Tom Thorne and Elizabeth Williams Memorial Award
Tom Thorne and Beth Williams were highly influential and revered members of the wildlife disease, conservation, and management community. Their dedication to wildlife health and conservation, many contributions to both WDA and AAWV, mentorship, scientific acumen, and friendship and love of life were an inspiration to all. Their tragic death in 2004 left a huge void. To help commemorate their lives and contributions to WDA and AAWV, a memorial award was created in their name.
Photo Credit: Lisa Wolfe Black footed ferret Bronze Award
This prestigious award is presented to an individual or group in acknowledgement of either an exemplary contribution or achievement combining wildlife disease research with wildlife management policy implementation or elucidating particularly significant problems in wildlife health. The recipient also receives a bronze of the black footed ferrets (picture above) which commemorates the significant contributions they made to the health, conservation, and management of this endangered species.
The call for nominations for this award goes out January 1, and nominations are due by April 1.. The awards committee is co-chaired by the presidents of the AAWV and WDA with committee member being from both organizations. Click here for information on the Tom Thorne and Beth Williams Memorial Award Nomination Guidelines.
Dr Margo Pybus, Tom Thorne and Beth Williams Memorial Award Winner 2022
Dr Pybus is an adjunct professor at the University of Alberta and provincial wildlife disease specialist. A respected mentor, professor and collaborator who sits on numerous international panels, the award also recognises Dr Pybus' prolific research across species including rabies in bats and skunks, West Nile Virus and avian botulism and radio telemetry of big brown and northern long-eared bats as well as overwintering bats.
Drs Elizabeth (Buffy) Howerth and David (Dave) Stallknecht, Tom Thorne and Beth Williams Memorial Award Winner 2023
Dr Howerth is a professor of anatomic pathology at the University of Georgia and Dr Stallknecht is Professor Emeritus, SCWDS, College of Veterinary Medicine also at the University of Georgia. Individually, and as a team, Buffy and Dave have elucidated some of the most significant and complex disease systems involving wildlife, expanding our systems-level understanding on avian influenza virus, bluetongue virus, epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, West Nile virus, and Ehrlichia chaffeensis, among others.
Previous Award Winners
Tom Thorne and Beth Williams Memorial Award |
Year |
Recipient |
Affiliation |
2023 |
Elizabeth Howerth and David Stallknecht |
University of Georgia |
2022 |
Mago Pybus |
University of Alberta |
2021 |
Tonie Rocke |
United States Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center |
2020 |
Richard Kock |
Royal Veterinary College |
2019 |
Billy Karesh |
EcoHealth Alliance |
2018 |
Lisa Wolfe |
Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife |
2017 |
Carol Meteyer & David Blehert |
United States Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center |
2016 |
Lee Skerratt, Lee Berger & Rick Speare |
One Health Research Group at James Cook University |
2015 |
Ted Leighton |
Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative |
2014 |
John Fischer |
Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study |
2013 |
Not Awarded |
|
2012 |
Ian K. Barker |
University of Guelph |
2011 |
Jonna A.K. Mazet |
University of California-Davis |
2010 |
David A. Jessup |
California Department of Fish and Game |
2008 |
Gary A. Wobeser |
University of Saskatchewan |
2007 |
Michael W. Miller |
Colorado Division of Wildlife |