Dr. Kenneth Harkin
2017 E.R. Frank Award
Dr. Kenneth Harkin, Manhattan, Kansas, was selected as the recipient of the 2017 E.R. Frank Award by the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Alumni Association. The award was presented during the Awards Brunch at the 79th Annual Conference for Veterinarians on June 4, 2017. The E.R. Frank Award is presented to a faculty member who displays meritorious service to the college as well as the same professional essence of Dr. Frank, a longtime faculty member in equine surgery and a K-State alumnus. Nominees must have at least a 15-year relationship with the college, possess a noteworthy record of service and display an unassuming and unpretentious manner throughout their careers.
“It is a great honor to receive the E.R. Frank Award in recognition of my years of contribution to the mission of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University,” said Dr. Harkin. “Educating the veterinarians of the future and serving the people and pets in Kansas is important to me. Being at K-State has been rewarding as my colleagues share these core values. I can’t imagine a better place to be.”
“Dr. Harkin is among the most decorated faculty members in the college, especially because of his superior skills as an educator” Dean Tammy Beckham said. “He has an inspiring passion for teaching veterinary students in the classroom and in the clinic, and he takes this responsibility seriously, regularly serving as an advocate for the educational environment. We are very proud to be able to have another opportunity to recognize and thank him for his outstanding contributions to our college."
Dr. Harkin earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State University in 1989, and completed a residency at Michigan State University. He joined the faculty at Kansas State University in 1997 as a clinical instructor, becoming an associate professor in 1998, and was promoted to professor in 2010. Dr. Harkin currently serves as professor and section head for small animal internal medicine. He teaches Medicine I and Medicine II to third-year veterinary students featuring didactic lectures in gastroenterology, hepatology, neurology and clinical hematology. Dr. Harkin instructs fourth-year veterinary students in small animal internal medicine in their clinical rotations. He is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine focusing on small internal medicine.
Awards and honors include: 2001 Pfizer Distinguished Teaching Award, 2008 Pfizer Award for Teaching Excellence, 2012 Dr. William and Deanna Pritchard Veterinary Service and Outreach Award and Novartis Teaching Excellence Award, Norden-Pfizer-Zoetis Animal Health Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award, 2013 Iman Outstanding Teacher Award, 2015 Stange Alumnus Award from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University and 2016 Teaching Excellence in the Third Year Award.
Dr. Harkin and his wife, Katie, have two children: Daniel and Jillian.