{"id":1588,"date":"2026-06-07T20:14:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T01:14:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lafeber.com\/staging\/vet\/?p=1588"},"modified":"2026-06-11T13:18:35","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T18:18:35","slug":"nominations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/nominations\/","title":{"rendered":"Call for Nominations:  TJ Lafeber Avian Practitioner of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/login.lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Alexandrine-parakeet-Veterinarian-Examining-in-Clinic-Closeup-Canva-Africa-Images.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-82103\" src=\"https:\/\/login.lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Alexandrine-parakeet-Veterinarian-Examining-in-Clinic-Closeup-Canva-Africa-Images.png\" alt=\"Alexandrine parakeet Africa Images \" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Alexandrine-parakeet-Veterinarian-Examining-in-Clinic-Closeup-Canva-Africa-Images.png 1000w, https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Alexandrine-parakeet-Veterinarian-Examining-in-Clinic-Closeup-Canva-Africa-Images-400x225.png 400w, https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Alexandrine-parakeet-Veterinarian-Examining-in-Clinic-Closeup-Canva-Africa-Images-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Alexandrine-parakeet-Veterinarian-Examining-in-Clinic-Closeup-Canva-Africa-Images-700x394.png 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><small>Photo:\u00a0 Africa Images<\/small><\/p>\n<h2>Call for nominations<\/h2>\n<p>Nominations are now open for the 2026 <a href=\"http:\/\/lafeber.com\/t-j-lafeber-avian-practitioner-of-the-year\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">T.J. Lafeber Avian Practitioner of the Year<\/a>. The independent Award Committee will select finalists this summer and the Awardee will be announced at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aav.org\/BlankCustom.asp?page=2026conference\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">47th Annual Conference of the Association of Avian Veterinarians<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_79150\" style=\"width: 216px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/login.lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Julia-Ponder-executive-director-at-TRC.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-79150\" class=\"wp-image-79150 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/login.lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Julia-Ponder-executive-director-at-TRC.png\" alt=\"Julia Ponder\" width=\"206\" height=\"309\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-79150\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><small><em>Shown here<\/em>, Dr. Julia Ponder, the 2025 T.J. Lafeber Avian Practitioner of the Year<\/small><\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.surveymonkey.com\/r\/Avian-Award-2026\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-82108\" src=\"https:\/\/login.lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Nominate-Today-BLUE-button-400x128.png\" alt=\"Nominate Today button blue\" width=\"275\" height=\"88\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Nominate-Today-BLUE-button-400x128.png 400w, https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Nominate-Today-BLUE-button-768x246.png 768w, https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Nominate-Today-BLUE-button-700x224.png 700w, https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Nominate-Today-BLUE-button.png 997w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 275px) 100vw, 275px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Deadline:\u00a0 July 17, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">11:59 pm CDT (Chicago) (UTC -5)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Award criteria<\/h2>\n<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/lafeber.com\/t-j-lafeber-avian-practitioner-of-the-year\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">T.J. Lafeber Avian Practitioner of the Year<\/a> is an outstanding practitioner that has advanced the quality of health care for companion and\/or free-ranging birds. This Award is given annually, or at the committee&#8217;s discretion, to a veterinarian that is c<span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">urrently active in the field of avian medicine, either in clinical practice or academia<\/span>. Important criteria for this Award include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Clinical excellence<\/li>\n<li>Innovation<\/li>\n<li>Promotion of the profession<\/li>\n<li>Significant contributions to the knowledge base<\/li>\n<li>Caring and compassion to their avian patients and clients<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Share the news<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Download and share a PDF of the <a href=\"https:\/\/login.lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-Award-Call-for-Nominations-Press-Release-Alexandrine.pdf\"><u>companion bird press release<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n<table style=\"border: none; border-collapse: collapse; width: 405px; margin-bottom: 20px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle; padding-right: 6px; border: none; width: 199px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/login.lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-Award-Call-for-Nominations-Press-Release-Alexandrine.pdf\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-82131\" src=\"https:\/\/login.lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Award-press-release-parrot-thumbnail-308x400.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"193\" height=\"250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Award-press-release-parrot-thumbnail-308x400.png 308w, https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Award-press-release-parrot-thumbnail.png 539w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 193px) 100vw, 193px\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle; border: none; width: 200px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/login.lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-Award-Call-for-Nominations-Press-Release-Alexandrine.pdf\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-46814\" src=\"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Download-a-PDF-of-the-Press-Release-button-400x151.png\" alt=\"Download a PDF\" width=\"200\" height=\"75\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Download-a-PDF-of-the-Press-Release-button-400x151.png 400w, https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Download-a-PDF-of-the-Press-Release-button-500x188.png 500w, https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Download-a-PDF-of-the-Press-Release-button.png 709w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Download and share a PDF of the <a href=\"https:\/\/login.lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-Award-Call-for-Nominations-Press-Release-BOP.pdf\"><u>zoo\/wild bird press release<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n<table style=\"border: none; border-collapse: collapse; width: 405px; margin-bottom: 20px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle; padding-right: 6px; border: none; width: 199px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/login.lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-Award-Call-for-Nominations-Press-Release-BOP.pdf\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-82132\" src=\"https:\/\/login.lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Award-press-release-BOP-thumbnail-311x400.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"193\" height=\"248\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Award-press-release-BOP-thumbnail-311x400.png 311w, https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Award-press-release-BOP-thumbnail.png 544w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 193px) 100vw, 193px\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: middle; border: none; width: 200px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/login.lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-Award-Call-for-Nominations-Press-Release-BOP.pdf\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-46814\" src=\"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Download-a-PDF-of-the-Press-Release-button-400x151.png\" alt=\"Download a PDF\" width=\"200\" height=\"75\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Download-a-PDF-of-the-Press-Release-button-400x151.png 400w, https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Download-a-PDF-of-the-Press-Release-button-500x188.png 500w, https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Download-a-PDF-of-the-Press-Release-button.png 709w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Past awardees<\/h2>\n<p>Visit <a href=\"http:\/\/lafeber.com\/t-j-lafeber-avian-practitioner-of-the-year\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Lafeber.com<\/a> for a list of previous Award recipients.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>About T.J. Lafeber<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/our-story\/?v=7516fd43adaa#founder\" rel=\"noopener\">Dr. T.J. Lafeber<\/a> was recognized as a pioneer in companion bird medicine and the human-companion bird bond. His concern for the health and welfare of his avian patients led him to develop medical treatments, diagnostic techniques, and nutritionally balanced foods. Dr. Lafeber\u2019s lectures were infused with his caring demeanor and enthusiasm, inspiring students and veterinarians alike to advance the fledgling field of companion bird medicine. The Caring Hands Award statue (<em>shown below<\/em>) is a bronze cast of Dr. Lafeber\u2019s hands and his most beloved avian patient, the budgerigar.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_41337\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-41337\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-41337\" src=\"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/Caring-Hands-Award-white-background-width-600-400x267.jpg\" alt=\"Caring habds award\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/Caring-Hands-Award-white-background-width-600-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/Caring-Hands-Award-white-background-width-600-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/wp-content\/uploads\/Caring-Hands-Award-white-background-width-600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-41337\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><small>The Caring Hands Award statue statuette\u00a0is a bronze cast of Dr. Lafeber\u2019s hands and his most beloved avian patient, the budgerigar<\/small><\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Did you know?<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The T.J. Lafeber Avian Practitioner of the Year is nominated by their peers. The Awardee is not, and has never been, selected by Lafeber Company.<\/li>\n<li>All nominations are equally weighted. A veterinarian that has received multiple nominations does not have a higher chance of being selected as a finalist by the Award Committee than an individual with a single nomination.<\/li>\n<li>Once nominations close, the Award Committee narrows the field to a list of finalists.<\/li>\n<li>This autonomous committee consists of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aav.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Association of Avian Veterinarians<\/a> members and is led by <a href=\"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/van-zeeland\/\">Yvonne van Zeeland<\/a>, DVM, MVR, PhD, DECZM.<\/li>\n<li>A Lafeber Company Veterinary Consultant, who does not vote on the Award recipient, manages Committee paperwork and scheduling only.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Questions or concerns<\/h2>\n<p>Contact the Award Committee administrator, <a href=\"mailto:cpollock@lafeber.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dr. Christal Pollock<\/a>, with any questions or concerns.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nominations are now open for the 2026 T.J. Lafeber Avian Practitioner of the Year. The T.J. Lafeber Avian Practitioner of the Year Award is given annually, or at the Selection Committee\u2019s discretion, to an outstanding practitioner that has advanced the quality of health care for companion and\/or free-ranging birds. This Award is given annually, or at the committee\u2019s discretion, to a veterinarian that is currently active in the field of avian medicine, either in clinical practice or academia. Important criteria for this award include clinical excellence, innovation, promotion of the profession, significant contributions to the knowledge base, as well as caring and compassion to their patients and clients. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":82109,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[386,366,367],"class_list":["post-1588","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-avian-practitioner-of-the-year","tag-award","tag-nomination","content_types-article","species-avian","contributor-pollock"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Call for Nominations: TJ Lafeber Avian Practitioner of the Year - LafeberVet<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The T.J. 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