The director of the local Breathitt Veterinary Center received high honors from his peers in a recent ceremony.

A news release from the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association says Doctor Wade Northington received this year’s Distinguished Service Award. The honor goes to individuals who have devoted years of time and special talents in service to community, the association and the veterinary profession.

Doctor Northingon is a 1972 graduate of Auburn University and stepped away from his private practice in 1999 to begin work as a case coordinator at the Breathitt Veterinary center and to teach pre-veterinary students at Murray State. He became the director of the local center in 2004 and continues to serve in that capacity.

He recently spoke at the Pennyrile Area Development District and said the center does a lot of work in teaching.

The Breathitt Center also partners with the school system to give students an experience they couldn’t get in the classroom.

Doctor Northington also received the Murray State Board of Regents Award for Teaching Excellence in 2002.

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11/28/2012/AM