DVM Bios

Marvin L. Olmstead, DVM, MS, DACVS

Dr. Marvin Olmstead is a board certified specialist in small animal surgery and a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgery. He performs orthopedic surgery to treat fractures and joint conditions such as hip dysplasia, patella luxation, cruciate ligament ruptures and growth deformities. He also performs neurosurgery for intervertebral disc disease and tumors of the spine.

After receiving his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Kansas State University in 1972, he completed an internship at Colorado State University in 1973. In 1975 he completed a small animal surgical residency and a Master of Clinical Sciences at Kansas State University. Dr. Olmstead served one year on the faculty at Kansas State University before taking a faculty position at The Ohio State University in 1976. He reached the rank of professor of small orthopedics in 1989. He joined OVRA in 2002.

Dr. Olmstead has established himself as one of the world’s leaders in small animal orthopedic surgery by publishing numerous scientific articles, textbook chapters, abstracts and proceedings, and educational videotapes. Although he has a keen interest in fracture repair and joint surgery, he is best known for the role he played in establishing canine total hip replacements as an effective treatment for hip dysplasia.

Dr. Olmstead served as president of both the American College of Veterinary Surgery (ACVS) and OA-VET an international organization of veterinary orthopedic surgeons.

In 2008, Dr. Olmstead was presented the ACVS Foundation Legends Award. The ACVS Foundation Legends Award recognizes ACVS Diplomates who have developed a surgical or diagnostic procedure of significant value, proven by becoming the treatment or test of choice for a given condition. The procedure or test has withstood the test of time and, while perhaps modified over time, remains the treatment or diagnostic method of choice or the scientific basis for the current treatment of choice. The procedure or test is novel and involves advancements in veterinary surgical science and not reapplication of general medical science.  Dr. Olmstead received the ACVS Foundation Legends Award for his work with the total hip replacement.

Nearly 40 years ago, Dr. Olmstead got into the veterinary profession because of his interest in biology and fascination with surgery. He and his wife have two pets: Reba, a Labrador retriever and Lucy, a fat, feisty cat.

Back to DVM Bios