The RCVS has announced the recipients of this year’s RCVS honours, including those who will be receiving the new
Impact and Inspiration Awards. The Impact Award recognises
veterinary surgeons who are undertaking projects and initiatives that have a discernible impact on the profession and/or
animal health and welfare, and the Inspiration Awards recognise those inspiring others with their actions and words.
Jade Statt, the founder of the StreetVet project, which
provides free and accessible veterinary care to homeless
pet owners in London, is the recipient of the Impact Award.
She was nominated by StreetVet volunteer Gabriel Galea
who said: “Jade’s most substantial contribution has been to
the welfare of the dogs she selflessly gives up her time and
energy to treat, using resources she works hard to source.”
Derek Knottenbelt and Ebony Escalona are the recipients
of this year’s Inspiration Awards. Derek, who is Emeritus
Professor in equine internal medicine at the University of
Liverpool and Director of Equine Medical Solutions, has
been recognised for inspiring generations of veterinary
students, residents and specialists.
Ebony was recognised for her work as a veterinary advisor at the Brooke equine charity, as the founding member of
the Vets: Stay, Go, Diversify Facebook group which encourages veterinary surgeons to share their experiences and ideas,
and for her involvement in the Learn Appeal Project which
provides basic veterinary, farriery and husbandry information
to rural communities without access to internet connections.
The recipients of the International Awards are Alemayehu Hailemariam, a veterinary surgeon who does much of
the Brooke’s clinical and educational fieldwork in Ethiopia,
and Rachel Wright, who trained as a veterinary nurse and
founded the Tree of Life for Animals animal hospital in
Rajasthan, India.
The Queen’s Medal, the highest honour the College can
bestow on a veterinary surgeon, recognises a distinguished
career. This year’s recipient is Peter Clegg, an equine vet
who is Head of the Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease at the University of Liverpool, an institute engaging
in veterinary, medical and biomedical research relating to
musculoskeletal biology and ophthalmology. His nominator, Mandy Peffers, said that throughout his research and
clinical careers, Peter “has been instrumental in developing
and mentoring many individuals”.
All awards will be bestowed at RCVS Day 2018, which
takes place on 13 July.
