The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine has announced the launch of a veterinary medicine award that was designed to recognize innovation, creativity, and leadership in the veterinary profession anywhere in the world.

The Penn Vet World Leadership in Animal Health Award will be presented to a veterinarian who has dramatically changed the practice and image of the profession and substantially influenced the lives and careers of others. The award will provide $100,000 in unrestricted funding to the recipient.

“We are honored to be the world’s first school of veterinary medicine to make such a bold statement in support of our profession,” said Joan C. Hendricks, VMD, PhD, the Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of Veterinary Medicine. “I am delighted to unveil this award, which is a unique recognition for the most visionary members of the veterinary profession. This is truly a milestone in global veterinary medicine, one that will encourage and reward ambitious thinking and life-changing accomplishment in our profession, while emphasizing the importance of veterinary medicine to society.

In addition to the Penn Vet World Leadership in Animal Health Award, the School has launched the Penn Vet Student Inspiration Awards, for which currently enrolled Penn Vet students are eligible. Recipients of this award must demonstrate the potential to significantly advance the frontiers of veterinary medicine. Two awards of $100,000 in unrestricted funding will be given to each of the recipients.

Recipients of both the Penn Vet World Leadership Award and the Penn Vet Student Inspiration Award will be selected by the World Awards Committee, chaired by Alan M. Kelly, PhD, the Dean Emeritus of the School.

The awards program has been established with a major gift from the Hill Family Foundation.

Detailed instructions for nominations and applications will be available online later this year at www.vet.upenn.edu/worldaward.