This award recognizes her exceptional growth in leadership and her contributions to the ethical care and use of animals in science
SOURCE: Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC)
May 30, 2024
The Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) announced yesterday that Dr. Aurore Dodelet-Devillers is the first winner of the CCAC Emerging Leader Award. This national award recognizes individuals with less than 10 years of experience in a leadership role in the field of ethical animal care and use, who have demonstrated exceptional growth in their levels of leadership, responsibility, sphere of impact, and contributed to both the ethical care and use of animals in science and to the CCAC.
Dr. Aurore Dodelet-Devillers is the senior clinical veterinarian at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC). Since she began working at the RI-MUHC, she has been at the forefront of new advancements in Three Rs practices to enhance the ethical care and use of animals in science. (The Three Rs - replacement, reduction, and refinement - are a harm mitigation strategy and are foundational principles for the CCAC.)
Dr. Dodelet-Devillers is also an avid champion of rehoming. With her help, animals have been adopted following study completion, with each animal leaving with an adoption form, a health report from the veterinarian, and an information sheet that includes husbandry and feeding details. Her caring and generous nature is not reserved solely for animals: Dr. Dodelet-Devillers keenly recognizes the effect of compassion fatigue on animal health technicians, animal care workers, and veterinarians, and has implemented important activities that highlight the connection employees build with animals. As a CCAC volunteer, she has collaborated on guidelines documents and consistently encourages her team to participate in the public review of all draft guidelines documents, and has assisted on numerous assessment panels. She is also an active volunteer with the Canadian Association for Laboratory Animal Science.
The CCAC’s Emerging Leader Award highlights the future of leadership in animal-based science and those who have the potential to drive positive change, innovation, and growth. By bringing a fresh perspective to the ethical care and use of animals in science, these rising stars can advocate for the implementation of more robust animal welfare guidelines and best practices within institutions.
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