Dr. Jack Mara May 17, 1924 – March 27, 2003

"Dr. Mara’s lifetime achievements have had a direct impact on virtually every small animal in this country – and many other countries as well – and incalculable affects on clinical veterinary medicine."

Dr. Robert W. Kirk
Emeritus Professor of Medicine
Cornell University

"Dr. Jack Mara has been truly one of the profession’s magnificent icons promoting companion animal health and well-being. Frankly, I can think of no one in the profession whose influence was broader and deeper."

Dr. Dean Smith
Professor and Dean
College of Veterinary Medicine
Cornell University

Dr. John L. (Jack) Mara is truly one of the most recognizable names and visionary leaders in the veterinary profession. Jack lived the life of a true gentleman, served as one of the veterinary profession's great ambassadors and remained a wonderful friend to many. Dr. Mara's unrivaled career as a highly respected veterinarian spans nearly 50 years, highlighted by 21 years with Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc.

A graduate of the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University in 1951, Dr. Mara operated a successful companion animal practice in Huntington, NY for 28 years. In 1979, he joined Hills Pet Nutrition, Inc., where as Director of Veterinary Affairs, Jack played a vital role in setting up many of the profession's veterinary nutrition internships, residencies and professorships. He also soon became the leading voice in advocating the importance of clinical nutrition to both the veterinary academic community and his practitioner colleagues.

Dr. John Albers, Executive Director of the American Animal Hospital Association described Jack as a consummate veterinarian from the standpoint of being a professional. Albers said, "He was intensely loyal to Hill's as was appropriate, but on the other hand - intensely loyal to the profession. Jack wanted to make sure that in the eyes of the public and in the eyes of the profession, great healthcare for pets was really what it was all about."

Dr. Mara's greatest achievement is the role he played in establishing clinical nutrition as a legitimate part of the veterinary curriculum and an important component of patient care. Dr. Claudia Kirk, Associate Professor of Medicine & Nutrition, University of Tennessee said "Jack has set the stage for the entire discipline and I only see it growing. It's clear that he knew what he wanted. He saw the entire vision of what veterinary nutrition could be and he put in place each stepping stone and each little piece so it would build itself into the future."

Over the years, Jack helped establish 19 graduate PhD residencies, helped found the American College of Veterinary Nutrition and brought new standards to the veterinary profession in the fields of applied nutrition, practice management and the use of veterinary technicians. Dr. Guy Pidgeon, President and CEO of the Animal Medical Center, said "Dr. Mara always had the belief that having an animal health team of professionals that was trained, that had knowledge and skills, just made the quality of practice and the joy of practice that much better."

In recognition of the critical role Dr. Mara played in developing the specialty of Veterinary Nutrition, he was made an Honorary Diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition in 1994, one of many awards he received from the veterinary profession over the years. In fact, Jack's honors crossed the entire spectrum of the profession. His alma mater, Cornell University, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Animal Hospital Association, the University of Pennsylvania, the Ohio VMA, Western Veterinary Conference, and dozens of other organizations honored Jack for his commitment to improving the health of companion animals. Posthumously, Dr. Mara also received the prestigious 2004 Mark L. Morris Lifetime Achievement Award.

Throughout his lifetime of service and up until his death in 2003, Dr. Mara was indeed one of the giants in our profession known to all as a passionate advocate for the veterinary profession, a consummate ambassador and diplomat, but most of all – he will be remembered as a kind, caring, compassionate gentleman who was a true friend.

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For more information or a jpeg of Dr. Jack L. Mara, please contact Germinder & Associates at 816-822-0192.