Recognition Awards
Dr. Ronald Bruce Keene Received 2006 Alumni Recognition Award
Dr. Ronald Bruce Keene,
Winter Park, Fla., is being honored for his time and effort
devoted to the practice of veterinary medicine by Kansas
State University College of Veterinary Medicine and its
Veterinary Medicine Alumni Association.
Dr. Keene has been selected to receive a 2006 Alumni
Recognition Award at the North American Veterinary
Conference in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 8.
Dr. Keene has had a long career spanning 40 years in small
animal veterinary medicine. He graduated with a bachelor’s
degree in animal nutrition from the University of Arkansas
in 1961 and he received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
from K-State in 1965.
Dr. Keene said he came to K-State by chance. He was part of
a select group of students admitted after vacancies were
left open by students who were drafted into the military.
His dedication to K-State was apparent from the beginning.
He received a letter from K-State offering him a chance to
interview on the same day he was leaving for his honeymoon.
Instead of postponing the interview, Dr. Keene changed his
honeymoon plans and traveled to Manhattan, Kan., for the
interview. "I am convinced I got the opportunity to attend
K-State because of divine intervention," Dr. Keene said.
After graduating from K-State, Dr. Keene moved to Miami,
Fla., to work at the Yarborough Animal Hospital, one of
three clinics in the city. This job was a recommendation of
K-State Veterinary Professor Dr. Edwin J. Frick. In 1968,
along with a fellow K-State graduate, Dr. Keene opened the
Howell Branch and Lake Howell Animal Hospitals. He still
practices at Lake Howell Animal Hospital today.
Ten years ago, the Lake Howell Animal Hospital expanded to
include a kennel facility that bears Dr. Keene's name. The
Keene Kennel was built to serve the hospital's clients in
ways not offered elsewhere. The runs are bigger than average
and the staff offers a great deal of personal attention to
the animals while they are housed in the kennel.
Currently, the hospital is working to expand the kennel to
construct luxury accommodations for clients seeking the
highest quality when boarding their pets.
More than thirty years ago, Dr. Keene, along with 15
veterinarians, started the Veterinary Emergency Clinic of
Central Florida. This was the first clinic of its kind in
the area and is now one of the largest in the country. "I'm
so proud of the emergency clinic because of the reflection
of what cooperative veterinary medicine can do," Dr. Keene
said.
For the past thirty years, Dr. Keene has been a Pet Fair
judge for an annual fundraiser benefiting the Orlando
Science Center. During this event he brings in veterinarians
from around the state to offer health examinations to pets.
Dr. Keene uses this event to promote community education in
veterinary medicine.
Dr. Keene's service as a veterinarian has offered him many
leadership opportunities. In 1980, he served as co-chair for
the Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA)
Convention's 50th anniversary. In addition, he was on the
Florida University College of Veterinary Medicine admissions
committee for three years, and on the FVMA Veterinary School
Advisory Committee. "With the varied veterinary experiences
I've had over the past forty years, it's been a 'James
Herriot: All Creatures Great and Small' type of career,"
said Dr. Keene. He attributes his success to the framework
of education that K-State offered him. "K-State gave me a
balanced, diversified education, in terms of large and
small animal medicine. It gave me a great foundation."
Dr. Keene and wife, Barbara, have two children, Lisa and
Bryce, and four grandchildren.