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AAVIO honors veterinarians at annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
Special guests Dr. Mahesh Katra from Jaipur, Rajasthan, and Dr. Vijay Kumar Sinha from Patna, Bihar, attended the gathering.
Honorees / Courtesy Photo /AAVIO
The American Association of Veterinarians of Indian Origin (AAVIO) held its annual meeting on Sep.21, 2024, in Washington, D.C., with members and past presidents attending from across the U.S.
Special guests Dr. Mahesh Katra from Jaipur, Rajasthan, and Dr. Vijay Kumar Sinha from Patna, Bihar, attended the gathering.
This year's meeting was particularly emotional, according to Dr. Ravi Murarka, president of AAVIO, as the organization recognized three distinguished veterinarians: Dr. M.R. Patel, retired vice-chancellor of Jabalpur and Gujarat Veterinary Colleges; Dr. Nirwan Thapar, a pathologist and past president of AAVIO; and Dr. J.P. Dubey, a parasitologist and past president from the USDA.
For the first time, AAVIO honored both a teacher and his former student. Dr. M.R. Patel, who once taught at Mhow Veterinary College, was recognized alongside his former student, Dr. J.P. Dubey. The event also brought together past AAVIO presidents, including Dr. Suresh Dua, Dr. Bharat Patel, Dr. Murti Guntakatta, and Dr. J.P. Dubey. These leaders, along with Dr. Thapar’s daughter, shared personal stories about the challenges they faced in establishing themselves and building AAVIO.
Dr. Nikhil Joshi from Merck Animal Health, who previously worked at the Bharatiya Agro Industry Foundation in Pune, India, presented a new non-adjuvant canine influenza vaccine, H3N2 RNA Particle, on the occasion.
Due to health issues, Dr. M.R. Patel was unable to attend the event, and his son accepted the award on his behalf. Dr. Thapar’s posthumous award was accepted by his eldest daughter, Dr. Namita Dua.
Special guests Dr. Mahesh Katra from Jaipur, Rajasthan, and Dr. Vijay Kumar Sinha from Patna, Bihar, attended the gathering. / Courtesy Photo /AAVIODr. Patel, born on May.13, 1927, in Gujarat, India, was celebrated for his lifelong contributions to leadership, service, mentorship, and veterinary education both in India and the U.S. After graduating with honors from Bombay Veterinary College in 1951, he earned membership in the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (MRCVS) in England and pursued an M.S. and Ph.D. at the University of Illinois in 1968.
Throughout his career, he taught at veterinary colleges in Calcutta and Mhow, eventually becoming vice chancellor at agricultural universities in Jabalpur and Gujarat. After emigrating to the U.S., he continued working at the Women’s Humane Society in Philadelphia until the age of 83. At 98, Dr. Patel remains an inspiring figure in veterinary medicine.
Dr. Nirwan Tilak Thapar, a native of Ludhiana, Punjab, India, and founder of the American Indian Veterinary Association (AIVA), was also remembered at the event. Dr. Thapar graduated from Hisar Veterinary College in 1963 and earned a Master’s in Pathology from the University of Wisconsin in 1968. His career included work at the University of Maryland and later as Director of Pathology for the State Department of Agriculture, specializing in large animals. Tragically, Dr. Thapar’s life was cut short in 1999, but his legacy endures through his leadership in the veterinary community and his dedication to various clubs and associations.
Dr. Jitender P. Dubey, a renowned parasitologist and microbiologist, was honored for his pioneering work in the diagnosis and control of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Sarcocystis neurona. Dr. Dubey, born on July 15, 1938, in India, earned his veterinary degree in 1960 from Mhow Veterinary College and later completed his Ph.D. in medical microbiology at the University of Sheffield, England.
His groundbreaking research has earned him numerous accolades, including the Distinguished Veterinary Parasitologist Award from the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists and induction into the Agricultural Research Service Science Hall of Fame.
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