The Faculty of Veterinary Science recently hosted its annual Faculty Day, an event that provides its researchers an opportunity to present the results of their work and share it with colleagues and peers. A total of 18 oral and 13 poster presentations were on this year’s programme.

The prestigious Sir Arnold Theiler Memorial Lecture was delivered by Prof Marian C Horzinek, Professor Emeritus of Virology and Viral Diseases of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University and former Director of the Graduate School of Animal Health, Utrecht University.

This year the award for the Bayer Researcher of the Year went to Prof Vinny Naidoo for the second time in four years while Dr Rhoda Leask was selected as OBP Young Researcher of the Year. The Bayer award for Best Scientific Paper went to Prof Celia Abolnik, Chair of the newly founded UP-PDMA Poultry Research Chair in the Faculty. Mr Ruan de Bruin was selected as winner of the Bayer Best Scientific Poster. Three teaching awards were also made as follows:

Zoetis Lecturer of the Year: Dr Patrick Page

Instavet Young Lecturer of the Year: Dr Catriona Lyle

Zoetis Veterinary Nurse's Lecturer of the Year: Dr Japie Venter

Pharmaceutical companies were well represented at Faculty Day and no less than 16 companies were present to share their services and products with the attendees.

The first “Faculty Day” was held on 5 September 1984 which focused on the research activities of the Faculty. Today Faculty Day of the amalgamated Faculty of Veterinary Science reflects a proud tradition, which had been nurtured by the original faculties of Veterinary Science of Medunsa and the University of Pretoria, of showcasing the combined research activities and skills of the two original institutions on a special, dedicated occasion.

Posted on 12 Sep 2013.