WSAVA appoints first chief learning and development officer
From top left: Dr Jennifer Granick; Dr Fergus Allerton; Dr Heather Bacon; Debbie Gray.
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has appointed its first chief learning and development officer (CLDO) to lead the organisation’s work providing continuing education resources to its members.
Debbie Gray, who qualified as a veterinary nurse in the UK before moving into the education sector, has taken up the role. She holds a Diploma in Leadership and Operational Management and is studying for a Master’s in Business Administration.
The global veterinary association also announced the appointment of new chairs to two of its clinical committees.
Dr Heather Bacon is the new chair of the WSAVA Animal Wellness and Welfare Committee, which aims to make animal welfare a routine consideration for small animal veterinary professionals. She is dean of the school of veterinary medicine at the University of Central Lancashire and was awarded an OBE in 2021 for services to veterinary education and animal welfare.
Dr Fergus Allerton and Dr Jennifer Granick have been appointed as co-chairs of the WSAVA Therapeutics Guidelines Group. The committee works to improve access to veterinary medicines around the world and reduce inappropriate antimicrobial use.
Dr Allerton is a practising veterinary surgeon at a small animal referral centre in the UK and Dr Granick is an associate professor of small animal internal medicine at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, USA
WSAVA president Dr Ellen van Nierop said: “We’re delighted to welcome our new CLDO, Debbie Gray. She’ll help us harness new technologies and the latest learning approaches to ensure we deliver an exceptional educational experience to our members and equip them with the clinical and non-clinical skills they need to build rewarding careers and engage effectively with their colleagues and clients.
“We’re also delighted to welcome our new committee chairs and look forward to working with them towards our goals of setting global standards of care for companion animal practice and campaigning for change on key issues affecting our members, such as the inequity in access to veterinary medicines around the world.”
Images © WSAVA
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
