Born in Ohio and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Dr. Bill Rood earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of California, Davis in 1972 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1975. While attending law school, he began building an ambulatory equine practice in Lexington, which was well established by the time he completed his degree. In 1981, Dr. Rood partnered with Dr. Tom Riddle to form what is now Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital. As the practice grew, Dr. Rood transitioned from ambulatory work to full-time hospital administration, serving as Hospital Director and later as President and Chief Executive Officer until his retirement from that role in 2017. He remains actively involved with the practice as a shareholder emeritus. Dr. Rood has been instrumental in advancing equine veterinary practice management. He founded the AAEP Practice Management Symposium in 1990 and the first Veterinary Management Group for equine practices in 2001. From 2003 to 2012, he directed the Opportunities in Equine Practice Seminar, which introduced hundreds of veterinary students each year to careers in equine medicine. Ordained as a Deacon in the Catholic Church in 2008, Dr. Rood continues to serve in the Diocese of Lexington. He and his wife, Karen, have seven children and twelve grandchildren. In recognition of his leadership and contributions to the profession, The Foundation for the Horse established the Dr. Bill Rood Leadership Scholarship, awarded annually to veterinary students demonstrating leadership and a commitment to equine practice.