30.12.2025
Inspiring unity: greetings from the global veterinary community
During the holidays, the Ukrainian Veterinary Medicine Foundation received many warm words of support from around the world. Leading veterinarians, teachers, scientists, and humanitarian figures addressed their Ukrainian colleagues with words of solidarity, respect, and faith in the strength of the professional community.
For us, this is more than just a greeting. It is a sign that Ukrainian veterinary medicine remains part of the global professional community, that our doctors, educational initiatives, and charitable projects are seen, valued, and supported around the world. Despite all the challenges, the Ukrainian veterinary community continues to develop, learn, and help animals and people — and the world is walking alongside us.
It is especially valuable that many of our international colleagues not only send words of support, but also actively participate in the life of the foundation and educational projects, join as speakers, partners, and friends, and return to cooperate with Ukraine again and again.
Dr Jim Berry
It is very valuable for us to know that the global veterinary community stands with Ukraine. We sincerely thank the Board and all members of the WSAVA – World Small Animal Veterinary Association for their friendship, solidarity, and constant support!
Oleksandra Lischyshina, director of “Four Paws Ukraine” LLC
Together with Four Paws Ukraine, the Ukrainian Veterinary Medicine Fund is implementing a large-scale charity project — the Ukrainian Charity Veterinary Clinic. Today, such clinics operate in Zaporizhzhia, Irpin, and Nikopol — regions where the need for help for stray animals is particularly high in the context of full-scale war. Thanks to the support of Four Paws, we have helped hundreds of animals — hundreds of lives saved are already on our account. We sincerely thank our partners for this incredible cooperation, trust, and daily joint work.
Wolfgang Dohne
Wolfgang Dohne is the former president of FECAVA (2017–2019), an ESEVT expert, a member of the VVCA Board of Directors, and a member of the BSAVA SE committee. He is a person with vast international experience and a deep understanding of the role of veterinary education and professional unity. In his address, he thanked his Ukrainian colleagues for participating in the 2025 Congress organized by the Ukrainian Veterinary Medicine Foundation and the Ukrainian School of Veterinary Medicine, and expressed his sincere support for Ukraine and his hope to meet in person at the UVMF International Congress in 2026!
Jon Geller
Jon Geller, a veterinarian, humanitarian, and a man who has repeatedly demonstrated his solidarity with Ukraine not with words but with actions, greeted the Ukrainian veterinary community with warm words of support and holiday wishes!
Dr. Geller has worked in emergency veterinary medicine in the United States for over 20 years and founded four emergency hospitals in Colorado. In 2015, he launched The Street Dog Coalition, a non-profit organization that provides free veterinary care to animals belonging to people in difficult life circumstances. Today, this initiative is operating in more than 60 cities.
In March 2022, Jon Geller personally arrived at the Ukrainian-Romanian border, where he organized a veterinary station to help Ukrainian refugees’ animals and process documents for their departure. In 2023, after joining Worldwide Vets, he initiated the delivery of a mobile veterinary hospital from the US to Ukraine — and this clinic is still operating today.
In 2024, Jon Geller earned a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from the University of Minnesota and is now a lecturer at the Colorado School of Public Health.
We are especially pleased to announce another piece of great news: Jon Geller will be one of the speakers at the UVMF 2026 Congress, organized by the Ukrainian Veterinary Medicine Foundation in collaboration with the Ukrainian School of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr Heidi Radke
Dr Heidi Radke from Switzerland also congratulated her Ukrainian colleagues on the holidays. Thank you very much, Heidi, for your warm words, support, and attention to the Ukrainian veterinary community. It was an incredible pleasure for us to meet you in person at the Congress in 2025 — this meeting was truly valuable and inspiring.
Dr Jörg Mayer
In this video, Dr. Jörg Mayer addresses his Ukrainian colleagues with Christmas and holiday greetings, words of solidarity and support in difficult times. We particularly appreciate that Dr. Mayer was a speaker at the international veterinary congress organized by the Ukrainian Veterinary Medicine Foundation and the Ukrainian School of Veterinary Medicine in 2024 and 2025.
Gualtiero Gandini
Gualtiero Gandini is a professor at the Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences at the University of Bologna (Italy). We thank him for his kind words, support for the Ukrainian veterinary community, and professional solidarity.
Dr. Keren Kline
Dr. Keren Kline is a speaker at conferences organized by the Ukrainian Veterinary Medicine Foundation and the Ukrainian School of Veterinary Medicine in 2024–2025. She has repeatedly expressed her support for Ukraine and Ukrainian veterinarians who continue to work and develop even in difficult conditions. We are particularly pleased to announce that Dr. Keren Kline will be joining us again at this year’s UVMF Congress.
Dr. Daniela Sakadzhiyska, секретар асоціації лікарів ветеринарної медицини
A representative of the Bulgarian veterinary community also addressed her Ukrainian colleagues with warm words of greeting on the eve of the holidays. Thank you very much for your support, solidarity, and friendly shoulder!
Dr. Janet Martin
Dr. Janet Martin is well known to our community — she was a speaker at the 2024–2025 congresses, and in the new year she will once again join the UVMF Congress to be with Ukrainian veterinarians and share her experience. Thank you for your warm words, trust, and willingness to be together at important moments!