Driving Innovation and Compassion in Animal Health
I’m Dr. Richard Goldstein, Global Chief Medical Officer and Head of Medical Affairs
As a veterinarian and chief medical officer, I am committed to enhancing animal welfare worldwide. My dedication extends across borders and species, exploring innovative approaches that address the diverse health challenges animals face. Every day, I find quiet satisfaction in the opportunity to make a meaningful difference for animals and those who care for them.
I’ve witnessed firsthand the impact that compassionate care and cutting-edge innovation can have. It’s not just about treating illnesses; it’s about preventing them and enhancing the quality of life for every animal we encounter.
I am convinced that through collective effort, we can elevate animal welfare globally, propel health innovations forward, and invigorate the veterinary community to reach new heights of excellence. Through a shared passion for animals and dedication to their well-being, we can create a legacy of health and happiness for generations to come.
WSAVA Pain Course
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) and Zoetis have partnered to create a Certificate in Pain Management for veterinarians and veterinary technicians. The course will promote the importance of managing companion animal pain to protect the human-animal bond, and is comprised of three modules:
- Understanding and assessing pain
- Preventing and treating pain
- Pain management in practice
Advancing the future of animal care
The FutureBound mini-documentary series highlights animal care professionals from all over the world. At the center of care for pets and livestock, these dedicated people are a critical element in our global public health system.
Dr. Siraya Chunekamrai
Dr. Siraya Chunekamrai shows us the human-animal bond through the cultural lens of southeast Asia and how her work helps veterinarians empower people to care for the animals that are integral to their communities.
Up Next
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Dr. Eleanor Green Dr. Mike travels to his home state of Texas to visit dear friend, veterinary trailblazer and equestrian expert Dr. Eleanor Green. They discuss Dr. Green’s unique experience as the first female dean at Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine and how tuning out the nay-sayers led to her success.
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Dr. Steve Hotchkiss at The PARC In a veterinary practice where the walls are made of clear glass, Dr. Mike chats with The PARC owner Dr. Steve Hotchkiss about hisrevolutionary vision to create the kind of transparency that puts animals and owners at ease in an environment that supports veterinary wellbeing.
Global Veterinary Advisory Team
Globally, the Zoetis team includes veterinarian experts serving across multiple disciplines, including R&D, outcomes research, technical and product support, and in-field expertise with customers and veterinarians. Dr. Goldstein works closely with a cross-segment of those experts, the Global Veterinary Advisory Team (GVAT), to help connect and learn as we strive to advance the standard of care for livestock and pets.
Stan Baker, JD, DVM (Hons), MRCVS, CVA
International/Public Affairs, Ireland
“I became a veterinarian to create positive change in the world. Working at Zoetis allows me to do that every day.”
Edwina Gildea, MVB, MRCVS
Companion Animal, Scotland-United Kingdom
“Veterinary practice brings together everything that I love — helping animals and interacting with people, as well as continued scientific learning.”
Christina Mayer, Dr. med. vet., Fachtierärztin für Kleintiere
Companion Animal, Germany
“I decided to become a veterinarian to contribute to animal welfare and provide good veterinary practice.”
Alexandre Merlo, DVM, MSc
Companion Animal, Global/Brazil-based
“Taking care of pets and contributing to food production and human health reinforced my decision to become a veterinarian.”
Jessica Wu, BSc, DVM, PhD
Companion Animal, Ireland
“As a veterinarian, I want to give a voice to those that don’t have one.”
Xiaoxiao Yu, BVSc, MVSc
Companion Animal, China and Australia
“Loving animals is something I was born with. I enjoy being with animals and was eager to do something for them, which is why I became a veterinarian.”
Emiko Aoki, DVM, PhD
Companion Animal, Japan
“I wanted to become a veterinarian because I respect animals and want to learn from them and save their lives.”
Tara Bidgood, DVM, PhD, DACVCP, CCFP
Petcare Operations, United States
“I discovered the human-animal bond through the many pets we had as a family. This grew into a passion for helping people and animals and led me to become a veterinarian.”
Megan Lui, BVSc (Hons 1), MANZCVS (Pharmacology)
Companion Animal, Australia
“A sense of curiosity about animals and a love for helping others are what drove me to become a veterinarian.”
Antoine Fordin, DVM
Companion Animal and Livestock, France
“I have always been a great lover of animals. I’ve wanted to be a veterinarian since I was 6 years old. Veterinary medicine is a passion directly inscribed into my DNA.”
Kelly Graham, BVSc (Hons)
Cattle and Dairy, Australia
“I grew up on a farm where animals were my love and passion. Becoming a veterinarian was an easy decision.”
Ocilon Sa Filho, DVM, MSc, PhD, MBA
Cattle and Dairy, Brazil
“I was attracted to this professional purpose when I understood how veterinarians help improve cows’ productivity and, ultimately, our food supply.”
Christian Wunderlich, Dr. med. vet., Fachtierarzt für Rinder
Companion Animal, Cattle and Dairy, Germany
“As a veterinarian, I´m able to be a surgeon, an internal specialist, an anesthetist, a consultant and a manager – where else is all of this possible?!”
Luis Leon, Dr. med. vet.
Cattle, Dairy and Diagnostics, Germany
“My strong interest to understand [large] animal anatomy and physiology inspired me to become a veterinarian.”
Jakob Bagger, DVM
Livestock, Denmark
“Securing the health of an entire population is an art form and my passion — that’s why I became a livestock veterinarian.”
Kewen Wang, PhD
Swine, China
“I became a veterinarian to provide healthy, happy lives for pigs and people.”
Wendy Talbot, BVSc Cert EM (Int Med) DECEIM, European and RCVS specialist in Equine Internal Medicine
Equine, United Kingdom
“Our profession provides opportunity for lifelong learning. The more I learn, the more I truly appreciate how much our world and well-being is linked to animals.”
Oliver Knesl, BSc, BSc (Hons), MSc, BVSc, MRCVS, CSAM
Diagnostics, United States
“The power of the human-animal bond inspired me to become a veterinarian.”
Michael Loenser, DVM, MBA
Diagnostics, Global/United States-based
“I have always been fascinated by the art and science of veterinary practice and the diverse ways veterinarians improve the lives of animals and people.”
Francis Adriaens
Global Commercial Development Pain, Global/United States-based
“I grew up in a Belgian coastal town where I enjoyed spending my summers in the countryside caring for animals on family farms. Working with livestock and their care givers inspired me to become a veterinarian."
Thitirat Chaimee
Companion Animals, Thailand
"As a veterinarian, we not only treat animals, but also take care of the owner’s psyche. We are a part of the human-animal bond, and I am proud to be a veterinarian."
Garnetta Santiago, MA, LVT
Academic & Professional Affairs, United States
"I became a veterinary technician because I want to enhance the human-animal bond."
Natalie Lloyd, BVSc, MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats)
Companion Animal, New Zealand
"From a young age, I wanted to become a veterinarian because I am passionate about positively influencing animal welfare and promoting the special relationship between people and the pets they share their homes with. For these reasons, I have spent most of my career working with companion animals. I care deeply about preventative medicine, and I am also deeply committed to the well-being of veterinarians and the patients they care for."
Alycia Chrenek
Cattle, Equine and Genetics, Canada
"I became a veterinarian because I needed to give back to the animals that gave so much to me."
Thalita Souza, DVM
Technical Service Manager, Brazil
“Being a veterinarian for me means having the privilege of understanding and helping those who speak with their eyes. It's being able to bring health, quality of life and happiness to so many pets and their families, helping to make these bonds stronger and stronger."
Diego Pincheira, Veterinarian, diploma course in clinic pharmacology and clinic toxicology, and university teacher
Technical Manager, Chile
“My permanent love for animals has led me to become a veterinarian so I could contribute to their health and quality of life.”
Beatriz Monteiro, DVM, PhD, PgDip, ACAW Board Eligible
Veterinary Pain Operations, International COE, Ireland-based
"Veterinary medicine allowed me to combine my passion for science with my love for animals."
Niels Wuyts, DVM
Veterinary Operations/Outcomes Research, Swine
Global/Belgium-based
"I was always and I am still fascinated by biology. Where does life come from and how does it all work? Why it so easy to break and so hard to fix? How can I help fix it? So, I became a veterinarian."
The Human-Animal Bond
From pet owners to veterinarians and in cultures around the world, our bonds with animals can help us be happier and healthier.
The human-animal bond goes global
The results of a new global survey from HABRI show there’s just no denying the power of the bond.
Want to learn more? See the full survey results.
Pets make for healthier humans
Companion animals have assisted in the treatment of conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, Alzheimer’s disease and autism spectrum disorder. And when you look at all of the ways pets support human health and well-being, it’s easy to see why.
Heart Health
Pet owners have significantly lower systolic blood pressure than those without pets.
Mental Health
90% of pet owners say pets helped them cope during the pandemic.
Child Development
Children with a family pet may be more empathetic and have higher levels of self-esteem.
Community
There are more friendships, giving and receiving of help, and community engagement among pet owners.
Self-love
Pet ownership may instill a sense of self-worth and responsibility and may lead to increased socialization.
Longevity
Of people who live alone, dog owners have a 36% chance of living longer than those without dogs.
In turn, bonded pet owners are more likely to provide their pets with preventive care and have a higher propensity to seek care for symptoms such as weight loss, itchiness or decreased appetite.
The Veterinarian’s Role
No one understands or appreciates the human-animal bond better than veterinarians, who, by caring for our pets and livestock, are essential to our global public health. As we endeavor to prove the science behind the bond, veterinarians play a critical role.
The human-animal bond benefits people and pets
As the relationship between people and their pets evolves, so does the need for proper medical care. There’s nothing like chronic pain to damage the human-animal bond, and a veterinarian’s greatest responsibility is to preserve, protect and restore that bond. Learn more here.
Veterinarians care for animals, humans and our world
By serving as the first and best line of defense against diseases that affect both people and animals and by helping farmers raise healthy animals for a safe and sustainable food supply, veterinary professionals play an integral role in public health and well-being.
Advancing care through innovation
Driven by our customers' unmet needs, our scientists help pets live longer, healthier lives and support healthier, more productive livestock. We are committed to innovation across the continuum of care — predict, prevent, detect and treat.
Nurturing the industry and the future
Through the work of the Zoetis Foundation, we’re committed to helping communities and animal caretakers. Our initiatives support diversity, veterinary debt relief and mental wellness for farmers and veterinarians in Africa, Australia, Brazil, China, Europe and the United States. The Zoetis Foundation is a private charitable organization and is solely funded by Zoetis, with distinct legal requirements and restrictions.