| Dr. Sophia Ramlal is 2014's Veterinarian of the Year |
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| Dr. Sophia Ramlal (R) receives the Veterinarian of the Year award from JVMA President Dr. Kevin Walker |
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| December 14, 2014
Dr. Sophia Ramlal, long serving JVMA member and former Executive member (including Treasurer, Vice-President) received a very pleasant surprise at the Association's December General Meeting at the Knutford Court Hotel when she was bestowed with the award of Veterinarian of the Year 2014. She was recognized specifically for her hard work and dedication as Chairperson of the Jamaica Veterinary Board's Continuing Education Assessment Committee (CEAC) in the implementation of the Board's CE requirements for veterinarians registered to practice in Jamaica during the current year.
The Veterinarian of the Year plaque and a trophy were presented by JVMA President Dr. Kevin Walker. The Citation was read by Dr. Robert Thomas, Executive member and Immediate Past President of the Association. Click HERE to read the Citation.
The meeting was hosted by the Veterinary Services Division of the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries with the central feature being a presesntation by Dr. Ikolyn Ricketts and Mrs. Claudette Phipps to senisitize the veterinary community on the recently launched National Animal Identification & Traceability System (NAITS) (see related story on this page). Dr. Paul Cadogan also gave a presentation on One Health and the recently implemented One Health One Caribbean One Love programme and Leadership Series in which he is one of Jamaica's representatives (see related story on this page).
Members were able to submit their CE documents to the CEAC in preparation for renewal of practising licenses in January 2015. A brief but useful discussion of Matters Arising from the previous general meeting and New Business followed.
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| Dr. Patrick Craig completes PhD at University of Liverpool |
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| Dr. Patrick Craig with his Thesis: The effects of the abortifacient parasite, Neospora caninum on bovine foetuses in early and late gestation. |
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| September 27, 2014
Jamaican veterinarian Dr. Patrick Craig has successfully defended his thesis on "the effects of the abortifacient parasite, Neospora caninum on bovine foetuses in early and late gestation" at the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom.
Dr. Craig, a 2009 graduate of the People's Friendship University of Russia (PFUR) in Moscow, Russia, was one of five recipients of the 2010 Commonwealth Scholarship and chose the University of Liverpool as the institution at which he would pursue his dream of becoming a pathologist. "My goal since year 3 of vet school was to be a pathologist, because I simply fell in love with it and I think I was just good at the thing. I was initially given the Royal Veterinary College in London to read for the PhD, but then I found out that one of the best pathologists in the country was at Liverpool, so I turned down RVC and applied for UoL."
It was a tough road - four years of hard work, long hours and determination - which led to this moment of triumph and satisfaction for Dr. Craig. "I sacrificed all my time (play and rest time) to make sure that my work would be exceptional. I even got to present it to the rest of the world at an international conference in Perth, Australia and all the great Prof. and Doctors were well pleased to see a piece of work with a different approach. I successfully defended my thesis August 29th, 2014 after a gruelling 4 hour exam. My examiners praised the thesis for its uniqueness and that gave me the extra confidence that I can now work independently and produce meaningful results of the highest quality. The final step on this journey is simply to collect the piece of paper in the December graduation, as life as a PhD student is no more."
Though life as a PhD student is now a thing of the past, Dr. Craig has his sights set on further achievements and intends to work towards Board Certification by the European College of Veterinary Pathology.
Congratulations Patrick from all your Jamaican colleagues and friends!
PLEASE CLICK HERE for information on Neospora caninum.
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| L-R: Dr. Emanuele Ricci, neuropathologist, Liverpool (internal examiner), Prof. Diana Williams, Veterinary Parasitologist (supervisor), Dr. Patrick Craig (candidate) Damer Blake, Molecular Parasitologist, Royal Veterinary College (external examiner) |
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DR. DAVID McKENZIE IS TUSKEGEE'S NEW VETERINARY MEDICAL TEACHING HOSPITAL DIRECTOR
Jamaican-born Dr. David McKenzie has been appointed as the new Director of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Tuskegee University located in Alabama in the United States. Dr. McKenzie, a Tuskegee alumnus, is also an associate professor of large animal medicine and surgery in the Department of Clinical Sciences there.
Read more below:
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| Dr. David McKenzie |
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In an article in the April 2014 issue of the magazine DVM 360, he is quoted as saying “I am passionate about teaching and mentoring students and am honoured to serve as the new Director of the VMTH. I hope to help continue to move the teaching hospital forward to make sure our students are well trained to compete globally upon their completion of the veterinary medical curriculum here at Tuskegee University.”
Dr. McKenzie graduated with his DVM in 1990 and his post-graduate qualifications include a Masters in Veterinary Science (1996), a Masters in Public Health specializing in Epidemiology and International Health (University of Alabama- Birmingham, 2004) and a Doctorate in Health Education (UAB, 2012). He is Board-certified in large animal internal medicine by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and has a special interest in international veterinary medicine, serving in a number of capacities pertaining to international veterinary graduates. He has always maintained close ties with the Jamaican veterinary community, including membership in the Jamaica Veterinary Medical Association.
He hails from Kingston and is the son of Dr. Keith McKenzie, a paediatrician who was among Jamaica's first paediatric cardiologists and was originally from Grange Hill, Westmoreland, and his late wife Norma who was from Highgate, St. Mary.
Many Jamaican veterinarians, both home and abroad, are Tuskegee alumni and the entire veterinary community shares in their pride at Dr. McKenzie’s achievement. The JVMA salutes Dr. David McKenzie and wishes him all success in his major role in shaping and guiding the development of veterinarians of the future.
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| Veterinarians of the Year 2013: Left, Dr. Rayon Gregory, right Dr. Sarah Wilkinson-Eytle. JVMA President Dr. Robert Thomas looks on. |
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| Awards Presented at JVMA Christmas General Meeting
The JVMA's December General Meeting was held on Sunday December 8, 2013 at the Mona Visitors' Lodge on the campus of the University of the West Indies. Apart from the normal discussion of current issues pertinent to the veterinary profession in Jamaica, the meeting featured a series of awards to members in recognition of their services to the Association and profession.
The second awarding of the title "Veterinarian of the Year" this time was shared by two veterinarians - Dr. Sarah Wilkinson-Eytle and Dr. Rayon Gregory in recognition of their work throughout the year in the planning and execution of World Veterinary Day activities in April and the very successful Small Ruminant Workshop held in August.
Two senior veterinarians were called to the JVMA's Honour Roll for their tireless services to the Association and profession over the years - Dr. George Grant and Dr. Grace McDonnough Lyon. Each presented the other with their awards and gave a short acceptance speech - each looking at the past, but charging the new generation of veterinarians to take care of the future. In particular, Dr. Grant called for the advancement of the One Health concept in Jamaica.
Drs. Cliff Bradford, Sasha Halsall, Wintorph Marsden and Sophie Ramlal were awarded Certificates of Appreciation for their contributions during the year.
Prize baskets for the awardees were donated by sponsor Lasco Distributors, represented by Mr. Leabert Rowe.
Members welcomed Dr. Kerriel Green, recent graduate from the Federal University of Parana, Brazil who had just passed the local Veterinary Board examination and was awaiting registration. It was a historic occasion in that she is the first graduate of a South American veterinary institution to be registered in Jamaica.
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| New Honour Roll Members: Left, Dr. Grace McDonnough Lyon, right, Dr. George Grant |
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| Dr. Kerriel Green (right) says hello to her new colleagues as Dr. Robert Thomas (left) looks on |
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| Dr. Keith Amiel (left) wears his award medal posing with Dr. Audrie McNab at a Caribbean Broilers Group function held in his honour. |
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Dr. Keith Amiel awarded Order of Distinction – Commander Class
October 21, 2013
Jamaican veterinarians are once again looking on with pride as another of our own has received an award of recognition – this time a National Honour.
Dr. Donald Keith Amiel was bestowed with the Order of Distinction, Commander Class (CD) by Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen at the National Honours and Awards ceremony at Kings House. The awards are held annually on Jamaica’s Heroes’ Day public holiday. Dr. Amiel was recognized for his dedicated service in the field of Agriculture.
Dr. Amiel studied Veterinary Medicine at the University of London in the United Kingdom and as a young veterinary officer with the Veterinary Division of the Ministry of Agriculture in the 1970’s he began making his mark on the Agricultural sector and, after moving on to the private sector, has continued to do so to this day with dedication and vision beyond compare.
He is a former President of the JVMA and was called to the Association’s Honour Roll in 2006.
Jamaican veterinarians invite our colleagues and friends from around the Caribbean region and the world beyond to join us in congratulating Dr. Amiel on his well-deserved National recognition!
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Dr. Wintorph Marsden awarded Prime Minister's Medal of Appreciation
August 1, 2013: Dr. Wintorph "Winty" Marsden, Senior Veterinary Officer at the Veterinary Services Division of the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries has received the Prime Minister's Medal of Appreciation for Service to Jamaica in recognition of his work in the field of Agriculture.
Dr. Marsden began working with the Ministry of Agriculture in the early 1980's as a technician in the Artificial Insemination laboratory at the Bodles Research Station in St. Catherine. He then attended the REPAHA programme in Guyana , becoming an Animal Health Assistant in 1986. After several years working in St. Catherine, he went on to study veterinary medicine at the Kharkov Zooveterinary Institute in Russia, graduating in 1995.
He is currently the Commonwealth Veterinary Association Representative on the Executive of the JVMA.
The Medal was presented at a ceremony at the Jamaica Pegasus on July 31, 2013.
The JVMA offers heartiest congratulations to Dr. Marsden!
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| Dr. Suzan McLennon-Miguel: Civil Servant of the Year 2011 |
| Dr. Suzan McLennon-Miguel, Veterinary Specialist in the Veterinary Epidemiology, Public Health & Food Safety unit at the Veterinary Services Division of the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries is the Jamaica Civil Service Association's Civil Servant of the Year 2011!
Dr. Mclennon-Miguel, affectionately known as Doc Sue, first entered the service as an Animal Health Assistant in 1989. She later studied Veterinary Medicine at the University of the West Indies School of Veterinary Medicine, St. Augustine, Trinidad, graduating in 2002 and went on to complete a Masters degree in Public Health. Doc Sue has worked tirelessly in the promotion of food safety and for the establishment of protocols for the management of cases of screwworm infestation in humans.
THE JVMA IS PROUD OF OUR DOC SUE!
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Click HERE to read about Doc Sue's "Happy Room" project for children in Jamaica's hospitals.
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Former JVMA President now with United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization
Kingston: June 13, 2009
Dr. Cedric Lazarus, former Senior Veterinary Officer in the Veterinary Services Division and JVMA President from 2002 to 2004, has been appointed Regional Livestock Development Officer by the United Nations' Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO). He is stationed in Barbados and will now be overseeing FAO livestock projects throughout the region which will include coming home to Jamaica on a regular basis.
Dr. Lazarus migrated to Canada in 2004 mid-way through his third term as JVMA President and worked with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). He returned briefly to the region - again Barbados - during the height of the 2007 H5N1 Avian Influenza epizootic to help coordinate regional preparedness. Since his appointment by the FAO in March 2009, he has already been in Jamaica overseeing the start-up of an FAO-sponsored evaluation of the state of our cattle industry - past, present and future.
The Jamaica Veterinary Medical Association yet again notes with pride the achievements of another member and congratulates Dr. Lazarus on his appointment. we can all look forward to seeing him more often and working more closely with him in the coming months, particularly as we begin preparations for the 26th Biennial Caribbean Veterinary Conference which we will be hosting next year.
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Dr. Paul Cadogan
Secretary
JVMA |
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Writer's Credit: Unless otherwise stated, all articles on this page are written by Dr. Paul Cadogan.
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