Atlantic Veterinary College’s Dr. Alfonso Lopez named Canada’s 2007 Innovator in International Education

Dr. Alfonso Lopez (DVM, MSc, PhD), a professor within the Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI’s Pathology and Microbiology Department and co-ordinator of the College's international programs, was recently awarded the 2007 Innovation in International Education Award by the Canadian Bureau for International Education at a ceremony in Ottawa. The award recognizes outstanding achievement, of national and international magnitude, in the field of international education.

“This award acknowledges Dr. Lopez’s contribution to the internationalization of veterinary medicine, his work with developing countries, and his innovative contributions to international education throughout his 30-year career,” says Dr. Tim Ogilvie, Dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC). “We are extremely proud of Dr. Lopez and feel his recognition is very much deserved.”

Since joining AVC in 1988, Lopez has successfully designed several international education initiatives including two academic mobility projects. The mandate of these projects was to promote and fund international experience and the cultural enrichment of Canadian students, and to facilitate Mexican and American students to experience academic life at AVC. The projects succeeded and became models for other mobility projects at other academic institutions. Also, Dr. Lopez implemented a major project financed by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

Lopez’s contributions to international education also include the establishment of an International Veterinary Medicine Rotation that allows AVC students to receive credit for courses or professional experiences in Latin America, Asia, Africa, Europe and Australia. “In a globalized society, it is essential to create opportunities for our students to travel and learn from other places and cultures,” says Lopez.

Lopez is an advocate for sharing AVC course materials with the world via the Internet. “There is nothing more professionally rewarding to me than knowing students, veterinarians, and specialists in remote areas of the world benefit from what we do for students at AVC,” continues Lopez. “The work done at AVC can advance the quality of education and diagnostic services in developing countries.”

Funded by the four Atlantic Provinces, the Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI is committed to excellence and innovation in education, research, and professional services. The College has graduated more than 1,000 doctors of veterinary medicine, is known around the world for its research capabilities, and is Atlantic Canada’s only full-service veterinary referral hospital.

CBIE is a national, bilingual, not-for-profit, membership organization dedicated to the promotion of Canada’s international relations through international education.

Dr. Alfonso Lopez accepts the Canadian Bureau of International Education (CBIE) Excellence Award from CBIE Board Member Nancy Blain.