Vroegindewey Leads Study Presented at WOAH

LMU-Richard A. Gillespie College of Veterinary Medicine (LMU-CVM) faculty member Dr. Gary Vroegindewey played a pivotal role in the recent World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) Platform Action Plans’ bridging workshop on Disaster Management and Risk Reduction (DMRR) held in Lisbon, Portugal. Vroegindewey serves as director of LMU-CVM One Health and the Center for Animal and Human Health in Appalachia (CAHA).

The workshop, January 17-18, aimed at ensuring continuity with the pilot project conducted in the Balkans from 2018 to 2021, meticulously examined the challenges and achievements of WOAH members involved in addressing animal welfare issues during natural disasters. The focus was on developing contingency plans and standard operating procedures to bolster the capacity of member nations to effectively manage such crises.

Twenty-nine representatives from 14 WOAH member countries participated in the event, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, North Macedonia, Greece, Kosovo1, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, France, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and Morocco.

Vroegindewey is lead author on the critical topic of “Developing and Testing Protocols and Standard Operating Procedures.” This presentation was followed by a practical exercise where participants from National Veterinary Services utilized a customized template developed by the WOAH to craft protocols for emergency scenarios. Co-authors were Dr. Dalla Villa, Dr. Karen Gruszynski and Dr. Daniel Handler were also co-authors.

Vroegindewey led the survey assessing WOAH members' capacity to address animal welfare emergencies during natural disasters in Europe. The results of this survey, published in Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, were shared with workshop attendees, enriching the collective knowledge base and fostering collaboration in disaster preparedness and response efforts.

Vroegindewey's contributions underscore the commitment of LMU-CVM to advancing global initiatives in animal health and welfare, particularly in the realm of disaster management and risk reduction.

WOAH is an intergovernmental organization responsible for improving animal health worldwide. WOAH sets international standards for animal health and welfare, promotes collaboration among member countries, and provides scientific expertise and guidance to address global challenges in animal health and veterinary public health.

Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in liberal arts and professional studies. The LMU-Richard A. Gillespie College of Veterinary Medicine is located on LMU’s main campus in Harrogate, Tennessee, with additional academic facilities in nearby Lee County, Virginia. LMU-CVM is an integral part of the University’s medical programs and provides real-world, community-based education in a collaborative learning environment. For more information about LMU-CVM, call 1.800.325.0900, ext. 6600 or visit us online at vetmed.LMUnet.edu.