Dr. Catherine R. Belanger is on the board of directors with Veterinarians Without Borders North America/Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Amérique du Nord Canada.
Catherine is a veterinarian who graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2019. After graduation, she spent time in a small animal emergency practice as well as the Meat Hygiene division of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. She has experience volunteering in both local and international veterinary outreach programs.
Currently, she is a PhD student in the Department of Population Medicine at the University of Guelph, where she is receiving training in veterinary epidemiology, zoonosis, and One Health. She concurrently works as a student epidemiologist in the Foodborne Disease and AMR Surveillance Division of the Public Health Agency of Canada.
This article examines the vital role of veterinarians in immunization and disease prevention, highlighting how VWB’s One Health approach — through vaccination campaigns, CAHW training, and real-time disease surveillance — protects public health, supports farmer livelihoods, and strengthens animal health systems in vulnerable communities.
In remote areas, like the far North, dog bites are more prevalent. This Dog Bite Prevention Week, we're raising awareness about how reading dog body language and improving access to veterinary care can reduce bites—and prevent the spread of diseases like rabies.
This blog examines the critical role of animal health in Myanmar’s earthquake response, highlighting the interconnected impacts on people, animals, and livelihoods. It outlines the rationale for a One Health approach and details how VWB is responding through a coordinated, two-phase intervention.
