Dr. Michelle Tuma is a Companion Animal Veterinary Specialist at Veterinarians Without Borders North America/Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Amérique du Nord.
Dr. Michelle Tuma was born and raised in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. She graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014 and moved back to her hometown to practice. Since 2015, in addition to working in private practice, Dr. Tuma has partnered with multiple northern animal welfare organizations to offer temporary veterinary clinics in remote Indigenous and Inuit communities across Canada's Arctic. She has been working with Veterinarians Without Borders North America/Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Amérique du Nord to expand their northern reach since 2018.
From coordinating veterinary clinics to supporting future Community Animal Health Workers, Helen Klengenberg's story highlights the importance of local leadership in strengthening animal health across Nunavut. As communities continue to build local capacity, we explore how VWB is working alongside northern partners to improve access to care.
Access to veterinary care looks different in every community. This blog explores how mobile clinics, local veterinary partners, and Community Animal Health Workers help bring care closer to animals and families in Northern Canada, Ukraine, Senegal, and beyond.
In recognition of World Zoonoses Day 2026, this article explores how community-centered One Health approaches can help detect, prevent, and respond to zoonotic diseases before they become global health emergencies.
