Outstanding individuals sought for Honours

We are seeking individuals, through our nominations process, who might merit one of our awards of Honorary Fellowship or Honorary Associateship.

Honorary Fellowship – for RCVS members of the College

Veterinary surgeons whose service to veterinary science far exceeds the standards ordinarily required of the profession may be nominated for an Honorary Fellowship by Election.

Those who have made a significant contribution, whether, for example, to veterinary medicine, science, education, in clinical practice or in politics will be considered for this honour.

Honorary Associateship – for non-members of the RCVS

Those who are not members of the College and who have made a special contribution to animal health and welfare are eligible to be nominated for an Honorary Associateship.

Nominations are encouraged that reflect the great variety of these fields within the veterinary sphere, such as scientists, lecturers, veterinary nurses, charity-workers, farriers, farmers and those working in industry

“It is through these two honours that the RCVS can recognise outstanding service and achievement both from veterinary surgeons and from those working in the numerous other areas that contribute to animal health and welfare,” says RCVS President, Jacqui Molyneux.

“So if you know someone whose achievements really stand out – please tell us.”

RCVS Honours are bestowed at RCVS Day, the College’s AGM and honours presentation.

This year’s event was held on 6 July at the Royal College of Physicians, at which one Honorary Associateship and two Honorary Fellowships were conferred as follows (please see 'Related documents' on the right for citations):

• An Honorary Associateship was conferred on Dr Douglas McGregor, from Cornell University, USA, a world leader in immunology research who devised and directed the Cornell Veterinary Leadership and Research Programme. Scores of veterinary students from the UK have been amongst those from over 60 veterinary colleges around the world to benefit from this research-orientated summer school.  

• Dr Thomas Hildebrandt MRCVS, from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, was made an Honorary Fellow by Election. He is an exceptionally productive scientist in the area of large zoological animal research, who has made outstanding contributions to elephant and rhinoceros reproductive biology.

• Professor Lance Lanyon CBE MRCVS, Visiting Professor at the University of Bristol and Professor Emeritus of the University of London at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) was also made an Honorary Fellow by Election. He is a leading figure in UK veterinary education, known particularly for his work in enabling the RVC to gain independence of funding, which meant that undergraduate numbers were able to increase and allowed the RVC to introduce a veterinary nursing degree.

Nominations may be made by anyone. Full details and forms for making a nomination are available at www.rcvs.org.uk/about-us/rcvs-honours, or by contacting Mrs Gabriella Braun ([email protected] or 0202 202 0761).

All nominations must be received by 5pm on Friday 7 September 2012.