The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 Distinguished Alumni Awards, recognizing alumni who have made significant contributions to the veterinary profession and their communities.
Each year, the college honors alumni whose careers exemplify excellence and leadership across four sectors of the profession: government, industry, academia, and private practice.
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Government
Shanna Siegel (DVM ’06)
Dr. Siegel is the National Director of Live Animal Imports and Exports with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Dr. Siegel earned her Bachelor of Science, Master of Public Health, and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from the University of Georgia, along with a Certificate in International Veterinary Medicine. With more than 20 years of experience across the veterinary and agricultural sectors, her work spans animal health, public health, public policy, international trade, and emergency management. Throughout her career, Dr. Siegel has received numerous awards and recognitions for her technical expertise as well as her work in the areas of customer service, building coalitions, and business process improvements.
Industry
Doyle Watson (DVM ’76)
Dr. Watson’s entrepreneurial career has left a lasting mark on the profession. After graduating from UGA, Dr. Watson established three successful veterinary hospitals in South Georgia before expanding his impact far beyond the exam room. He founded Veterinary Forum magazine in 1982 and later became the sole owner of Simmons & Associates, helping transform the company into an international organization serving veterinarians across North America. Throughout his career, Dr. Watson has helped define modern veterinary practice valuation and sales, played a key role in the early development of VetPartners, and was instrumental in creating Simmons VetStats© and the nonprofit Simmons Educational Fund. Today, Simmons VetStats© forms the foundation for the Cost of Value Tool used by the VetPartners Valuation Council, and the Simmons Educational Fund has contributed more than $4 million to support the veterinary community since its founding in 2003.
Academia
Kathy Earnest-Koons (DVM ’87)
Dr. Earnest-Koons is the Senior Lecturer Emerita at Cornell University. Before attending UGA, Dr. Earnest-Koons earned her bachelor’s degree from Lynchburg College and worked in several fields, including teaching and urban planning. After receiving her DVM, she completed a master’s degree and residency in laboratory animal medicine at Pennsylvania State University’s Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, followed by a residency in anatomic pathology at Cornell. She spent 28 years teaching at Cornell, contributing to courses in anatomy, microbiology, and immunology, and developing an elective course in swine infectious diseases.
Private Practice
Peter Radue (DVM ’78)
Dr. Radue is an equine veterinarian and co-founder of Damascus Equine Associates in Maryland. Following graduation from UGA, Dr. Radue completed an internship in large animal surgery at the Ontario Veterinary College before returning to Maryland to establish his practice. In addition to decades of service to equine patients and their owners, he has remained active in the horse industry, serving on the boards of the Maryland Horse Council and the Maryland Fund for Horses, and currently serves on the Maryland State Board of Veterinary Examiners.
The Distinguished Alumni Awards celebrate the lasting impact of graduates from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and highlight the diverse career paths available within veterinary medicine. The 2026 honorees will be recognized at the College’s Annual Conference & Alumni Weekend, April 17–18, 2026.
