Jerry Paul Shank

He was raised in Ashland,Ohio and graduated from Hayesville High School in 1961. In high school, Jerry was responsible for developing the math curriculum and adding higher level math classes for himself and his classmates which allowed students to gain access to professional schools in the STEM fields. Dr. Jerry Shank married his high school sweetheart Connie Crone and they moved to Columbus, Ohio where Dr. Jerry attended The Ohio State University for undergraduate studies and for veterinary school. Connie worked as an RN at Riverside Hospital while Jerry finished his DVM degree, and graduated in 1970. After graduation, Jerry and Connie moved to Cincinnati where Jerry worked as an associate veterinarian at a busy veterinary hospital.

After spending a spring break in Florida, the young couple decided to move to Ft. Lauderdale in 1972

where Dr. Jerry Shank’s professional career flourished with the opening of Shank Animal Hospital.

Like he did in high school, Jerry realized that there was an unmet educational need for veterinarians in South Florida and in 1974 he established the South Florida Academy of Veterinary Medicine to provide continuing education for his colleagues.

Dr. Shank continued to contribute to the veterinary profession throughout his professional life and was elected to the Executive Board of the Florida Veterinary Medical Association in 2003 serving two consecutive terms. In 2009, Dr. Jerry Shank served as the President of the Florida Veterinary Medical Association.

In 2014, Dr. Jerry Shank was honored with the FVMA Distinguished Service Award for exceptional achievements and contributions toward the advancement of veterinary medicine and the veterinary profession.

Dr. Jerry Shank had a kind and warm heart, and from the start on the dairy farm was always an animal

lover. He also deeply loved and cherished his family and the community of clients and pets that he served

for over 40 years at Shank Animal Hospital.

As a devoted father and grandfather, Jerry would always refer to his grandchildren as “just marvelous” and was always interested and excited to hear of their many

interests and endeavors.

Dr. Jerry Shank is survived by his wife, Connie Shank; his children: Dr. Stephanie Shank Correa (Tony),Jason Shank (Ginger), and Jedidiah Shank (Heidi) as well as his grandchildren, Grace, Antonio, Nathaniel, Ozzy, Bria, Carrie, Sadie, Calvin, Isaiah, Ruby and Thomas, nieces, nephews, brother David and sister Karen, and many extended family members, colleagues, friends and clients.