IVSA Journal 2016-2017

European Accreditation - be part of the visition teams!

Report on IVSA symposium in Raleigh, USA

pg. 10

pg. 14

MEET THE EXCO!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Find out who has been working tirelesly this year to benefit IVSA wherever possible

Check out these amazing itnernational events that are happening all year round!

pg. 18

pg. 28

COMMITTEES & GROUPS

IVSA AT THE WHA

Learn more about what IVSA's committees and groups do and who they are!

3 students attend the 70th World Health Assembly on behalf of IVSA. Read about their experience!

IVSA | PAGE 2

IVSA | PAGE 2

CONTENTS

editor's note Dear readers, First off, I want to say that I am very happy to say that this will be my first IVSA Journal in my time as Public Relations Officer. I want to thank everyone who helped me put my ideas in the doing.

IVSA | PAGEÂ 3

The purpose of this journal is to give you a glimpse of what is happening behind the scenes among our committees, to present some reports of what we've been doing, to recognize and present our partners and sponsors

as well as highlight some of our IVSA members who have been working hard for the betterment of IVSA. We also introduce you to our new IVSA team that was elected during the 65th IVSA congress in in Vienna, Austria.

We hope that you will enjoy this first issue and be more excited about things yet to come!

Kerstin Abraham PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER 2016-2017

Be part of the world If you’re reading this, chances are that you are member of IVSA through your university. You might be regular member or you might be a part of your local board or even an IVSA Officer of IVSA global. However, that does not mean that you are fully up to date with all that IVSA does. So let’s dive in!

Background

IVSA | PAGE 4

IVSA was founded in 1953 - which probably makes us older than your parents - and is run by and for veterinary students around the world.

Back then, the organization did not differ too much from what it is today but it had a lot less members. The main vision of IVSA is to benefit the animals and humans of the world, by trying to raise the overall standard of veterinary education worldwide for example.

Nowadays, IVSA has over 30.000 members in more than 100 universities worldwide. Each university - or country - represents a local Member Organization (MO). MOs can join together in a country to form a national MO, like IVSA Germany for example.

All MOs have a voice in IVSA which they can express during the General Assembly (GA). The GA is a giant member meeting where all important decisions about IVSA are made. They are held in the summer during the annual IVSA congress and in the winter during the IVSA symposium.

Check out what congresses and symposia are coming up later in this journal!

So the GA is held twice a year, what about decisions that need to be made

- the world of IVSA in between them? That is what the Executive Committee (ExCo) is for.

ExCo is the body that runs IVSA on a daily basis. They make smaller decisions and execute the decisions made by the GA. Later on we’ll talk more about the ExCo.

Structure

IVSA | PAGE 5

ExCo is part of the IVSA Officials consisting of eight (8) Secreraties (who assist the ExCo), the Chairs of the working groups and committees and the five (5) Trustees ( previous ExCo Officers or Secretaries that advise the ExCo) in addition to the ExCo. Who decides how all these part are incoorporated in IVSA? There is a set of rules - or laws - that define IVSA and its’ actions. They are called the ‘Constitution’ and the ‘Bylaws’. Besides these rules, there are also a set of guidelines that can help you understand the GA, how to organize an event and much more. All these documents can be found at wiki.ivsa.org

The IVSA Officials are important within IVSA of course but the local MOs and the members are actually IVSA’s most important part. The members are the one whose opinions need to be heard and who can help spread knowledge and experiences. The MOs can organize different project and events for different purposes. For example; to support IVSA’s mission, to share knowledge, to fundraise, to create connections between vet students or to just relax.

Group photo of some of our IVSA Officials

If you’d like to get more involved, please reach out to your local MO or if you’d like more help with how to make your MO more active, please contact the Member Organization Director (MOD) at mod@ivsa.org !

ExCo

IVSA | PAGE 6

The ExCo officers consist of eight (8) students that fully commit for one year to put in an effort to fulfill their duties and help the organization grow and improve.

Find out more about them later on in this journal (Meet The ExCo). Each ExCo officer has a specific task, which you can read all about in the Constitution and Bylaws at wiki.ivsa.org Together they try to make the organization grow by setting up new international projects, connecting and maintaining relationships with international veterinary associations, voicing the opinion of veterinary students and creating as many opportunities for veterinary students worldwide. A few of these associations are described in various articles in this journal. IVSA is actually represented at a lot of international events and often get the opportunity to voice the opinion of students worldwide.

Committees IVSA has a few committees and working groups that set up projects and offer resources dedicated to a specific topic. These groups consist of a Chair, elected at the IVSA congress and members from all over the world.

Some are smaller, with only 4 members, others are bigger, with around 10 members. The current committees are:

Animal Welfare Committee Standing Committees on One Health Veterinary Education Wellness Working Groups on Alumni Policies Ad Hoc Committee on Paid Positions Find out more about these committees and groups later on in the journal!

Development Fund The Development Fund was created in 1981 to help achieve IVSA’s vision. The DF offers support to veterinary school in developing countries. This support comes in the form of books, equipment, services, materials or financial contributions. Over the last few years, the DF has delivered books to several countries in Africa as well as Bangladesh, laptops to Nepal, helped rebuild a clinic destroyed by the typhoon in the Phillipines and an anesthetic machine to a university clinic in Uganda.

Where does the DF get its’ money from? The income depends on donations, either financial or of

materials/equipment, and fund raising activities. These fund raising activities are held locally and globally The Membership Fee Fund (MFF) was created in 2015 to help MOs that struggle to afford the annual fee. MOs can apply and every year MOs are selected to receive the MMF. By doing this, IVSA is hoping to reach ALL students worldwide and not just the more wealthy students. For more information on these funds and more, contact developmentfund@ivsa.org

IVSA | PAGE 7

Congress & Syposium Every year, a country hosts the IVSA congress in the summer and another country hosts the IVSA symposium in the winter. During these events, members from MOs all over the world come together for one to two weeks (symposium is shorter than congress). The itinerary is filled with lectures, workshops, social activities, sight seeing and of course GAs. It’s an amazing opportunity to share thoughts with students from all over the world and to experience veterinary medicine in another country. Once you’ve attended your first congress or symposium, it’ll be hard to stay away! I challenge you to try it out yourself.

This is only a tip of the ice berg! For more info on IVSA and all it does, visit the website and like the Facebook Page to stay updated!!

TH

66 IVSA Symposium ~South Africa~ THE BIG FIVE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE Companion animals. Equines.

Production animals.

Wildlife.

Humans.

Experience ten full days of South African adventures.

We wish to showcase the diverse nature of the field of veterinary science in South Africa.

With a program that ranges from real-life animal interactions to world-renowned speakers from a variety of different veterinary fields, you will leave here feeling in awe.

MEET THIS YEAR's Dear family, It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the first edition of our IVSA Journal this year! The Chief Editor (Kerstin) and the editorial team has gone through great lengths to ensure that this journal looks the way it does now, so make sure to thank and congratulate them when you see them! Throughout this journal, you will be able to read about what our committees have been up to (and get acquainted with some new ones!), get to know some of our new Officials, and read about what some of our family members around the world have been up to recently!

As you flip through the pages of this booklet (whether physical or vitual), do remember that this is a journal chronicling our family, so as much as it might seem to be irrelevant, it's about you too! So rejoice, share in the successes of our siblings and learn from our faults too.

Throughout the year, there will be more of these journals, and if you feel passionate about them and want to contribute in any way, do contact the Editor at publicrelations@ivsa.org and I am confident that she would be so thankful for that!

IVSA | PAGEÂ 10

Most importantly, have fun! Enjoy reading this journal (as I have) and have a very pleasant day, my lovely family!

Malcolm Chong President 2016-2017

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Malcolm Chong President

Denise van Eekelen Secretary General

Lara Scherer Committee Coordinator

Ivan Kotze Treasurer

Vera Gonzalez External Relations Officer

Andrei Ungur Development Aid Director

Ondrej Vitula IVSA | PAGEÂ 11

Member Organization Director

Kerstin Abraham Public Relations Coordinator

Still fresh and armed with brand new

information during the lectures that focussed

resolutions for 2017 did almost 100

on different topics delivered by local

international students arrived in Raleigh,

professors as well as nationally and

North Caroline in the USA on the 1st of

internationally renowned speakers. The SGA

January 2017. These students had come

was very insightful due to the amazing

together for the annual IVSA Symposium.

collaboration with and speakers of the AVMA. Scientific topics were addressed as

The symposium was originally going to be

well as diversity and wellness in the

held in Istanbul, Turkey but sadly the

veterinary profession which is not something

Organizing Committee had to cancel the

all delegates get to experience through the

symposium due to safety issues and an

curriculum in their vet school back home.

unstable political situation at that time. The

On top of these lectures, the delegates also

Student American Veterinary Medical

got to enjoy several workshops and an

Association (SAVMA) very impressively

excursion to the North Carolina Aquarium.

IVSA | PAGE 12

offered to host the symposium and very successfully organized this events in less than

Of course, it’s important to also get a taste of

6 months! However, this symposium was no

the American culture as an international

ordinary symposium due to the last minute

student. To enable this, the Organizing

changes and is therefore called the ‘Special

Committee organized some social activities

General Assembly’ (SGA)

such as the performance of a bluegrass band, enjoying the ‘Roller Rink’ and a Tailgate

The SGA lasted for a full week with the delegates departing on the 8th of January.

The delegates were showered with

dinner at the university.

But, we must not forget what the symposium was organized for: the General Assembly (GA) during which important decisions about the association are made. This years’ symposium GA included presentations on the activities of IVSA and its committees and working groups as well as some partner presentations (such as the AVMA and the WVA - see later in this journal). However,

For mo re info rmatio check n, out the event calend ar and articles regard ing the se eve later in nts this jou rnal!

other important parts included the elections for the host of the 67th IVSA congress in 2018 as well as the new IVSA President for

After this eventful week, all delegates

2017-2018 and several bylaw amendments.

returned home with their heads filled with new knowledge and their hearts filled with new friendships. This SGA will be an unforgettable experience for all students present and we hope it will move them to attend more IVSA congresses and symposia.

Did you miss it? You couldn’t attend the SGA in Raleigh, North Carolina or the congress in Malaysia? Fear not! The next IVSA symposium will be held in South Africa in December 2017 and the next IVSA congress will be held in July/August 2018 in Krakow, Poland.

THE MOST IMPORTANT CHANGES/DECISIONS MADE WERE: IVSA Krakow, Poland will host the 67th IVSA congress in the summer of 2018

IVSA | PAGE 13

Ondrej Vitula from Brno, Czech Republic, will become the IVSA President for the term 2017-2018 The constitution was officially amended so that it now states that IVSA has a registered office in Brussels, Belgium. This was great news after several years of contemplating the move

UPCOMING EVENTS

AUG 27th-31st

SEPT 12th-14th

SEPT

IVSA | PAGEÂ 14

25th-28th

NOV 23th-27th

33rd World Veterinary Congress Incheon, South Korea Lectures with all tracks & all continents represented

WAVMA Annual Conference 2017 Tirgu Mures, Romania Learn all there is on Aquatic Veterinary Medicine

42nd WSAVA World Congress Copenhagen, Denmark An amazing congress with world-renowned speakers

7th World Healthcare Student Symp.

Kigali, Rwanda Join medical, pharmacy, physical therapy and dental students for this unique symposium!

YOU DON'T WANNA MISS SAVMA Symposium 2018 Philadelphia, USA The biggest annual event for students in the USA!

BSAVA Congress 2018 Birmingham, United Kingdom One of the biggest European congresses for Small Animals

World Health Assembly 2018 Geneva, Switzerland

IVSA | PAGEÂ 15

The impressive General Assembly of the WHO!!

AVMA Convention 2018 Denver, USA Great lectures and the biggest exhibition hall you'll ever see!

MAR 15th-17th

APR 5th-8th

MAY to be confirmed

JUL 13th-17th

Learn more about European accreditation by EAEVE IVSA has a partnership with the ‘European Association

EAEVE

of Establishments for Veterinary Education’ (EAEVE).

As a result of this partnership, IVSA has the opportunity to nominate IVSA members to be part of the visitation teams that visit Veterinary Faculties all over Europe for their evaluation and accreditation process. This way, IVSA can help ensure that students’ opinions are always involved in the accreditation and evaluation of their veterinary schools.

EAEVE is an association founded in 1988 consisting of its’ members: European Faculties, Schools and Universities involved in teaching and research in veterinary medicine and science. The vision of EAEVE is to be the official accreditation authority for veterinary education establishments and with this maintaining and developing high quality level veterinary education. In addition to that, EAEVE wants to reinforce cooperation between member establishments and act as a forum for discussion in order to improve and harmonize veterinary education.

Check out their website for all their projects & statements!

One of the many things EAEVE does is run an evaluation and accreditation system for the veterinary schools – IVSA | PAGE 16

called the European System for Evaluation of Veterinary Training (ESEVT). And what is better than including us – students – in this process?

WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU!

WHEN & HOW CAN YOU APPLY? If you are interested in being a part of an ESEVT visitation team, you can apply by e-mailing the Secretary General (secretarygeneral@ivsa.org).

Your email should: Have the subject ‘EAEVE Visitation Team_Your Name_Your country’.

Have the following documents attached A copy of your passport Your CV (in English) A filled in and signed application form - can be found on the website (maximum of 2 pages) Motivation letter of maximum 1 page.

IVSA is gathering applications all year round, which will be send to EAEVE two-three times a year for approval. The Secretary General will inform you of the next step after you have submitted your application.

But how does it all work then?

Why should you apply?

If you become an approved nominee, you can

This is an amazing opportunity for final year

be contacted by EAEVE to join an ESEVT

students or recent graduates to be involved

Visitation Team for evaluation of one specific

with education and international policy and

European veterinary faculty at a certain time.

governance. You will learn what quality assurance is and experience different

Your travels will be arranged and funded

teaching methods and curriculums. It will

by EAEVE. As student representative, one of

offer you an insight in the international

your jobs will be to evaluate what the student

veterinary profession from an educational

experience is like in this school. You have to

point of view. How often will you get this

spend time getting to know the students and

chance?!

IVSA | PAGE 17

understand their issues and experiences. You get to report back to EAEVE how the

Final year students as well as recent

students feel and think about their education.

graduates (max. of 12 months after

Of course, there will be help from EAEVE in

graduation) can apply to be part of a

preparing yourself. You will be send a set of

visitation team. Ideally you have been active

documents (i.e. self-assessment report of the

within your faculty (i.e. committees, student

Faculty) you’ll have to read through before

boards, student representative), your Level

the visitation starts and you’ll have to do the

of English is between Upper Intermediate and

E-learning course for ESEVT experts on

Advanced and experience with quality

education and accreditation.

assurance is a great bonus (not a must).

I V

IVSA | PAGE 18

STANDING COMMITTEES

S A

IVSA | PAGE 19

WORKING GROUPS

Veterinary Education

BY THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON VETERINARY EDUCATION Â SCOVE The IVSA Standing Committee on Veterinary

completed. Points will be earned by SCoVE

Education (SCoVE) is a committed to

Ambassadors, in which winners will be chosen

improving veterinary education worldwide.

to attend conferences for free and obtain a

Some past and current projects of SCoVE

financial honorarium. The SCoVE

include:

Ambassadors are planned to open in Malaysia Congress this year.

WIKIVET LIVE To celebrate the 10 year anniversary of

SCOVE WORKSHOPS

WikiVet, an online 24 hour International

We have been working on several workshops

Conference for the global audience of vet

that should be made available to the IVSA

students with access to world leading

MOs for them to host at their local MOs. We

educators will be hosted by Wikivet and

currently have 2 One Health Workshops for

IVSA. The topics are student driven, lectures

two age group completed. These will be

are interactive, and the video resources will

presented at the Congress, and will hopefully

be made available for all students after the

gain traction in the spread of One Health and

conference! SCoVE is involved in the

the veterinary profession.

IVSA | PAGEÂ 20

Organizing Board and is helping to include student input and planning of the conference.

POSITION STATEMENT

SCOVE AMBASSADOR NETWORK

In collaboration with WGP, SCoVE has

For the past year, we have been working

shelter medicine into the veterinary

diligently on the opening of the SCoVE

curriculum. It has garnered support from two

Ambassadors. A lot of work has gone into the

global organizations. The position statement

detailed planning on the administration and

will be presented at the Congress, in hopes to

communication with oursponsor, Vetstream,

raise awareness on the issue as well as to

with detailed manuals and a website

garner support from veterinary students.

written a position statement on including

Policy Papers

BY THE WOKRING GROUP ON POLICIES

WGP

The Working Group on Policies (WGP) helps

We are also developing an up-to-date report

take the opinions of IVSA as a whole and

on antimicrobial resistance worldwide and a

conveys them through written position

paper written in conjunction with several

statements and policy papers. The team

European student medical organizations on

members of the WGP work together to draft,

One Health.

edit, and publish these documents to provide meaningful records for the support of

The WGP offers a variety of experience to

excellent veterinary education, improved

make a tangible difference in the veterinary

animal welfare, and to highlight the IVSA

field. Students from all over the world work

viewpoint on current, and sometimes

together to publish policies and position

controversial, topics. The WGP also interacts

statements that could influence the future of

closely with ExCo and the other committees to

veterinary medicine, animal welfare, and One

provide editing advice on a variety of written

Health endeavors as a whole.

documents and contracts.

IVSA | PAGE 21

MEMBERS OF WGP

TOPICS OF PROJECTS

Mélissa De Lombaert (Chair) Publications Team: Joseph Lunt, Kim Joshua Parchamento, John Griffioen, Yuvraj Panth and Jessica Cremer;

wildlife conservation in southern Africa

and recently, two new volunteer authors: Brooke Barber and Chelsea Van Thof.

mental wellness in the veterinary profession.

improving shelter medicine education in universities

One Health

BY THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON ONE HEALTH The Standing Committee on One Health

SCOH

works on realizing projects that connect

LOPVPO EVENT

veterinary medicine with other health

The "LoVPHo Event" took place for the first

professionals. This interdsciplinary approach

time this April. The Local Veterinary Public

is necessary to eliminate many well known

Health Officiers were asked to join in a

global diseases and health problems. IVSA

weekly event to raise the awareness on the

made a statement creating this committee

impact global warming and globalization has

that the Internarional Veterinary Student

on diseases and energing diseases. This way

Organization recognizes the importance of

we wanted to show how globally IVSA is set

this collaborative approach.

up and what influence we can have.

Hopefully this event will be continued next

Each year SCOH joins in global campaogns

year with a different focus point. After all it is

such as Stop TB day, AMR week or World

a great way to connect the LoVPHos.

Rabies Day. At the same time SCOH is developing it's own projects.

The members of the committee have their

IVSA | PAGE 22

own responsibilities and can put a lot of their

STOP TB - DAY

own ideas and creativity into their work and

We called out for an article challenge to our

projects. Chair of the committee is Clara

member organizations to take part in the Stop

Buxbaum, her members are Caroline Bulstra,

Tuberculosis Day campaign. A variety of

Gavin Gan, Katherine Tumbuli, Breeanne

articles and other writings were sent to us of

Bebermann and Zuzanna Mojzisová.

which we chose two winners. The winning articles were also sent out witg the Stop TB

SOME OF OUR PROJECTS

organozation's monthly newsletter.

Paid Positions

BY THEÂ AD HOC COMMITTEE ON PAID POSITIONS The Ad Hoc Committee on IVSA Paid

This past year, the ad hoc committee

Positions was established during 65th IVSA

prepared a call for applicants and the

congress in Austria to assist the IVSA ExCo

contract for someone to be hired. They also

and IVSA membership at large in the process

outlined the potential responsibilities of this

of establishing the first paid position in IVSA,

paid position. The framework has been

facilitating the hiring process, and providing

arranged for IVSA to begin the hiring

support to the individual hired during its first

process once the time is right.

few months of work. The idea of this paid position surfaced within ExCo as a possible solution to the overwhelming work it is to run such an organization as IVSA as well as to provide some long-term stability to the association. Several other associations similar to ours also have such a position.

MEMBERS OF WGP

IVSA | PAGEÂ 23

AHCPP

Brain Jochems (Chair) from the USA Aqil Jeenah from South Africa Kiki Streng from the Netherlands

Alumni

BY THEÂ WORKING GROUP ON ALUMNI

WGA

The working group on Alumni is currently organized as a working group because IVSA just started their alumni network. This years committee is consisting of 4 members, Arvid Cardinaels from Belgium is the Chair and Joseph Lunt, Ann-Kathrin Autz and Charlotte Watkins are the members of this committee.

The main goal is to establish an IVSA Alumni network providing mentors, contacts for internship and the chance for our alumni to stay in contact after graduation.

A big project of the Working Group on Alumni is the organization of alumni events. On one hand they are organizing smaller local events which are mainly to stay in contact and exchange ideas and thoughts (and have some fun...) and on the other hand the goal is to establish 2 main events related to IVSA congress and symposium. Those are more official events that provide a platform for the alumni to discuss about the organization and IVSA | PAGEÂ 24

future of the alumni network and to get in contact with current students (f.e. by giving workshops, joining activities of the regular congress/symposium, attending General Assemblies, etc.)

BECOME AN ALUMNI MEMBER! SEND AN EMAIL TO ALUMNI@IVSA.ORG

Animal Welfare

BY THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON ANIMAL WELFARE SCAW The animal welfare committee is the oldest

and Instagram and encourages students to

committee of IVSA. It aims to promote

comment their own views for an active

awareness and education of current animal

debate. Topics covered include; the ivory

welfare issues affecting animals on both a

trade, issues associated with bracycephalic

local, national and international level and

and pedigree breeds and the use of animals

advocates for better animal welfare

in science amongst many other things.

worldwide through collaboration between veterinary universities. The main goals of the

ANIMAL WELFARE WEEK!

committee is to create partnerships with

Another project done by the committee was

animal welfare organisations, encourage

the ‘Animal Welfare Week’. This was a new

IVSA branches to organise animal welfare

project which was started this year; each

workshop and lectures and publish articles

IVSA branch at the different veterinary

about animal welfare amongst many others.

universities was encouraged to hold events

The chair of the committee is Hilary Antosh

throughout the week 8th-12th May which

and members include Nadine Tod and Megan

educated students on animal welfare issues

Rawlins (publication team) and Maya

and the importance of promoting animal

Cyganska (Regional representative for

welfare. Many IVSA branches were involved

Europe and therefore responsible for

including IVSA Berlin, Munich and RVC and

encouraging European students to take

activities held included talks, practicals and

interest in issues related to animal welfare),

visits to local schools.

IVSA | PAGE 25

Alicia Wee, Lyera and Aimie Lai.

PROJECTS

Various articles have also been produced and

The committee has been working on many

including the topic of climate change and its

projects this year, the main been the ‘Week in

effects on animal welfare.

Welfare’. The publications team write a post each week about current animal welfare topics, these are posted on both Facebook

published in the IVSA SCOH journal;

Wellness

BY THEÂ STANDING COMMITTEE ON WELLNES This year was the first ever year of the Standing Committee on Wellness (SCoW). The committee was formed to raise awareness on mental and physical health isssues in the veterinary profession among students as well as professionals. In addition to this, the committee aims to set up projects that also offer resources and support to help the overall wellness of students and vets.

This year's committee consists of Xavier Canavilhas (Chair), Kelsey Libbe, Robinn Teoh and Emma van Rooijen.

SCOW

MIND OVER MATTER To spread the word on wellness as well as offering resources to vets and students world wide, the committee created the 'Mind over Matter' journal. It contains usefull resources to have a healthier lifestyle, to gain knowledge on the wellness issues in our profession, to hear of other people's experiences and to share your own. Check out the journal here! Want to contribute? Feel free to email the committee!

Being a new committee - the ideas were endless but priorities had to be made! Most projects are still being worked on but here

ACTIVITIES AT EVENTS

are some previews of projects that have

During the last few IVSA congresses and

already been published

symposia, different activities were

IVSA | PAGEÂ 26

organized to raise awareness and to

FACEBOOK

motivate people to organize such

They weekly post on the SCoW Facebook

include 'compliment bags', 'ice-breaking

Post. These post are articles, websites,

exercises', 'relaxercise', 'I-am-also'-

videos, photos or stories, in the hope will

board and lectures and workshops. If

help, inform, support and motivate others

you're interested in learning more about

to pay more attention to their own and

these activities or organizing them, they'd

others' wellness. Check it out here!

be happy to help!

activities in their own universities. These

Interested in joining any of these committees or groups?

YOU'RE IN LUCK! Applications for all the committees and working groups open in September!

Keep an eye out for the 'Call for Applications' on any IVSA | PAGEÂ 27

of the committees' or groups' Facebook Pages as well as the IVSA Facebook Page and website!

IVSA at the 70th - by Caroline Bulstra Standing Committee on One Health (SCOH), Editor Veterinary Public Health Journal 2015-217 Final year vet student at Utrecht University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Utrecht, Netherlands)

IVSA | PAGE 28

This year Sandra Stelzer, Rosie Herrington and me joined the 70th World Health Assembly (WHA) of the WHO to represent IVSA. The WHA is the highest decision-making body of the WHO, held every year in May. During this event, delegations from all UN member states, intergovernmental organizations (other UN organizations and the EU) and non-state actors (like NGOs, pharmaceutical companies and philanthropic organizations or donors to the WHO) get together to determine WHOs policies and strategies on global public health topics. The International Federation for Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) and the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF) are both NGOs in official relations to the WHO, and therefore can take their delegations to the Assembly. This year they took around 50 delegates each, and were kind enough to offer spots for us as IVSA members to join their delegations! I was very lucky to be selected to join the Assembly and would love to share my experiences with you.

What’s discussed at the WHA and why do vet students play a role?

The agenda for the WHA is set at the Executive Board meeting each year in January, and is in line with the WHOs main areas of work: Health systems, promoting health through the life-course, non-communicable disease, communicable diseases and preparedness, surveillance and response.

World Health Assembly Non-communicable diseases, like cardiovascular diseases and obesity, had the highest priority on this years’ agenda. No surprise, since this group causes 70% of all deaths globally each year, and this number continuous to grow.1 For us as future veterinarians, communicable diseases and preparedness, surveillance and response are of most interest. Two-thirds of infectious diseases come from an animal source and it’s our role to stress the importance of veterinarians in tackling these infectious diseases and other global health issues that need a One Health approach.

Antimicrobial Resistance discussed at the WHA

IVSA | PAGE 29

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become one of the biggest threats to global health, due to deathly infections with drug-resistant bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi that are otherwise preventable. Global leaders met at the United Nations General Assembly in New York last year (2016) to commit to fighting antimicrobial resistance together. As the leading global health organization, the WHO takes on her task to further develop an effective approach to tackle AMR, also referred to as the ‘superbug’.

AMR is seen as a One Health issue, since antimicrobials used to treat various infectious diseases in animals may be the same or be similar to those used in humans.2 At the WHA it was mentioned that already many member states recognize the importance of tackling AMR at a human-animalecosystem interface: “Almost all national action plans reflect the One Health approach, with a multisectoral coordination group and actions planned across health, agriculture and other sectors.”

It was very useful to hear about AMR from a

developing global and national action plans

non-vet perspective and to experience how

on tuberculosis and other zoonotic infectious

challenging it can be to get all the different

diseases.

disciplines together for that holistic approach we aim for. We represent the next generation

Take home message for IVSA

of vets who will be tackling this health issue,

Many other topics at the WHA were of great

and therefore it was valuable to be able to

interest of us as future vets, think about

have a small voice at the WHA and talk to

avian influenza and Neglected Zoonotic

health professionals from all over the world

Diseases like rabies and leishmaniasis for

about possible solutions for addressing AMR.

example. After attending the WHA for the

Zoonotic infectious diseases and the WHA: tuberculosis

second time, I realize even more that veterinarians need to recognize their importance in global health and use their full

This biggest infectious disease killer globally

potential to improve both human, animal and

affects 2 billion people and approximately 1.8

environmental health where possible.

million die each year from tuberculosis. At the WHA, an emphasis was placed on multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, which currently

REFERENCES

represent 1 in 3 deaths from AMR. One of the key messages from WHA discussions was that

1. GBD 2015 Risk Factors

at the current rate of decline, TB won’t be

Collaborators. Global, regional, and

ended until 2185, when it is in the 2030 SDG’s.

national comparative risk assessment of 79 behavioural, environmental and

Why should we care, as future veterinarians?

occupational, and metabolic risks or

A 150,000 new cases of tuberculosis a year

clusters of risks, 1990–2015: a

come from animals with just under 15,000

systematic analysis for the Global

deaths a year, and zoonotic tuberculosis

Burden of Disease Study 2015.

pathogens are resistant to the most commonly

Lancet, 2016; 388(10053):1659-1724

used human therapeutics. One of the action plans promoted by Stop TB Partnership,

2 WHO. FAO/OIE/WHO Tripartite

involving the WHO and many global and local

Collaboration on AMR. Accessed July

organizations, is states’ “efforts to tackle TB

2017 Click here !

IVSA | PAGE 30

should also include zoonotic TB, embracing the One Health approach that recognizes

3 Stop TB Partnership. 2015. The

that the health of humans is connected to the

Paradigm Shift 2016-2020: Global

health of animals and the environment”.3 We

Plan to End TB. Accessed July 2017.

need be aware of the role we can play

Click here!

in addressing tuberculosis in both humans and animals and can impart our input in further

IVSA | PAGEÂ 31

WILL YOU JOIN US NEXT YEAR?

The evolution of IVSA As some of you may know, IVSA was

When the contact was made with the old

founded in 1953. Over the years, many things

ExCo members, they were asked a bunch of

have changed but many things stayed the

questions focussing on their careers after

same too. One problem remained: there was

graduation, their memories of IVSA (both

no archive or place that had been tracking

social and serious) and why they would

the history of IVSA.

recommend students to become members.

ALL answered ‘yes’ when asked if they were interested in becoming an Alumni Member. It

In 2013 this all changed when one of the

is interesting to see the diversity in careers

Honorary Life Members: Dr. Dietmar

but the similarity in memories and

Gerstner, lend his old IVSA materials to

experiences. A full article will be published in

Hannah van Velzen and Frederic Lohr. With

a few months.

these materials, they tracked down some names of previous ExCo members and a few

Where does all this information go?

locations of past IVSA events. This year, the

The museum of the University of Utrecht has

Trust took over the project and took it to the

generously offered to archive all IVSA

next step.

related materials. All the materials gathered through the research as well as all the

Every name on the list that Hannah and Fred

materials from the old IVSA Office in

had made, was contacted. And by contacted

Copenhagen, Denmark will be included in this

we mean: stalked on LinkedIn, traced

archive.

through clinics and social media and referred to by friends and family members. This resulted in an overwhelming amount of information and led to a fully finished list of ALL IVSA congress from 1953 up to this years congress in Malaysia. Almost all of the names of the ExCo members from 1970 to IVSA | PAGE 32

2016 have been uncovered and they all have been contacted up to the year 2000. The next few months the Trust will keep working on the project to recover more information and to contact ALL previous ExCo members as well as Secretaries and Trustees.

LET'S D IVE

IN!

from 1953 to now IVSA used to be called IVSU: the International Veterinary Students’ Union. However in 1969 this was changed because of the negativity of the word ‘union’ due to the reputation of trading unions back then The first ever congress in Giessen, Germany in 1953 had 10 countries attending.

The current logo is only the 3rd logo ever used by IVSA. Here you can see the different logos. The one we use now got approved back in 1972

Also in 1972, ExCo members had to travel the word to spread world about IVSA because letters took a full year to be answered. Oh, and Margaret Thatcher wrote the introduction letter for the IVSA winter congress in London.

IVSA | PAGE 33

The first female IVSA President was elected in 1977 !

By 1980 there were still only 17 member countries - but they did have a Latin American IVSA Congress

The biggest issue IVSA ever faced was during the Apartheid when MOs became divided over the membership of IVSA. We are proud to say that IVSA stuck by IVSA South Africa and did not suspend their membership for political reasons. We’re even prouder to say that to this day, IVSA almost never discussing political or religious issues.

IVSA actually did a lot of research on difference between veterinary students, opportunities and education on a global scale. And all MOs participated!

SAVMA joined in 1987 - marking the start of the first Americans on ExCo Spanish almost became the official 2nd language in IVSA. French actually was for a while in the 1970s IVSA Austria and IVSA France used to organize the ‘IVSA Wine Week’ and IVSA Slovenia organized the ‘IVSA Ski Week’... Anyone from Austria, France or Slovenia who wants to pick this up again?

IVSA auctions used to be crazy and include some serious nudeness until they established the “no-blood-no-boob”-rule after the congress in Norway in 2012.

IVSA | PAGE 34

The top 4 countries that have organized the most IVSA congresses or symposia are: UK&Ireland with 9 events Austria with 8 events Germany and Spain both with 7 events France and Poland both with 6 events Malcolm actually is the first ever President from an Asian country

DEVELOPMENT FUND We are responsible for: working to expand

During the current year we managed to raise

the contacts of IVSA in low per capital

a total amount of 4893$ from the auctions

income countries, raising awareness about

and merchandise and 2000$ from a sponsor.

the Development Fund with members of

We selected 2 vet students for the MAH-

relevant third parties, raising funds and

IVSA Scholarships of 1000Euros each and 3

directing the finances of the Development

vet students for the IVSA Scholarships of

Fund, identifying projects the Development

1000 Euros each.

Fund should collaborate with and creating

The current big project is to help the

scholarship grant programs in collaboration

developing of the vet school from Barili

with our sponsors.

Philippines by buying for them: cabinets and

IVSA | PAGEÂ 35

tables for their laboratories, agars and We raise fund especially by organizing

medias for microbiology, glassware for their

auctions at our main events (Congress,

laboratories and we will fund the building of a

Symposium and SAMVA symposium) with the

separate anatomy laboratory so that the

items that are donated by the delegates and

fumes of the formalin will disperse properly.

companies from all over the world. Recently

The Vet schools from Ohio State University

we have started to sell our own merchandise

and from Finland donates vet books in

and make a small profit out of them. Also,

different subjects, such as: anatomy,

sometimes there are companies, IVSA MOs or

anesthesia, avian exotics, drugs standard

people which are good enough to donate

testing, emerging diseases and exotics,

money to our Development Fund or to our

epidemiology, internal medicine, law and

Scholarship Fund.

communication and much more!

Andrei Ungur - this year's DAD - with the beautiful IVSA sweaters!