Christine B. Navarre, D.V.M., received the El Toro Award for Excellence in Food Animal Medicine at Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine on April 9.  The award recognizes veterinarians, who through their contributions to food animal practice, organized veterinary medicine, high ideals, and dedication to the production of food animals, serve as role models for veterinary students.

Dr. Navarre earned her doctorate of veterinary medicine from Louisiana State University in 1990.

Following graduation, she worked in a private large animal practice in Sulphur Springs, Texas, before completing a large animal internal medicine residency and master’s degree at Texas A&M.

She then joined the food animal section faculty at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine teaching hospital. where she spent 11 years providing clinical service and teaching food animal and camelid medicine and surgery.  At Auburn she served as advisor for the student chapter of the American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners and also received an outstanding teacher award. In 2005 she returned to LSU as the extension veterinarian for the LSU Agricultural Center.

Dr. Navarre serves on the board of directors for the North American Veterinary Conference and is president-elect of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners, the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, the Academy of Veterinary Consultants, and the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 

Dr. James G. Floyd Jr. established the El Toro Award at Auburn University in 1994 in memory of his father J.G. Floyd. The award is presented during the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Annual Conference. Dr. Floyd’s intention was to recognize outstanding food animal veterinarians before veterinary students of all classes.

A major focus of the award is to provide opportunity for interaction between veterinary students and the recipient in hope of attracting students to food animal veterinary medicine.

The award is presented during the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Annual Conference. Seclection criteria includes outstanding service to the practice of food animal medicine, food animal production, organized veterinary medicine, and other exemplary service to the food animal industries. The philosophy, professionalism, and high moral character of the recipients make them role models for veterinary students with prospective careers in food animal practice. Preference is given to alumni of Auburn University and to residents of the southeastern United States.

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