In episode 3 of the One Health Conversation Series, we speak with two remarkable women, Dr. Maryanne Kagai and Dr. Liz Whitney, about their unique experiences as veterinarians in Kenya and the United States; some of the different, yet parallel, challenges facing veterinarians around the world; the role of compassion and veterinary care in conservation efforts; and the importance of connecting the dots between human, animal, and environmental health.
Our intention with this conversation series is to highlight a wide-range of issues and topics pertaining to One Health, conservation, and animal welfare. We hope that you'll come away from these conversations with a deeper understanding of how the One Health philosophy operates across all levels of society, and how the health of people is closely connected to the health of animals and to everything else in our shared environment. If you enjoyed this conversation and want to learn more and support our work please visit: https://www.anawusa.org/donate
Thanks so much for listening!
Producer & Facilitator: Katherine Baxter, PhD, Executive Director of ANAW-USA
Assistant Producer: Ryan Twedt, ANAW-USA Intern
Podcast Editor: John Lindsay
About our Guests:
Dr. Maryanne Kagai is a veterinarian and has served as the programs manager for the Africa Network for Animal Welfare in Kenya. She is also a member of the Kenya Veterinary Board, Kenya Veterinary Association and the Kenya Women Veterinary Association. She graduated from the University of Nairobi, college of agriculture and veterinary sciences. Dr. Kagai has been an advocate for rabies eradication as a member of the National Rabies Elimination Coordination Committee (NRECC), Kenya, and was nominated for the Global Rabies Alliance Control award in 2017. She currently works with companion animals in Kenya’s private sector.
Dr. Elizabeth Whitney is a veterinarian and serves on ANAW-USA’s Board as Secretary. She graduated from the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1986. Over the span of her 34 year career, she has practiced small animal medicine for 24 years, worked in veterinary marketing and technical support for 8 years, taught small animal nursing in the veterinary technology program at Front Range Community College, and provided temporary clinical support at CSU Community Practice. She has also served in an advisory capacity on veterinary educational boards, along with serving in leadership roles at local, state, and national levels. She is an avid and frequent volunteer, serving on a non-profit board supporting youth in the arts, and in the past 4 years she has traveled to Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, and Kenya participating in veterinary service trips that perform free vaccination and spay/neuter services for local communities.