The University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine Honors Two Graduates with 2025 Alumni Achievement Awards

The University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) has announced that two distinguished graduates received two of the School’s highest honors, the Alumni Award of Merit and the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. The awards are given annually to recognize alumni who are leaders in their fields and who embody the mission and values of Penn Vet. This year’s recipients were honored at the School’s annual Alumni and Reunion Weekend celebration held on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus in Philadelphia.

The 2025 award recipients are Dr. Carla Chieffo, V’86, GR’97, and Dr. David Chico, V’93. Chico delivered remarks at Monday’s commencement ceremony and presented V’25 with their class flag. Chieffo will deliver remarks at V’27’s White Coat Ceremony in the fall, marking their milestone transition from the classroom to the clinic.

“Throughout their careers, Drs. Chieffo and Chico have contributed substantially to science and public service, important goals of the veterinary profession,” said the Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of Veterinary Medicine, Andrew M. Hoffman, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM. “They represent the best of the School’s alumni, and they are role models for all who aspire to have an impact on the world in which we live.”

2025 Alumni Award of Merit: Dr. Carla Chieffo

The Alumni Award of Merit recognizes alumni who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and service to Penn Vet, excellence in the veterinary profession, and community engagement.

Dr. Chieffo earned her BS in Animal Production Sciences and her MS in Veterinary Science from the Pennsylvania State University. After receiving her Veterinariae Medicinae Doctoris (VMD)degree,Chieffo entered private practice before returning to Penn Vet to complete her residency in medical genetics, pediatrics and reproduction. Upon completion of her residency, she went on to earn her PhD in Pathobiology from the University of Pennsylvania. Chieffo spent 20 years in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors with roles at Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Endo Pharmaceuticals, and Janssen Pharmaceutics, leading medical and clinical sciences in early-stage drug development. She left industry to work in the nonprofit sector as a community-focused veterinarian and is now President of the Board of Directors of The Spayed Club Veterinary Clinic, a non-profit that provides affordable veterinary care to companion animals. Chieffo is a long-time advocate of veterinary education, serving in a variety of School volunteer leadership roles for almost four decades. She is the founding member of the Gambia Goat Dairy, now Fair Farms Gambia, a demonstration and research farm in West Africa that promotes circular food systems, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. Chieffo is the author of several published scientific articles and has presented at scientific meetings throughout her career. She has also been active within her community as a volunteer, taking on a variety of leadership roles.

2025 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award: Dr. David Chico

The Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award honors alumni who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and service to the veterinary profession.

Dr. Chico earned his BS in Toxicology from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (now Saint Joseph’s University) and his MPH in Epidemiology from the University of Albany. He is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and serves as Assistant State Veterinarian in the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYDAM).

In addition to his current and former roles at the NYDAM, Chico’s three-decade career as a veterinarian is marked by a profound and sustained commitment to advancing animal health and welfare on multiple fronts. Chico served as President of the National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs, a national network of state animal and agricultural emergency programs that advocates and prepares for animal and agricultural emergencies. In 2008, Chico founded a free pet wellness clinic in partnership with Albany Damien Center’s Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) program to provide veterinary care to low-income, HIV/AIDS pet owners. He has participated in international animal aid and humanitarian efforts during the 2013 aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. In 2016, volunteering with Animals Lebanon, Chico rendered care in Beirut, Lebanon during the Syrian refugee crisis; and in 2022, he assisted Ukrainians and their pets fleeing war at the Medyka Border Crossing in Przemysl, Poland. Chico was awarded the 2018 American Humane Hero Veterinarian Award, defining a career not only of technical excellence but of enduring social responsibility and global impact.

“This year’s Alumni Award recipients exemplify the brilliance and passion that define our veterinary profession,” said Penn Vet Alumni Board President Lindsay Shreiber, V’91. “Dr. Chieffo’s and Dr. Chico’s dedication to service and curiosity are not just values of Penn Vet, they are a source of pride and inspiration. Celebrating their incredible accomplishments alongside our vibrant community was a joyful tribute to the impact we can make together.”