Former director of the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) Craig Carter has won the prestigious Meritorious Service Award from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).  

The award, established in 2021, honors veterinarians that go beyond the standard scope of medicine and research — recognizing their exceptional service to the industry through personal, professional and community contributions.  

Carter joined the University of Kentucky in 2001. From 2007 until 2022, he served as the director of the UK VDL, overseeing laboratory operations, providing diagnostic services for more than 3,000 health care facilities and agencies in Kentucky and across the United States. 

“Kentucky's livestock industry, as well as the university, has profoundly benefited from Dr. Carter’s unwavering dedication to advancing the veterinary profession and enhancing the health and well-being of both animals and humans,” said Nancy Cox, UK vice president for land-grant engagement and Martin-Gatton CAFE dean. “Dr. Carter has devoted his life to service and is truly deserving of this prestigious honor from the AVMA.” 

Carter holds several degrees from Texas A&M University: BS in Biomedical/Computer Sciences, DVM, MS in Epidemiology, and PhD in Veterinary Public Health, and is a Diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Preventative Medicine (1985-present). 

Career Milestones 

Carter opened a solo ambulatory all-species practice to serve the Brazos Valley region of Texas while also volunteering with the Brazos Animal Shelter and serving on its Board of Directors. He was appointed the first head of the new Epidemiology & Informatics section for Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. 

Carter has been the president of several organizations, including the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, the American Veterinary Epidemiology Society (now known as the American Veterinary One Health Society), the American Veterinary Computer Society (now the International Association for Veterinary Informatics), and the American Academy of Disaster Veterinary Medicine. He was executive director of the World Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians from 2001-2017. 

He served more than 40 years in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army in both active and reserve duty, including deployments in Vietnam, Operation Desert Shield, Afghanistan and Iraq.  He retired in 2009 from the U.S. Army Reserves as a full bird Colonel.  

Carter also taught in the Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health at the UK College of Public Health. As a scholar and researcher, he has authored approximately 150 publications and earned more than $12 million in grant funding. 

“It is humbling beyond belief to receive this honor as a member of our diverse profession which makes so many contributions to advance animal health and human health, in the spirit of One Health, every day,” Carter said. “I proudly accept this on behalf of the outstanding AVMA leadership and my many remarkable mentors, co-workers and brilliant students who will help build a promising future.” 

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