Join the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) at noon Tuesday, June 13, as we honor students, handlers, and their service and therapy dogs — past, present, and future — in a ceremony to raise visibility of these handlers and their canine companions, including a special presentation of an Honorary Dogree to therapy dog Loki and her handler, Caroline Benzel, MD.
Benzel will be the keynote speaker for the event, which will be held at the Health Sciences Research Facility III patio, 670 W. Baltimore St.
Loki, who was affectionately nicknamed “Dogtor” Loki, delivered Hero Healing Kits alongside Benzel to front line health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and provided virtual therapy sessions with University of Maryland Medical Center health care workers, some of whom worked with patients fighting the coronavirus.
Loki’s efforts have been recognized by the American Kennel Club Paw of Courage award, which honors dogs who serve their communities, and the American Rottweiler Club Heroism Award. She also was honored by the Animal Medical Center in New York at its virtual Top Dog Gala in 2020 and was awarded a $10,000 donation from Ally bank that went toward personal protection equipment and Hero Healing Kits.
The 5-year-old Rottweiler supported Benzel, who graduated from the University of Maryland School of Medicine with her medical degree in May, and other UMB students during their academic journeys.
Two other recent graduates and their service dogs will be honored as well.
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy graduate Paola Urbistondo-Jimenez, PharmD, will be recognized alongside her service dog Kylo Red, who will be conferred a Dogtor of Pharmacy for bringing visibility to medical care providers with service dogs in health care settings.
University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law graduate Courtney Bergan, JD, will be honored alongside their service dog, Kiera, who will be conferred a Juris Dogtorate.
The event will feature remarks from UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS; Kerry Sobol, MBA, RN, director of patient experience, University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS); Pooja Bhatnagar, MS, OTR/L, UMMS therapy dog handler, who will be accompanied by Remy; and Diane Bernier of Fidos for Freedom, an organization that provides trained service dogs to people with disabilities.
All UMB faculty, staff, and students and UMMS employees and their service or therapy animals are welcome to attend.
You can read more about Loki and Benzel's efforts here.