Jolle Kirpensteijn steps down to join Hill's Pet Nutrition

The appointment of Professor Colin Burrows as president of the WSAVA has been brought forward, after outgoing president Jolle Kirpensteijn moved to a new role with Hill's Pet Nutrition, the association's prime sponsor.

British national Colin Burrows is an Emeritus professor at the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine, and former CEO of the North American Veterinary Conference (NAVC).

Prof Burrows was due to take up his position as president in September 2014, but will now serve until the next meeting of the WSAVA's General Assembly in Cape Town on September 15, 2014. He may then be re-elected to serve his full term, which will run till the January 2016 Assembly meeting at NAVC.

Commenting on his appointment, Prof Burrows said: "Jolle has been an active and incredibly effective WSAVA president and will be a very hard act to follow. I hope to continue and enhance his many priorities including the WSAVA's work in One Health and our efforts to eliminate rabies.

"We are also trying to find solutions to many other issues, including the limited availability of medications for companion animals in many parts of the world. This leads to great inconsistencies in the level of treatment which can be provided in key areas such as pain management.

"We must also continue our efforts to enhance our World Congresses and other educational programs with the overall goal of improving veterinary postgraduate education, and by extension, patient care, around the globe."

Jolle Kirpensteijn added: "I have been deeply honoured to serve the WSAVA as its president and to see at first-hand how out members' work is changing the lives of companion animals - and people - around the world.

"We have become a respected, global body, working together to make the world a better place. Stepping down is not easy but the WSAVA has never been stronger and I look forward to continuing to contribute as past president."

Image courtesy of WSAVA