The Simon Award, is for contributions to the advancement of all small animal surgery in its widest context, including but not limited to, soft tissue surgery, anaesthesia, orthopaedics and surgical aspects of neurology, ophthalmology, diagnostic imaging and exotics (NTCA).
Simon, was a Golden Retriever owned by Mr J. Thomas, a blind telephone operator, that also became blind and had his sight restored by surgery, thus enabling him to resume his full duties as a guide dog. Mr Thomas, in appreciation of the work and surgical skill which had made this possible, inaugurated and made this award at the 1962 annual Congress.
2025 Winner – Professor Richard Meeson MA, VetMB, MVetMed, PhD, DipECVS, FHEA, FRCVS
Professor Richard Meeson is Head of Orthopaedics and Professor of Orthopaedics at the Royal Veterinary College, University of London. He graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2007 having also intercalated a degree in immunology in 2004. He then moved to the Royal Veterinary College to undertake specialist clinical training and became a European board-certified surgical specialist in 2012. He has remained at the RVC as clinical faculty since, other than several years as an MRC funded Clinical Research Fellow working at the internationally renowned Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Science, UCL (Stanmore, London), leading to a PhD in stem cell biology.
Since 2018, he has been Head of the Orthopaedic Service at the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals. In the clinic he enjoys traumatology and joint surgery, including total hip replacement. He has trained over 25 surgical residents and is actively involved in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and assessment.
Richard manages a research programme focused on One Medicine including advanced imaging of osteoarthritis to detect early biomarkers, osteosarcoma and tendon degeneration research. He held the post of Trustee and Scientific Chair for the British Veterinary Orthopaedic Association (BVOA) from 2015-2022, has been an Associate Editor for journals including BMC Veterinary Research, and The Veterinary Record, and a previous BSAVA education committee member. He is currently a Trustee and committee member of the British College of Veterinary Specialists. He lectures nationally and internationally and has published over 100 papers and abstracts on a variety of topics relating to veterinary orthopaedics. He was elected to the Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (FRCVS) in 2020 for his meritorious contributions to clinical practice.
The recipients of 2025 will be celebrated at the BSAVA awards ceremony held at BSAVA Congress and Expo on Friday 21st March at Manchester Central. Book your tickets here