Valli Fraser-Celin is the Companion Animal Manager with Veterinarians Without Borders North America/Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Amérique du Nord.
Valli joined the VWB team in July 2024. She brings a decade of experience in human-animal relationships, with a focus on companion animals and wildlife. She holds a PhD from the University of Guelph in Geography where she conducted research on human-African wild dog conflict and conservation. Following her PhD, she conducted postdoctoral studies in Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary where she focused on dogs in Indigenous communities, One Health, Reconciliation, and equitable access to veterinary care.
Prior to joining VWB, Valli worked for the Ontario Veterinary College on an access to veterinary care project focused on alternative economies and previously for the Winnipeg Humane Society where she planned veterinary clinics in remote communities across Manitoba. Valli currently lives in Winnipeg (Treaty 1 Territory and the homeland of the Métis Nation), runs a pet food pantry in her spare time, and is passionate about humane dog training.
#VETSVolunteerVoices aims to bring you the stories of our passionate VETS program volunteers from the field. Meet Elise Tessier, an Epidemiology Advisor who spent 10 weeks in Cambodia (March–May 2025) supporting a zoonotic disease risk reduction project with our local partner, AVSF Cambodia.
#VETSVolunteerVoices brings you inspiring stories from the field, showcasing the impactful work of our dedicated VETS program volunteers. Meet Dr. Riley Bauman (DVM), an Animal Health Advisor who spent two months in Kenya (April–June 2025), working alongside smallholder dairy farmers and Meru Dairy staff to promote animal health, gender equity, and sustainable livelihoods.
This article explores the persistent threat of anthrax and the critical need for community-led surveillance in preventing zoonotic outbreaks. It highlights how VWB’s One Health approach—through the COHERS program, CAHW training, and gender-responsive outreach—strengthens local capacity to detect and manage neglected diseases, protecting both human and animal health in vulnerable communities.
