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The World Veterinary Association (WVA) and Ceva Santé Animale (Ceva) are pleased to announce the winner of Veterinarian of the Year 2024 of the WVA Global Veterinary Awards, as Dr. Simon Doherty, based in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The WVA Global Veterinary Awards are an evolution from the previous WVA Animal Welfare Awards, which were extended to include all 4 WVA’s areas of work – Animal Welfare, One Health, Medicine Stewardship and Veterinary Education – and to also recognise the Vet student of the year. Having won the prize for One Health, each of the WVA Working Groups Chairpersons voted for an overall winner, with Dr. Simon Doherty coming out as the winner.
The announcement was made on stage at a glittering ceremony as part of the 39th World Veterinary Association Congress in Cape Town, South Africa.
Dr. Doherty began his veterinary career working in a progressive farm animal and equine practice and was later appointed the Animal Health & Aquaculture Sector Specialist for the UK Government’s Department for International Trade. He went on to become President of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and was the founding chair of the UK One Health Coordination Group, later chairing the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) Food Safety & Sustainability Working Group.
For the last fifteen years, he has been working with the international NGO, Ripple Effect (formerly Send a Cow) which is involved in sustainable development in six sub-Saharan countries – Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi & Zambia bringing his expertise in livestock health & welfare, and One Health, to the organisation.
He currently works as Senior Lecturer (Education) in Animal Health in the School of Biological Sciences & Institute of Global Food Security, Queen’s University, Belfast.
He said: "I am absolutely thrilled and shocked to receive this award! When I talk about One Health I always discuss it in the context of One Health in Action. Action requires many people to be 'hands on' and this accolade is fantastic recognition of the many team efforts of which I have been part of and offered leadership to."
Short interview after the ceremony:
The other four prize winners were:
- Animal Welfare: Dr. Sheilah Robertson of Florida, USA
- Medicine Stewardship: Dr Shane Renwick of Ontario, Canada
- Veterinary Education: Professor Dato’ Dr. Azmi Lila of Universiti of Putra, Malaysia
- Student of the Year (supported by the International Veterinary Students’ Association): Yuri Victor Calvo based in São Paulo, Brazil
Speaking on behalf of the WVA, Immediate Past President Dr. Rafael Laguens, said: “It has been a great pleasure to be able to meet in person with all the winners of the different categories of the first edition of the Global Veterinary Awards at the award ceremony, which has embodied a global celebration of the diversity, values and significance of the veterinary profession, personified by the work of each of the winners. This event has become one of the essential activities of our 2024 World Congress. Dr. Marc Prikazsky's presence on this occasion represents Ceva Santé Animale's commitment to these awards, the World Veterinary Association, and the veterinary profession in its global scope. I foretold a successful and long life for the future editions of these awards.”
For Ceva Santé Animale, Chairman and CEO Dr. Marc Prikazsky added: “I am immensely proud that we have been able to support WVA in recognising these incredible individuals from our profession. Having met each of them in person and seeing the outstanding work they do; I can see why it was so difficult to select one overall winner. Simon is however a very worthy first winner of Veterinarian of the Year and a great ambassador for the critical shift to One Health.”
April 18, 2024 - World Veterinary Association (WVA) and Ceva Santé Animale.
