Each year, the BSAVA presents awards during a special ceremony on the Thursday of Congress. These awards are in recognition of the contributions made by individuals working in the field of small animal medicine and surgery. The Awards Committee which compromises the Presidents of the BSAVA, RCVS and BVA together with the chairmen of the BSAVA’s Scientific and Publications Committees meet every December to consider nominations for Awards. The Committee cannot make nominations itself and therefore relies on the BSAVA membership putting forward names for consideration.

The recipients of the awards from 2011 are listed below.

Recipients of the 2012 awards will receive their accolade in a ceremony to be held on Thursday 12 April 2012, at the ICC, Birmingham, UK.

The Awards are as follows:

This award is presented annually by the BSAVA as the primary international recognition for really outstanding contributions to the field of small animal practice.

Veterinary surgeons and non-veterinary surgeons are eligible as recipients.

Professor N. Sydney Moïse DVM MS – 2011 Bourgelat Award Winner

The award, which takes the form of glass artwork and a scroll, goes to Sydney Moïse. Sydney is Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Section of Cardiology at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. She graduated from Texas A&M University (DVM) and Cornell University (MS). She is board certified in Cardiology and Internal Medicine (ACVIM). Her research has focused on spontaneous cardiac arrhythmias in dogs. She is extensively involved in international aspects of academic veterinary cardiology, including speaking and training. She has authored more than 100 journal articles and book chapters, and is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Veterinary Cardiology.

This award is presented annually for meritorious contributions by veterinary surgeons to small animal veterinary practice. The award, which takes the form of BSAVA Manuals and a cheque, is open only to veterinary surgeons in general practice.

Amanda Boag MA VetMB DipACVIM DipACVECC FHEA MRCVS - 2011 Melton Award Winner

Amanda Boag is the winner of the 2011 Melton Award. Amanda graduated from the University of Cambridge in 1998. She undertook further clinical training at the Royal Veterinary College and the University of Pennsylvania and is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Emergency and Critical Care. She was a lecturer in Emergency and Critical Care at the RVC from 2003 to 2008 where she was Co-director of the Blood Transfusion Service and Head of the Intensive Care Unit. In September 2008, she took up the post of Clinical Director at Vets Now, where she has overall responsibility for clinical standards and training across 47 emergency clinics. She acts as a consultant on clinical matters for the Veterinary Poisons Information Service and for Pet Blood Bank UK. She is currently Vice-President of the European Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society.

The award was instituted in memory of the late Professor E.C. Amoroso of the Royal Veterinary College. It is presented for outstanding contributions to small animal studies by a non-clinical member of university staff.

Alexander ‘Sandy’ Trees BVM&S PhD DipEVPC MRCVS – 2011 Amoroso Award Winner

The Amoroso Award is presented in 2011 to Sandy Trees for major contributions to the understanding of protozoal parasite infections in dogs, notably Neospora caninum. Sandy qualified from Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in 1969. Following a year in mixed general practice and a research expedition to Kenya, Sandy completed a PhD on bovine babesiosis, and then worked for Elanco in Rome as veterinary advisor for their Middle East/North African operations. He was appointed Lecturer in Veterinary Parasitology at the University of Liverpool in 1980, became Head of the Parasite and Vector Biology Division of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in 1994 and then Dean of Liverpool’s Faculty of Veterinary Science until 2008. His research has led to over 130 papers in scientific journals, as well as numerous presentations at national and international conferences and regional veterinary meetings. Having served on the Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons since 2000, in 2008 he became its Junior Vice-President, and in 2009 served as President. He is currently Senior Vice-President.

The Simon Award is presented annually to a member of the BSAVA for outstanding contributions in the field of veterinary surgery. Simon, a Golden Retriever owned by Mr J. Thomas, a blind telephone operator, also became blind and had his sight restored by surgery, thus enabling him to resume his full duties as a guide dog. Mr Thomas, in appreciation of the work and surgical skill which had made this possible, inaugurated and made this award at the 1962 Annual Congress. The award takes the form of a statuette of ‘Simon’, BSAVA Manuals and a cheque.

Philip Lhermette BSc (Hons) CBiol MSB BVetMed MRCVS – 2011 Simon Award winner

Philip Lhermette is this year’s recipient. Philip has a particular interest in surgery – and more specifically, in minimally invasive (keyhole) surgery using both rigid and flexible endoscopes. Having practised rigid endoscopy since 1995, Philip has extensive experience in endoscopy and endosurgery. He pioneered laparoscopic bitch spays and laser endosurgery in veterinary medicine in the UK, is co-editor of the BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Endoscopy and Endosurgery and has contributed to numerous other publications. He is Special Lecturer in endoscopy and endosurgery at the University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and lectures extensively in minimally invasive techniques throughout the UK and Europe. Philip is the principal and founder of Elands Veterinary Clinic near Sevenoaks in Kent. After completing an honours degree in animal physiology at the University of Nottingham in 1977, Philip went on to complete his degree in veterinary medicine at the RVC in 1982. Following four years in mixed practice in Surrey, Philip moved to Kent to establish his own practice which has recently moved to new premises.

This award is presented for outstanding contributions to the advancement of small animal veterinary medicine or surgery. The award takes the form of textbooks and a cheque.

Veterinary surgeons and non-veterinary surgeons are eligible as recipients.

Professor Gail K. Smith VMD PhD - 2011 Blaine Award Winner

Dr Gail Smith is Professor of Orthopedic Surgery in the Department of Clinical Studies at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine. He received a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Materials Science Engineering in 1970, a VMD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1974, completed orthopaedic surgical residency training in 1979, and a PhD in Materials Science Engineering in 1982. He has contributed to the scientific literature with more than 150 research articles, book chapters and proceedings. Gail has received broad recognition for research excellence, from organisations such as the American Veterinary Medical Association, the University of Pennsylvania, SmithKline Beecham and the American Kennel Club. Most recently Dr Smith was awarded the prestigious Iams Saki Patsaama Award for Excellence in Orthopaedics by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association. In Gail’s research he has applied engineering principles to investigate the musculoskeletal system in both health and disease. His work has focused on orthopaedic problems of the spine, the knee and the hip. In 1993 Gail founded PennHIP (the University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program).

This award is presented to a member of the BSAVA for outstanding contributions in the field of small animal veterinary medicine. The award takes the form of BSAVA Manuals, a cheque and a silver salver held for one year and is in memory of C.E. Woodrow, a founder member of the Association and, of course, its first President.

Alex German BVSc (Hons) PhD CertSAM DipECVIM-CA MRCVS – 2011 Woodrow Award Winner

This year the Woodrow Award is presented to Alex German. Alex qualified with honours from the University of Bristol in 1994. After two years in mixed practice he returned to Bristol to undertake a PhD, and then a residency in small animal internal medicine. He moved to the University of Liverpool in October 2002, where he currently holds the position of Royal Canin Senior Lecturer in Small Animal Medicine. He became a Diplomate of the ECVIM in September 2004, and a RCVS Recognised Specialist in Internal Medicine in 2006. His clinical and research interests include gastroenterology and comparative obesity biology.

This award is presented annually and takes the form of an inscribed figure and a cheque. The award celebrates the memory of Alf Wight, otherwise known to millions as the fictitious James Herriot. Veterinarians on the RCVS register are eligible as recipients of the award, which is presented to recognise outstanding contributions to the welfare of companion animals.

Clare Rusbridge BVMS PhD DipECVN MRCVS – 2011 J.A. Wight Memorial Award Winner

The J.A. Wight Memorial Award is presented this year to Dr Clare Rusbridge. After graduating from the University of Glasgow in 1991, Clare completed an internship at the University of Pennsylvania, and then spent a year in general practice before taking up a BSAVA/Petsavers Residency in Neurology at the Royal Veterinary College. She became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Neurology in 1996 and gained RCVS Specialist status in 1999. Since August 1997, she has operated a Neurology Referral service at the Stone Lion Veterinary Hospital. In February 2007 she was awarded a PhD from Utrecht University for her thesis on the painful inherited disorder Chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia (CM/SM). She has published widely and hopes to continue working on welfare issues following her recent appointment as a member of the Advisory Council on the Welfare Issues of Dog Breeding.

This award is presented to the author of the most valuable article published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice by a small animal practitioner during the 12 months ending 31st October. The aim of the award is to encourage the publication of high quality research performed by a small animal practitioner. To qualify for this award, the first author of the paper should be a practitioner working outside of academia. The award will be presented to the first author, regardless of who the other authors are. Priority will be given to first opinion practitioners. Priority will be given to original papers, but case series may be considered. The award takes the form of textbooks and a cheque.

Graham Hayes – 2011 Dunkin Award Winner

The 2011 winning paper is Gastrointestinal foreign bodies in dogs and cats: a retrospective study of 208 cases, and the Award goes to Graham Hayes. Graham graduated from Cambridge in 2001 and worked for seven years at the RSPCA Greater Manchester Animal Hospital in Salford. He gained the RCVS Certificate in Small Animal Surgery in 2005 and returned to Cambridge as a resident in small animal surgery in 2008. He is currently working towards the ECVS diploma.

This award is presented to the author of the best clinical research paper published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice (JSAP) during the 12 months ending 31 October 2010.

Samantha Taylor – 2011 Petsavers Award Winner

The award, which takes the form of textbooks and a cheque, goes, this year, to Samantha Taylor for the paper Feline extranodal lymphoma: response to chemotherapy and survival in 110 cats, written with M. R. Goodfellow, W. J. Browne, B. Walding, S. Murphy, S. Tzannes, M. Gerou-Ferriani, A. Schwartz and J.M. Dobson.

The Clinical Research Abstracts (CRAs) are an important part of the BSAVA Congress Scientific Programme. The criteria for judging the abstracts include the likely impact of the work presented, the quality of the written abstract and the originality of the work. The awards take the form of a £300 cheque to be spent on CPD.

The Clinical Research Abstracts are split into three categories which are as follows:

•   Medicine Award
• Surgical Award
• Practitioner Award sponsored by companion magazine

For more information on please visit the Clinical Research Abstracts page.

James Yeates, Sarah Thomson and Lorenzo Novello – 2010 CRA Winners presented at Congress 2011
The Medicine award went to James Yeates for the Development of a participatory tool for owner-assessment of dog quality of life Clinical Research Abstract.	The Surgery award went to Sarah Thomson for the Preliminary investigations into the analgesic efficacy of topical ocular morphine in dogs and cats Clinical Research Abstract.	The Practitioner award went to Lorenzo Novello for A survey on the use of pharmacokinetic model-driven intravenous infusions of propofol and opioids in Italy Clinical Research Abstract.

The scholarship was established in 1988 in memory of Frank Beattie, a well respected veterinary surgeon and a long-standing member of the BSAVA. It is awarded annually from a generous gift given by Frank’s widow, Annie.

This travel scholarship is specifically to help a BSAVA member to undertake a trip abroad to study a particular aspect of veterinary practice. For more information email secretary@bsava.com

The travel scholarship fund for 2012 will be £4000 (double the usual £2000), so the next recipient will hopefully have double the experience.