University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine dean Mark Stetter welcomed new members of the school's community during the annual Fall Faculty Reception on Oct. 26 and acknowledged those in outgoing and incoming leadership roles. The school also honored faculty members with awards for excellence in teaching and research, including Dr. Mathieu Spriet, who received the 2022 Clinical Excellence Award.
2022 Clinical Excellence Award
Dr. Mathieu Spriet is recognized for clinical excellence in diagnostic imaging. A professor in the Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, Spriet received his DVM from Ecole Nationale Veterinaire de Lyon in Lyon, France and Master's degree from the University of Montreal. He completed his residency in diagnostic imaging through the University of Pennsylvania and has been on faculty at UC Davis since 2007. Spriet currently serves as the Co-Service Chief and Director of Diagnostic Imaging Services in the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. As a member of the leadership team, Spriet is focused on innovation and clinical excellence in diagnostic imaging, bringing novel therapies and recognition to our institution.
Spriet embodies the principles of clinical academic medicine and has contributed to the advancement of clinical care, teaching and science in the VMTH. Spriet is a founding Diplomate of the new Equine Diagnostic Imaging specialty in the American College of Veterinary Radiology. Throughout his time at UC Davis, Spriet has been immersed in the clinic providing superior patient care and teaching. Spriet has long been recognized as a top equine radiologist in both the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging. He speaks frequently in international venues as the founder of equine PET imaging.
Spriet has expanded the field of equine diagnostic imaging by developing and implementing Positron Emission Tomography in both anesthetized and standing horses. This leap in ability to pinpoint areas of injury and inflammation has not been seen since the development of CT and MRI in the late 1990's. His creativity and perseverance in equipping the VMTH with PET and partnership with Santa Anita Racetrack will help to halt the cycle of catastrophic racetrack injuries by detecting them earlier and monitoring their healing.
Spriet is committed to advancing the field of equine diagnostic imaging and training clinicians in this area. He designed a new residency program in equine diagnostic imaging that began in August of 2020 and is one of the first of its kind. He has a relentless spirit for teaching that seeks to distribute knowledge and make it widely accessible.
A colleague writes, "Dr. Spriet has inspired our residents to be curious, investigative, and accurate in their imaging diagnoses while always focusing on the welfare of the patient. He has mentored even small animal radiology residents on award winning equine projects, proving that inspiration and mentorship are not species dependent."
