Ray Kaplan, a graduate of Virginia Tech and the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, has been named the recipient of the college’s 2026 Lifetime Achievement Alumni Award, according to an announcement on Apr. 22. Kaplan currently serves as senior associate dean at St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine in Grenada.
The award recognizes Kaplan’s decades-long work in veterinary parasitology and his efforts to address drug resistance in parasites affecting livestock and companion animals. This issue is significant for animal health, agriculture, and public safety as drug-resistant parasites threaten food production and pet well-being.
Kaplan began his career working with dairy cows before shifting focus to parasitology during his studies at Virginia Tech. He first encountered anthelmintic resistance when treating goats with drugs that failed to cure their infections: “I was able to be a hero,” Kaplan said. “Pull out the ivermectin and resolve it almost instantaneously.” However, he later realized this was only a temporary solution as parasites adapted quickly: “It was so much worse than anyone had recognized it to be at that point in time,” he said about widespread drug resistance among farm animals.
Throughout his career—including positions at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and University of Georgia—Kaplan built research programs addressing parasite drug resistance across species such as horses, sheep, cattle, poultry, dogs, and more. His research highlighted that veterinarians often missed ongoing infections due to lack of follow-up after treatment: “They’re complex eukaryotic animals share many of the same physiological pathways with mammals,” Kaplan said about why developing new drugs is difficult.
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences contributes to community development by nurturing future leaders through innovations in agriculture, food, and health according to its official website. The college utilizes facilities such as Shenandoah Valley Agricultural Research and Extension Center among others according to its official website. It serves as the land-grant college affiliated with Virginia Tech according to its official website, includes over 350 scientists across numerous extension offices according to its official website, works on practical solutions for agricultural challenges aligned with its land-grant mission according to its official website, and extends initiatives globally according to its official website.
Reflecting on receiving this honor from his alma mater after four decades in veterinary medicine—and just before celebrating his 40th wedding anniversary—Kaplan said: “At 17, I walked onto the Virginia Tech campus for the first time. That experience defined my identity and career.” He added: “To be recognized by my alma mater and my peers is very meaningful to me.”
