News Releases

UWI Veterinarians win CARICOM Award

For Release Upon Receipt - April 15, 2025

St. Augustine


St. Augustine, April 14, 2025 – CARICOM's Committee of Chief Veterinary Officers (CCCVO) created three award categories on the occasion of its Silver Jubilee and bestowed two of these awards on individuals with strong ties to The UWI St. Augustine’s School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM). Dr Karla Georges and Professor Emeritus, Abiodun Adesiyun won the National Veterinary Stalwart award for Trinidad and Tobago and the Research and Veterinary Education award respectively. Dr Mark Trotman, Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO), Barbados won the CCCVO stalwart award.

 According to a statement made by the CARICOM Committee of Chief Veterinary Officers (CCCVO) that gave out the awards at a gala held on 25 March 2025, the awards were developed to honour veterinarians across the region. The awards are intended to bring attention to veterinarians who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, long-standing service, and remarkable contributions to agri-food safety, animal health, and related fields at both regional and international levels.

 These prestigious awards—CARICOM CVO Stalwart, National Veterinary Stalwart, and Veterinary Research and Education—celebrated three individuals whose work has significantly advanced veterinary medicine and public health while fostering innovation and excellence within the profession. Nominations were rigorously assessed, and a selection was made by a regional nomination committee composed of representatives of CARICOM, CbVMA, CCCVO, CAHFSA and academia.

 

 

Dr. Karla Georges, Director of the School of Veterinary Medicine, addresses the audience at the CARICOM Committee of Chief Veterinary Officers (CCCVO) award Gala held on 25 March 2025.

  Dr. Georges is the current Director of the SVM in the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the St. Augustine Campus. She thanked colleagues and committee members for their recognition and gave a personal testimony of the profound impact of decisions made by Chief Veterinary Officers. She proudly pointed out that graduates of the UWI SVM hold key high-level decision-making positions in the veterinary services throughout the region and internationally and counselled[NH1]  that they ‘must never take this responsibility lightly’. Prof. Adesiyun spoke on his accomplishments[NH2]  as a researcher and former Director of the UWI SVM. He stressed the importance of using feedback from the CCVO to improve the development of the veterinary curriculum.

 The DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) programme at the St. Augustine Campus graduated 143 students over the past five years. Each year, The programme matriculates[NH3]  between 30 to 40 students.

 For more information on requirements visit: https://sta.uwi.edu/fms/vet/

 

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