Awards

UC Davis veterinary orthopedic surgeon Dr. Denis Marcellin-Little has been named the recipient of the 2026 Alan Ruggles Educator Award given by AO North America (AO NA). Presented recently at the annual OneAO event in Tampa, the award was one of several Educator Awards, honoring outstanding educators for their extraordinary contributions to medical education.

Dr. Adriana Garzon, a third-year resident in the Livestock Herd Health and Reproduction Service, has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 American Association of Veterinary Clinicians (AAVC) Resident Award. The recognition is given annually to a resident in their final year of training who has achieved a high degree of excellence in their chosen specialty.

On March 20, 2026, the UC Davis veterinary hospital hosted the 47th annual Gerald V. Ling Veterinary Intern and Resident Research Symposium (VIRRS). The day-long event featured short presentations of research findings from house officers (residents, fellows, interns) to fellow house officers, faculty, staff, students, and guests.

This award recognizes an SOT member who has made seminal and substantial scientific contributions to the understanding of the science of toxicology and is actively involved in toxicological research. 

In recognition of a long-standing career of influential scientific contributions to neurotoxicology and her seminal work defining how environmental exposures and gene–environment interactions disrupt nervous system development and function, Pamela J. Lein, PhD, is presented with the 2026 SOT Distinguished Toxicology Scholar Award. 

Retired UC Davis staff manager Harold Davis, BA, RVT, VTS (ECC, Anesthesia & Analgesia), was honored with the 2026 ICON Award by The Bridge Club at their 2026 ICON Event, held in conjunction with the annual Veterinary Meeting & Expo in Orlando. A veterinary technician at UC Davis for 36 years, Davis ended his career as the manager of the Emergency and Critical Care Service at the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH).

Several faculty members were honored at the inaugural Stars of SVM Staff and Faculty Award Reception in November. Each of the recipients exemplify excellence in supporting the mission of the school—advancing the health of animals, people and the environment—through educational, research, clinical and public service programs.

Dr. Nicola Pusterla, professor of equine medicine and dentistry, was awarded the 2025 Advancement in Equine Research Award presented by Boehringer Ingelheim, a biopharmaceutical company active in both human and animal health. The award was given during the 71st annual American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention held last week in Denver. Recipients of the award are chosen based on their research proposals which focused on this year’s subject matter of equine infectious disease.

Instituted through the SVM People First strategic initiative, the annual Dean's Staff Awards (now in their second year) shine a light specifically on staff. These recognitions not only honor individuals, but also serve to acknowledge the broader impact of the staff to the SVM community. 

A group of three UC Davis veterinary students were awarded top prize at the 2025 American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Animal Welfare Assessment Contest, held recently at Texas A&M University. Third-year School of Veterinary Medicine students John-Gabriel Bermudez, Hailie Hou, and James Joy won the Live Assessment Top Placing Team, Veterinary Student Division at the event that drew more than 270 registrants from 23 universities across North America, testing their skills in assessing the welfare of animals.

On Saturday, October 25, 2025 the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine hosted the annual Alumni Awards Banquet to recognize and celebrate the 2025 Rising Star and Alumni Achievement award winners. Congratulations to this year's awardees!