Nominations open for 2026 AVMA Excellence Awards

Nominations are open for the following AVMA Excellence Awards for 2026. These awards recognize contributions by veterinarians and nonveterinarians to animal health, animal welfare, public health, and the veterinary profession.

The AVMA Award

This award recognizes a distinguished AVMA member veterinarian who has contributed to the advancement of veterinary medicine in its organizational aspects.

AVMA Animal Welfare Award

This award recognizes an AVMA member veterinarian for achievements in advancing the welfare of animals via leadership, public service, education, research, product development, or advocacy.

AVMA Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award

This award recognizes a distinguished AVMA member veterinarian for outstanding work in preserving and protecting the human-animal bond.

AVMA Career Achievement in Canine Research Award

This award honors an AVMA member veterinarian’s long-term contribution to advancing canine research.

AVMA Clinical Research Award

This award recognizes an AVMA member veterinarian for achievements in patient-oriented research, including the study of mechanisms of disease, therapeutic interventions, clinical trials, development of new technologies, and epidemiological studies.

AVMA Global Veterinary Service Award

This award recognizes outstanding service by an AVMA member veterinarian who has contributed to international understanding of veterinary medicine.

AVMA Frederick Douglass Patterson Lifetime Achievement Award

This award recognizes an AVMA member veterinarian who has made significant contributions to the veterinary profession through innovative and transformative leadership in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion; demonstrated a commitment to advancing these values within the veterinary profession; and brought honor and distinction to the field through their exemplary efforts.

AVMA Humane Award

This award recognizes a nonveterinarian for achievements in advancing the welfare of animals via leadership, public service, education, research, product development, or advocacy.

AVMA Lifetime Excellence in Research Award

This award recognizes an AVMA member veterinarian researcher based on lifetime achievement in basic, applied, or clinical research. Nominees will be considered on the total impact their careers have had on the veterinary or biomedical professions.

AVMA Meritorious Service Award

This award recognizes an AVMA member veterinarian who has brought honor and distinction to the veterinary profession through personal, professional, or community service activities outside the scope of organized veterinary medicine or research.

AVMA Public Service Award

This award recognizes an AVMA member veterinarian for long terms of outstanding public service or exceptional contributions to the practice or science of public health and regulatory veterinary medicine.

AVMA Steve Dale Excellence in Veterinary Media Award

This award recognizes a nonveterinarian or an AVMA member veterinarian for contributing substantively to the positive visibility of the profession by raising public awareness of the important and diverse roles veterinarians play in every facet of the health and welfare of animals, people, and the environment.

AVMF/Career Achievement in Feline Research Award

This award, established by the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) recognizes an AVMA member veterinarian’s long-time contribution to advancing feline health through research.

Nominations

The deadline for all AVMA Excellence award nominations is January 14, 2026. Get award information and the nomination form online. Email avma-awardsavma [dot] org with any questions or if assistance is needed.

Dr. Michael Q. Bailey, AVMA president, said of the awards program, "Every day, across every aspect of veterinary medicine, our colleagues are doing extraordinary work that deserves to be recognized. And sometimes, it is the little things that result in a big impact. Whether through advancing animal health, public service, scientific research, education, or the human-animal bond, the AVMA Excellence Awards celebrate individuals whose impact and dedication have truly made a difference in veterinary medicine. I encourage all AVMA members to reflect on those who have made exceptional contributions to our profession, and to take the time to nominate them for this well-deserved recognition."

A version of this story appears in the December 2025 print issue of JAVMA.