The three staff members are Prof Koos Coetzer, Head of the Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases (Chancellors Award in the category Teaching and Learning), Prof Robert Kirberger, Head of the Diagnostic Imaging Section in the Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies (Exceptional Achiever), and Prof Johan Schoeman of the Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies (Exceptional Young Researcher).



From left to right: Prof Koos Coetzer, Prof Robert Kirberger and Prof Johan Schoeman

One of the University of Pretoria’s key driving forces is its commitment to delivering quality research outputs. The achievements of the Faculty’s staff members not only underline this commitment but also subscribe to the notion of the Faculty to make research a primary thrust, aiming to stimulate and focus research on unique problems which will give the Faculty a leading edge.  The Faculty is, therefore, extremely proud of the achievements of these members of staff and their contribution towards the University’s notion of being the leading research university in the country. In order to honor and celebrate the high caliber of members of staff in the fields of research, as well as education and learning, the University hosts the annual Exceptional Achievers Awards. Exceptional achievers are leaders in their field and serve as role models to the UP community. They deliver key inputs to the University’s core business and therefore deserve the University’s moral and material support. The Faculty congratulates these worthy recipients.

CHANCELLOR’S AWARD: TEACHING AND LEARNING

Prof Koos Coetzer

Prof Coetzer is Head of the Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases and has numerous publications under his name He was the editor of the textbook, Infectious Diseases of Livestock with special reference to southern Africa, and the second edition, Infectious Diseases of Livestock. He has established formal collaboration agreements with various international universities. A highlight of his career was to act as consortium leader of several institutions on the BioPAD Project: Development of a Diagnostic Kit for Tick-borne diseases. In 2007, he was elected as President of the Association of Institutes for Tropical Veterinary Medicine until 2010.

EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVERS

Prof Robert Kirberger

Prof Kirberger heads the Diagnostic Imaging Section in the Department of Companion Animal Studies. The section, which he developed, is today an internationally recognised centre of excellence. He has 17 years experience in private practice and has published 60 peer-reviewed articles in international journals and has delivered more than 50 presentations at international congresses. In 2006, he received a research award from the South African Veterinary Association. He is the associate editor of the international journal Veterinary Radiology and Ultrasound. For the past ten years, he has been the Vice Chairman of the South African Veterinary Foundation. Prof Kirberger is a C1-rated NRF researcher.

EXCEPTIONAL YOUNG RESEARCHERS

Prof Johan Schoeman

Prof Schoeman is an associate professor in the Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies. He has presented 26 papers at international conferences and 23 at local conferences and has 18 peer-reviewed scientific publications in ISI journals. He is currently completing a PhD on the endocrine responses to canine critical illness at the University of Cambridge. From this research he has published papers in the following international journals: Veterinary Parasitology, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, and Microbes and Infection. Prof Schoeman is a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and chief examiner for the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine