A HAMPSHIRE vet has been unveiled as one of the winners of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) veterinary achievement awards.
The awards recognise the commitment, work and achievements of vets from across the profession, including the BVA Council Impact Award, or John Bleby Cup, which is presented annually to the BVA Council member who has made an outstanding contribution at Council.
This year the award was presented to Dr Elysé Summerfield-Smith in recognition of her dedication and the impact she has made since joining the profession and as a graduate representative of BVA Council over the past two years.
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Dr Summerfield-Smith, who is based between Winchester and Southampton, graduated from Liverpool in 2017, and worked in traditional, independent mixed practice in North Yorkshire alongside work as an official veterinarian. After some time spent in small animal Emergency and Critical Care work, as well as two stints in disease risk analysis and surveillance, she now works full-time at Marwell Zoo.
She said: “Receiving the John Bleby Cup is a wonderful and completely surprising honour. I am especially proud that it is for work in representing the views of the newest members of the veterinary community.
“I feel that any contribution I may have made to the BVA Council over the past two years is a reflection of the level of engagement that the young vet community has in driving policy change.”
Dr Summerfield-Smith received the award at the BVA annual members day on Thursday, September 28 at Trades Hall in Glasgow.
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This year’s other awards included the BVA Advancement of Veterinary Science Award, given to Dr Richard Sibley, the BVA Outstanding Service Award, awarded to Dr Jane Ladlow, and the BVA Research Travel Scholarship, won by Dr Kimberly Tam.
Outgoing BVA president Malcolm Morley said: “This year’s BVA achievements awards spotlight an inspirational group of veterinary professionals, whose hard work, dedication and talent have in a variety of ways helped advance veterinary science and the profession or improved the lives of animals across the UK, and in many cases all three.
“I congratulate and thank them on behalf of the team at BVA and the profession for their outstanding work.”
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