Dr. Leon “Sam” Barringer Honored With AVC Consultant of the Year Award
The Academy of Veterinary Consultants (AVC), Inc. has named Col. Leon “Sam” Barringer, DVM, as the 2023 Academy of Veterinary Consultants Practitioner of the Year.
As a large animal veterinarian, Dr. Barringer is specialised in calf health management, epidemiology, evidence-based population medicine, disease outbreak investigation, and vaccinology. He serves as a consulting technical service specialist with Diamond V ruminant teams and plays a key role in the company’s food safety initiatives.*
Dr. Barringer earned his DVM from the University of California, Davis. After graduation and service in private practice in Pennsylvania, he became an associate professor at West Virginia University. He later joined Pfizer Animal Health, working as director of strategic accounts in the dairy and feedlot business unit.
In addition, Dr. Barringer worked for Merck Animal Health as a technical service lead for the company's "Top
30" strategic ruminant accounts. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, and the author or co-author of many peer-reviewed papers and is a frequently quoted expert in dairy and beef industry media.
A Distinguished Miltary Career
Dr. Barringer is also a highly decorated military leader and has deployed both as an Army and Air Force officer. He served as the deputy command surgeon for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Training Mission in
L-R: Dr. Barringer’s son Dan Barringer (Navy), wife, Joanie, Dr. Barringer and Dr. Lee Bob Harper, Zoetis, who presented the AVC Consultant of the Year award.
Afghanistan. During that deployment, he was also dual-hatted as the Chief of Staff and the Command Surgeon.
In that capacity, he had more than 300 medical professionals from 12 countries as direct reports into thatcommand, all while having the budgetary oversight of more than $200 million.
Previous to this, Dr. Barringer also deployed for 14 months to Iraq as a team leader assigned to a Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force, 1st Armored and 1st Cavalry, and to Afghanistan in 2006 as the S-3 Operations Chief in Kunar Province and Kabul.
Award Criteria
The AVC Consultant of the Year award dates back to 1986 and is presented annually to one veterinarian, based on the following criteria:
• Recognition for merits within the past year.
• Accomplishments in the practice of bovine medicine.
• Quality and competency of veterinary service.
• Activities in organized veterinary medicine and the beef cattle industry.
• Relationships and contributions to the beef cattle industry.
• Related activities and achievements that have impacted the fed cattle industry.
The award was presented to Dr. Barringer by Dr. Lee Bob Harper, director, beef strategic technical services at Zoetis, the award sponsor, during the AVC winter conference in Kansas City, Mo.
*An online U.S. Air Force biography and a Diamond V news release provided content for this article.
