CVMA proudly recognized its 2026 award winners during the Annual Membership Meeting at the CVMA Convention in Keystone, CO. Each recipient has made an extraordinary impact through their dedication, service, and commitment to the veterinary profession. We thank each of them for their remarkable contributions to our community.
Desiree English, DVM
Veterinarian of the Year
Dr. Desiree English grew up in northeast Denver and dreamed of becoming a veterinarian from the age of five. She worked her way through college as a zookeeper at the Denver Zoo before graduating from
Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2004.
Dr. English understood early in her career the importance of representation in veterinary medicine. She intentionally chose to return to the community where she grew up — a diverse, working-class area where she believed families deeply loved their pets and deserved access to compassionate veterinary care.
In 2015, she opened Tower Road Animal Hospital in the very neighborhood where she was raised. And when she recognized growing gaps in access to urgent veterinary care in her community, she once again stepped forward.
In 2025, Dr. English expanded her practice and independently opened one of the only privately owned veterinary urgent care facilities in Denver — built not by corporate investment, but through her own
determination, leadership, and belief in the community she serves.
Her impact extends far beyond clinical practice.
Dr. English is a mentor, educator, advocate for diversity within veterinary medicine, former Vice President of the Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine, and a powerful example of servant leadership within our profession.
Perhaps most importantly, she has created a practice culture rooted in compassion, mentorship, and
opportunity.
Please join us in celebrating Dr. Desiree English, CVMA’s 2026 Veterinarian of the Year.
Debbie Escobedo
Distinguished Service Award
For 24 years, Debbie Escobedo has served as the National Veterinary Accreditation Program Coordinator for USDA Veterinary Services in Colorado.
During that time, she has supported more than 2,800 accredited veterinarians across our state — helping practitioners navigate accreditation, international health certificates, regulatory requirements,
and countless complicated questions with patience, kindness, and extraordinary institutional knowledge.
The nomination letters for Debbie all described the same qualities: calm competence, unwavering professionalism, generosity with her time, and a genuine desire to help veterinarians succeed.
When workforce shortages affected USDA Veterinary Services, Debbie stepped forward and took on accreditation responsibilities not only for Colorado, but also for New Mexico and Arizona — all while continuing to support Colorado veterinarians with the same care and responsiveness she has shown for more than two decades.
Her work often happens quietly and behind the scenes.
But its impact reaches across our profession every single day. Veterinarians throughout Colorado have relied on Debbie during stressful moments, confusing processes, and important transitions. And time after time, she has responded with patience, knowledge, and kindness.
The veterinary profession in Colorado is stronger because of her dedication.
It is with great pride that we recognize Debbie Escobedo as the recipient of the 2026 CVMA Distinguished Service Award.