Leaders” panel discussion by Mary Young, an operations support engineer with Merck Animal Health. “[Upon] graduating from college, I had no idea that, as an engineering graduate, there was anywhere for me to go in animal health. Turns out, there absolutely is,” she said. 

Young K, Musselman M. Opening remarks and impact awards ceremony. Presented at: 2025 Animal Health Summit; August 25-26, 2025; Kansas City, MO.

KC Animal Health Corridor. Accessed August 25, 2025. https://exploreahcareers.com

Writer. KC Animal Health Corridor. Accessed August 25, 2025. https://exploreahcareers.com/writer/

The Kansas City Animal Health Corridor announced the initiative and a call to action at the organization’s 2025 summit in Kansas City, Missouri. 

Industry campaign aims to improve access to opportunity

 of 600 pet owners in the US found that most pet owners are more concerned about their pet’s emotional well-being than traditional concerns like physical health, aggression, or disobedience. Specifically, pet separation anxiety was cited as the No. 1 concern among 61% of the pet owners surveyed.

The data were collected between July 3, 2025, and July 9, 2025. The findings from SATELLAI’s inaugural "Pet Tech Trends" survey, conducted by Pollfish, also revealed that 52% of the pet caregivers surveyed believed the most valuable insight they would want about their pet is how the animal is feeling. According to SATELLAI, the desire to connect with pets on a deeper emotional level was consistent across all ages, regions, and pet types surveyed.

In comparison, 9% of those surveyed said they most wanted to know whether their pet had eaten. Meanwhile, 10% reported prioritizing their pet’s activity level, and 16% percent chose knowing where their pet is as the most valuable insight.

“[These] data [show] that pet parents are increasingly attuned to the emotional and behavioral complexities of their furry friends," David Teaster, product marketing director at SATELLAI, said in a news release.

"There is a substantial desire among pet owners to learn more about how their pets are feeling and help them communicate those emotional needs effectively....”

For most respondents, their pet’s separation anxiety or stress was a concern, if not the biggest concern. Sixty-one percent of pet caregivers said their biggest behavioral concern was separation anxiety, and 72% said they are at least “somewhat concerned” about their pet’s anxiety or stress when left alone. Concerns over this aspect of their pet’s well-being surpassed concerns over behavioral issues like aggression and disobedience, with these worries being the top concern for only 19% of respondents.

For pets, anxiety may represent a health risk because of its effects on the immune system. According to a 

article, anxiety may lead to an increased risk of illnesses and infections.

 Additionally, chronic stress has been associated with obesity, cardiac disease, and gastrointestinal conditions.

"Pet anxiety is no longer just another worry of pet owners, but rather their primary concern," Teaster said.

With the rise in caregiver concerns over pets’ emotional well-being, Teaster predicts future artificial intelligence (AI)-powered pet products will be able to evaluate a pet’s overall well-being. “Owners now assign their pets' emotional well-being the same importance as their physical safety, underscoring the importance of developing new tools to address behavioral concerns in real time," Teaster said. "The next era for smart pet products is all about this trend, and we're likely to see more all-inclusive, AI-powered products capable of evaluating a pet's overall well-being introduced in the near future.”

America's pets are stressed — and their owners want to know why: new survey finds pet parents' biggest concern in 2025 is mental health. News release. SATELLAI. August 19, 2025. Accessed August 25, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/americas-pets-are-stressed--and-their-owners-want-to-know-why-new-survey-finds-pet-parents-biggest-concern-in-2025-is-mental-health-302531137.html

Crossley Coppock K. Caring for the emotional well-being of animals. 

 June 16, 205. Accessed August 25, 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/caring-for-the-emotional-well-being-of-animals

The survey revealed 72% of pet owners are at least “somewhat concerned” about their pet’s anxiety or stress when left alone.

Pet anxiety tops list of caregiver concerns in recent survey

Charlotte Weir shares the importance of making relief veterinarians part of the clinical team.

Bringing relief veterinarians onto the practice team

Why should relief veterinarians be considered part of a hospital’s team? Charlotte Weir, vice president of hospital success and industry relations at the Roo, a digital platform for relief veterinarians, shared her insights on how including these professionals in a practice’s culture leads to happier staff and more cohesive, stronger teams as well as improved patient care, in a 

 interview. Weir presented this topic and more during a continuing education session at the 2025 Fetch dvm360 Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, that guided veterinary professionals in creating workplace environments that attract top relief talent, reduce burnout, and support long-term hospital success.

The following is a transcript of the video

: Relief vets are so cool, right? They're chameleons. They're like the new kids on the block all the time. So they bring flexibility, they bring a fresh perspective, and of course, they bring support. They step in to help prevent burnout [and] maintain continuity of care. They [help keep the] practice running smoothly. They're not just coverage. They're an incredible asset to your team when they feel welcome and integrated.

It really starts with intentional communication. Share your clinic's workflow, share your culture, share your expectations upfront, early, and clearly, and introduce relief vets to the team and clients. I know at Roo, we really encourage hospitals to provide these details upfront and their shift postings, so relief vets can step in with confidence. And when they feel included in your practice DNA, everyone benefits: clients, staff, and, of course, the patients. And that's paramount, right? No. 1, that's the goal. Can you imagine being the new kid on the block every day? Really hard, right? Here at my practice, we do the Kate [Farms] juices, a muffin, and a flower for our relief veterinarian coming in. And that's our welcome gift. So we just want them to feel at home, welcome, and part of the team coming through the door. It's a super-small gesture to say, hey, we hear you, we see you, we welcome you. You're part of the team. Come on in.

Videos

Fetch Kansas City faculty Charlotte Weir discusses why it's important for hospital and clinic cultures to be inclusive with short-term staff.

Bringing relief veterinarians to the practice team

Happy Monday dvm360 readers! For those who attended Fetch Kansas City, we hope that you all had an amazing time, learned a lot, and made some new connections with fellow veterinary professionals. If you missed out on Fetch Kansas City, or are just eager for more, we are less than a month away from our next and newest Fetch conference, Fetch National Harbor. Learn more and register for the show 

While you check out Fetch National Harbor and the current coverage of Fetch Kansas City, here is what else you can find this week on dvm360.com:

The veterinary team at the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine recently shared the story of Calliope, an 11-year-old gypsy-Clydesdale cross, who presented to the team with almost 100 pounds of gravel and sand in her gut.

After finishing up at Fetch Kansas City, the dvm360 team is now currently attending the 2025 KC Animal Health Corridor! Check in throughout the week to see our coverage on its Impact Awards, emerging companies, and more.

On this week’s episode of The Vet Blast Podcast presented by dvm360, our host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, welcomes guest Alexa Romano, DVM, to the show to discuss what inspired her to open her own business, what it was like graduating during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the different hats she wears every day.

Recent research funded by the Swine Health Information Center and lead by Natalia Cernicchiaro, DVM, MS, PhD, at Kansas State University, in collaboration with the USDA Agricultural Research Service scientists at the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, found that the Japanese Encephalitis Virus threat remains high with mosquitoes control essentials.

Nationwide Pet Insurance recently announced the winner of its 2025 Hambone Award, which is presented to a pet whose unexpected, unusual, or outrageous event brought the pet into the veterinary clinic to highlight how important pet insurance is for caring for and protecting pets.

Check out this week’s headlines on dvm360.com.

Sneak peek: dvm360 continues to cover Fetch Kansas City, and other news 

Joya Griffin, DVM, DACVD, shares her tips to help the itchy pet in your clinic

Three tips to help your pet's itchy skin

In recognition of Itchy Pet Awareness, Joya Griffin, DVM, DACVD, provided these 3 tips that pet owners can use for when they have an itchy pet at home. Throughout her tips, Griffin sheds light on the importance of consistent monthly flea control, topical barriers, and more. 

Topical therapy can be helpful in a multitude of way by removing allergens from your pet's skin, reducing bacterial and yeast overgrowth, and soothes the skin. Plus, topical therapy can help restore the barrier function of the skin, making it less inflammatory and more protective. 

Just Bust a Myth!: Canine Food Allergies Demystified

Number 2: Consider giving your flea control monthly, and make sure that you're doing it on time

By being strict with flea control, this can help prevent cases of flea reactivity as well as prevent the risk of scabies, both of these are also causes of canine itchiness. Griffin also explained that these should be ruled out before consulting your pet's veterinarian. 

Number 3: Have a visit with your veterinarian

Your veterinarian is going to help you create the best comprehensive plan for your itching pet, plus rule out things that could be making the itching worse.  There are also diseases that mimic allergic disease so it is important for these to be taken into consideration prior treating allergic disease from allergies or even food hypersensitivity. 

Check out these expert tips pet owners should know to finally help their itchy pet find relief.