Hester McAllister

Hester McAllister graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (MVB) from UCD in 1975. After graduation, she worked in the Trinity College Dublin Veterinary Hospital for two years.

In 1977, she was appointed as an Assistant Lecturer in UCD, where her career has extended to over 40 years. During her time in UCD, she became an Associate Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Head of Department of Veterinary Surgery and in the latter 5 years she was Clinical Director of the UCD Veterinary Hospital. 

In 1978, Hester attained the Diploma in Veterinary Radiology from the RCVS and in 1994 was appointed as a foundation member of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging and became the first president in 1996.

The International Veterinary Radiology Association appointed her as a Director in 1991, and in 1996 she became the Secretary, a position she held until 2015.

Hester was a co-author of the 3rd, 4th and 5th editions of the successful textbook Veterinary Radiology, written by her long time career mentor Professor J.K Kealy.

In 2002, she received the Douglas and Williamson award for contributions to the discipline from the European Association of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging. In 2018, Hester received the inaugural Peter Suter award for exceptional contribution to the discipline from the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging.