Dr. Gordon Atkins

Dr. Gordon Atkins

DVM

Positions

Teaching professor

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Contact information

Email

gaatkins@ucalgary.ca

Phone number

Cell: +1 (403) 650-4018

Background

Educational Background

D.V.M. Vet Medicine Spec, University of Saskatchewan, 1973

Updated CV for Dr. Gordon Atkins

Biography

Gordon was born and raised on a dairy farm near Calgary, AB, graduated with distinction from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1973 and has practiced dairy, cow calf and equine veterinary medicine in Alberta for the past 50 years. His main area of interest has involved all aspects of dairy herd health with particular emphasis on nutrition, cow comfort, milk quality, reproductive performance and his special interest in bovine gastrointestinal surgery has led to numerous scientific presentations on this topic. He remains active in the Holstein business as a breeder and exhibitor at many shows, an Official Judge and former veterinary consultant for the Type Classification Advisory Committee for Holstein Canada, Past President of the Southern Alberta Holstein Club and a current member and past Chair of both the Calgary Stampede Dairy Committee and the Calgary Stampede Chuckwagon Committee. In conjunction with Holstein Canada, he produced the DVD, 'Functional Conformation' which highlights the importance of good function conformation in dairy cattle and his judging and speaking commitments have taken him to twenty three countries internationally. Gordon was honored in 2009 with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Holstein Canada and in 2019 with and Honorary Lifetime Membership Award from the Calgary Stampede.  He also served as a Board Member with the Alberta Natural Resources Conservation Board and chaired numerous Board review panels regarding development and expansion of both the confined feeding industry and the non-energy natural resource industry in Alberta. In addition, he served as a Board Member with VIDO, the Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Organization at the University of Saskatchewan. Gordon joined the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary in Sept 2008 and has been honored with six teaching awards including being the three time recipient of the Pfizer Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teaching Award in Veterinary Medicine.

Awards

  • PFIZER CARL J. NORDEN DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AWARD for UCVM, University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine. 2023
  • COACH - UCVM AABP QUIZ BOWL WINNING TEAM, American Association of Bovine Practitioners. 2022
  • AABP MERCK ANIMAL HEALTH MENTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD, American Association of Bovine Practitioners. 2020
  • TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR VETERINARY MEDICINE, University of Calgary Students’ Union . 2019
  • LIVETIME MEMBERSHIP AWARD, Calgary Stampede. 2019
  • PFIZER CARL J. NORDEN DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AWARD, The University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. 2018
  • COACH- UCVM AABP QUIZ BOWL WINNING TEAM, American Association of Bovine Practitioners. 2019
  • JOHN J. KENNELLY AWARD OF MERIT, Western Canadian Dairy Seminar. 2018
  • ELANCO – DR. BRIAN MacNAUGHTON MEMORIAL AWARD, Canadian Association of Bovine Veterinarians. 2018
  • ,LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP AWARD, Western Canadian Association of Bovine Practitioners. 2017
  • TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD, Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. 2012
  • PFIZER CARL J. NORDEN DISTINGUISHED TEACHING AWARD , University of Calgary School of Veterinary Medicine. 2011
  • JIM CLARK DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD, Southern Alberta Holstein Club. 2009
  • MERCK VETERINARY AWARD, Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. 2014
  • CONTRIBUTION OF EXCELLENCE AWARD , Southern Alberta Holstein Club. 2012
  • R.F. BARICHELLO MEMORIAL AWARD, Canadian Jersey Association. 2009
  • TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR VETERINARY MEDICINE , University of Calgary Students Union. 2010
  • DAIRY INDUSTRY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD , Alberta Milk. 2011
  • CERTIFICATE OF SUPERIOR ACCOMPLISHMENT , Holstein Canada. 2009
  • DAIRY CATTLE IMPROVEMENT INDUSTRY DISTINCTION AWARD , Canadian Dairy Network. 2009
  • BOVINE VETERINARIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD, Western Association of Bovine Practitioners. 2005
  • VETERINARIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD, Alberta Veterinary Medical Association. 1997
  • BOVINE PRACTITIONER OF THE YEAR AWARD, American Association of Bovine Practitioners. 1988