Pulse - March 2023 - 8

SCVMA PROFILE
JIM BELL
JIM BELL
Don Mahan Award Winner Says
'Yes' When She's Asked to Serve
D
r. Diane Craig, this year's H. Don
Mahan Award winner, has a long history
of giving back to her profession and
supporting organized veterinary medicine.
She was SCVMA president in 2007, CVMA president in
2019 and currently is an alternate delegate to the AVMA and
has worked on several national committees in recent years.
" I've given a lot of time to the American Veterinary Medical
Association, also to the American College of Veterinary
Surgeons - and when my kids were in sports I participated in
their associations' management of their sports, " she said in an
interview. " I think it's an important part of giving back when
you participate in that profession or that sport or that ongoing
concern.
" Pretty much I say 'yes' any time I am asked to serve, so it
depends on what the needs are. We'll see where that takes
me. I definitely enjoy this profession and feel that giving back
is important. And I want to make sure that the path behind
me for my daughters is smooth and that we take care of the
profession and individuals in the profession. "
Both daughters - Alison Pankowski at UC Davis and Annie
Pankowski Nieto at the University of Wisconsin - are
scheduled to earn DVM degrees this spring.
Dr. Craig is proud to receive the Mahan award. " I think
Don Mahan was a great pioneer in the field of associations
and in professional association management, " she said. " He
definitely set the bar high for participating in associations
and giving back to your profession by giving your time and
your energy and your skills toward developing the profession
and protecting the profession in your state, your nation
and your community. "
Dr. Craig has been an ACVS diplomate since 1991 and
has served on the group's committees and working groups. A
graduate of the UC Davis veterinary school, she is looking
forward to the 40-year class reunion in May, 2023.
She did a surgical residency and an internship at Cornell
after her graduation. She also met her husband, Dr. Rich
Pankowski there.
She said that Dr. Pankowski, once an equine veterinarian
and now practice manager at her practice, Veterinary Surgical
Specialists in Orange County, has made it possible for her to
devote the time she gives to organized veterinary medicine.
" He has always covered for me and given me time for those activities, "
she said. " He has helped me run a very busy surgical
practice while I'm also working on ACVS, AVMA, SCVMA
or CVMA business. "
Dr. Pankowski was named winner of the SCVMA Ginny
Grant Award in 2020.
8
MARCH 2023
PULSE
Diane Craig, DVM , DACVS
2023 Don Mahan Award Winner
VSSOC is one of Orange County's busiest surgical hospitals.
Dr. Craig said that much of her success as a practice
owner is attributable to good time management.
" We have a good support staff and we make good use of
our RVTs. Our animal support staff is really key to our success.
We have good customer care and I think we have good
training systems for our staff so they can take on a lot of responsibility,
leaving us [the doctors] to just be surgeons. " The
practice was founded in 1991 and moved to Tustin a year later.
Dr. Craig's daughters both have an interest in surgery, she
said, although she does not know how that will work out.
" They have a trajectory of an internship first and then achieving
a specialty. Each will take the opportunity that they are
most drawn by. " Both Alison and Annie played hockey in
college and both are excited about their approaching careers.
" This is a challenging profession and you live it every day. "
Dr. Craig said. " And it's more about the rewards of the profession
than the financial rewards. "
The Pankowski family also includes a son, John, who
works in internet advertising. He and his new wife, Daniele,
live in Manhattan Beach. The Pankowski-Craig home is in
Laguna Hills. P
Pulse - March 2023

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