AVMA names Dr. Carlo Siracusa recipient of 2025 Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award
(SCHAUMBURG, Illinois) May 9, 2025—The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) today honored Dr. Carlo Siracusa, professor of clinical animal welfare and behavior in the Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, as the recipient of the 2025 Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award.
Named for the late Dr. Leo K. Bustad, former president of the Delta Society and dean of the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, the award is one of veterinary medicine’s highest honors, recognizing the outstanding work of veterinarians in protecting and promoting the human-animal bond. It is one of three Animal Welfare and Human-Animal Bond Excellence Awards presented annually by the AVMA and supported by Merck Animal Health.
"It is an honor and a responsibility to receive the 2025 Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award, which celebrates Dr. Leo Bustad's legacy in the human-animal bond field,” said Dr. Siracusa. “As a veterinary behaviorist and educator, I dedicate my professional life to ensuring that animals are heard and understood, especially when they communicate their psychological and physical suffering to humans. This recognition of my work is a call to action, inspiring me to strive for greater achievements in the future. I dedicate this award to my students, who continually motivate me to move forward."
Dr. Siracusa’s career is a testament to his dedication to the human-companion animal bond. He is internationally known for his leadership in veterinary behavioral medicine, his expertise in low-stress animal handling and his groundbreaking research on the relationship between physical health and behavior. His advocacy for low-stress handling techniques has transformed veterinary practices worldwide, ensuring that visits to the veterinarian are as stress-free as possible for pets and their owners.
Under his leadership, the Penn Vet Behavior Service has grown steadily to become the largest veterinary behavior service in the region, improving the welfare of countless animals. His clinical work is complemented by an extensive teaching portfolio, which includes both in-person and online education for veterinary students, professionals, and animal caregivers.
He has played a critical role in integrating behavior and welfare into the veterinary curriculum, co-organizing the school’s Graduate Certificate in Animal Welfare and Behavior and leading numerous courses that emphasize communication, empathy and science-based behavior management. Dr. Siracusa is also a prolific researcher, with highly cited publications on stress mitigation, chronic inflammation in aging cats and behavioral responses to illness. His work has been recognized with the 2020 Fear Free Award for research on low-stress handling of small animals and the 2021 Mark L. Morris Jr. Investigator Award from the Morris Animals Foundation for the research project “The role of chronic inflammation on behavior and cognition of aging cats.”
A dual board-certified specialist with the American and European Colleges of Veterinary Behavior, Dr. Siracusa is a past president of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and has held leadership roles in several international behavior and welfare societies. Beyond the clinic and classroom, he is an active public educator, offering seminars for shelters, participating in media outreach and co-editing the consumer education book Decoding Your Cat.
“Dr. Siracusa embodies everything the Bustad Award stands for—compassion, clinical excellence and an unwavering dedication to advancing the human-animal bond,” said Dr. Sandra Faeh, president of the AVMA. “Whether he’s working with shelter animals, clients or future veterinarians, his focus is always on improving understanding and strengthening the connection between animals and the people who care for them.”
To learn more about the Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award, visit https://www.avma.org/about/awards/bustad-companion-animal-veterinarian-year-award.
For more information, contact Michael San Filippo, senior media relations manager, at 847-732-6194 (cell/text) or msanfilippo
avma [dot] org (msanfilippo[at]avma[dot]org).
Serving more than 108,000 member veterinarians, the AVMA is the nation's leading representative of the veterinary profession, dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of animals, humans and the environment. Founded in 1863 and with members in every U.S. state and territory and more than 60 countries, the AVMA is one of the largest veterinary medical organizations in the world. Informed by our members' unique scientific training and clinical knowledge, the AVMA supports the crucial work of veterinarians and advocates for policies that advance the practice of veterinary medicine and improve animal and human health.