Country: Uganda, Kenya
Position: Animal Health Worker, Dairy Specialist, Field Veterinarian
International Partner: MERU Dairy Co-operative, SNV
Placement Dates: May 2009, February 2017, August 2017
Dr. Laura-Anne Kutryk is a veteran of three VWB/VSF-related volunteer placements. The first, in 2009 when she was a student, was through the Global Vets Program working with the Goat Pass-On Project in Uganda. She did a three-week placement in Kenya in February 2017 where she worked with dairy co-op members to improve the health of their cattle. Her most recent placement saw her return to Uganda for a 4 month assignment designed to improve herd health and management for dairy farmers.
Laura is a graduate of the Western Canada College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon and has completed an advanced program for Dairy Veterinarians at Cornell University. She has practiced in Stettler, Cold Lake, and Bonnyville, Alberta.
#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.
#VETSVolunteerVoices aims to bring you stories of our passionate VETS program volunteers from the field. This blog was written by Guy Audet, a Business Development Advisor who supported our VETS program partner, WIPVaC-Apex, in Ghana from March to May 2025.
