Ernie Ward, DVM, CVFT
APOP Founder and President
Dr. Ernie Ward is the founder and president of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP). A graduate of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, he has spent more than three decades advancing veterinary medicine, pet nutrition, healthy weight, preventive care, and the connection between animal and human health.
Dr. Ward is internationally recognized for his work in pet obesity and nutrition, veterinary practice innovation, senior pet care, and veterinary team education. Through APOP, which he founded in 2005, he has helped advance awareness of pet obesity, improve approaches to body condition assessment and weight management, and encourage healthier conversations about nutrition and excess weight.
He is also founder and Scientific Director of the World Pet Obesity Association (WPOA), an independently operated veterinary organization focused on advancing clinical standards for recognizing, diagnosing, treating, and monitoring obesity in companion animals.
Dr. Ward is editor of the forthcoming Wiley textbook Veterinary Clinical Obesity: A Multidisciplinary Approach, a clinical reference focused on the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of obesity in dogs and cats.
He has authored and coauthored several books and professional publications, including Chow Hounds: Why Our Dogs Are Getting Fatter, The Clean Pet Food Revolution: How Better Pet Food Will Change the World, Better You, Better Dog, Better Life: 30 Days to Happiness with Your Best Friend, Creating the Veterinary Experience, and Creating the Veterinary Appointment.
Dr. Ward is co-founder and Chief Veterinary Officer of VetFamily US and serves as inaugural chair of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Strategic Advisory Committee. He also co-hosts the award-winning Veterinary Viewfinder Podcast.
Outside veterinary medicine, he enjoys spending time with family and pets, endurance athletics, surfing, and paddling.
Email: DrErnieWard@gmail.com
Website: www.DrErnieWard.com