Some of the most inspiring vets from the UK and further afield were honoured at this year’s Royal College of Veterinary Surgeon (RCVS) annual College Day.
Those who made the cut included a vet who has helped an estimated 600,000 animals across Ethiopia, a vet nurse who founded an animal hospital in India and a young UK vet inspiring 10,000 peers to think differently about their careers.
The occasion began with the presentation of two bequests made to the college. The first, the scroll and parchment of Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior, a former president of the RCVS and the first veterinary surgeon to be elevated to a Peerage, who sadly died in May 2017.
These items were presented by Judy MacArthur-Clark, a former RCVS President who is now chairwoman of the Trustees of the Soulsby Foundation, a charity set up in his name to promote the concept of One Health.
The second bequest was the prize awarded to veterinary surgeon Mary-Elizabeth Raw when she won the 1989 series of Mastermind.
The bowl was presented by her cousin Sir Robert Nelson who praised Mary-Elizabeth’s courage and tenacity as a veterinary surgeon with multiple sclerosis who also devoted her time to helping others with disabilities.
This year the Queen’s Medal – the highest honour the college can bestow upon a veterinary surgeon in recognition of a distinguished career – was presented to Prof. Peter Clegg MRCVS, professor of musculoskeletal biology and head of research at the Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease.
The award was made in recognition of his research in the veterinary, medical and biomedical worlds and his dedication to mentoring and nurturing the careers of his students.
Two RCVS International Awards, which this year were bestowed upon Dr. Alemayehu Hailemariam and Rachel Wright.
Dr. Hailemariam is a veterinarian who leads the Brooke equine charity’s animal health programme in Ethiopia.
Reading his citation, RCVS president Stephen May said: “Dr. Hailemariam has helped an estimated 600,000 animals across Ethiopia.
This is one of the world’s largest populations of working equids, belonging to some of the world’s poorest communities, who often rely upon their animals for their livelihoods.
“Dr. Hailemariam’s work is, therefore, one of the finest examples of how a vet can service their whole community.”
Rachel Wright qualified as a veterinary nurse in the UK and went on to found the Tree of Life for Animals (TOLFA) hospital in Rajasthan, India, in 2005.
May said: “At the outset, there were only four staff, and no electricity or running water, but Rachel was determined to provide veterinary care for those stray animals that had nowhere else to go.
“Fast-forward 13 years and there is now a hospital facility covering two acres with 50 staff, capable of treating between 300 and 400 animals on any one day.”
Jade Statt was awarded the inaugural Impact Award.
Statt co-founded the Street Vet charity in 2016, an organisation that provides free veterinary care to the animals of the homeless community in many UK cities.
Over the last two years, her work has brought care to more than 315 street dogs and cats.
The next presentation was for the new RCVS Inspiration Award, for which there were two recipients this year.
The first was Dr. Ebony Escalona (pictured top) for her work with the Brooke equine charity and for founding the ‘Vets: Stay, Go or Diversify’ Facebook group.
The group, which now includes nearly 10,000 members, encourages veterinary professionals to seek true career fulfilment and expand the definition of ‘veterinary career’ beyond the traditional mindset.
The second recipient of the Inspiration Award was Prof. Derek Knottenbelt, also this year’s guest speaker, who recently retired from his Emeritus Professorship at the University of Liverpool, where he influenced generations of students.
Stephen May said: “His interpretation of ‘retired’ is somewhat strange, however, for as well as being a visiting professor, he also runs Equine Medical Solutions, lectures throughout the world as chair of the British Horse Society, and is now planning his eighth tour as a founding member of the charity Vets with Horsepower.”
An RCVS Fellowship by Thesis was also presented to Dr. Neil Hudson, while Dr. Judy MacArthur-Clark received her fellowship by meritorious contributions to the profession.
