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Executive Board Members
Executive Board Report
The International Veterinary Students’ Association (I.V.S.A.) chapter at the University of Illinois was established in 2003, with the broad mission of promoting the international application of veterinary skills, education, and knowledge and to assist students in international career opportunities. Since that time, we have greatly expanded our mission and our membership, increased faculty support, and have established fundraising and scholarship opportunities to promote a more global perspective to veterinary medicine at the University of Illinois. Currently, the curriculum at our College as a whole lacks “internationalization.” Our chapter is attempting to bridge this gap between students and faculty members with international interests and fulfill our aforementioned mission.
This year we will host our third annual "Cultural Night" fundraiser. Cultural Night, which is open to faculty, staff, students, and their families, is an international cook-off contest and wine tasting event with live international music from the Balkans and West Sumatra. Last year, over 90 people attended, and our chapter received donations from numerous local businesses, food stores, and restaurants, as well as a free night’s stay at the local Hawthorn Suites. Through this fundraiser, we were able to raise $300 for the I.V.S.A. Development Fund to support a veterinary school in Fortaleza, Brazil.This year, we are planning a South American-themed event, with a Brazilian Capoeira group performance and tango lessons for all. Proceeds this year will go towards the establishment of a fund for our I.V.S.A. members to do international veterinary work, such as spay/neuter programs, wildlife research, and large animal work.
In addition to our annual fundraiser, we host monthly seminars focusing on international issues in the veterinary field. Recent meeting topics included International Animal Welfare, global health policies on BSE, International Agricultural Practices, and Wildlife Diseases. In the past year, our chapter has had the opportunity to host seminars by Dr. Ruth Newberry, President of the International Society for Applied Ethology, and Dr. Torsten Mörner, Senior Veterinary Officer at the National Veterinary Institute in Uppsala, Sweden, among others. Later this semester, Dr. Martin Wierup, Department Head at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, and Dr. Deoki Tripathy, world-renowned in the study of avian pox viruses, will give presentations to our chapter. With a wide variety of topics on international veterinary medicine, we hope to attract students and faculty members from all walks of life to our seminar series.
Most recently, the “Howard L. Whitmore and Borje K. Gustafsson International Dairy Award” was established at our College. Our chapter will be fortunate enough to be involved in the selection of the award’s yearly recipient. Another scholarship, the “Borje K. Gustafsson International Animal Well Being Award” will be created in the near future, and our chapter will also be directly involved.