Ceva Animal Health (Ceva), the fifth-largest animal health company globally, proudly continues its sponsorship of the 2025 World Veterinary Association (WVA) Awards. As a veterinarian-led company, Ceva prioritises supporting initiatives driven by outstanding veterinary professionals worldwide, honouring their achievements at the awards.
The biggest honour of the night, Veterinarian of the Year, was awarded to Professor Susan W. Mbugua, who was also the winner of the Veterinary Education category. A retired Professor of Veterinary Surgery from the University of Nairobi, she revolutionised veterinary education through her expertise in complex surgical disciplines, while serving as Founding Chairperson of the Kenya Small and Companion Animal Veterinary Association and shaping professional standards across East Africa.
Other winners throughout the night
The prestigious awards recognised five outstanding veterinarians across different categories, each demonstrating excellence and celebrating the remarkable contributions of veterinary professionals worldwide. The winners include:
- Professor Mangala Gunatilake, who was honoured in the Animal Welfare category. A distinguished professor at the University of Colombo, she developed Sri Lanka's first ethical guidelines for animal-based research and founded the Sri Lanka Association for Laboratory Animal Science (SLALAS), championing compassionate animal care through education, clinical work and advocacy.
- Dr. Randall Singer received top honours in the Medicine Stewardship category. A professor of epidemiology at the University of Minnesota, he has shaped global antimicrobial stewardship through groundbreaking research, policy development, and advisory roles with the U.S. Presidential Council and Codex Alimentarius Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance.
- Dr. Joni Scheftel, recipient of the One Health award, is a pioneering public health veterinarian with a distinguished four-decade career in advancing the principles of One Health. As a leader in the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and through her work with the Minnesota Department of Health and the University of Minnesota, she has championed antimicrobial stewardship and developed crucial industry resources to safeguard health across species and environments.