World Veterinary Day, Saturday, April 30 is more than just a day of professional pride. It is a day to discover the unexpected. You expect to find a veterinarian in your local veterinary clinic or hospital but what about a veterinarian in the Department of Homeland Security? Heading the Food and Drug Administration, in the United States Senate, or advancing spinal cord research?

"Veterinarians serve two publics - animals and people," said President of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Bonnie V. Beaver, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVB. "Varied responsibilities such as prevention of bio- and agro-terrorism, maintaining a safe food supply in a global marketplace, transmission of zoonotic diseases are even more important today than ever before."

Sponsored by the World Veterinary Association (WVA), World Veterinary Day is being celebrated around the globe. For the first time ever, the Iraqi Veterinary Medical Association is celebrating World Veterinary Day. They are holding an educational and social meeting designed to promote public health and proper animal management.

"We hope this day will not only provide the general public with a better understanding of our multifaceted activities and responsibilities, but also promote intra-professional fellowship and friendship on local, national, regional or international level," said Dr. Herbert Schneider, President of the WVA. "May World Veterinary Day also reaffirm understanding for each other and the respect for the different cultures and religious beliefs around the world," Dr. Schneider added.

The AVMA represents one of nearly 80 member countries of the World Veterinary Association (WVA). The WVA is the world's oldest international veterinary organization. The WVA works closely with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Organization of Animal Health (OIE), World Health Organizations (WHO), and similar organizations on food safety, antimicrobial resistance, zoonotic diseases and veterinary public health matters. It is the only international veterinary association recognized by the OIE, FAO and WHO.

"The WVA is essential in shaping global and regional policies concerning a variety of veterinary-related areas," explained Dr. Leon Russell, who is seeking to become the first American President of the WVA at the 28th World Veterinary Congress this July.

"Since the global veterinary profession is from diverse economies and cultures, and speaks a variety of languages, we must have a platform to share our needs and objectives - the WVA is that platform," added Dr. Russell.

Presently one of two WVA vice presidents, Dr. Russell is assigned to represent the WVA's World Health Organizations activities that are concerned with a food safety and veterinary drug residues. Dr. Russell attends meetings around the world on subjects ranging from foot-and-mouth disease eradication to protocols for transporting live animals across borders.

The American Veterinary Medical Association represents 72,000 veterinarians with professional interests in companion animal, large animal, food safety, research, industrial, and public health aspects of veterinary medicine.