Announcing 2026 AAVMC Award Recipients | |
AAVMC is pleased to announce its 2026 award winners, recognizing exceptional contributions to academic veterinary medicine through excellence in research, leadership, teaching, and advancing diversity.
Congratulations to the following recipients:
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AAVMC Distinguished Veterinary Educator Award – Career Achievement, presented by Zoetis: John J. Dascanio, VMD, Texas Tech University
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AAVMC Distinguished Veterinary Educator Award – Emerging Leader, presented by Zoetis: Christianne Magee, DVM, PhD, Colorado State University
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AAVMC Excellence in Research Award: B. Duncan X. Lascelles, BSc, BVSc, PhD, North Carolina State University
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Iverson Bell Award: John R. Welser, DVM, PhD (posthumous)
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Billy E. Hooper Award for Distinguished Service: Lorin D. Warnick, DVM, PhD, Cornell University
“We extend warm congratulations to all the awardees,” says Emma Read, DVM, Chief Executive Officer at AAVMC. “Each recipient has made remarkable contributions that strengthen veterinary education as a whole and inspire future generations of veterinary professionals. Their passion for academic veterinary medicine and their achievements have set the bar high for others in the field. We appreciate their efforts on behalf of our member institutions and their learners.”
Awards will be presented at Catalyze 2026, AAVMC’s annual conference, April 16–18, in Washington, D.C.
| Celebrating 60 Years of Advancing Veterinary Medicine | |
It’s AAVMC’s 60th anniversary this year—what a milestone!
AAVMC's 60th anniversary celebrates not just history, but ongoing impact. Through strategic advocacy, collaborative partnerships, and innovative resources, member institutions continue advancing the profession while preparing new generations of veterinarians to meet evolving global challenges.
As we mark six decades of excellence, we are filled with pride for how far we have come and excitement for what is ahead. Here's to 60 years of the AAVMC—and to the future we are building together!
| | SOC Spotlight: Assessment Tools and Instructional Methods | | |
Economic Strategy Meets AI Innovation: Catalyze 2026 Keynotes
At Catalyze 2026, AAVMC’s annual conference taking place April 16–18 in Washington, D.C., two keynote speakers will redefine what is possible in academic veterinary medicine.
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Thursday, April 16
2:45 p.m. ET
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Matthew Salois, PhD, President, Veterinary Management Group
Join Matthew Salois as he provides insight into the current state of the veterinary profession.
Weaving on-the-ground perspectives within the larger trends impacting the profession, Salois will cover a variety of key issues important to veterinary academic leadership, including an economic outlook of the U.S. economy with a focus on the veterinary industry.
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Friday, April 17
9 a.m. ET
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Jamie Fairclough, PhD, Director of Mental Health Evaluation and Assessment, Dartmouth College
What if your next academic breakthrough came from a partnership with a computer scientist down the hall? Jamie Fairclough, a data scientist and biostatistician, will examine how forward-thinking veterinary schools are breaking down silos, forging unexpected partnerships across engineering, data science, and industry to create AI ecosystems that actually work.
| | | Admissions and Recruitment | | The Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) is now open for the 2026–2027 application cycle. Learn more about VMCAS and start your application here. |
| Understanding the Art of Wellbeing | |
Ten teams, representing nine colleges, were accepted into the Spring cohort of AAVMC’s Introduction to Systemic Wellbeing: Long Island University, Massey University, Ross University, Tufts University, University of California–Davis, University of Bristol, University of Saskatchewan, University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Washington State University.
Over the next three months, these teams will develop the knowledge and skills to bolster systemic wellbeing work at their own colleges.
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2025 Policy Recap with Kevin Cain, AAVMC Senior Director for Governmental Affairs
February 26, 2026, 11 a.m. ET
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Join us for an informative, nonpartisan briefing on key federal policy developments affecting veterinary medical education. This session will provide a recap of the most relevant policy activity from 2025 and a forward-looking perspective on what to watch in 2026.
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March 25, 2026, 1 pm ET: Working with Challenging Clients, via Zoom
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April 16–18, 2026: AAVMC Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
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June 3–5, 2026: VetEd AAVMC 2026, hosted by the University of Wisconsin–Madison
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October 19–22, 2026: Primary Care Veterinary Educators Symposium, hosted by the University of Georgia
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We are pleased to welcome our newest Provisional members:
Their commitment to advancing our shared mission strengthens our network and brings fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and collaborative opportunities to our community. We look forward to partnering with these institutions to drive impact and shape the future of veterinary education.
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Sign up for our Advocacy newsletter here. Read past issues here.
The AAVMC strives to create a culture of diversity and inclusion in every dimension of academic veterinary medicine. To foster this goal, the photographs and illustrations which are used in our communications programs are aspirational, and do not necessarily reflect the levels of diversity and inclusion that currently exist.
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