Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside of the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (NYSE:MRK), and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) today announced Margaret “Martey” A. Masterson, D.V.M., has been named the 2026 Mentor of the Year. The award was presented at the 2026 AABP Annual Conference, held Aug. 27-29 in Minneapolis, Minn.
The award recognizes Dr. Masterson’s nearly four-decade career at The Ohio State University (OSU) dedicated to preparing, challenging and inspiring generations of bovine and large animal veterinarians.
A graduate of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Masterson spent most of her career with OSU Large Animal Services at Marysville, where she taught thousands of veterinary students through required clinical rotations and hands-on learning experiences. Her teaching emphasized real-world, field-based veterinary medicine across bovine practice, dairy medicine, small ruminants and other large animal species.
“Merck Animal Health is proud to recognize Dr. Masterson for her extraordinary commitment to mentorship and to the future of bovine veterinary medicine,” said Dave Sjeklocha, D.V.M., technical services manager at Merck Animal Health and past president of the AABP Board of Directors. “Her practical approach, high expectations and deep investment in students have helped shape confident, capable veterinarians who are prepared to serve livestock producers and the profession.”
“There are few veterinarians who have taught and mentored as many veterinary students as Dr. Martey Masterson,” said Eric D. Gordon, D.V.M., D.A.C.V.P.M., professor at OSU College of Veterinary Medicine and the clinic director at Marysville Large Animal Services. “Her influence is reflected in the thousands of students, interns, residents and colleagues she has guided, and in the many veterinarians who continue to carry forward her commitment to practical medicine, client service and teaching.”
Nominators described Dr. Masterson as a practical, no-nonsense teacher who expected excellence while investing deeply in each student’s growth, confidence and clinical judgment. She is widely credited with inspiring students, particularly women in large animal medicine, to pursue bovine and food animal practice.
The lasting impact of Dr. Masterson’s mentorship also extended to interns, residents, early-career faculty and colleagues, many of whom cite her as a career-long mentor who shaped their teaching, clinical approach, board preparation and professional development. Her legacy also includes contributions to clinical skills training, large animal skills labs and the Large Animal Spectrum of Care Summer Externship.
Merck Animal Health maintains long-standing partnerships with educational institutions and associations, like AABP, to ensure the industry’s future needs are addressed. The company annually provides more than $1.4 million in veterinary scholarships and millions of dollars in financial support and grants to universities, associations and foundations.
Founded in 1965, AABP is an international association of more than 5,000 veterinarians and veterinary students who serve as leaders in cattle health, welfare and productivity. To learn more, visit aabp.org.
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