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Saskatchewan Veterinarian Honoured for Dedicating Career to Canadian Cattle Care
July 11, 2023
Quebec City, Que. – Dr. John Campbell was awarded the 2023 Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) Merck Veterinary Award for his decades of cattle work that has significantly contributed to the overall improvement of the bovine industry, particularly beef cattle production medicine, and disease surveillance in beef cattle.
“It is no exaggeration to say there are few individuals in Canada who have had the level of impact on beef cattle medicine, health management, and clinical education as Dr. Campbell. He is a humble and extremely knowledgeable colleague, who balances practicality with a deep understanding of research in a uniquely effective way to truly improve cattle health, veterinary practice, and clinical research,” says Dr. Claire Windeyer, Associate Professor, University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM). “Having worked with Dr. Campbell since the early part of my academic career, his mentorship has had a huge impact on me personally. He is generous with his knowledge and always grounded in the realities of clinical practice and herd management. Dr. Campbell is an outstanding educator, whether for veterinary or graduate students, veterinary practitioners, cattle producers, or fellow academics.”
Dr. Campbell graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), University of Guelph in 1985. After several years of rural veterinary practice, he returned to Guelph to complete a Doctor of Veterinary Science degree in Ruminant Health Management. He has worked as a clinical faculty member on the Ruminant Field Service Practice at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), University of Saskatchewan since 1991.
“Dr. Campbell’s success in obtaining producer funding through the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) is a testament to the industry and producer-relevance of his research and extension program. Over the past 25 years, the BCRC has funded 20 research and extension projects that Dr. Campbell has led or collaborated in. These activities have spanned virtually all aspects of cow-calf and feedlot health, animal welfare, antimicrobial use and resistance, nutrition, and disease surveillance. To our ongoing relief, his research and extension shows no signs of slowing down, as evidenced by his ongoing leadership in the Canadian Cow-Calf Surveillance Network and Beef Cattle Health and Nutrition podcast,” exclaims Reynold Bergen, Science Director, Beef Cattle Research Council.
Dr. Campbell served as Department Head of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at WCMV from 2011 to 2017. His primary research interests include beef cattle production medicine and disease surveillance in beef cattle. He currently acts as the Director for the college’s Disease Investigation Unit and is an associate editor for the Veterinary Evidence journal. Dr. Campbell has over 100 scientific publications in scientific journals along with numerous conference proceedings.
Dr. Campbell has received five teaching awards from WCVM and was the recipient of the 2007 Carl Block Award for contributions to Canada’s animal health programs, the 2008 Western Canadian Association of Bovine Practitioners Veterinarian of the Year Award, and the 2019 Canadian Beef Industry Award for Outstanding Research and Innovation.
“The CVMA Merck Award is presented to a CVMA member whose work in large animal practice, clinical research, or basic sciences is judged to have contributed significantly to the advancement of large animal medicine and surgery, including herd health management. If you asked veterinarians across Western Canada which person best fits this description, I would suspect many, if not the majority, would name Dr. John Campbell,” concludes, Dr. Trent Wennekamp, Dr. Campbell’s former student.
The Merck Veterinary Award, sponsored by Merck Animal Health, is presented to a veterinarian whose work in food animal production practice, clinical research, or basic sciences is judged to have contributed significantly to the advancement of food animal medicine and surgery, including herd health management.
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The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) is the national and international voice for Canada’s veterinarians, providing leadership and advocacy for veterinary medicine. Each year, the CVMA proudly recognizes individuals and groups for their outstanding contribution to veterinary medicine. Visit canadianveterinarians.net to learn more about the CVMA.
Contact:
Ashley Dupont
Communications Officer
Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA)
613-236-1162 ext. 125
adupont@cvma-acmv.org