Dr. Colleen Lambo, DVM 2009
American Veterinary Medical Association 2026
Dr. Colleen Lambo, Houston, Texas, was selected by the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine for its 2026 Alumni Recognition Award presented at a reception held in conjunction with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Convention held in Anaheim, California, July 10. The award is given to veterinarians whose careers have served as exemplary role models for future alumni in a professional and community setting.
Dr. Lambo is a veterinarian and reproductive physiologist dedicated to animal care and global service. She works as a relief veterinarian with Roo, the largest veterinary workforce platform that connects hospitals with veterinary professionals. She volunteers worldwide, including multiple missions in Ukraine with Worldwide Vets, as well as in wildfire zones, shelters, and underserved communities.
“One of the things I value most about my time at K-State is that the goal was always to prepare us to be thoughtful, compassionate clinicians,” Dr. Lambo said. “Those lessons have shaped every opportunity I've had since, and I'm grateful to the college and the many organizations that have trusted me to put them into practice."
“Dr. Lambo has shown incredible passion and initiative throughout her career,” said Dr. Elizabeth Davis, interim dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. “Her volunteer work demonstrates the importance and impact of the veterinary profession at a global level. She also provides outstanding service as a relief veterinarian. We believe this award recognizes both her current and future accomplishments, so we are excited to see where her career goes as it moves forward.”
Originally from Anaheim, Dr. Colleen Lambo earned a bachelor’s degree at Cornell University in 2004. She completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at Kansas State University in 2009 and went on to complete a master’s degree in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha in 2015, followed by a Ph.D. in reproductive physiology at Texas A&M University in 2020. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in conservation medicine through the Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife at the Cincinnati [Ohio] Zoo.
Dr. Colleen Lambo has built a uniquely diverse career centered around service, versatility and impact. She has worked extensively with organizations including Worldwide Vets, Humane World for Animals, the Texas and California Veterinary Emergency Teams, and Save Wild Cats Foundation.
Her work has taken her around the world, including volunteer and emergency response efforts in Ukraine, Egypt, Saipan, and along the Gulf Coast during the 2010 BP oil spill response. Last year alone, she devoted more than one-third of her time to volunteer service. Primarily performing general practice and high-volume spay/neuter medicine, Dr. Lambo has intentionally pursued opportunities across nearly every facet of veterinary medicine, including disaster response, senior pet and hospice care, reproductive conservation, mentorship and international humanitarian work.
A longtime advocate for senior pets and quality end-of-life care, Dr. Lambo is certified as a Senior Dog Veterinarian (seniordogvets.com) and speaks at conferences to encourage confident comfort-focused approaches to our aging pets. She also speaks at veterinary schools, encouraging students to explore nontraditional paths available within the profession. She has contributed to reproductive conservation efforts involving endangered feline species, participated in the world’s first successful IVF puppy embryo transfer, and produced one of two tiger cubs born through artificial insemination.
Dr. Lambo was recognized as the Volunteer of the Year by Worldwide Vets in 2026. She was awarded the Veterinary Hero of General Practice by DVM 360, in 2025. The Mayor of Lviv [Ukraine] presented her and her colleagues a “Coin of Danylo, King of Galicia” medal in 2025. [Previously awarded to Tom Cruise]. In 2020 and 2022 she was named Best Veterinarian in the Eagle Readers’ Choice Awards, and she was listed as the Best New Businesses by the Eagle Readers’ Choice Awards in 2022.