Two members of Colorado State University’s veterinary community have received prestigious honors from the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges.
Dr. Sue VandeWoude, associate dean for research in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, won the AAVMC’s Excellence in Research Award, presented by Zoetis. Former college Dean Lance Perryman was selected as the 2015 AAVMC Recognition Lecturer.
The Excellence in Research Award honors those who “demonstrate excellence in original research, leadership in the scientific community, and exceptional mentoring of trainees and colleagues in any discipline of veterinary medicine.”
The award honors VandeWoude – a veterinarian and virus researcher – as a leader in veterinary research and education, and as a relentless advocate of the important role veterinarians play in biomedical research.
“It’s kind of overwhelming to me, honestly,” VandeWoude said. “Others who have received the award have had distinguished careers, and I am humbled and grateful to be included in this group.”
CSU’s only previous winner is Dr. Edward Hoover, a University Distinguished Professor and expert in feline leukemia virus and prion disease. James Fox, an alumnus of CSU’s veterinary program, won the award in 2013.
VandeWoude is an authority on feline viral diseases and disease spread through wild and domestic cat populations. Her research – funded by multiple federal and nonfederal sources, including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and Morris Animal Foundation – is significant for discoveries tied to both animal and ecological concerns. Such information can also shed light on the emergence and spread of viruses in the human population.
Her award further honors VandeWoude for touting the value of veterinary research and for mentoring vet students.
“That’s a passion of mine,” she said. “It’s one of the best parts of my job, if not the best.”
Perryman’s lecture
The Recognition Lecture is an invited presentation from someone who has made major contributions to veterinary teaching and practice; it provides the honoree with a platform to discuss innovation. Perryman’s presentation is set during the AAVMC Annual Conference and Iverson Bell Symposium March 13-15 in Washington, D.C.; the conference theme is “recruiting and selecting for the future of veterinary medicine.”
Perryman, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences from 2001 to 2012, said he will talk about approaches in veterinary education, and how they might be improved.
“I consider this a tremendous honor,” he said. “It will be great to be back at the conference in D.C. and connect with all of those deans again.”
Recognition lecturers may publish their presentations in the Journal of Veterinary Medical Education.
“Your significant and exemplary contributions to veterinary medical education have advanced the profession in important ways,” AAVMC Executive Director Andrew Maccabe wrote to Perryman. “The AAVMC is pleased to be able to highlight and honor your contributions to academic veterinary medicine and the veterinary medical community at large by selecting you as our 2015 Recognition Lecturer.”
