Equine Vet Wins BEVA Research Award
Dr Mair accepting the award on Dr Smith's behalf.
The BEVA Richard Hartley Clinical Award has been awarded to Dr Luisa Smith, a practising equine vet from Essex, in recognition of her research on post-operative colic. The research was conducted alongside Dr Tim Mair, also a practising vet, who received the award on Dr Smith's behalf at BEVA Congress in Liverpool at the start of the month.
Dr Smith, of House & Jackson veterinary surgeons in Essex, won the award for her paper Are horses that undergo an exploratory laparotomy for correction of a right dorsal displacement of the large colon predisposed to post operative colic, compared to other forms of large colon displacement? which was published in the January 2010 issue of Equine Veterinary Journal.
The award is given in memory of Richard Hartley, a founder member of the British Equine Veterinary Association, and president from 1974 to 1975. It is awarded for evidence-based papers and the prize is intended to support travel of the senior author and/or co-authors.
Dr Smith expressed her delight at her and Dr Mair's work being recognised, describing it as "both a privilege and an honour to have won the Richard Hartley Award."
Deidre Carson, outgoing President of BEVA, called it a "particular pleasure" to present the award to a vet in a general practice. She explained: "Combining flagship research with the demanding day-to-day duties of a busy veterinary practice is commendable. This paper provides clinically applicable information for every vet who sees colic cases and needs to advise owners on the risks of surgery."
For further information on the BEVA awards, visit their website.
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. 
