New members for key WSAVA Committees also announced
Dr Nalinika Obeyesekere, a veterinarian from Sri Lanka and WSAVA Award winner, has joined the Executive Board of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA). Dr Obeyesekere co-founded the first multi-veterinarian companion animal veterinary practice in Sri Lanka – Pet Vet Clinic – and is also a co-founder of the Society of Companion Animal Practitioners of Sri Lanka (SCAP). She is CEO of the Blue Paw Trust, an animal welfare charity in Sri Lanka and, in 2018, received the inaugural WSAVA Award for Companion Animal Welfare in recognition of her work to raise standards of veterinary care in the country. She has been appointed to the WSAVA Executive Board for a one-year term under a by-law which states that the Executive Board may appoint an additional Board Member. Dr Obeyesekere will represent the Asia-Oceania region.
Two of the WSAVA’s Clinical Committees have also appointed new members:
The Therapeutic Guidelines Group (TGG) works to ensure best practice for the selection and use of veterinary medicines, including their quality, availability and responsible use in companion animals. It does this with the participation of WSAVA members and stakeholders under the concept of One Health. It is co-chaired by Dr Paulo Steagall and Dr Luca Guardabassi. The new members of the TGG are:
- Dr Fergus Allerton, UK. Dr Allerton is a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Medicine and works at Willows Referral Service. He is chairman of the Small Animal Medicine Society and a member of the European Network for Optimization of Veterinary Antimicrobial Treatment
- Dr Pawel Beczkowski, Hong Kong. Dr Beczkowski is a European Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine. He is Assistant Dean, Director of Veterinary Affairs and Clinical Associate Professor at the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, at the City University of Hong Kong
- Dr Jennifer Granick, USA. Dr Granick is associate professor of small animal internal medicine at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. She is also Co-director of the Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship Initiative at the University of Minnesota and the Companion Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network. She serves on the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Committee on Antimicrobials
- Dr Ana Martins Mateus, Belgium. Dr Mateus is a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Public Health and has joined the TGG to represent the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). Dr Mateus is Scientific Coordinator at the Antimicrobial Resistance and Veterinary Products department at the WOAH.
The WSAVA Global Pain Council works to raise standards for the management of pain around the world and recently launched a set of updated WSAVA Global Guidelines. It has appointed the following new members:
- Professor Adetola Rasheed Ajadi, Nigeria. Dr Ajadi is consultant surgeon and radiologist at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. He is also head of Veterinary Surgery and Theriogenology and a member of the International Veterinary Radiology Association; Osteoarthritis Research Society International; the Small Animal Veterinary Association of Nigeria and the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association.
- Dr Conny Mosley, Canada. Dr Mosley is a boarded veterinary anesthesiologist. She is a veterinary consultant for orthopedic health and pain for Elanco Canada and consults on chronic pain cases. She is certified in acupuncture and is the founding director of the Canadian Association of Veterinary Cannabinoid Medicine
- Dr Nameeta Nadkarni, India. Dr Nadkarni is one of a handful of veterinarians practising laparoscopy in India and a regular lecturer on minimally invasive surgery. She practices as a freelance veterinary surgeon and content writer
- Dr Mike Petty, USA. Dr Petty has worked in private practice for his entire career with a special interest the prevention of pain. A past-president of the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management, he is certified in acupuncture, rehabilitation therapy and pain management.
WSAVA President Dr Ellen van Nierop said: “Dr Obeyesekere’s passion for raising standards of veterinary care and her knowledge and experience of working in Asia make her an outstanding addition to our Executive Board, which now includes members from every region of the world. We welcome her and the new members of the Therapeutics Guidelines Group and Global Pain Council. We also thank them for the contribution they will make to the profession globally during their term.”
The WSAVA represents more than 200,000 veterinarians worldwide through its 115 member associations and works to enhance standards of clinical care for companion animals. Its core activities include the development of WSAVA Global Guidelines in key areas of veterinary practice, including pain management, nutrition and vaccination, together with lobbying on important issues affecting companion animal care worldwide. WSAVA World Congress brings together globally respected experts to offer cutting edge thinking on all aspects of companion animal veterinary care.
WSAVA World Congress 2023 will take place in Lisbon, Portugal, from 27-29 September.
Note to editors:
The WSAVA Executive Board comprises:
- Dr Ellen van Nierop, President
- Dr Jim Berry, Vice President
- Dr Siraya Chunekamrai, Past President
- Dr Oscar Umaña, Treasurer
- Dr Jerzy Gawor, Member
- Dr Felisbina Queiroga, Member
- Dr Nalinika Obeyesekere, Member
The Therapeutic Guidelines Group comprises:
- Dr Luca Guardabassi (Co-chair)
- Dr Paulo Steagall (Co-chair)
- Dr Fergus Allerton
- Dr Pawel Beczkowski
- Dr Jennifer Granick
- Dr Elzo Kannekens
- Dr Andreja Kastelic Hrcek
- Dr Stephen Page
- Dr Ludovic Pelligand
- Dr Stephen Page
- Dr J Scott Weese
The Global Pain Council comprises:
- Dr Bea Monteiro (Chair)
- Dr Adetola Rasheed Ajadi
- Dr Conny Mosley
- Dr Jo Murrell
- Dr Nameeta Nadkarni
- Dr Mike Petty
- Dr Sheilah Robertson
Congratulations to all!