OIE/AAVS accepts CVM student in international virtual internship

The Regional Representation for Asia and the Pacific of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE RRAP) accepted Ms. Jehmille Myka V. Federico, a DVM IV student of the College of Veterinary Medicine, for its virtual student internship to support activities of the Asian Association of Veterinary Schools (AAVS). Ms. Federico will work with another student intern from National Taiwan University.

The AAVS is an international organization for veterinary educational institutions in Asia. It was established in 2001 to advance and enhance the education, research, and public services in veterinary science. The said organization approved the membership of the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture-CVM last July 2021. They formally welcomed CBSUA on September 24, 2021 during its 19th General Assembly held virtually. This is the reason veterinary medicine students from CBSUA qualified to apply for the internship program.

The internship program will be held virtually via emails and virtual calls from October 2021 to January 2022. The interns will be supervised by Dr. Hirofumi Kugita, the OIE regional representative of Asia and the Pacific, and OIE technical officers. Some of the responsibilities that the interns need to accomplish include: developing an AAVS newsletter, supporting virtual meetings, and preparing meeting materials and reports under the guidance of OIE officers and the AAVS Secretary-General. The interns may also be involved in other activities such as One Health and control of Transboundary Animal Disease. Since this is the first time OIE and AAVS collaborated for a virtual internship, the organizations hope to make it a standard program in the future.

Dr. Virginia M. Venturina, the President of the Philippine Association of Veterinary Medicine Educators and School (PAVMES) endorsed Ms. Federico to the said internship program.

By: Jehmille Myka V. Federico and Ilene B. Mirabeles