Merck Animal Health Recognizes Dr. Robert B. Cherenson with Lander Veterinary Clinic, Inc. as Mentor of the Year at the 2024 AABP National Conference  

RAHWAY, N.J., Sept. 17, 2024 – Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside of the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (NYSE:MRK), and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) today announced it presented Robert B. Cherenson, D.V.M. with the Mentor of the Year Award at the 2024 AABP Annual Conference in Columbus, Ohio. This annual award recognizes an individual who goes above and beyond in educating, supporting and advancing the careers of future bovine veterinarians.

          Cherenson is a private practice veterinarian with Lander Veterinary Clinic, Inc. (LVC) in Turlock, Calif., a food animal practice that provides veterinary services to dairy, beef, swine and small ruminant herds. He has been with LVC for more than 35 years and has been a veterinary practitioner for more than 40 years. Through his partnership at LVC, he also has owned and operated QMS Dairy, a 500-cow Jersey dairy. Cherenson earned his bachelor’s degree in animal science from Rutgers University and his veterinary medicine degree from Purdue University.

          LVC provides educational externship opportunities to veterinary students throughout California and globally. During his 35 years with LVC, Cherenson has actively shared his passion for dairy practice with high school, college, and veterinary students.

          “Bob’s passion is people. He’s a phenomenal practitioner, dedicated partner, and gives back tirelessly to our profession,” said Bryan D. Halteman, D.V.M. M.B.A., a fellow practitioner at LVC. “All of these qualities are admirable, but none are as far-reaching as the impact Bob has had on the more than 2,000 student externs he has crossed paths with during his tenure at Lander Veterinary Clinic. They include students from all over the United States and about every continent on the globe.”

          In supplementing his nomination, Heather Bessoff, D.V.M. with Dairy Management Solutions, said, “Dr. Bob is a strong advocate for a solid understanding of fiscal management and business acumen. He is passionate about the future success of those he mentors, and he insists that their success in our profession must come from more than just their medical knowledge – they must understand the business and their personal financial situation to be successful.”

          “At Merck Animal Health, we are proud to honor and celebrate those in veterinary medicine, like Dr. Cherenson, who mentor and serve as role models for the future leaders of our profession,” said Justin Welsh, D.V.M., executive director of livestock technical services at Merck Animal Health. “It is clear his passion and enthusiasm for teaching others and the impact he has had make him worthy of this recognition.”

          Merck Animal Health has long-standing partnerships with educational institutions and associations, like AABP, to ensure the industry’s future needs are addressed. The company annually provides more than $1.4 million in veterinary scholarships and millions of dollars in financial support in grants to universities, associations and foundations.

          Founded in 1965, AABP is an international association of more than 5,000 veterinarians and veterinary students who serve as leaders in cattle health, welfare and productivity. To learn more, visit aabp.org.

Robert B. Cherenson, D.V.M., a private practice veterinarian at Lander Veterinary Clinic, Inc. in Turlock, Calif., was honored by Merck Animal Health and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners as the 2024 Mentor of the Year during AABP’s Annual Conference in Columbus, Ohio.

About Merck Animal Health

          At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than a century, we’ve been at the forefront of research, bringing forward medicines, vaccines and innovative health solutions for the world’s most challenging diseases. Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA, is the global animal health business of Merck. Through its commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals^®, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, producers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of connected technology that includes identification, traceability and monitoring products. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who care for them. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA

          This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

          Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

          The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).

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