Dr. Robert H. Featherston - DVM 1955

Western Veterinary Conference 2003

Dr. Robert H. Featherston, 1955 graduate of Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, received a 2003 Alumni Recognition Award. K-State's College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Alumni Association sponsor the award. The award was given in thanks and acknowledgement of time and effort devoted to advancing the profession of veterinary medicine and for being an exemplary role model for future alumni of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University. The awards ceremony took place at the K-State Alumni Reception held in conjunction with the Western States Veterinary Conference on Monday, February 17, 2003 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Dr. Robert Featherston is currently Executive Vice-President and Chief Medical Officer, Pet's Choice, Inc., Bellevue, Washington. After graduation in 1955 and a two-year stint with the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps, Dr. Featherston returned to Manhattan to continue his studies and work as an assistant instructor at K-State, finishing his master's in Surgery and Medicine in 1958. He then settled into a distinguished career in companion animal medicine and surgery, practicing in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

After nearly four decades of companion animal service in his private practice, Dr. Featherston entered a new arena for animal care when he became Chief Medical Officer for Pet's Choice in Bellevue. A year later he became Vice-President of Operations and in 1997 was promoted to Executive Vice-President of Pet's Choice while retaining his duties as Chief Medical Officer.

During his career, Dr. Featherston has continued to be prolific in service to profession and community. His professional endeavors of memberships, leadership positions and honors include: Association of Veterinary Informatics (AVI), past President; American Academy of Veterinary Informatics (AAVI) Fellow; American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) past Chair Judicial Council, past Chair Medical Informatics Committee, member House of Delegates; American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) past President, past Chair Informatics Committee, 1986 Practitioner of the Year, 1985 Western Region Outstanding Practitioner Award, 1983 Service Award; Co-Founder of Veterinary Management Group 1; Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society; National Network of Libraries of Medicine, South Central Region Board past Chairman of the Board; Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) past Chair Economics Committee, 1994 Veterinarian of the Year, 1993 Distinguished Service Award, 1973 William F. Irwin Award; Tulsa Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) past President; American Society of Veterinary Ophthalmology (ASVO); and Kansas State Veterinary Alumni Association past President.

Dr. Featherston has authored and co-authored numerous professional journal articles and book chapters. Robert is a member of Blue Key, Phi Kappa Phi and the National Academies of Practice honor organizations and is a past Adjunct Professor at Oklahoma State University, College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Featherston's community involvement is also extensive in leadership and honors, including: Tulsa City-County Health Board past President; in 1992 the Robert H. Featherston, Tulsa City-County Health Department Auditorium was dedicated in his honor; Oklahoma State Board of Veterinary Examiners past President; Tulsa Community Service Council; Rotary Club past Director; Kiwanis Club past President; Philcrest Hills Tennis Club past President, and Kansas State University Alumni Association past Director.

Dr. Robert Featherston was born and raised in Ottawa, Kansas, outside of Kansas City. His wife of 47 years, Barbara is from Hutchinson, Kansas. They live in Tulsa and have raised three children, Kristin, Signe and Ingrid. They spend personal time doting on their 7 grandchildren and are active in the St. John's Episcopal Church