Searching for outstanding contributors to the veterinary field

By Malinda Osborne
Published on
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Members of the AVMA are invited to nominate qualified recipients for the 2009 AVMA awards, which will be presented at the 146th AVMA Annual Convention, July 11-15 in Seattle.

Nominations are invited for the following:

AVMA Award

This award is designed to recognize distinguished members of the Association who have contributed to the advancement of veterinary medicine in its organizational aspects. Veterinarians who have exerted outstanding leadership in building strong local, state, or regional associations, or who have contributed to the improvement of the national organization, are eligible. The award consists of a Tiffany crystal sculpture and a $500 award.

AVMA Animal Welfare Award

This award is given annually to an AVMA member to recognize achievements in advancing the welfare of animals through leadership, public service, education, research and product development, and advocacy. By doing so, the AVMA hopes to raise public awareness of the important role of veterinarians in improving the understanding of animal welfare-related science and ethics, and ensuring that animal use for human purposes is conducted responsibly. The AVMA also hopes to raise public awareness of the role of veterinarians in attending to and promoting animal welfare within the context of responsible animal use. The award consists of a physical award, a $500 stipend, and reimbursement of expenses (in accord with AVMA policy) for travel to the award presentation.

AVMA Lifetime Excellence in Research Award

The Council on Research proposed this award to recognize a veterinary researcher on the basis of lifetime achievement in basic, applied, or clinical research. The award is open to veterinarians who are retired from or are currently working in an academic, government, private, or public institution or in clinical practice. Nominees will be considered on the total impact their career has had on the veterinary and/or biomedical profession. The honoree will receive a commemorative plaque; round-trip airfare to the AVMA Annual Convention, where the award is presented; two days' per diem for time spent at the convention; and a $5,000 award.

Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award

Named after the late Dr. Leo K. Bustad, former dean of the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine and past president of the Delta Society, this award was developed to recognize the outstanding work of veterinarians in preserving and protecting human-animal relationships. Along with the AVMA, the Delta Society and Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. co-sponsor the award. It consists of a $5,000 grant and a $5,000 grant to the veterinary college or school or not-for-profit service program of the veterinarian's choice, to further work in improving human and companion animal interactions. Also included is up to $5,000 for family travel to the award ceremony and up to $10,000 for approved speaking engagements related to the human-animal bond.

Charles River Prize

The Charles River Foundation established this award to recognize distinguished contributions to laboratory animal science and to promote educational growth in that field. The donor has stipulated that recipients must be AVMA members currently engaged in that field. The Charles River Laboratories Foundation will process nominations, and the AVMA Executive Board will make the final selection. The prize consists of a plaque and a $2,500 award.

AVMA Humane Award

This award is given annually to a nonveterinarian to recognize achievements in advancing the welfare of animals through leadership, education, research and product development, and advocacy. The AVMA's intent in bestowing this award is to encourage attention to animal welfare within the context of responsible animal use and to reward thoughtful and science-based animal welfare advocacy. The recipient is presented with a physical award, a $500 stipend, and reimbursement of expenses (in accord with AVMA policy) for travel to the venue where the award will be presented.

AVMA Meritorious Service Award

Distinct from the AVMA Award, this award recognizes a veterinarian who has contributed to the advancement of veterinary medicine, and brought honor and distinction to the profession through personal/professional activities conducted outside the areas of organized veterinary medicine and research. The award recipient receives a Tiffany crystal sculpture and a $500 award.

AVMA Practitioner Research Award

The recipient of this award is selected annually by the Council on Research in recognition of clinical research in veterinary science by a private practice veterinarian. It is presented to a member of the Association who contributed the major portion to a research project or projects and published the results while engaged in full-time private veterinary practice. A Tiffany crystal sculpture signifies the award, along with $500.

AVMA Public Service Award

The AVMA Public Service Award was proposed by the Council on Public Health and Regulatory Veterinary Medicine to recognize an AVMA member for long terms of outstanding public service or unusual contributions to the practice or science of public health and regulatory veterinary medicine. The recipient is presented with a Tiffany crystal sculpture and a $500 award.

Royal Canin Award

To foster progress in small animal medicine and surgery, the Royal Canin Veterinary Diet annually offers this award to a veterinarian whose work within the preceding five years in either clinical research or the basic sciences is judged to have contributed substantially to the advancement of the field. The award consists of a statuette and $1,000.

XIIth International Veterinary Congress Prize

The AVMA Executive Board selects recipients of this award on the basis of outstanding service by an AVMA member who has contributed to international understanding of veterinary medicine. The prize consists of a Tiffany crystal sculpture and a $500 award.

Nominations for all awards must be submitted by Feb. 2, 2009, except for the Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award, which has a nomination deadline of March 2, 2009. For nomination forms, information on supporting materials, awards criteria, the selection process, and a listing of past award recipients, visit the AVMA Web site at www.avma.org/awards. Information may also be obtained by contacting the following individuals about a specific award:

  • For the AVMA Animal Welfare Award, Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award, and AVMA Humane Award, contact Kathy Sikora, Animal Welfare Division, at (800) 248-2862, Ext. 6635, or ksikoraatavma [dot] org (ksikora[at]avma[dot]org).
  • For the AVMA Award, Charles River Prize, AVMA Meritorious Service Award, Royal Canin Award, and XIIth International Veterinary Congress Prize, contact Julie Granstrom, Office of the Executive Vice President, at (800) 248-2862, Ext. 6605, or jcusackatavma [dot] org (jgranstrom[at]avma[dot]org).
  • For the AVMA Lifetime Excellence in Research Award and AVMA Practitioner Research Award, contact Debbie Summers, Education and Research Division, at (800) 248-2862, Ext. 6778, or dsummersatavma [dot] org (dsummers[at]avma[dot]org).
  • For the AVMA Public Service Award, contact Tracy Olsen, Scientific Activities Division, at (800) 248-2862, Ext. 6636, or tolsenatavma [dot] org (tolsen[at]avma[dot]org).