Professor John Pascoe was recently honored with the Vice Chancellor’s Alumni Excellence Award from the University of Queensland at a gala evening in Brisbane. He received his Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Hons) in 1975 from King’s College at the university. The award is given for unwavering commitment to advancing veterinary medical education, the veterinary profession globally, and academic leadership.

Pascoe is an accomplished veterinary surgeon, leader and mentor. He is recognized for developing innovative ways for veterinary students to learn surgical principles. He collaborated with local animal shelters to provide neutering to mitigate over-population and other surgical procedures to increase adoption, and in doing so he assisted shelters financially, increased adoption rates and supported the successful development of community-based surgical rotations for veterinary students.

Pascoe has successfully trained 34 surgical residents, five Ph.D. candidates and four postdoctoral fellows, and guided the surgical training of thousands of veterinary students. Under his leadership at UC Davis,he also served two decades as Editor-in-Chief, guiding the development of Veterinary Surgery, the official journal of the American and European Colleges of Veterinary Surgeons. He has forged paths that have created important roles for veterinarians such as advising governments across the U.S., Asia and Africa. He also facilitated pandemic preparedness and response systems in more than 30 countries.

Pascoe recently received the 2023 Billy E. Hooper Award for Distinguished Service from the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges, recognizing his significant contribution to the veterinary academic medical community at large.

This Q&A appears on the UQ website:

What inspired you to pursue the career path you eventually chose?

"My father was a veterinarian who graduated in the first cohort from UQ in 1951. He had a profound influence on the profession in Australia, especially in equine practice, as well as a long association with UQ. I recall him telling me veterinary medicine was a family. That continues to hold true and was definitely influential in my pursuing a veterinary degree."

What's a surprising or fun fact people wouldn't know about you?

"I was a member of the UQ Kings-Grace players, performing as a London Bobby in Dear Delinquent at the Schonell Theatre in my first year. Acting didn’t (and doesn’t) come naturally to me and I was certainly outside of my comfort zone. It is probably one of the most challenging things I’ve done."

What is your favourite UQ memory?

"My 5 years at Kings College. The opportunity to interact with individuals with varied life experiences, learning over dining hall meals about the disciplines they were studying, and engaging in the social, cultural and sporting interactions we had across the Colleges. I was actively involved in student leadership and particularly with the King’s College Students’ Club, and those formative leadership experiences were certainly foundational in my career development. I was thrilled when Kings eventually went co-ed, because I believe that experience would be even more enriching today than when I was a resident."

Do you have a favourite quote, motto or piece of advice to give to new graduates?

"Embrace diversity, keep an open mind and continue learning."

Congratulations, Dr. Pascoe!