Winners announced for RCVS Honours and Awards
Andrea Jeffery RVN will receive the VN Golden Jubilee Award.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has announced the winners of its 2024 Honours and Awards.
The college received a record number of nominations for its awards, with RCVS saying more members have been encouraged to recognise veterinary excellence.
This year’s Queen’s Medal, RCVS’ highest honour, will be awarded to Professor Stuart Reid – principal of the Royal Veterinary College and a past-president of the RCVS. As principal of RVC, Prof Reid has seen the college top the QS World University Subject Rankings for veterinary science for four consecutive years.
While RCVS president he oversaw the creation of a Royal Charter which recognised veterinary nurses as a fully regulated profession, and was responsible for the consultation proposing ‘Dr’ as a courtesy title for veterinary surgeons.
The VN Golden Jubilee Award, introduced in 2011 to recognise veterinary nurses with a distinguished career, will go to Andrea Jeffery RVN.
Ms Jeffery was the first veterinary nurse to chair the VN Council, and the first to sit as a member of the RCVS Council. She oversaw the creation of the first Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses and, in 2007, helped to develop the Orpet and Jeffery Ability Model for nursing care.
The Compassion Award recognises Timothy Sandys MRCVS. Mr Sandys established the Gloucester branch of StreetVet, a charity offering essential veterinary services for pet owners who are struggling with homelessness.
Other award winners include:
• Honorary Associate: Dr Iain Berrill, James Ferrie and Prof Diana Williams
• Impact Award: Dr Eve Hanks, Thom Jenkins and Mark Morton
• Inspiration Award: Alexandra Taylor
• International Award: Dr Nancy de Briyne and Professor Susan Mbugua
The awards will be presented to recipients at RCVS’ Annual General Meeting and Awards Day, which will take place on Friday, 5 July at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London.
Dr Sue Paterson, RCVS president, said: “Having so many high-quality nominations meant the Nominations Committee and RCVS Council were left with a difficult decision on who to choose, although it gave us great pride to see so much veterinary excellence on display.
“All of this year’s winners are the cream of a very large crop and so I congratulate them all for this very significant achievement.”
Image © RCVS
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
