Meet Devon Dublin, DVM, Member of the WSAVA Therapeutics Guidelines Group
Could you introduce yourself briefly to our members?
I am a Guyanese-born, Cuban-trained veterinarian with postgraduate qualifications in marine science and environmental science from Hokkaido University in Japan.
You’re currently working as program advisor for global education leadership at Hokkaido University of Education, Japan. Could you tell us what this involves?
The Japanese government through the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, runs a proactive program to ensure that all students are exposed to international experience through activities such as exchange programs, collaborative research and volunteerism. My role is primarily to facilitate this.
Dr Devon Dublin
You have a particular interest in marine medicine and were president of the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association (WAVMA) in 2019. What inspired your interest in this type of work?
Quite frankly I did not have a particular love for aquatics which channelled me in that direction. As a matter of fact, my thesis research at veterinary college was in sheep. I opted to enter into aquatic veterinary medicine because I recognized the deficiency in Guyana and I endeavoured to be a pioneer in the field. Subsequently other Guyanese veterinarians have followed in my footsteps.
You’re a member of the WSAVA’s Therapeutic Guidelines Group. Why do you think its work is important?
I think everyone agrees that proper stewardship by those in the profession who handle pharmaceuticals and other types of products is important to ensure that the animals we treat receive optimal care and that issues such as antimicrobial resistance are addressed. There have been multiple efforts globally to deal with this. The aspect of the work of the TGG that, I think, is of great importance is the fact that it is dealing with these issues in a global context. It is working to provide materials and guidelines that can be used in any country, thus narrowing the gap between developed and developing countries and providing a ‘go to’ platform for countries that may not have adequate checks and balances in place. This, I think, is the most noble work of the TGG.
Dr Dublin carrying out a sample collection at an aquaculture farm in Japan
You also have a strong interest in One Health. This year’s pandemic has been a reminder of the interconnection between human, animals and the environment. Do you feel that this is becoming more widely understood?
As veterinarians, we are perhaps more aware of the importance of the environment than human doctors. I think this is so because animals interact in a more direct way with their surroundings than humans, who have over the years insulated themselves through clothing and housing. The pandemic has brought to the fore the importance of One Health, since the virus may have initially moved from animals to humans. The successful curbing of the transmission of the virus is also strongly linked to the way we interact with our physical surroundings. I still believe that we have a lot more work to do to make people more aware of the importance of a One Health approach and perhaps we can piggyback on the pandemic to get the message out.
You’ve lived and worked in some very different countries – Guyana, Cuba and Japan – perhaps others? What have you learned from living in such a diverse range of countries and cultures?
This is true. I’ve lived in these three countries and visited more than 60 others. I enjoy traveling, meeting people and enjoying different cultures. I have learnt that people are fundamentally the same wherever they may be, regardless of their religious and cultural beliefs. Love is a common language understood by all.
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Could you tell us something about you that may surprise us?
I am a Scrabble enthusiast and a day never passes without me playing a game, learning a new word or doing some kind of mental exercise that would sharpen my skills. The unusual thing I guess is that I consider this as exercise.