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Moffa Named MVMA
Distinguished Veterinarian
Dr. John Moffa
addresses the audience at MVMA's 2012 Summer Conference.
Deserving of our admiration and
gratitude is Dr. John V. Moffa, recipient of the MVMA’s
award for Distinguished Veterinarian, specified for someone
who has tirelessly served the veterinary profession, with
active work within our profession as well as service to the
veterinary community at the local, state or national level.
Award criteria specifies that:
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The nominee must be a graduate
of a recognized veterinary college.
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The nominee must have been an
MVMA member for the last five consecutive years.
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The nominee will be a member of
our profession who has demonstrated consistent effort on
behalf of our fellow veterinarians to enhance and strengthen
their professional environment at the local, state or
national level of organized veterinary medicine.
Long time friend and colleague
Dr. John Brooks introduced the award for Dr. John Moffa with
personal anecdotes and praise for Dr. Moffa’s service to
organized veterinary medicine. Dr. Tom Armitage read this
toast:
Over my professional career I have had the privilege and
honor to speak to the merits, accomplishments and
contributions of individuals from the political arena, those
involved in community service, as well as members of the
veterinary profession at the national, regional, and state
level. Now more than ever, I feel especially privileged to
speak of a person who has been one of my closest friends, a
very fine veterinarian. Over the years he has given all of
himself to the MVMA in whatever task he took on. Dr. John
Moffa truly exemplifies all that is embellished in the MVMA
Distinguished Veterinarian.
For as long as I have known
John, he has been active in our local Harford VMA and the
MVMA. His efforts on our behalf speak for themselves, from
working with our veterinary technician programs, mentoring
both veterinary and vet tech students, to his latest “labor
of love,” the MVF 20th Annual Golf Classic to help provide
financial aid for our veterinary students.
No matter what the issue, his
tenacious personality to see the project exceed expectations
brings all of us around him to a greater level of personal
effort. I know that those of you here today recognize the
many MVMA activities on which John has had his
“fingerprint.” I’m sure those will be mentioned during this
award ceremony.
Now let me speak to the “other
side” of John Moffa, or as he is affectionately referred to,
Guido. Although Guido has excelled in all his endeavors,
there is one area of his life where he continues to fall
short of the benchmark he has set for himself. Yes, that’s
correct, Guido is indeed human; and try as he may he remains
incapable of completing a winning round of sporting clays
against me. Indeed over the years, in spite of my excellent
mentoring and coaching, he seems not to be able to
“distinguish” himself in this endeavor.
Over the years I have been
“forced” to smoke more victory cigars and eat more winners
lunches than any good friend should have to!
But at the end of the day, John
Moffa’s quiet, consistent efforts on behalf of our
association and members remain a benchmark standard that few
of us have achieved during our professional careers. He
truly demonstrates, day in and day out, the total package of
a veterinarian dedicated to his family, his clients and
their pets, his community and of course, the MVMA and our
membership. I can think of no individual within our MVMA who
is more deserving of this award.
I am indeed honored to pen these
few words that, in fact, fall short of truly capturing the
35-plus years of his professional career and all that he has
added to all of our lives.
As for me, I want you to know,
Dr John Moffa, how much I value our friendship and all that
truly distinguishes you amongst a very select few MVMA
members who have received this award. I will be raising a
toast to you at this moment from my front porch of my home
here in Wyoming. Congratulations, well done!
Dr. Moffa graduated from Cornell’s veterinary school in
1975, after completing an animal science degree at Rutgers
University in his home state of New Jersey. Both
institutions recognized his scholarly achievements and
service with awards. Upon graduation, he worked at several
practices as an associate before opening his own clinic in
Aberdeen, Maryland in 1979.
Also, he has given his time to
the Native American Veterinary Service, and supported
technician training programs at the Community College of
Baltimore County.
Dr. Moffa has pursued his own scholarship by becoming a
Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners
with a specialty in companion animals.
His record of professional affiliation service shows service
to the American Veterinary Medical Association; the Harford
Veterinary Medical Association; Greater Baltimore Veterinary
Medical Association and the Maryland Veterinary Medical
Association, where he served on the Board of Directors for
25 years as Harford County representative. He also sat on
the committee for continuing education and actively
supported the Maryland Veterinary Foundation.
Dr. Moffa was chairman of the
highly successful MVF Annual Golf Classic for 20 years and
has been instrumental in assisting numerous veterinary
students achieving their professional goals. Clearly his
influence is broad and far-reaching. |
