Dr.
Wayne McIlwraith, Director of the Orthopaedic Research Center at Colorado
State University, recently was honored with the Founder's Award for Career
Achievement, given by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the art and science of
veterinary surgery by diplomats of the ACVS, and is the college's most
prestigious award.
The award credits Dr. McIlwraith for selflessly sharing his knowledge through
teaching, publications and training of other veterinarians.
Dr. McIlwraith currently holds the Barbara Cox Anthony University Endowed
Chair at Colorado State. He has trained more than 44 graduate students
and supervised 20 residents in equine surgery. He is recognized internationally
as an authority on equine orthopaedics, and has written or co-written 230
research papers and 10 textbooks. Dr. McIlwraith has previously been recognized
with numerous honorary degrees from as far away as New Zealand, Italy and
Vienna. He has lectured extensively on equine orthopaedics.
"Dr. McIlwraith has been one of the most recognized names in equine surgery
and orthopaedic research in the past 50 years and possibly the last century," said
Dr. Alan Nixon, veterinarian and diplomat of the ACVS, who presented the award. "His
work shows contributions in every area associated with the development of the
principals of surgery, the quest for better techniques and medications through
research, and a tireless effort to teach others and share knowledge with equine
surgeons throughout the world. He is the embodiment of a combination of surgical
practice and surgical research, a tireless disseminator of his extensive knowledge,
and the 'father' of arthroscopy surgery in the horse. He is an extraordinary
mentor to numerous surgeons both here and abroad."
Dr. McIlwraith received his veterinary degree from Massey University in
New Zealand. He received his master's and doctoral degrees in joint disease
research while at Purdue University in Indiana. Dr. McIlwraith became board
certified as a diplomat in the American College of Veterinary Surgeons
in 1979 and joined the faculty at Colorado State that same year.
