AVMA Excellence Awards

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Important dates

  • Notification of recipients: February/March 2024
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AVMA awards FAQs

Questions about the awards or the nomination and selection process? Get answers to frequently asked questions. 

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The veterinary profession thrives with esteemed colleagues who have dedicated themselves and their careers to a diverse range of disciplines—agriculture, public health, humane education, animal welfare, clinical practice and research, government activities, professional education, and more.

The AVMA Excellence Awards honor these individuals for their contributions to both animal and human health. These annual awards recognize excellence in every aspect of veterinary medicine. They honor educators, researchers, clinical practitioners, veterinary advocates, and those who are not veterinarians but whose work has contributed significantly to advancing veterinary medicine. The variety of awards showcases the breadth of veterinary medicine, the diversity of veterinary careers, and the many ways in which veterinary professionals protect both animal and human health.

AVMA recognizes individuals with awards spanning the following areas:

  • Public service and media
  • Animal health and welfare
  • Research
  • International affairs
  • Volunteerism and leadership

All award recipients are presented with a crystal award celebrating their achievements, and honored in a press release and on the AVMA website and social media.

How to submit a nomination

This is your opportunity to recognize mentors and colleagues for the valuable work they do and their contributions to both animal and human health. Nominate someone you know who has made an extraordinary difference to the veterinary profession.

  1. Choose the right award for each nominee. Read the descriptions, nomination criteria, submission requirements, and selection process for each award.
  2. Submit your nominations. Download the nomination form, gather all required supporting materials, and submit them together by email to avma-awardsatavma [dot] org no later than January 24, 2024. Nominations will not be accepted after this date.

If someone you nominated last year was not a recipient, you may contact avma-awardsatavma [dot] org (avma-awards[at]avma[dot]org) to ask that the nomination be reconsidered during this year’s nomination and selection process. Resubmitted nominations may be carried forward for only one additional year. After that, submission of a new nomination is required. More information is available in the Frequently Asked Questions.

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The AVMA relies on individual members to nominate colleagues for the AVMA Excellence Awards. Review descriptions of each award, and consider which of your colleagues deserve recognition for their work.

2023 AVMA Excellence Awards recipients

Advocacy, Public Service, and Excellence in Veterinary Media

Dr. James NaveAVMA Advocacy Award

Dr. James Nave
Acceptance speech

Dr. Gary VroegindeweyAVMA Public Service Award

Dr. Gary Vroegindewey
Acceptance speech

Amy Shojai
AVMA Excellence in Veterinary Media Award

Amy Shojai
Acceptance speech

Animal welfare

Dr. Candace Croney
AVMA Humane Award

Dr. Candace Croney

Dr. Sheilah Robertson
AVMA Animal Welfare Award

Dr. Sheilah Robertson

Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award

No recipient

Volunteerism and leadership

Dr. Joseph KinnarneyThe AVMA Award

Dr. Joseph Kinnarney
Acceptance speech

Dr. Phillip NelsonAVMA Meritorious Service Award

Dr. Phillip Nelson
Acceptance speech

Dr. Willie ReedAVMA Frederick Douglass Patterson Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr. Willie Reed
Acceptance speech

President's Awards

Meyerland Animal ClinicPresident’s Award #1

Meyerland Animal Clinic
Acceptance speech

Texas Veterinary Medical AssociationPresident’s Award #2

Texas Veterinary Medical Association
Acceptance speech

Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical SciencesPresident’s Award #3

Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Acceptance speech

Previous award winners: 202220212020 | 2019