2022 Jeff Cohen Service Awardee John H. Parrish, DVM, PhD, DACLAM, LSSBB

The PRIM&R Service Award was created by the PRIM&R Board of Directors in 2021 to recognize individuals who have provided significant timely or timeless service to the human subjects protections or animal care and use communities that are at the core of PRIM&R. That service could be in teaching, mentorship, innovation, leadership, engagement, program improvement, or research. The intention of the award is to recognize the many and varied ways that people can have a significant impact on the field—awardees may be recognized for their long-time commitment or for one-time innovations and projects, whether early in their careers or after a lifetime of service.

Dr. Parrish is the Attending Veterinarian and Director of the Godley Snell Research Center (GSRC) at Clemson University, where he has worked since 2006. He is also the Director of the Office of Animal Resources (OAR) and is responsible for the administration of the GSRC.  

Dr. Parrish’s 41-year career of service to animal care and use began after he earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1981 and entered the US Army. He started his career in medical research at the US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense. After completing his training in Laboratory Animal Medicine (LAM) in 1993, he led the Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine at the Uniformed Services University. Presented with the opportunity to lead the LAM Department at the US Army lab in Bangkok, Thailand, he oversaw a multi-million-dollar animal facility renovation, ensuring all of the military labs were AAALAC accredited. His last job in the military was at the combined Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR)/NMRI. 

Dr. Parrish retired from the Army in 2001 after 20 years of distinguished service, which was recognized by numerous awards, including the Legion of Merit, two Meritorious Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, and three Army Achievement Medals.  

Dr. Parrish has dedicated much of his career to teaching and mentoring. While serving in the Army, he developed a master’s degree program in Lab Animal Medicine for Uniformed Services Veterinarians and directed the WRAIR Lab Animal Residency Training Program. At Clemson, Dr. Parrish is involved in undergraduate and graduate instruction and research in environmental toxicology, bioengineering, agriculture, forestry and environmental conservation, entomology, and biochemistry.  

His leadership goes beyond teaching and mentoring. Under his direction, the Clemson animal care and use program has received multiple commendations during the AAALAC accreditation process recognizing the leadership, engagement, and innovation of both the agriculture and laboratory areas of research and teaching conducted throughout the university. In addition, Dr. Parrish’s vision of enhancing and expanding the capacity for animal research and teaching at Clemson has been instrumental in bringing about technology and infrastructure improvements at its facilities. 

The person who nominated Dr. Parrish expressed gratitude for his lifelong commitment to the ethical care and use of animals in research. Dr. Parrish’s “leadership, mentorship, and teaching to students, faculty, and staff over 41 years has touched and transformed individuals to be the best researchers and educators possible in animal research and to uphold the values of PRIM&R.”