Marks Named a 2021 Health Care Hero

Steve Marks, associate dean and director of veterinary services at the NC State Veterinary Hospital, has been named a 2021 Health Care Hero by the Triangle Business Journal.

Marks was announced as one of the winners by the TBJ on Thursday. It’s the 20th year of the publication’s Health Care Heroes Awards program, honoring “Triangle individuals and organizations for putting innovation and compassion to work to improve the human condition,” according to the TBJ.

“I accept this award on behalf of the NC State Veterinary Hospital and College of Veterinary Medicine,” says Marks. “All of the credit for the work that we do goes to our students, staff, house officers and faculty. Thank you, TBJ, and congratulations to all of the recipients.” 

The awards honor those in a range of health care fields, including COVID-19 frontline workers, as well as nurses, volunteers, clinicians and researchers. A virtual celebration of the winners — including a reveal of who won in each award category — will be held on April 15, the TBJ said in a news release. Profiles of each winner will be published in the TBJ on April 16.

Marks, also a clinical professor of critical care and internal medicine, joined the CVM in 2005. He oversees the NC State Veterinary Hospital complex, including the specialty services within the Terry Center, the Equine and Farm Veterinary Medical Center and the Veterinary Health and Wellness Center.

A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Marks earned his veterinary degree from the University of Liverpool and a master’s in veterinary medicine from Washington State University.

Marks has also received several awards for his teaching, including the Zoetis Distinguished Teacher Award at NC State in 2013 and the NC State Outstanding Teacher Award in 2014.

For the past year, Marks has led the veterinary hospital through the COVID-19 pandemic, providing expert veterinary care to the community while ensuring the safety of hospital clients, faculty, staff and students. As the pandemic unfolded, he helped organize assistance for human hospitals in need, offering ventilators, masks and other vital supplies.

Last summer, he was awarded a Coat of Excellence for his leadership during the pandemic.

“Dr. Steve Marks fills one of the toughest and most demanding jobs in any veterinary college and is steering us through the most difficult challenge this college has ever faced,” said CVM Dean Paul Lunn in June of Marks’ Coat of Excellence honor. “I don’t think anyone is more trusted and appreciated in our leadership, I’m lucky to count him as a colleague and a friend.”

~Jordan Bartel/NC State Veterinary Medicine