BVA presents outstanding vets with prestigious awards for exceptional achievements

The BVA Outstanding Service Award, BVA Advancement of Veterinary Science Award (Dalrymple-Champneys Cup and Medal), and BVA Animal Health and Welfare Overseas Award (J. Trevor Blackburn Award) were presented last night at the BVA Awards Dinner at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole. 

BVA Outstanding Service Award - Cat Henstridge

This award recognises an individual who has provided outstanding services to the veterinary profession or animal welfare, commanding international or inter-professional recognition for their work. They are known for leading important projects or contributing significantly to key initiatives which made a meaningful impact on animal welfare or the veterinary profession.  

Cat Henstridge BVSc MRCVS, a small animal vet and social media influencer also known as “Cat the Vet” by her thousands of followers, has been awarded the prestigious award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to advancing public understanding of veterinary science and animal welfare. Through her widely recognised social media platform “Cat The Vet,” she communicates evidence-based veterinary science to a wide audience, translating complex veterinary topics into accessible information that empowers pet owners to make informed decisions about their animals’ health and welfare. By actively tackling misinformation online, Cat has provided outstanding service to the profession.

Cat said:

“I love being a vet and I am so proud to be a member of this phenomenal profession. Veterinary people are the best people; kind, passionate, skilled, knowledgeable and absolutely dedicated to the health and welfare of the animals in their care. My aim has always been to champion that and help the public gain a greater understanding of who we are and why we do what we do. To now be considered a leader by my peers and someone worthy of this award is a huge honour and I could not be more grateful.”

BVA President Dr Rob Williams MRCVS said:

“Cat’s social media presence helps to endear the profession to the general public and communicate complex veterinary topics in an accessible way to a wider audience. Her willingness to put herself forward in a public space on behalf of the profession helps to tackle misinformation online and champion vets, as well as directly helping pet owners to make informed decisions about their animal’s care. She’s an asset to the profession. Congratulations, Cat.”

BVA Advancement of Veterinary Science Award (Dalrymple-Champneys Cup and Medal) - Professor Tom McNeilly

This established award recognises a BVA member who has helped to advance veterinary science and medicine through research and knowledge sharing. They have authored outstanding scientific work or undertaken activities which advanced veterinary science and spread their knowledge. Their work has made a meaningful impact and helped to improve understanding of their chosen area of work.  

Professor Tom McNeilly BSc BVM&S PhD MRCVS is one of very few UK-based veterinary scientists who delivers numerous, innovative outputs on vaccinology of multiple animal species. His work spans parasitic, viral and bacterial research, resulting in patents and attracting very significant commercial income from worldwide sources. As Director of the Moredun Research Institute he leads scientific teams working to prevent endemic diseases. His world-leading research publication in “Vaccine” - successful immunization against a parasitic nematode by vaccination with recombinant proteins, represents many years of personal research, he recently discovered new vaccine targets for louping ill virus that provide strong protection for sheep.

On winning the award, Professor McNeilly said:

“I am truly honored to receive the Dalrymple-Champneys cup and medal. This list of past recipients is truly awe-inspiring, and I am very grateful to BVA and the selection committee for giving me such a prestigious award. As with many things in life, this has been a real team effort, and my veterinary career has been supported by many others. Firstly, the mentors who have provided me such excellent guidance and support throughout my career. Secondly, the colleagues and collaborators who have made my career so interesting and enjoyable. Finally, and most importantly, my family, for their unwavering support throughout my career, without which none of this would have been possible.”

BVA President Dr Rob Williams MRCVS said:

“Having worked on and published world-class research into a wide range of veterinary issues, Professor McNeilly is a worthy recipient of this established award. His highly regarded work spans a wide range of issues and multiple species and has led to great improvements in animal health and welfare. Our sincere congratulations to him.”

BVA Animal Health and Welfare Overseas Award (J. Trevor Blackburn Award) - Dr Romain Pizzi

This award recognises a veterinary professional who has worked to improve animal health and welfare overseas and who has contributed to sustainable development and made a meaningful impact on animal health and welfare in low and middle-income countries.

Former President of BVA’s Scottish Branch, Dr Romain Pizzi BVSc MSc PhD DZooMed DipECZM MANZCVS FRES FRSB FRGS FRCVS has been named the winner in recognition of his work overseas with local veterinary and animal care teams, for a range of wild and endangered species. A RCVS recognised specialist in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine and European recognised specialist in Zoological Medicine (Zoo Health Management), Romain is known for performing and publishing a number of global firsts for wildlife medicine, Romain has delivered real-world impact on animal welfare through direct engagement with new and novel surgical techniques. An unwaveringly strong representative of the UK veterinary sector overseas, Romain not only continues to pioneer new techniques but actively engages in the teaching of such techniques and skills through engagement with the veterinary community, delivering meaningful benefits for wildlife health and welfare overseas.

Dr Pizzi said:

"I am truly honoured to receive this award from the BVA. We can sometimes take the high level of veterinary care we are able to provide here in the UK for granted, and do not always realise the great difficulties and challenges veterinarians face caring for animals in developing countries. This is nowhere more obvious than when working with wildlife. These patients are very fearful of humans and mask their signs of illness, but can still be extremely dangerous to those trying to help them when injured or ill. 

“While my world-first surgeries, from a keyhole appendectomy in a wild orangutan in Borneo to the first brain surgery in a moon bear in the jungles of Laos, are more visible and widely known, I actually take much more personal satisfaction in the less visible training and capacity building of local wildlife vets, which is the mainstay of my work. I have done over 60 trips to countries in African and Asia in the last 20 years, training vets in numerous wildlife projects consistently for over a decade. Helping other vets develop their skills and building local wildlife health and welfare knowledge will improve the lives of many more wild animals than I could ever hope to myself.

“I do hope many other British vets are inspired to help their veterinary colleagues in developing countries in all the many different facets of veterinary care we now work in, to improve the health and welfare of the maximum number of animals on the planet we can."

BVA President Dr Rob Williams MRCVS said:

“Dr Pizzi’s work has taken him around the globe to perform pioneering surgery and treatment on animals from many different species and he also works incredibly hard to train members of the veterinary profession to help them develop their own skills and improve animal health and welfare in areas of the world where this may be difficult. His impressive career is truly deserving of the spotlight, and we’re proud he’s part of the veterinary profession and a past President of our of Scottish branch. Congratulations.”

BVA Awards

The BVA Awards recognise inspirational vets from across the profession who: go above and beyond for their patients and clients; support wellbeing and positive workplace culture; drive positive change across sustainability; deliver inspirational leadership and mentoring; and push the boundaries of veterinary science.