Professor Bruce Gummow (photo below), an alumnus, former staff member and Extraordinary Professor in the Faculty of Veterinary Science’s Department of Production Animal Studies recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southern African Society of Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (SASVEPM) for his support to SASVEPM and his contribution to South Africa’s veterinary profession and disease control, specifically veterinary epidemiology and preventative veterinary medicine in southern Africa.

Prof Gummow who is also Professor of Epidemiology and Head of Veterinary Preventative Medicine at the College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences of the James Cook University in Australia, was recognised with the award at the 20^th SASVEPM annual conference in Gaborone that took place from 23 to 25 August 2023 at the Avani Gaborone Resort & Casino.

During the conference, which this year attracted nearly 500 attendees, Prof Gummow delivered a keynote address titled “Making One Health Work – A personal journey” (see photo below) which was well received and generated considerable discussion. He was also interviewed by the Botswana Television service (BTV) on the achievements of the society and the impact it has had on building epidemiology capacity in Africa and preventing and controlling diseases since it was founded in 2000.

SASVEPM, which has become Africa’s premier epidemiology conference since it was founded, now has a multi-national membership of over 200, including private veterinarians, state veterinarians, veterinarians in industry and others in academia and research.

Prof Gummow, who has worked at the Onderstepoort Faculty of Veterinary Science between 1991 and 2008, is a registered specialist in Veterinary Preventative Medicine (Epidemiology) and a Diplomat of the European College of Veterinary Public Health with European certification as a specialist in population medicine. He is recognised as a Fellow of the Australasian College of Tropical Medicine (ACTM) and is a registered specialist with the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) and Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

He serves on several James Cook University (JCU) committees, is a senior staff member at JCU and a member of the Veterinary Science Executive management team.