Steven M. Fox Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2022 the VOS Lifetime Achievement Award was created to honor Dr. Steve Fox. Dr. Fox’s contributions to the VOS, veterinary orthopedics and pain management have been numerous and impactful. This award in his name will be presented annually to other VOS members who have shown a lifelong commitment to collaboration between research, practice and industry with significant contribution to the field of veterinary orthopedics and the VOS.
This award would not be possible without the generous support of fellow VOS members and Industry partners:
Jay Donecker
John Heidrich
Lucy Henney
Rob Goring
Janet Van Dyke
Mark Daye
Jonathan Suber
Tom Dougherty
Richard Lau
Richard Evans & Wanda Gordon-Evans
Kristin Kirkby Shaw
Gretchen Flo
Russ Tucker
Steven Bilbrey
Steven M. Fox MS, DVM, MBA, PhD
Experience and diversity are the hallmarks of Dr. Fox's professional background. Before beginning his career in veterinary medicine, he graduated with a BS degree in mechanical engineering from the US Naval Academy and flew more than 300 combat missions as a naval aviator in Vietnam, flying the A6 Intruder; while serving concurrently as Officer of the Deck aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise.
He then received his MS (nutritional biochemistry) and DVM degrees from the University of Illinois and both MBA (Entrepreneurialism and New Ventures) and PhD (Pain Management) degrees from Massey University in New Zealand. He completed his surgical residency at the University of Florida. Dr. Fox practiced in surgical referral practices for 15 years, served on faculty at Mississippi State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, as product manager at Pioneer Hi-Bred International, senior lecturer in companion animal orthopedic surgery at Massey University, senior veterinary specialist at Pfizer Animal Health, and director of pain management for Novartis Animal Health. Dr. Fox played a key role in the development and launch of both Rimadyl and Deramax. He served as President of Securos for 6 years and most recently as a private consultant for several prominent animal health companies and specialty organizations, including Exubrion Therapeutics.
Dr. Fox is a former president of the VOS, a council member of the Association for Veterinary Orthopedic Research and Education (AVORE) and is a certified small animal surgical specialist in New Zealand. Dr. Fox is an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Illinois, as well as adjunct associate professor at Massey University; advisor to the University of Tennessee Pain Center, founding member of the Companion Animal Pain Management Consortium Leadership Council, and Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management. Dr. Fox has also served as Educational Manager for the Western Veterinary Conference.
Dr. Fox has authored more than 80 professional publications, 5 textbooks, 7 textbook chapters, and 2 interactive CD/DVDs. He is a popular international speaker on the subjects of pain management, musculoskeletal diseases and excellence in speaking.
When not working, Steve can be found jogging or biking—claiming that this is his ‘concentration time.’
He takes great pride in the athletic prowess of his college-age grandsons and their exemplary parents.
