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<>Recently appointed Co-chair of the WSAVA’s Therapeutics Guidelines Group
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Could you introduce yourself and your new role to our members?
I’m a small animal medicine clinician working at Willows Veterinary Referrals in the UK. I am interested in everything related to antimicrobial stewardship. I am delighted to be a co-chair of the Therapeutics Guidelines Group (TGG) alongside Dr Jen Granick. Together we hope to increase awareness of AMR among vets globally and encourage an improved approach to medicine (in particular antimicrobial) use and accessibility.
Could you summarize your career to date?
I have been a vet for nearly 20 years. I worked in mixed practice for 6 years before undertaking a medicine residency at the University of Liege in Belgium. I have been at Willows Referrals for the last 10 years and still find clinical work a lot of fun!
What attracted you to getting involved with the WSAVA?
Joining the TGG has been a super opportunity to engage with a global audience and to meet and work with other committee members who are similarly passionate about the issues around AMR in small animal practice.
AMR is a particular focus for the TGG. What spurred your interest in this area of veterinary medicine?
My passion for antimicrobial stewardship developed from an involvement in the 2018 PROTECT ME guidelines. The 2023 version has just been published. Developing these resources has fuelled my interest in AMR while highlighting the differences between idealised and current prescription habits. I have since contributed to the European Network for the Optimisation of Antimicrobial Therapy, to RUMA CAE and am now medicines lead for RCVS Knowledge. All of these positions share similar goals to support vets to optimise their antimicrobial use.
You’re currently conducting some research into this area that WSAVA members could contribute to. Could you explain what you’re doing and how members can help?
The NIFTY PETS project is a discrete choice experiment looking to determine drivers for antimicrobial use in 3 different clinical scenarios. We would appreciate any help recruiting small animal vets to complete this short survey. The more answers we can collect from different countries, the more we can tailor educational resources and clinical trials in the future.
In English : https://niftypets.limequery.com/846886
Spanish: https://niftypets.limequery.com/935575?lang=es
Portuguese: https://niftypets.limequery.com/128247?lang=pt
Japanese: https://niftypets.limequery.com/729214?lang=ja
Chinese: https://niftypets.limequery.com/418483?lang=zh-Hans
Vietnamese: https://niftypets.limequery.com/572932?lang=vi
What are the TGG’s priorities for 2024?
Leftover medicines are sometimes stored for possible future use, which risks adverse effects or thrown away in household waste, which can contribute to environmental pollution and potentiating AMR. In 2024, we will be launching an initiative around the safe disposal of medicines in veterinary practice – in particular antimicrobials. We hope to encourage greater awareness of the importance of safe disposal and learn more about common disposal channels currently used around the world.
What do you enjoy doing outside work?
I am an ex-triathlete and former water polo player but am now more sedentary! My days of exercise have been superseded by supporting the various activities of 4 young daughters.
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