Medical Director
Sun Valley Animal Center
Ketchum, Idaho
Dr. Acker moved to Sun Valley, ID, and became the owner of Sun Valley Animal Center after graduating from Colorado State University in 1979. Dr. Acker’s focus has been in dog surgery with a particular emphasis on orthopedics. By attending multiple orthopedic courses over the years, Dr. Acker has attained the skills to achieve excellence in orthopedic surgeries. Courses attended by Dr. Acker include cruciate ligament repair (TPLO, TTA, and others), total hip replacement (BioMedtrix THR, Kyon THR, Micro, and Nano Hip Systems), bone plating, arthroscopy, external fixation, and many others.
In the early 1990s, Dr. Acker began doing the tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) after learning the surgical technique from its inventor, Dr. Barclay Slocum. In 2013, Dr. Acker taught the TPLO course for Synthes at the Veterinary Orthopedic Society meeting in Park City, UT.
Dr. Acker has been an instructor eight times at the Kyon Total Hip Replacement course. The Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) program of the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) has certified Dr. Acker as an instructor for total hip replacement (THR) courses.
Dr. Acker’s interest in orthopedics has led him to multiple orthopedic patents, invitations to lecture worldwide, and the development of the TATE Elbow, as well as an ankle replacement system. Dr. Acker has taught numerous TATE Elbow courses. The TATE Elbow was developed and named after the Acker Family’s yellow lab, Tate, who suffered from severe elbow arthritis.
Dr. Acker lives in the valley with his wife Susan, their dogs Fischer and Mama, and their cat Kitterston. Their son Marcus lives in Alaska. Dr. Acker mentors and shares his skills and veterinary interests with his two DVM daughters, Amber and Maggie, who are working with him at Sun Valley Animal Center.
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TATE Elbow Clinical Experience
Saturday, October 25, 2025
3:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Saturday, October 25, 2025
3:30 PM - 3:45 PM