Dr. Ian Gardner honoured by UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Ian Gardner, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Aquatic Epidemiology at UPEI, has been honoured by the University of California Davis (UC Davis) School of Veterinary Medicine with a 2016 Alumni Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to veterinary epidemiology.
A professor of epidemiology at the Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI, Dr. Gardner was one of four UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine alumni who received the award on Friday, May 20. He was presented with his award by Dr. Michael Lairmore, Dean, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Gardner has a Master of Preventative Veterinary Medicine (MPVM) and a PhD in comparative pathology from the school, and he was a member of its faculty for 23 years, rising to professor of epidemiology.
The highest honour bestowed by the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, the Alumni Achievement Award is presented to one or more alumni for outstanding personal and professional contributions to veterinary science or one of its branches, veterinary practice in any of its forms, or to humankind and the advancement of human welfare. The following is the citation read at the award presentation:
“Dr. Gardner is honored for his outstanding global contributions that advance the discipline of veterinary epidemiology.
“Dr. Gardner’s 40-year career began as a Veterinary Research Officer in Australian Agriculture before coming to UC Davis to pursue his MPVM and Ph.D. in Comparative Pathology. In 1988 he joined the school’s faculty where he served with distinction for 23 years, rising to Professor of Epidemiology. He went on to lead aquatic epidemiology efforts at the Atlantic Veterinary College and continues to be internationally recognized for his leadership in applied veterinary epidemiology.
“Dr. Gardner is highly regarded as both an excellent teacher and researcher who has received numerous awards and published more than 300 peer-reviewed publications. One of his strengths has been described as his ability to effectively blend theory and application of epidemiologic principles. Not only is this ability key to his teaching success, but he regularly brings this expertise to the numerous national and international committees, policy-development activities within USDA and at the World Organization for Animal Health. His continued appointment to these committees reflects the peer respect that he has earned in the global veterinary research community through his research focused on the improved evaluation of diagnostic testing standards for economically important, transboundary diseases.
“Dr. Gardner has been a key collaborator on a wide range of projects including infectious diseases of livestock and production aquaculture, African horse sickness, West Nile fever, Johne’s disease, validation of diagnostic tests and development of appropriate management/disease mitigation strategies. He has also collaborated on many other contemporary issues such as: lameness and breakdown injuries of racing horses, protozoal diseases of marine mammals and Culicoides-transmitted viral diseases.”
Congratulations, Dr. Gardner!
