News

WORLD VETERINARY ASSOCIATION President-Elect (former American Veterinary Medical Association President) Advocates for One Health

March 28, 2022

March 28, 2022— In a message today to the One Health Initiative team, World Veterinary Association (WVA) President-elect, Dr. John de Jong expressed strong support and advocacy for the One Health concept/approach. President de Jong’s election to WVA was discussed in a March 7th article in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). See comments below:

To my colleagues at the One Health Initiative team,

I am both humbled and honored to have been elected as President-Elect of the World Veterinary Association.

Serving the WVA after also serving as President of the AVMA allows me to share that with two great late friends, Leon Russell and Rene Carlson.

I want you all to know that I am an advocate for One Health. I spoke of it during my entire year as President of the AVMA, as well as before and after. I currently serve as Treasurer of the WSAVA and One Health is integral to what that organization does. I just had my first informal meeting of the WVA Incoming Council and suffice it to say that One Health is one of the cornerstones of the strategic plan. It is also a key element of what the WVA does and there is a session at the Congress later this week on One Health. One need look no further than the WVA new website to see the new president's words, Humans, animals, and environment, One Planet - One Health.

My first exposure to One Health was under Roger Mahr years ago, and I always remind him of that for which I am grateful. Know that I have spoken for years on the importance of One Health and I will continue to do so in my new position.

John de Jong, DVM

PRESIDENT-ELECT