Paul Pion Honored for Lifetime Achievement in Veterinary Informatics
The Association for Veterinary Informatics presented Paul Pion with its Lifetime Achievement Award for transforming veterinary information into clinical wisdom and fostering a community for its sharing.
DAVIS, Calif. – Oct. 1, 2026 – The Association for Veterinary Informatics (AVI) has awarded Paul Pion, cofounder of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN), the 2026 Allen W. Hahn Lifetime Achievement Award in Veterinary Informatics.
The award was presented during the 32nd Annual Talbot Veterinary Informatics Symposium, held virtually on September 24 and 25. Pion was recognized for his 35 years of work in transforming veterinary information into clinical wisdom and building the community that shares it.
Pion cofounded VIN in 1991 as an online service for case consulting and distance learning. It has since grown into a global community where veterinarians can access shared clinical discussions, references, and continuing education. AVI President Brian Hur noted that Pion's efforts have laid the groundwork for how veterinary medicine utilizes clinical data, including the integration of artificial intelligence.
Prior to cofounding VIN, Pion was part of a research team at the University of California, Davis, that identified taurine deficiency as the cause of feline dilated cardiomyopathy. This discovery led to pet food reformulations and a significant reduction in the disease's prevalence.