Submitted by J. Hudson on Fri, 06/06/2025 - 11:38
In April, the Department of Veterinary Medicine welcomed members of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) for the Veterinary Public Health (VPH) and Sustainability Working Group meeting. The two-day event, held across Churchill College and the Department of Veterinary Medicine, included site visits and dynamic discussions focused on the role of vets in tackling global sustainability and public health challenges.
Delegates were hosted on a tour of the Vet School facilities including a visit to the University farm, a tour of the Department’s Post Mortem Room and our teaching facilities. This immersive experience helped provide our European colleagues with a first hand look at the Department's approach to veterinary education and practice.
Notably, this was the first time local veterinary students were invited to take part in the Working Group's discussions. Shreya Patel (4th Year Student in Veterinary Medicine and IVSA representative) and Martha Rushbrooke (6th Year Vet Student, representing Cambridge One Health Society) both joined the sessions and contributed actively to the debate. Their input was widely praised by attendees.
“Shreya and Martha were outstanding,” noted one attendee. “Their analysis, thoughtful comments, and suggestions on how to better communicate the veterinary contribution to wider society were not only insightful but also helped ground the discussion in the future of our profession.”
Reflecting on the experience, Shreya commented: “It was an honour to be invited, as an IVSA Cambridge representative, to the April FVE meeting, which brought together representatives from each of their European member states. As a student who is very involved in climate campaigning, it was great to partake in discussions on how vets can be better prepared for environmental disasters. These interdisciplinary links are often under-discussed amongst the veterinary community, so it was exciting to meet so many engaged and knowledgeable vets with an interest and expertise in these crucial areas.”
We extend a huge thank you to Shreya and Martha for representing the Department of Veterinary Medicine at Cambridge with such clarity, confidence, and professionalism.