The legacy of Dr. Fredric W. Scott
Honoring the legacy of Dr. Fredric W. Scott, Pioneer of Feline Health and Founder of the Cornell Feline Health Center
The veterinary community and cat lovers around the world are mourning the loss of Dr. Fredric Winthrop Scott, D.V.M. ’62, Ph.D. ’68, professor emeritus and founding director of the Cornell Feline Health Center, who passed away on April 24, 2025. A visionary in feline medicine, Dr. Scott transformed the landscape of veterinary care for cats through decades of groundbreaking research, teaching, and advocacy.
In 1974, Dr. Scott founded the Cornell Feline Health Center, with a mission to improve the lives of cats through research, education, and outreach. Under his 25 years of leadership, the Center became the first institution of its kind in the world, pioneering studies in feline virology, including its seminal work on feline infectious peritonitis, panleukopenia, and respiratory viruses. Dr. Scott’s legacy includes countless contributions to veterinary science, generations of trained veterinarians, and a global community of cat caregivers better equipped to serve their feline companions.
“Fred’s dedication to the animals, students, colleagues, and cat lovers he sought to help was a consistent thread that ran through his life,” said Dr. Bruce Kornreich, current director of the Cornell Feline Health Center. “With his passing, we have lost a true pioneer and a true Cornellian.”
A Life of Learning: Dr. Scott’s Early Career and Academic Journey
Dr. Fredric W. Scott earned both his D.V.M. (1962) and Ph.D. (1968) from Cornell University, where he quickly distinguished himself as a promising researcher in veterinary virology.
Fred joined the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine faculty as a professor of virology in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology. His work, especially on feline panleukopenia (the subject of his doctoral dissertation), marked the beginning of a lifelong commitment to understanding feline diseases. Under the mentorship of Dr. James Gillespie and with support from the college, Fred was part of a collaborative team whose efforts would ultimately lay the foundation for a dedicated center focused on feline health.
A Vision Realized: The Evolution of the Cornell Feline Health Center
Having worked with Gillespie on vaccines for panleukopenia in cats – which had a mortality rate of 50 percent at the time – Scott began to address concerned practitioners. “I was traveling all over the country, and I saw that the whole feline area was just beginning to blossom,” says Scott.
So, when dean Dr. George Poppensiek asked for recommendations on funding programs at the College in 1973, Scott – a member of the General Committee – knew the need for long-term research on cat diseases was clear. Scott believed, though, that funding would be difficult to obtain through the NIH or other large extramural funding agencies. The timing seemed appropriate to launch a comprehensive program to improve the health and well-being of cats, similar to the Research Laboratory for Diseases of Dogs (now the Baker Institute) started by Dr. James Baker in 1951. Its work would be supported by private donations.
In 1974, with strong backing from colleagues and leadership at the college, Dr. Scott established the Cornell Feline Research Laboratory—soon to become the Cornell Feline Health Center (CFHC). As its founding director, Fred led the Center for 25 years, turning it into a hub of excellence in feline medicine.
During his tenure, Dr. Scott oversaw critical advancements, including the development of a diagnostic test for feline coronavirus, an improved understanding of the mechanism of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), highly impactful research into feline leukemia and viral infections, and public education campaigns for cat owners and veterinarians. Scott helped establish CFHC as a trusted global resource.
Mentor, Colleague, Cornellian: Reflections from the Community
To those who knew him, Dr. Scott was more than a scientist—he was a generous mentor, a loyal colleague, and a deeply principled human being. He served in leadership roles in several veterinary organizations and received numerous honors, including the prestigious Daniel Elmer Salmon Award for Distinguished Alumni Service from the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine.
“Fred’s steadfast support of the college, even in retirement, left a lasting mark on the community. His passing is a profound loss not only for feline medicine but also for the broader veterinary profession,” says Lorin D. Warnick, DVM, PhD, Austin O. Hooey Dean of the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine. “During my service as Dean, I’ve been very appreciative of Fred’s consistent support and encouragement for the college. I extend my sincere condolences to Fred’s family, friends, and colleagues around the world.”
A Legacy That Inspires the Next Generation
Dr. Scott’s groundbreaking work in feline virology continues to inspire new generations of researchers—just as he hoped it would. Since 2003, FHC-funded veterinary student scholarships have supported dozens of students with strong interests in feline medicine, while its support of the College’s Leadership Program for Veterinary Students, now the Veterinary Investigation and Leadership Program (VILP), helps to make this guided summer research experience for those who hope to broadly influence the veterinary profession through a science-based career possible.
James Cockey, DVM/PhD student working in the Leifer Lab, focused on unraveling the immune response to feline coronavirus. The research conducted throughout this project builds on the research of Fred Scott and uses one of the same anti-FIPV spike protein monoclonal antibodies developed in Dr. Scott's lab in the early 90s. This continuity of research underscores the long-lasting relevance of Dr. Scott’s scientific contributions and the culture of mentorship he helped cultivate at Cornell.
"Fred built a foundation that allows us to ask better questions—and find better answers—about the diseases that affect cats today," said Dr. Bruce Kornreich. "His legacy lies not just in what he discovered, but in the generation of scientists he continues to inspire."
The Fred Scott Feline Symposium
Among Dr. Scott’s most enduring contributions is the symposium that bears his name. Originally launched as the Feline Practitioners Seminar in the late 1980s, the event was renamed the Fred Scott Feline Symposium in 1997 upon his retirement. The symposium was Fred’s dream: a national gathering that would bring together recognized experts in a variety of feline veterinary medical fields with practicing feline veterinarians for in-depth learning, networking, and celebration of their shared mission.
Now in its 37th year, the Fred Scott Feline Symposium remains a cornerstone of continuing education in feline medicine. Through it, generations of practitioners have come together to exchange knowledge and honor the legacy of the man who believed that every cat—and every cat caregiver—deserves the very best science has to offer.
Looking Ahead: Laying the Groundwork for continued advancement of Feline Health
Though Dr. Fredric Scott’s passing marks the end of an extraordinary chapter, his legacy is very much alive—in the lives of the cats he helped, the veterinarians he mentored, and the institution he built. The Cornell Feline Health Center continues to honor his vision through the support of pioneering research, education, and outreach activities focused on improving feline well-being worldwide. In the past 25 years, the Center has provided over $7 million in support of feline-focused research and programmatic initiatives at the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, and its future looks strong as it continues to pursue and expand its mission in Fred’s honor. In 2024, the Center celebrated its 50th Anniversary and was honored to have Fred participate in the celebrations. Scott attended the anniversary event, where he shared his memories of the evolution of the Center with attendees. He also took part in the production of a video series created to commemorate the establishment of the Center as part of this special celebration.
“Fred laid the foundation for everything we do today,” said Dr. Bruce Kornreich, current director of the Cornell Feline Health Center. “His work set a standard for scientific excellence, compassion, and collaboration. As we look to the future, we do so with gratitude for Fred’s vision—and with determination to continue building on it. His legacy is woven into every breakthrough achieved through the research we support, every student we teach, and every cat we help.”
From its humble beginnings as small research lab through its evolution to the world-renowned institution it has become, the story of the Cornell Feline Health Center is inextricably linked to Fred Scott’s lifelong dedication to science and service. As the Center moves boldly into its next 50 years, Fred’s spirit—humble, tireless, and deeply kind—will remain its guiding light.