Drs. Iodence and Simon Receive the K-State Alumni Recognition Award

The Veterinary Medical Alumni Association presented Drs. Mark S. Iodence and William Michael Simon with the Alumni Recognition Award at the Western Veterinary Conference on February 12, 2001, in Las Vegas, Nev. The veterinarians were recognized for time and effort devoted to advancing the profession of veterinary medicine and for being exemplary role models for future alumni of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University.

Dr. Mark Iodence grew up in Alliance, Neb., and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1980. He then went on to complete a doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the K-State College of Veterinary Medicine in 1984.

After graduation, Dr. Iodence moved to Las Vegas to begin practicing veterinary medicine. He was the manager of a small animal hospital and then, in 1990, he built and established Lake View Animal Hospital in Las Vegas. The five doctors and 34 staff members at the hospital specialize in the care of small animals.

Dr. Iodence became Board Certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, Companion Animal Specialty in 1991 and he was recertified in January of 2001. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Las Vegas West Side Animal Emergency Center. Additionally, he is an active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and American Animal Hospital Association.

Dr. Iodence serves on the financial committee for the Shadow Hills Baptist Church where he and his family are members. He and his wife, Pam, have been married for sixteen years and have two sons, Ryan, 13, and Tyler, 11. Dr. Iodence enjoys an active lifestyle, which includes coaching little league baseball for his sons.

Dr. Mike Simon was born in Manhattan, Kansas. and grew up in Mankato, Kansas. He attended Pittsburg State University on a basketball scholarship and graduated in 1976 with a B.S. degree in Education. He also married his wife, Loy, that same year.

After graduating from the College of Veterinary Medicine at K-State in 1982, he moved to Las Vegas to begin working in a small animal and equine practice. He bought into a partnership and built Warm Springs Animal Hospital in 1985 and attained 100% ownership in 1995. The hospital has since evolved into a strictly small animal practice. Additionally, Dr. Simon has been professionally associated with Siegfried and Roy for the last eighteen years and has also been on staff at the Mirage dolphin habitat since 1989.

One of Dr. Simon's most memorable experiences has been to assist with the transport the Orca whale, Keiko, of the "Free Willy" movies. Free Willy the Killer Whale was transported from Newport, Ore. to the Westmann Islands of Iceland in 1998. The great mammal's health had deteriorated and Dr. Simon, along with a handful of other veterinarians, rehabilitated him back into excellent condition.

Dr. Simon has been blessed with a wonderful family with two daughters, Ashlie, 19, and Emily, 17.