David Sanchez-Migallon Guzman, a specialist in exotic animal medicine at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), has been honored with the T.J. Lafeber Avian Practitioner of the Year award by the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV). The recognition took place during the 47th Annual AAV Conference & Expo in Austin, Texas, where Ted Lafeber III, DVM, presented the award. This honor is given to veterinarians who demonstrate exemplary clinical excellence and make significant contributions to avian health care.

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Guzman received his Licenciado en Veterinaria from the University of León in Spain in 2002 and furthered his training with internships in avian medicine in the UK and at Tufts University. He earned his Master’s in veterinary medical sciences from Louisiana State University in 2008, where he also completed his residency in zoological medicine. Guzman joined UC Davis in 2010, became a full professor in 2020, and in 2023 was appointed service chief and Messmer Family Presidential Chair in the Companion Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery Service. He has over 200 peer-reviewed publications to his name.

In other developments, UC Davis has appointed Hugues Beaufrere, DVM, PhD, and Michael Ziccardi, DVM, MPVM, PhD, as co-directors of the California Raptor Center (CRC). They succeed Michelle Hawkins, DVM, who retired after a decade of leadership. Beaufrere will manage clinical and rehabilitation operations, focusing on the medical care and welfare of the birds, while Ziccardi will handle administrative and management responsibilities. Together, they will work on strategic planning, fundraising, and public education efforts.

Beaufrere is an associate professor in zoological medicine at UC Davis, with a background in avian medicine. He has previously worked for eight years at the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph. Ziccardi, who leads the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center and the California Veterinary Emergency Team, has extensive experience in wildlife response, having managed numerous oil spill incidents since 1996.