Two true Europeans

Abstract

During the 2017 WSAVA-FECAVA congress in Copenhagen, Dr. Eric Guaguère, received the first Didier Noël Carlotti Award for “outstanding service in the fields of inter-professional communication and/or continuing education for companion animal veterinarians in Europe”. I do think that Didier Noël would have been happy and proud for Eric, his friend for more than 30 years. I know also that Eric was very honoured and touched to receive this award because Didier Noël is still very present in his memory and in his heart; this international recognition of Eric's hard work is not only a tribute to Didier Noël, wherever he is, but also acts to perpetuate his concept of veterinary professionalism. Eric and Didier Noël followed a similar career in France. Eric became, with Didier, one of the leaders in veterinary dermatology from the early 1980s unil now, publishing a lot (even in Nature) and giving hundreds of lectures mostly in French; Eric is not so happy to give lectures in English (but he did regularly) and this was perhaps how he differed from Didier who was fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, …. and able to give lectures easily all over the world. Eric followed Didier Noël as the president of the French Dermatology Study Group (GEDAC) and then as the president of the French Companion Animal Veterinary Association (AFVAC), developing together a real complicity and friendship made of mutual respect. They also were both involved in the creation of the French Certificate in Veterinary Dermatology, and in recognition of the European Colleges in France and specialization. Eric, through AFVAC, is one of the leaders of veterinary medicine in France, and pivotal in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. This has led to international recognition by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and presentation of the World Veterinary Day Award 2017 to the Order of Veterinarians of France on the theme of “Antimicrobial Resistance – from Awareness to Action”. He also was directly involved in the enhancement of the role of companion animal veterinarians in the development of education and prevention in the field of veterinary risk assessment for dangerous dogs in France. As with Didier Noël, Eric is a true European recognizing the need for veterinarians to be part of an international community, with the richness of international exchanges creating links between professional associations from various countries and enhancing cooperation as much as possible. Eric is charismatic and a true leader, with high skills of organization but always keeping his humanity, and keeping in mind the consequences of his decisions. He has a vision of the future of our profession, wishing to increase the importance and quality of our services, to show our involvement in public health, and to emphasize to government the idea that veterinarians are important actors in this new “One Health” concept. Along with all these activities, he also runs a busy clinical practice with specialized consultations in veterinary dermatology together with one of his partners, Arnaud Muller, in the elegant city of Lille, in northern France. Eric is also a very good friend and a devoted father (and grand-father now), loving the arts, theatre, good food and good wine, but …. not sports (two other points of similarity with Didier Noël…). Congratulations, Eric, from the depths of my heart.