Volunteer, VETS Program
Dr. Douglas is an almost retired large animal veterinarian working in Navan, Ontario. He's been "retiring" for four years, so as he says, "I guess I’m not very good at it". Dr. Douglas has been in practice for 42 years, married for 42 years, and has two daughters and five grandchildren. He loves to eat sausages and will order any meal with sausage in it.
“After 42 years and now being practically retired, I thought it was a good time to give something back to the agricultural community. I have travelled to other countries previously and found it rewarding when providing information to livestock owners. When I was presented with this opportunity to volunteer with Veterinarians Without Borders, I felt that I have worthwhile information to share from my years of experience. I hope to be an asset to the Wakulima partner in Kenya.” - Dr. Douglas
Help animals and communities in need. Donate to Veterinarians Without Borders North America.
#VETSVolunteerVoices aims to bring you the stories of our passionate VETS program volunteers from the field. Meet Ian Parfitt, a GIS Mapping Advisor who spent three months in Cambodia (January–April 2025) supporting organic agriculture and digital transformation with our local partner, AVSF Cambodia.
Megan Sylka, Senior Program Officer at VWB, shares how her recent visit to Kenya revealed the powerful ripple effects of the VETS program—highlighting how Community One Health Champion Shelmith Mwai is transforming her dairy farm, her family dynamics, and her community through knowledge, leadership, and collaboration.
This article examines how a One Health approach can transform food safety systems by addressing the interconnected health of people, animals, and the environment—highlighting the importance of cross-sector collaboration, innovations like Canada’s CFSIN, and global strategies to mitigate risks such as antimicrobial resistance, climate change, and zoonotic disease.
