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WASHINGTON, DC (March 1, 2010) – Nominations are being accepted for the prestigious Pedro N. Acha Award for Excellence in Veterinary Public Health now through June 30, 2010, 5:00 p.m. EST, at pahef.org/acha. This award, presented by the Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF) and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), recognizes outstanding research based on a thesis or scientific paper written by an undergraduate student in veterinary public health within the last three years. This year marks the 17th anniversary of the creation of the award.

Deans or directors of Latin American and Caribbean schools of veterinary medicine and animal sciences are invited to nominate an undergraduate student who has prepared a scientific paper or an undergraduate thesis in the veterinary public health field. The research thesis should cover at least one of the following: zoonoses, food safety, animal health and production, development of biomedical models (animal research models or in vitro substitutes), food security and animal husbandry (zootechnics), and environmental health related to livestock production systems or other domesticated animals.

The award also aims to encourage dedication to the highest standards of study and professionalism. Each awardee receives a cash prize, certificate of merit, and a paid trip to Washington, DC, to receive the award at the annual PAHO/PAHEF Awards for Excellence in Inter-American Public Health Event and is recognized before the ministers of health of the region at the PAHO Directing Council Meeting.

The Pedro N. Acha Award for Excellence in Veterinary Public Health is part of the Awards for Excellence in Inter-American Public Health Program, a joint program of PAHEF and PAHO.

Nominations may be made in either Spanish or English.

Past winners of the Pedro N. Acha Award for Excellence in Veterinary Public Health include Dr. Ilane Hernández Morales for her thesis "Preparation and Assessment of a DNA Vaccine Versus Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis Outer Membrane Protein A (OmpA) in Laying Hens" and Luary Carolina Martínez for her thesis "Molecular Identification of the S19 and RB51 Strains of Brucella abortus Used in Vaccines."

Dr. Pedro N. Acha, a Peruvian national, served as the chief of PAHO's Veterinary Public Health Unit from 1957 to 1986. He was also a member of numerous FAO/WHO expert committees on zoonoses and veterinary medical education throughout his career.

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Founded in 1968, the Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF) is a public 501(c)(3) foundation dedicated to fostering public health programs in the Americas that address major health concerns. PAHEF improves the lives of people throughout the Americas by working with the public and private sectors as well as major public health research, policy, and development groups.

PAHEF enjoys a unique relationship with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), which serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization.

The Awards for Excellence in Inter-American Public Health (pahef.org/awards) stimulate the growth of the next and rising generation of leaders working to improve health and health care in the Americas. The Awards for Excellence in Inter-American Public Health Program is a partnership between PAHEF and PAHO. A jury of distinguished public health professionals reviews nominations and recommends a candidate for each award to the board of trustees of the Foundation for final selection.

pahef.org

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