Celebrating World Vet Day: Spotlight on EPIC's Veterinarians

As we celebrate World Vet Day, it's a perfect opportunity to shine a spotlight on the incredible work being done by veterinarians around the globe. In particular, we want to highlight the diverse roles that veterinarians can pursue, both within and outside of traditional clinical practice. Today, we'll introduce you to three exceptional vets who are making a significant impact in the field of animal health, particularly within the realm of epidemiology, population health, and infectious disease control, through their contributions to EPIC Scotland.

On this World Vet Day, let's celebrate the dedication and expertise of veterinarians like Dr. Katie Adam, Dr. Maria Costa, and Professor Lisa Boden. Their tireless efforts in epidemiology, population health, and infectious disease control are vital to safeguarding animal welfare and public health. As we honor their contributions, let's also recognize the broader community of veterinarians worldwide who work tirelessly to ensure the well-being of animals and humans alike. Happy World Vet Day!

Let's start with Dr. Katie Adam. As a Lecturer in the Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems at the University of Edinburgh, Katie's expertise spans various fields, including veterinary practice, epidemiology, and public health. Her research extends internationally to projects in Norway, Tanzania, and Malawi, focusing on innovative strategies to prevent infectious diseases in both animals and humans.
Within EPIC, she serves as a Knowledge Broker and co-leads Challenge 1. Her expertise lies in translating complex scientific evidence into actionable insights for animal disease preparedness and outbreak response. As a liaison between policymakers and EPIC scientists, Katie ensures the delivery of high-quality advice and fosters collaboration across diverse disciplines.
In her role, Dr. Adam plays a central role in coordinating research efforts, ensuring that outputs are tailored to meet the needs of policymakers and stakeholders.

Next up is Dr. Maria Costa who began her journey in veterinary science at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal. Her master's thesis ignited her passion for pig welfare and epidemiology. With experience from renowned institutions like Teagasc in Ireland and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in Spain, she earned her PhD in Animal Production.
As a veterinarian committed to bridging the gap between research and industry, Dr. Costa leads the charge in advancing the pig livestock sector at EPIC Her expertise involves utilizing existing datasets and innovative methods to pioneer new approaches in veterinary surveillance. With a focus on detecting and mitigating threats from animal and zoonotic diseases, Maria's projects aim to leverage meat inspection results for surveillance and craft customized control strategies for the pig industries across Scotland and the wider United Kingdom.

Finally, with a background in veterinary epidemiology and a Master of Laws in Medical Law and Ethics, Professor Lisa Boden. As a UK (RCVS) and European veterinary specialist, she serves as the Head of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, holding a Personal Chair and the position of Professor of Population Medicine and Veterinary Public Health Policy at the University of Edinburgh. Concurrently, Professor Boden is a Co-Director of EPIC (Scottish Government’s Centre for Expertise in Animal Disease Outbreaks), where she leads EPIC's policy and Impact efforts, providing swift access to emergency scientific advice and analyses for policymakers. Her extensive research portfolio encompasses translating and communicating science for effective policy, contingency planning, emergency outbreak response and management, risk assessment and communication, as well as horizon scanning and scenario planning to enhance long-term resilience against disease outbreaks.