The veterinary profession abounds with people who deserve recognition for their contributions to both animal and human health. These esteemed members of our community have dedicated themselves and their careers to a diverse range of disciplines – everything from agriculture, public health, public service, education, animal welfare, clinical practice and research, to government activities and professional education. These individuals have advanced the science and art of veterinary medicine while showing exemplary concern for, and commitment to, the welfare and humane treatment of animals. Since 2010 the Kenya Veterinary Association has proudly recognized such individuals annually by offering the following awards:

1. Veterinarian of the Year

This award is given annually to a KVA member to recognize his/her consistent, outstanding, excellent, all round contribution to the profession and/or community over the past year. Nominations may be based on a sustained effort or an extraordinary single achievement in any or all of the following areas:

o Leadership,
o Public Service (e.g., community programs, public policy development),
o Research and/or product development,
o Clinical service and/or animal welfare,
o Education, and/or
o Advocacy.

2. Young Veterinarian of the Year

This award is given annually to young KVA members to recognize positive influence in promoting Veterinary Science, Animal health and welfare within the profession and community or a single outstanding identifiable contribution to the Veterinary profession within the preceding three years. To qualify for this award the nominee must have graduated from Vet School within the last 3 years.

3. Lifetime Achievement Award

This award is given annually to a senior KVA member to recognize:

a) Distinguished active lifetime service to the profession and association
b) Positive influence in promoting Veterinary Science, Animal health and welfare within the profession and community
c) An accumulation of accomplishments to veterinary science over a period of years.
d) A single outstanding identifiable contribution to the Veterinary profession within the preceding three years

4. Life Membership Award

This award is presented to a KVA member who meets the KVA Constitutional requirements for long and outstanding service on the KVA Council, Executive, Boards and Committees or for outstanding contributions to the veterinary profession. The Life Member shall be invited to attend meetings of the association, and shall not be liable to pay dues, but shall enjoy all the rights and privileges of membership.

5. Honorary Membership Award

Honorary membership is presented to non veterinarian who has rendered distinguished service to the profession. The Honorary Member does not pay any fee and cannot vote at any meeting, or hold any elected office in KVA.

6. Distinguished Service Awards

6.1. KVA Advocacy Award
The award is given to an individual to recognize his/her contribution to advance the KVA’s Legislative Agenda and advocate on behalf of the veterinary profession.

6.2. KVA Veterinary Research Award
This award recognizes a veterinary researcher on the basis of lifetime achievement in basic, applied or clinical research. Nominees will be considered on the total impact their career has had on the veterinary or biomedical research and is open to persons working in an academic, government, private or public institution or in clinical practice.

6.3. KVA Veterinary Academia Award
This award recognizes a veterinarian in Academia on the basis of their lifetime achievement in lecturing, supervising and mentoring students. Nominees will be considered on the total impact their career has had on students in tertiary academic institutions and is open to persons working in any tertiary academic institution.

6.4. KVA Industry Award
This award publicly acknowledges and celebrates the role of veterinarians within the industry (pharmaceutical, animal production, corporate etc) and it formally recognizes a KVA member for their contributions of to the advancement of these industries.

6.5. KVA Public Service Award
This recognizes a KVA member for long terms of outstanding public service while employed by a the international, regional, national or county government, institution or organization in the field of regulatory activities associated with animal disease prevention or control, food hygiene & public health, food Security & livelihoods OR unusual and/or exemplary contributions to the above areas.

6.6. KVA Veterinary Clinician Award
This award recognizes a veterinarian who has excelled in offering quality clinical veterinary service which is sensitive to the needs of the animals under his/her care and provides good customer service to the owner of the animals. The nominees will be considered on the total impact their work within the locality they operate in and their ability to mentor the younger veterinarians.

6.7. KVA Meritorious Service Award
This award recognizes an individual veterinarian who has brought public honor and distinction to the veterinary profession through personal, professional, or community service activities that are conducted outside the scope of organized veterinary medicine or research.

6.8. KVA Animal Welfare Award
This award is given annually to a KVA member to recognize his/her achievements in advancing the welfare of animals via leadership, public service, education, research/product development, and/or advocacy. By doing so, the KVA hopes to raise public awareness of the important role veterinarians play in:
• Improving understanding of animal welfare-related science and ethics,
• Ensuring that animal use for human purposes is conducted responsibly, and
• Attending to and promoting animal welfare within the context of responsible animal use.

Nomination and Selection Procedures

To be considered, candidates must be nominated by a KVA member. No self-nominations will be considered. The nominee must be a KVA member in good standing, registered and retained by the KVB. Good documentation is essential and should include a nomination form (attached),

The awards nomination deadline is 31st August 2016. Please send your nominations to the Kenya Veterinary Association by either: Filling the online nomination  form, downloading the nomination form and sending the filled form to the e-mail: info@kenyavetassociation.com or you can be physically delivered the filled form to the KVA offices in Kabete.