Published: 02 May 2019 | Last Updated: 10 Aug 2023 10:41:30

The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has awarded an Honorary Fellowship to Michael Lairmore, the Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine at University of California, Davis (UC Davis).

This honour was granted to Lairmore in recognition for his outstanding leadership in veterinary medicine and One Health, and was presented during the RVC’s Annual Principal’s Dinner.

The RVC’s Principal Professor Stuart Reid reflected on Lairmore’s contribution to science and the highest quality veterinary education at the dinner, which took place on 1st May at Saddlers’ Hall. Under Lairmore, the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis has grown as a leader in developing new veterinary medical practices, fostered new discoveries in veterinary and human health, and produced graduates regarded as some of the best in the world. Through his leadership, the School has made major advances in student diversity, and he has significantly expanded the number of women in leadership positions. The school’s excellence has been recognised by the ranking organisation QS, which put it at number one globally in its inaugural ranking in 2015 and again in 2016-2018, and by US News & World Report, which has named it number one for five years running.

Lairmore’s leading role in advancing innovative research to address important issues ranging from clinical veterinary medicine to public health was also mentioned. Professor Reid expressed particular admiration for Lairmore’s commitment to, and advocacy for, the One Health agenda which has seen the UC Davis One Health Institute become a leader in the international community and was the subject of a presentation by Lairmore to RVC during this visit.

Lairmore earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Missouri at Columbia before working as a dairy and small animal veterinarian. Following private practice, he completed a residency and PhD program in experimental pathology at Colorado State University at Fort Collins. He is board certified in veterinary anatomic pathology as well as veterinary virology and immunology. He is one of the few veterinarians elected as a Member of the National Academy of Medicine, the health arm of the National Academy of Sciences. He is also a Fellow in the American Academy of Microbiology and the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences, and a board member of the National Institutes of Health's Council of Councils.

Professor Stuart Reid, Principal of the RVC, said: “Recognising Dr Lairmore’s achievements, I am delighted to welcome him into the RVC community.  His signal leadership and commitment to his discipline and the sector has been a benefit and stimulus to all of us who pursue excellence in advancing the health of animals, people and the environment.”

Notes to Editors

For more information please contact:

• Alex Cassells (alexander.cassells@plmr.co.uk)  or Ploy Radford (ploy.radford@plmr.co.uk)
• Press Line: 0800 368 9520

About the RVC

• The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is the UK's largest and longest established independent veterinary school and is a constituent College of the University of London.
• The RVC is ranked as the world’s number one veterinary school in the QS World University Rankings 2019.
• The RVC offers undergraduate, postgraduate and CPD programmes in veterinary medicine, veterinary nursing and biological sciences.
• It is currently the only veterinary school in the world to hold full accreditation from AVMA, EAEVE, RCVS and AVBC.
• In 2017, the RVC received a Gold award from the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) – the highest rating a university can receive.
• A research-led institution, the RVC maintained its position as the top veterinary institution in the Research Excellence Framework (2014), with 79% of its submission being rated as world-class or internationally excellent.
• The RVC also provides animal owners and the veterinary profession with access to expert veterinary care and advice through its teaching hospitals: the Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital, in central London, and the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals (Europe's largest small animal referral centre) and Equine Referral Hospital, both located at the Hertfordshire campus.