In recognition of his service to his local community and to the veterinary profession at a regional, national, and global level, College of Veterinary Medicine alumnus Dr. Laurel Kaddatz, ’77 DVM, has received a prestigious international award.

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) named Kaddatz the 2023 Award for Global Meritorious Service recipient. He will receive the award in late September during the WSAVA 2023 World Congress in Lisbon, Portugal.

“Community-building is at the heart of everything the WSAVA does and, in bestowing this prestigious Award on Dr. Kaddatz, we are recognizing an individual who has personally exemplified community-building throughout his career,” WSAVA President Dr. Ellen van Nierop says. “The contribution he has made, not only to our global veterinary community but to communities nationally and regionally in the USA, both within the veterinary profession and outside it, is outstanding.”

Throughout his career, Kaddatz has promoted the work of veterinarians by publishing articles, making presentations to community groups, and organizing initiatives such as shadowing programs for high school students.

In an interview with WSAVA, Kaddatz credits his parents with sparking his passion for community service and a mentor for encouraging him to view veterinary medicine as a service profession.

“We exist to serve the needs of our clients and patients,” Kaddatz says “I like to take that to the next level and say that we should also serve our profession in whatever capacity fits us.”

Now retired, Kaddatz built a career in New York, spending 25 years in Rochester as a senior partner in a large hospital group and managing two of its hospitals. After selling his interests, he and a partner purchased Pound Ridge Veterinary Center north of New York City and practiced there for 17 years until his retirement.

Kaddatz also has held leadership and representative roles within several veterinary professional organizations, including the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the North American Veterinary Conference, and the New York State Veterinary Medical Society. He currently serves as chair of WSAVA’s financial advisory committee.