The AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF), in collaboration with the American Kennel Club (AKC), has awarded the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine its second annual AKC/AKC CHF Canine Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency Program Award.

Launched in 2024, the program expands the number of specialists trained to care for athletic dogs, working dogs and any dog benefiting from rehabilitation guided by a sports medicine expert. To be considered, veterinary residency programs approved by the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation apply and are selected as deserving through a competitive review by subject matter experts.

“It’s an honor for the Cornell University Hospital for Animals and our Canine Sports Medicine Service to receive this award and we are grateful for the support of the American Kennel Club and our new collaboration with the AKC Canine Health Foundation. Supporting an SMR residency is more important than ever. Each SMR resident contributes greatly to patient care and advances in the medical field not only during their time at Cornell but for the rest of their professional career,” said Dr. Christopher Frye, section chief of sports medicine and rehabilitation at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals.

Cornell’s sports medicine and rehabilitation (SMR) residency program offers residents a strong academic environment with exceptional training in diagnostics, therapeutics and research, providing a diverse and rigorous learning experience from leaders in the field. Cornell’s SMR program is unique in the country in that it focuses heavily on diagnostic imaging, including musculoskeletal ultrasound; interventional pain management, including therapeutic epidural, perineural and joint injections amongst other procedures; and regenerative therapies like stem cells, platelet rich plasma and more. Furthermore, the Cornell SMR team sees a diverse patient population that exceeds 3,500 patients per year, from sporting dogs with performance-related lameness to geriatric dogs with daily mobility impairments.

“We are thrilled to support Cornell’s growing program training the next generation of specialists in canine sports medicine and rehabilitation,” says Dr. Stephanie Montgomery, chief executive officer of the AKC Canine Health Foundation. “By learning from leaders in the field, engaging in research and utilizing Cornell’s state-of-the-art facilities, this trainee will help advance evidence-based medicine for all dogs and drive the discipline forward.”

Cornell will receive approximately $100,000 annually for three years to fully support the training of a veterinarian specializing in canine sports medicine and rehabilitation. By investing in this field, AKC and CHF are expanding access to the expertise needed to meet the health and performance needs of dogs, with plans to offer one or more of these awards each year. Qualified veterinarians may apply for this position through the Veterinary Internship & Residency Matching Program in the 2025-2026 cycle, with residency training beginning in July 2026.

For more information about the AKC Canine Health Foundation, or to join the mission of improving the lives of all dogs, visit them online.