Dr Philip Robinson named the 40th President of the Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine

Posted 22 April 2022

A Harper Adams academic has been named as the 40th President of the Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (SVEPM).

Dr Philip Robinson, Head of the Department of Animal Health, Behaviour and Welfare at the University, took on the role on the closing day of the Society’s recent conference in Belfast. The aim of the Society is to enable professionals to meet and share knowledge to improve the health of animals, humans and the environment.

It was founded in the UK in 1982, but is now an international society with members from around the world,  with this year’s conference drawing over 200 attendees from 26 different countries.

Dr Robinson – who has previously served on the Executive Committee as Honorary Secretary and Junior Vice-President – was particularly pleased to assume his new role when the Society’s conference was being held on his home turf.

He said: “I’m really honoured and delighted to become the President of SVEPM, a Society which has meant so much to me over the almost 20 years that I’ve been a member.

“Being from Northern Ireland, it was particularly special for me to become President in Belfast. As a veterinary epidemiologist I’ve learned so much professionally by attending and participating in the conferences over the years. I’ve also met so many fantastic colleagues also involved in this field of veterinary research and policy making from all parts of the world, and made great friends.”

As President, Dr Robinson hopes to continue to emphasise and promote the role and importance of veterinary epidemiology and preventive medicine in dealing with the complex challenges at the nexus of animal, human and environmental health that are faced in the modern world.

He also spoke of his happiness at seeing two alumni from Harper Adams’ degree programmes forge their own path in the field – after they joined him for this year’s proceedings.

He added: “As an academic who teaches the subject here at Harper Adams, it was also very pleasing to have two Harper Bioveterinary Science graduates who have gone into this research field - Alice Smith and Hannah Jones - participate in the conference.”