A look at the veterinary practitioner's changing role and One Health

Abstract

This presentation will focus on veterinary medicine in the area of dairy herd health and the concept of One Health. I will first examine how the practice has evolved over time using a model proposed by the late Dr. Calvin Schwabe. I will also examine the current role of the bovine practitioner in ensuring herd health, especially regarding the collection of data for use in decision-making. Finally, I will look at what the future holds for the veterinarian in dairy practice. In general, the practice of veterinary medicine has evolved at different rates in different parts of the world. The tools used by veterinarians and the solutions proposed for medical issues also vary depending on the species and type of animal production. A variety of factors —historic, geopolitical, economic, and social— come together to determine the role of the veterinarian in any given country. The history and evolution of veterinary medicine have been the subject of numerous articles and books, many of which have focused on its relationship to human medicine and civilization. One thinker and researcher who has contributed greatly to our understanding of the evolution of preventive veterinary medicine is Calvin Schwabe. His ideas contributed to the concept of One Health. Dr. Schwabe was a veterinarian and professor at the University of California, where he founded the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, now the Department of Medicine and Epidemiology.