Colorado State University Veterinarian Honored with Scholarship Impact Award

Dr. Mo Salman, a veterinarian known for his work bringing international countries together to focus on animal health, has been named this year’s recipient of the Scholarship Impact Award, one of the highest annual honors given by Colorado State University.

Salman, professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences in the university’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, addresses animal health issues that can impact economic and human health across the globe.

Salman was honored with his award at the Celebrate Colorado State! Luncheon on April 29. The award, given by Colorado State’s Office of the Vice President for Research, includes $10,000 to support Salman’s research.

Salman has been instrumental in building national animal health program infrastructure in countries that have recently won independence or been involved in a period of war such as Somalia, Afghanistan and Iraq.

"Dr. Salman’s work truly embodies the mission of a great research and outreach university," said Bill Farland, vice president for Research at Colorado State. "His efforts to better society and the world through education and collaboration have indeed had a positive impact on reducing hardship around the world and in boosting the health of human, animals and societies around the globe."

"Dr. Salman’s work is comprised of an internationally recognized record of unique, original research and the ability to bring people together to rebuild or strengthen infrastructures to the benefit of entire countries. He has established an international network of collaborations that have identified Colorado State University as a world leader in this field," said Dr. Paul Lunn, chairman of the Department of Clinical Sciences, in his nomination of Salman for the award. "In addition, he is an excellent educator of the university’s students as well as of veterinarians and other works in the veterinary and human health fields around the world."

Today a U.S. citizen, Salman was born in Baghdad, Iraq, where he received his veterinary degree in 1973. He moved to the United States in 1978 and has been a professor at Colorado State since 1984, following teaching and research engagements at the University of California-Davis.

In 2002, Salman helped establish the Animal Population Health Institute at Colorado State. The institute is devoted to addressing animal health around the globe on the principle that protecting animal health can help countries maintain or obtain economic stability, protect an important resource and help to protect the health and stability of citizens within those countries. Salman’s work often focuses on helping countries identify and combat zoonotic diseases, or diseases that can spread from animals to humans, such as bird flu.

Salman also has played a significant role as a representative on international panels focused on world health, helping the United States government address animal health.

Salman’s numerous recognitions to date include a Fulbright Scholarship in 1991, the American Humane Association’s Waco F. Childers award in 1998, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Administrative Award for Animal Health in 2007 and the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Twelfth International Veterinary Congress Award in 2007.

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