The past two years have been difficult worldwide. Closer to home, the stress on veterinary clinics, our colleagues, staff, clients, and families is unprecedented in modern times.

There have been bright spots in this pandemic. As a profession we’ve adapted with ingenuity and flexibility. Despite diminished patience from some clients (one is too many), the public has gained new appreciation for the human-animal bond and for the importance of access to veterinary care. Conferences, state boards, veterinary medical associations, veterinary schools, veterinary students and colleagues have adapted to new ways of sharing information and connecting.

We can also be proud of colleagues who volunteered in vaccine studies and served as public health resources for their communities. Our academic institutions were recognized for their expertise in developing and implementing community testing. Our colleagues’ skills and knowledge were appreciated, and we were invited to join our human healthcare counterparts in administering COVID vaccinations.

Despite long-standing warnings of the potential of a global pandemic, I never imagined an event such as we’ve experienced was possible in my lifetime. Prior outbreaks, SARS, H1N1, MERS, Ebola, predicted to potentially spread worldwide, were contained. Surely, COVID-19 would resolve the same way.

I, like many, resisted believing any virus could overwhelm our medical/scientific defenses. But overwhelmed and confused we were. We didn’t understand this virus, how it spread, how we could best protect each other.

On the flip side, I’m happily astounded by the speed with which the medical/scientific community developed effective vaccines. Between rapid vaccine development and a tremendous effort in the scientific community toward understanding the transmission and actions of this virus, we’re learning to live with COVID-19 and can envision a time, hopefully in the not-too-distant future, when we can return to a life more like that of pre-2020.

There remain many unanswered questions – and the confusion that comes from uncertainty. This uncertainty has manifested in vibrant debate rooted in a plethora of rapidly evolving information and misinformation. Within our VIN community, a few colleagues have served as scholarly beacons, rapidly assimilating, interpreting, and sharing information as it develops.

To honor two who have shone brightest, for their tireless work to master and empathically share accurate and current information amidst a backdrop of human suffering and loss within and beyond our community, battling confusing data and outright disinformation, VIN has established an award for veterinary colleagues who serve science and truth through courage and integrity.

The name of the award – the VIN Veritas award – comes from the Latin word for truth. 

Steve and Scott have worked tirelessly responding to VINners’ questions on COVID spread, prevention, vaccination, treatments, you name it, over the past 20+ months. Even when faced with the same questions over and over or the rare individuals who have doubled down on misinformed beliefs, they have persisted.

Thank you, both, for all you do!

The VIN Veritas award will be annually bestowed upon colleague(s) who demonstrate extraordinary courage and integrity in the service of science and truth.

Nominations will be solicited from colleagues, with a committee choosing the honoree(s) each year.

A call for nominations for VIN Veritas awardees will be distributed in the spring of each year beginning in 2022.

-- Paul --

Paul D. Pion, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology)
Co-founder, VIN
Board of Directors, VIN Foundation
Paul@vin.com
530-757-6881