Professor XIA Zhaofei, the Dean Principal of the Clinical Veterinary Medicine Department at the China Agriculture University, has been honored with the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Scientific Achievement Award, following his nomination by the Beijing Small Animal Veterinary Association (BJSAVA). This award recognizes Professor Xia’s exceptional contributions to veterinary science, particularly in the small animal medicine field in China and will be presented to him at the 49th WSAVA World Congress later this year.
A pillar of the small animal clinical veterinary sector in China, Professor Xia has devoted nearly four decades to medicine in this field. He is currently engaged in teaching, research, clinical practice, and hospital management at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the China Agricultural University, as Chair of the Clinical Veterinary Medicine Department and Director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. He also serves as the President of the BJSAVA and the companion animal medicine chapter of the Chinese Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA). Professor Xia is the associate Editor of the Chinese Journal of Veterinary Medicine and a member of the Specialized Construction Committee of Chinese Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA).
Professor Xia has published nearly 200 research papers as first or corresponding author and has supervised over 100 master’s and doctoral students. He has authored and edited six textbooks for undergraduate and graduate students, including Clinical Diagnosis of Small Animals, Veterinary Clinical Pathology, and Clinical Case Analysis of Dogs and Cats, widely used in veterinary schools across China. He has also translated some 30 specialized works on small animal clinical practice, enriching academic literature and educational resources in Chinese veterinary medicine.
Under his guidance, small animal antimicrobial stewardship and the development of the small animal internal medicine specialty have flourished, and he has pioneered high-impact research projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Beijing Natural Science Foundation. In 2021, Professor Xia led the establishment of the China Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network for Pets (CARPet). The reports provided by this platform on antimicrobial resistance have made a major contribution to shaping effective strategies to combat bacterial resistance in China.
Through his active participation in CVMA activities and his leadership in organizing the annual BJSAVA conferences, Professor Xia has been at the forefront of progress in the veterinary profession. These conferences are today a key platform for knowledge exchange and professional development in China. Similarly, under his leadership, the veterinary teaching hospital at CAU has emerged as a premier institution for small animal clinical training and research, setting new standards in veterinary education and patient care. His insight, pragmatic approach, and dedication have greatly enhanced the quality of veterinary science and services in China.
Dr. Ellen van Nierop, President of WSAVA, shared her satisfaction at the announcement: “I’m thrilled that Professor Xia has been selected to receive the award, as he plays an incredibly active role within academia and clinical practice and is a driving force for innovation in the field of veterinary science.”
Torren Stone, Vice President of BJSAVA, said that, “Professor Xia’s pioneering contributions to this industry, this era and this country, advancing veterinary science and education, make him highly deserving of the WSAVA Scientific Award.”
Professor XIA Zhaofei expressed his gratitude for the designation, stating that, “I am deeply honored to receive the WSAVA Scientific Achievement Award. This recognition is a testimony to the collective efforts of my colleagues and students in advancing veterinary medicine in China.”
Congratulations to Prof. Xia on this incredible achievement!