Board Members 2023 - 2025
Chairperson: Kim van de Wiel, The Netherlands
I am Kim, a Dutch veterinarian qualified from Ghent University in Belgium in 2017. After graduation I worked in mixed practice in Northern Ireland, Wales and Curaçao to build a solid clinical base as a veterinarian, before starting my PhD with the University of Liverpool. I am currently investigating transmission dynamics of gastro-intestinal parasites in wild and domestic ungulates in the Greater Mara ecosystem in Kenya, whilst continuing to work as a part time vet. I am also involved in a project in Malaysian Borneo, which looks at the impact of human activity and disease on the elusive banteng. However, my interest in wildlife and One Health started during my veterinary studies, and since 2014 I have volunteered and worked in different settings all over the world in order to gain experience in these fields. Although my general interests are quite diverse - perhaps one day I will be a master of all trades! -, I am currently focussed on infectious diseases at wildlife-livestock interfaces. I am incredibly excited and honoured to be the chair of the EWDA Student Chapter for the next few years. Working in a multi-faceted environment is something I thoroughly enjoy and together with Giulia, Rachele and Simon, I hope to provide an accessible platform for European (vet and non-vet) students with an interest in wildlife disease and conservation. I strongly believe conservation benefits from multidisciplinary collaboration and it is important to expose students to the different aspects of this early on, so they can explore the role they would like to play in the future of wildlife health. |
Secretary: Rachele Vada, Italy
Coming from a small village at the foot of the Italian Alps, I was graduated a veterinary surgeon in 2020 at the University of Turin, Italy. I have spent one year in Spain completing a master’s in wildlife research in 2021 at the Institute for Game and Wildlife Research (IREC, Spain) and working as a research technician. I have then returned to start my PhD at my home university, in the parasitology sector. During my PhD, I have completed an internship at the World Organization for Animal Health. Meanwhile, I am also enrolled into an alternative residency programme at the European College of Veterinary Public Health, speciality of Population Medicine. Apart from a short break at a wildlife rescue centre, I have concentrated my whole career on wildlife research and I am mainly working on wildlife parasites under the One Health umbrella. Several experiences, starting with meeting the WDA, made me aware of the wonderful and enthusiastic network of wildlife experts that we have in Europe and worldwide. My work has led me to develop a crush on epidemiology and disease ecology, where wildlife and its health always are a fundamental piece of the puzzle to preserve everyone’s health. I am very excited of being part of this new SC Board, it will be a wonderful opportunity to share and to acquire wildlife health knowledge and hopefully to help guiding now students towards their new wildlife health career. |
Workshop Coordinator: Simon Krückemeier, Germany
My name is Simon Krückemeier and I graduated in veterinary medicine at the Free University of Berlin in 2022. I knew quite early in my degree that I want to specialize in wildlife research and health. During my studies, I got the chance to do a part of my clinical rotation at the wildlife clinic of the Chiang Mai University in Thailand, a two-month placement with the WildCoM research group at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and a research project in pathology at the faculty of veterinary medicine at the Université de Montréal. I also participated in several wildlife seminars from different institutions like the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research. I am currently enrolled in an internship on Wildlife Population Health with the WildCoM research group and hope to continue in the field of wildlife research and epidemiology in the future. For the last two years of my degree, I was german country representative for the EWDA, during which time I gained experience in organizing seminars and workshops for students. I participated at the last two student workshops, in which I met a lot of amazing people interested or working in wildlife diseases and got new perspectives for my career. Those experiences motivated me to get more involved in the EWDA Student Board. As a workshop coordinator, I hope to motivate students, that are passionate in wildlife health, to participate in events related to the field, giving them an insight in the work with wildlife and ideas and connections for their future goals. I am looking forward to two amazing years and to learn more about the EWDA and on wildlife diseases during this time. |
Communication officer: Giulia Graziosi, Italy
My name is Giulia. I graduated as a veterinary surgeon in 2019 and am currently a third-year PhD student at the Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy. Throughout my undergraduate years, my passion for wildlife led me to volunteer in numerous wildlife rescue centers, both in Italy and abroad. After obtaining my degree, I pursued advanced studies in wildlife research by completing a post-graduate course in Wildlife Management, Conservation Medicine, and One Health at the University of Teramo, Italy. As a scientist, my primary focus lies in studying avian pathology and viral diseases at the wild-domestic bird interface, particularly with an emphasis on avian influenza. My quest for knowledge led me to spend six months at the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center of the University of Georgia, U.S., where I delved into molecular signatures responsible for avian influenza transmission between wild and domestic birds. My fascination with epidemiology has also driven me to pursue a residency at the European College of Veterinary Public Health, specializing in Population Medicine. My journey with the European Wildlife Disease Association (EWDA) began in 2019 when I attended my first student workshop organized by a previous board. This experience prompted me to become the Italian Country Representative. I am now thrilled to be part of the EWDA Student Chapter board as the Communication Officer. In this role, I will collaborate closely with current and new Country Representatives, who hold the power to spread the word about this remarkable association. Through managing our social media platforms, I hope to provide valuable insights about EWDA to new students, encouraging them to engage with the exciting world of wildlife. |
Past-Chair/Advisor: Anna Langguth, Germany
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