Manhattan, Kansas—Dr. Delwin Bokelman, a graduate of Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, was honored as the recipient of the college's 2003 Distinguished Alumnus Award. This prestigious award, sponsored by the Veterinary Medical Alumni Association, will be presented at the 65th Annual Conference for Veterinarians, Heritage dinner on June 2, 2003 in Manhattan, Kansas. He was recognized for his outstanding achievements and contributions to the profession of veterinary medicine.

Dr. Bokelman completed his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees in 1958 at Kansas State University. His first professional position following graduation was Research Veterinarian, Immunological Investigations, at the Plum Island Animal Disease Laboratory located in Greenport Long Island, New York. With his interests in pathology and research well established, he took teaching and study positions as National Institute of Health trainee in Pathology and Instructor of Pathology at the New York State Veterinary College, Department of Pathology, Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. He was awarded his PhD in Pathology at Cornell in 1964.

In 1964, Dr. Bokelman started an illustrious, 34-year career at Merck Research Laboratories, retiring from there in 1998. During this time, his research and management accomplishments were numerous and he earned an international reputation as an authority on the safety evaluation and toxicity of pharmaceutical agents. He was promoted to increasing levels of responsibility and in 1981, achieved the position of Executive Director, Department of Safety Assessment. In this position, he developed a major plan to expand safety assessment capabilities in the U.S. and create new laboratories in France and Japan, integrating them into one department. He was promoted to Vice President of Safety Assessment in 1989, with duties including other research activities in Merck Research Laboratories as well as the Department of Safety Assessment. Dr. Bokelman is credited with making major contributions to the development of many pharmaceuticals for both animal and human health. These include Ivermetin, which led to products such as Ivomec, Equvalan and Heartguard for animal health and Timoptic, Primaxin, Vasotec, Pepcid, Zocor and Vioxx for the treatment of human conditions. At the time of his retirement from Merck in 1998, he managed a staff of more than 800 people.

Currently Dr. Bokelman is President of Pharma Tox, Inc., a pharmaceutical development consulting service, and serves as Vice President of Safety Assessment for the REJUVENON Corp.

Dr. Bokelman has authored or co-authored numerous professional publications in his career and is involved in several professional memberships including, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the International Academy of Pathology, the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association, the Philadelphia Society of Pathology, the American Association of the Advancement of Science, Society of Toxicology and the Society of Pharmacologic and Environmental Pathologists.

Professional honors for Dr. Bokelman include designations as Fellow, by the AVMA in 1962 and as Fellow, by the National Institute of Health from 1962-1964.

Dr. Bokelman and his wife, Karen, reside in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. The couple has four children, Mark, Lorrie, John and Amy.

Dr. Bokelman is the son of the late August and Gertrude Bokelman of Greenleaf, Kansas and is the son-in-law of the late Dr. Marlin Carlson of Ellinwood, Kansas.