Abstract
The E. P. Pope Memorial Award is presented in memory of Dr. Edward P. Pope who was one of the founders of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) and who served with distinction as its Secretary-Treasurer from 1950 to 1972. The award was established in his honor in 1974. The Pope Award is the highest award given by the Association and is presented to an individual who has made noteworthy and significant contributions to the Association in regard to implementing and advancing the recognition of the specialty of veterinary diagnostic laboratory medicine.
The 2015 E. P. Pope Memorial Award was presented to Dr. Jeremiah (Jerry) Saliki Miller on October 25, 2015 during the 58th Annual Meeting of the AAVLD in Providence, Rhode Island. Dr. Jerry Saliki is a board-certified veterinary virologist, professor of infectious diseases, diagnostician, and Director of the Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Georgia. Dr. Saliki obtained his DVM from the University of Liège, Belgium in 1984. After pursuing a 1-year diploma program in tropical animal health and production at the Institute for Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium he returned to his native Cameroon and served as a research scientist at the Cameroon Institute of Animal Research from 1985 to 1989. From 1989 to 1993, he underwent PhD training at Cornell University, during which he conducted his doctoral research on Peste-des-petits ruminants virus at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center. From 1993 to 2005, he served as Head of the Virology/Serology Section at the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in a tenure track position during which he rose through the academic ranks at Oklahoma State University to full professor in 2005. That same year, he moved to the University of Georgia and served as Head of the Virology/Serology section of the Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, where he has also served as Laboratory Director since 2007. Dr. Saliki’s research interests center on the development of improved diagnostic assays for viral diseases. He has authored or coauthored more than 110 published articles, book chapters, and reviews. In addition to providing diagnostic services for domestic animals and wildlife for nearly 30 years, Dr. Saliki has built a highly reputed marine mammal diagnostic program during the past 18 years.
Dr. Saliki’s noteworthy contributions to the AAVLD and the field of veterinary diagnostic laboratory medicine include in particular his 11-year service as Editor-in-Chief of our flagship publication, the Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation (JVDI) from January 2004 to December 2014. In that role, he is credited with taking the journal from the 20th century to the 21st century, technologically speaking. Notably, he implemented the online submission/peer review process and online publishing of the journal. He also strengthened the peer review process by identifying and appointing editorial board members from across the world, thus building JVDI’s reputation as a top-tier international journal and the main journal dedicated to veterinary diagnostic laboratory medicine. Dr. Saliki has also served on the Serology and Virology Committees of the AAVLD.
Dr. Saliki and his wife Philomène have been blessed with 6 children (3 girls and 3 boys), ages 15 to 33. Outside of his professional activities, Dr. Saliki serves as community organizer and a church deacon. His leisurely activities are walking and hiking. We are honored to present Dr. Saliki with the 2015 E. P. Pope Award in recognition of his exemplary services to the AAVLD, the diagnostic community, and humanity as a whole.
A word from Dr. Saliki
I am highly honored to receive this award, which I gladly accept on behalf of the so many people that have worked in the background and made significant contributions to my professional and community service activities. In particular, I thank my wife Philomène and our 6 children for allowing me to use up so much family time for my other activities. I also thank the dedicated colleagues and staff with whom I have had the pleasure of working at the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and the Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Georgia. The achievements for which I am being recognized were only possible because of the steadfast support and contributions of these and several unnamed groups and people. I heartily thank the AAVLD for this honor.