The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) recognized W. David Wilson, BVMS, MS with the Distinguished Educator – Academic Award in honor of his lifelong achievements and contributions to the profession and the equine industry as a leader, clinical instructor, professor, researcher and mentor.

The Distinguished Educator – Academic Award recognizes an individual who by his or her actions and commitment has demonstrated a significant impact on the development and training of equine practitioners. Dr. Wilson received the award during the Dec. 10 President’s Luncheon at the AAEP’s 65th Annual Convention in Denver, Colo.

Dr. Wilson graduated from Glasgow University as a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1975. He subsequently obtained a Master of Science Degree in Medicine and Immunology from Iowa State University, where he was an instructor and professor from 1975 - 1981. In 1981, he began his 36-year tenure at the University of California, Davis, where he held various positions before retiring, including: director of the Center for Equine Health, director of the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH), and associate dean of Clinical Programs.

“I have admired and respected Dr. Wilson's numerous professional attributes and contributions for many years,” said Dr. Craig Barnett, who nominated Dr. Wilson for the award. “His pioneering work and scholarly distinction within the fields of equine infectious disease, immunology and in equine vaccinology has advanced the field of vaccinology tremendously and allowed equine practitioners to provide better health care to their equine patients. Dr. Wilson has been a role model for many within the profession, and his many contributions to the equine industry have had a direct affect upon providing significant improvement to the welfare of the horse.”

The Distinguished Educator – Academic Award becomes the most recent accolade in a long list of awards and honors bestowed upon Dr. Wilson over the years. He’s received multiple Student Faculty Teacher Awards, the 1989 Norden Distinguished Teacher Award, and the 2013 Honorary Diplomate Award of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine for his contributions to the discipline of Large Animal Internal Medicine. Throughout his professional career, Dr. Wilson advanced the area of equine internal medicine and infectious diseases. He actively engaged in teaching of students and residents, and conducted research resulting in 123 scientific publications, 64 book chapters and 120 other publications. He delivered more than 280 presentations and served on more than 150 department, school and university committees and dozens of professional society committees.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its over 9,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry.