Michael J Day championed reseacrhinto small companion animal disease, clinical vaccinology and immunology.

Veterinary students from across the globe are invited to apply.

Applications for the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s (WSAVA) Michael J. Day Scholarship are now open, with a grant of up to US$15,000 for the awardee to carry out their project.

The Scholarship pays tribute to Emeritus Professor Day, who championed research into small companion animal disease, clinical vaccinology and immunology throughout his career until his untimely death in 2020. 

As chair of the WSAVA’s Vaccination Guidelines Group (VGG), Professor Day was instrumental in providing evidence-based scientific advice to the global veterinary profession on optimum vaccination practice for dogs and cats. 

He also helped educate thousands of vets while supporting the welfare of millions of companion animals around the world - for which he received numerous veterinary awards, including the WSAVA’s highly prestigious Award for Global Meritorious Service.

Set up in partnership with MSD Animal Health, the new scholarship is open to veterinary students across the globe and will provide financial assistance to enable the selected scholar to carry out research into any aspect of any of the above subjects. 

Dr Richard Squires, chair of the VGG and Associate Professor in Companion Animal Medicine at James Cook University in Australia, said: “Michael Day’s global outlook and passion for veterinary education underpinned his commitment to raise standards of evidence-based vaccination practice. With this in mind, we are delighted to launch this annual Scholarship in small companion animal infectious diseases, clinical vaccinology, and immunology in his memory.

“We are grateful to MSD Animal Health, the long-term committed Partner of the VGG, for supporting this Scholarship and believe it provides a richly deserved and enduring professional legacy for Professor Day. It is a fitting tribute to our greatly missed friend and colleague.”

Veterinary students wishing to apply for the scholarship must be studying towards a registrable veterinary degree in an accredited veterinary establishment in a country in which the WSAVA has a member association. 

Full details and guidance on the application process, together with eligibility criteria, are available on the WSAVA website. 

Image (C) WSAVA.