The AVMF has named its first-ever "America's Favorite Veterinarian" contest winner: Dr. Carlos Campos, who owns and practices at San Francis Veterinary Hospital in Spring Hill, Fla.

Campos was presented the award during the 2013 AVMA annual convention in Chicago. 

According to the AVMF, Campos is president of the Suncoast Veterinary Association, a member of the AVMA and Florida VMA, and has participated on the Animal Control Advisory Committee of Pasco County since 2004. He earned his veterinary degree from the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine in 2002.

The association said its review panel selected Campos from more than 1,000 nominated veterinarians after one of his clients entered his name for consideration. 

"It certainly was very humbling to learn my clients think that highly of me," Campos said in an AVMF press release. "It was an honor just to be nominated. I read the stories of the other veterinarians who were nominated and I feel they are just as deserving as I am, if not more."

The client, Joan Spitrey, told the story of how Campos performed emergency surgery on her dachshund and at the same time discovered that the dog probably had Cushing's disease. The dog's health deteriorated over the next year, and finally Spitrey had to have the euthanasia discussion with Campos and his staff.

Spitrey, an ICU nurse, said Campos and his staff handled the matter gently and tactfully, and helped her to make peace with the difficult decision.

"He and his staff took their time, answered all my questions and were supportive with my decision to take him home to pass in peace. I will never forget that day as we said goodbye to a precious family member," Spitrey wrote in her contest entry.

According to Spitrey, Campos won her over during that time and inspired her to later bring her newly adopted into his hospital for veterinary care. She said she even sometimes tries to persuade him to apply his winning bedside manner to an entirely different species.

"To sum up my admiration of Dr. Campos (and I tell him each time), 'Are you sure you won't start seeing humans,'" Spitrey wrote.

The list of finalists also included the following veterinarians:

• Dr. Kimberly Agnello, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital, Philadelphia, Penn.
• Dr. Robert Baugher, Countryside Veterinary Service, Champion, Ohio
• Dr. Andrew Church, Blakeslee Animal Clinic, Pocono Lake, Penn.
• Dr. C. Guillermo Couto, The Ohio State University – Teaching Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
• Dr. Kate Cutting, Doorstep Veterinary Medicine, Tacoma, Wash.
• Dr. Denise Follett, Brook-Falls Veterinary Hospital & Exotic Care, Menomonee Falls, Wisc.
• Dr. Doug R. Hendrix, Sugar Land Pet Hospital, Sugar Land, Texas
• Dr. Charles S. McCully, Eastland Companion Animal Hospital, Bloomington, Ill.
• Dr. Monica Revel, West Hollywood Animal Hospital, West Hollywood, Calif.
• Dr. Robert T. Sullivan, Southtown Veterinary Hospital, Montrose, Penn.
• Dr. Dan Wentz, Ferguson Animal Hospital, Ferguson, Mo.