2026.05.20

    The World Veterinary Association Congress (WVAC) stands as one of the largest and most prestigious international gatherings in the veterinary field. This year’s congress, held in Tokyo, offered a familiar yet captivating atmosphere. Bringing together over 6,000 participants from around the globe and featuring more than 400 presentations, the event spanned diverse areas from small animal medicine, livestock, veterinary forensics, and One Health. Without a doubt, WVAC serves as an exceptional platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and lifelong learning.

    The congress opened with a remarkable welcome ceremony attended by prominent leaders in veterinary and related sectors, including the presidents of the World Veterinary Association and the Japan Veterinary Medical Association, the Minister of Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and the Governor of Tokyo. A truly unforgettable highlight was the presence of Their Majesties, the Emperor and Empress, along with the Princess. Seeing them up close - and even making eye contact - felt surreal. Their attendance underscored the societal importance of veterinary medicine and the One Health approach.

    One of the most meaningful experiences for me was presenting my research, “Bridging Veterinary and Human Medicine: Potential Risks of Carbapenem-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Pets,” in the session Addressing Antimicrobial Resistance through One Health: From Global Frameworks to Local Actions. It was both exciting and rewarding to share my work with a diverse audience, including experts in antimicrobial resistance whose studies I have cited. With the support of Assoc. Prof. Toyotaka Sato, I also had the opportunity to connect with many distinguished researchers in the field.

 

    Beyond my own presentation, I attended several engaging sessions, such as Cutting-Edge Clinical Medicine for Companion Animals, Internationalization of Veterinary Education, and Recent Advances in Forensic Veterinary Medicine. I also visited the One Health Research Center booth hosted by six Japanese universities, where I interacted with students and faculty members from various institutions. These exchanges provided valuable insights into different research environments and activities. It was equally rewarding to introduce and promote our own One Health Research Center, thereby increasing visibility and outreach. Additionally, reconnecting with Thai researchers - many of whom were my former lecturers and seniors, along with meeting new colleagues, opened doors for both ongoing and future collaborations.

    The 41st WVAC in Tokyo was a truly enriching experience that extended far beyond academic learning. I returned to Sapporo with not only valuable knowledge and professional connections, but also a renewed sense of purpose. This journey has strengthened my commitment to advancing veterinary medicine, contributing to One Health, and growing as a veterinarian, researcher, and educator. It is an experience that will continue to inspire my path forward.

From the left,

Associate Prof. Toyotaka Sato (Laboratory of Veterinary Hygiene, School/Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University One Health Research Center, Hokkaido University)

 

Dr. Motoyuki Sugai (Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan Institute for Health Security, Japan)

 

Dr. Ramanan Laxminarayan (One Health Trust, Bangalore, India)

 

Jirachaya