The SVVMA Charitable Foundation gives out $3,000.00 annually to UC Davis students in honor of three veterinarians who went above and beyond for the veterinary community. Drs. Ron Hauge, Hap Paul, and Gene Story will be honored by the gifts the Foundation donates because of the gifts they gave to the veterinary profession.
Ron Hauge, DVM
Dr. Ron Hauge became a veterinarian in California after graduating from Washington State College in 1939. In 1946 he opened Auburn Boulevard Veterinary Hospital which he operated for more than four decades. Dr. Hauge, along with Dr. Steinmetz, helped to form the Sacramento Valley Veterinary Medical Association. He served as the President of the Association and was responsible for many veterinarians becoming involved with organized veterinary medicine. Dr. Hauge enjoyed being a mentor for many young practicing veterinarians and was always there to lend a helping hand. In 1982 he received CVMA’s highest membership honor, Distinguished Life Member. Dr. Hauge was the former President of the SSPCA. After he sold his practice in 1988 and retired, the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution honoring his service to the community and declared April 10, 1988 as Ronald T. Hauge Day in Sacramento County.
Hap Paul, DVM
Dr. Howard “Hap” Paul advanced veterinary medicine when he performed hip replacement surgery on a dog using RoboDoc. RoboDoc is a computerized single arm machine capable of controlling the movements of a small rotary cutting tool. This device was first used in 1992 shortly before Dr. Paul passed away. Dr. Paul was a staff surgeon at Sacramento Animal Medical Group during his development of RoboDoc. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Notre Dame University. After graduation from Ecole Nationale Veterinarire d’Alfort, Maisons, Alfort, France in 1979, he returned to this country to intern at the UCD Veterinary Medicine and Teaching and Research Center. In 1983 he completed a small animal residency at SAMG. In 1987 Dr. Paul joined the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine as an Assistant Research Veterinarian, and in 1988 was appointed Assistant Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery. Because of his research and development of RoboDoc while at UC Davis he was able to gain widespread recognition of the school and veterinary medicine. His invention helped lead to the total hip replacement in veterinary and human hospitals around the world.
Gene Story, DVM
Dr. Gene Story owned Midtown Animal Hospital in the early 70’s. He was a very active surgeon and he enjoyed doing all types of surgeries. Dr. Story regularly took in UC Davis students on preceptorship programs so that he could help train and develop them. Dr. Story made it his special project to make sure UC Davis students had somewhere to come for training and mentorship. In 1973 Dr. Story started a vineyard on his land near Plymouth and the vineyards still exist even after his death. You can visit the Story Winery on any trip to Amador County and be sure to ask about the veterinarian who helped grow the profession.
In addition to the Hauge/Story/Paul Scholarships, the Charitable Foundation also gives out the William Steinmetz, DVM Student Scholarships each year. The scholarships are worth $5,000.00 and are usually divided between multiple students who are actively participating in organized veterinary medicine and plan on staying in the local Sacramento area.