WSAVA Pays Tribute to Emeritus Professor Michael J. Day

WSAVA Pays Tribute to Emeritus Professor Michael J. Day

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has paid tribute to its long-standing Committee and Executive Board member Emeritus Professor Michael J Day following the announcement of his death.

Emeritus Professor Michael Day began working with the WSAVA in 2003, holding a range of roles, including membership of the Gastrointestinal Standardization Group and Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee. He founded the WSAVA’s One Health Committee in 2010 and was Chair of the WSAVA’s Vaccination Guidelines Group from 2009 until March 2020 when ill-health necessitated his stepping down from this and his other WSAVA roles.  Emeritus Professor Day was latterly the BSAVA Member Representative for the WSAVA and joined the WSAVA’s Executive Board in 2017. He was elected Honorary Treasurer in 2018.

The inaugural Vice-President of the WSAVA Foundation, Emeritus Professor Day also helped to develop and lead its pioneering African Small Companion Animal Network (AFSCAN) project, which is working to raise standards of companion animal veterinary care in Sub-Saharan Africa.  He had recently been awarded the WSAVA’s prestigious Award for Global Meritorious Service.

WSAVA President Shane Ryan said: “We are terribly saddened by the loss of Michael, who served the WSAVA with distinction and dedication for many years.  He was a true veterinary leader who made an immense contribution to the WSAVA and the other associations he served. Michael was not only a highly respected colleague but a much-loved friend. We are heart-broken to lose him, and our thoughts are with his wife, our WSAVA colleague Dr Mary Marcondes, his wider family, his friends and colleagues.”

Professor Michael Lappin, Chair of the WSAVA’s One Health Committee, said: “Professor Day was an icon of global veterinary medicine in many fields. His work to found the One Health Committee and the resultant One Health Certificate Course are just two of the ways in which his memory will live on.  It was an honor to be his friend and to have him as an inspiration in so many ways, both professionally and personally.”

Dr Jolle Kirpensteijn, WSAVA Past President and Chief Professional Veterinary Officer at Hill’s Pet Nutrition, US, said: “Michael was a friend to the entire global veterinary community and worked tirelessly and humbly to make the world better by championing a One Health approach.  His hallmark sense of humor and ability to explain complex concepts touched us all.”

Dr Guillermina Manigot, WSAVA Member Representative for Argentina, added: “Among his many achievements, Professor Day was passionate about the creation of the first set of WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines for Latin America and travelled throughout the region, with members of the Vaccination Guidelines Group, to explain and discuss them with veterinarians. These Guidelines were recently published in Journal of Small Animal Practice and it is now our mission, as Latin American veterinarians, to apply what he taught us for the benefit of our patients and public health.  Thank you, Professor Day.”

For further information, please contact:

Rebecca George, George PR

Tel: 01449 737281/07974 161108/ email: rebecca@georgepr.com

12 May 2020