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
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!