THE STAR. TUESDAY 29 MARCH 2016

a$pecial

ACCORDINGto Datuk DrKamaruddin Md Isa, directorgeneral of Department ofVeterinary Services Malaysia, thereis a huge variety of job scopeswithin animal science that dependson the trend of the animal healthservice industry, social shifts, andpublic and economic demand.

Course Focus speaks to DrKavitha [ayaseelan and Dr WilliamChin, who are testaments to thegreat deal of work veterinariansdo, whether in zoos, livestockfarms or laboratories, to helpimprove the welfare of animals.

The guardianDr Kavitha hasalways had a

connection

,

COURSE FOCUSwith animals. She cites her father,who is also a veterinarian, asher inspiration.

After finishing her Sijil PelajaranMalaysia, Dr Kavitha looked forpre-university options to pursueveterinary medicine at a publicinstitution.

She chose to enrol in Form 6instead of the diploma programmeat Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)because she wanted to keep heroptions open; Sijil Tinggi PelajaranMalaysia (STPM)qualifications arerecognised worldwide, whereasUPM's animal science diplomacaters specifically for theuniversity's own degree.

With her STPMresults, sheapplied for the veterinarymedicine course in UPM. Much toher disappointment, she was givena spot to pursue a biotechnologycourse at a different universityinstead.

Dr Kavitha was determined tobecome a veterinarian and after

one year of constant appeal,she enrolled in UPM as a

student of veterinarymedicine. .

Go beyondthe ordinary

ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES, MEDICINE,DENTISTRY & PHARMACY

The five years of veterinarymedicine studies has its challenges.Many who enrol do not understandthe actual nature of the job and thescope of animal species and jobspecifications they will have to dealwith. They end up not finishing thecourse.

"Don't give up so easily," advisesDr Kavitha.Itwas in her third year that

Dr Kavitha decided she wantedto pursue a career in wildlifeveterinary. medicine instead ofcommercial general practice.

She chose Zoo Negara for herfirst-year practical placement andsubsequently volunteered there.With this experience, Dr Kavithasuccessfully applied for apermanent position there aftergraduation.

The job of a veterinarian at azoo is a whole different ball game .from practice in a clinic. Theveterinarians at Zoo Negara arepushed to be innovative in treatinganimals that sometimes can bedangerous to the veterinarians.

Be it the successful birth of anewborn fawn or "encouraging ahand-raised chimpanzee to join itstroop, Dr Kavitha celebrates theseevents as successes.

The scientistWith a degree in veterinary

medicine, you can also contributeto medical solutions for animals.Fields such as natural sciencehealth care are growing to provideeffective medication and treatmentfor livestock and farm animals.This was where Dr Chin chose tocontribute his knowledge:

His interest in veterinarymedicine was inspired by hislove for biology in his schooldays. To keep his option open, hedecided to pursue Form 6 as hispre-university foundation so hecould then apply to public higherinstitutions in Malaysia.

"While most of my peers werepursuing medicine or pharmacy, Ifound veterinary medicine moreinteresting. It presented theopportunity to study not just onespecies but covered many types ofmammals, reptiles, fishes andother creatures," he says.

Dr Chin pursued his Degree inVeterinary Medicine at UPM.

Dr Chin was involved involunteering at turf clubs, zoos,wildlife sanctuaries, conservationprogrammes, small animal clinics,animal non-governmentalorganisations and livestock farmsto improve on skills andknowledge prior to joining theworkforce.

He also had the opportunity tobe part of a student exchangeprogramme in South Africa andhad first-hand experience dealing

with the conservation of Africa'sbig-five animals -lions,

buffaloes, rhinoceroses,leopards and elephants.

Starting off in thelivestock industry, DrChin is now involvedin the scientificaspect ofveterinarymedicine forInQpharmGroup SdnBhd as seniormanager oftechnicalmarketing in

the AnimalHealth Divisions.

Dr Chin aims todevelop novel solutions tolivestock animal health issuesand diseases due to anIncrease of antibioticresistancein disease-causing bacteria.

Becoming a veterinarian

• Minimum requirements inSPM/O-Levels:- Credit in English,mathematics, additionalmathematics

- Pass in Bahasa Malaysia

• Minimum requirements inSTPMor Matriculation-CGPA3.0

• Local education options forDegree in Veterinary Medicine:

Universiti Putra Malaysia- Alternative entry pathway:Diploma in Animal Science &Production or Asasi SainsPertanian (foundation inagricultural science)

Universiti Malaysia Kelantan- Alternative entry pathway:foundation programme (forbumiputera students only)

• Foreign education options fora veterinary medicine degree:HELP University American

Degree Program:- Health Science Programmajoring in VeterinaryScience

- Complete degree in the USor Canada

Indonesia:- Bogor AgriculturalUniversity, Jakarta

- Universitas Gadjah Mada,Yogyakarta

- Universitas Airlangga,Surabaya

• Institutions that arerecognised and accredited arelisted under the Second Scheduleof the Veterinary Surgeons Act1974.

• Upon graduation, graduateshave to be registered with theMalaysian Veterinary Counciland obtain a current AnnualPracticing Certificate to practiseeligibly.

"Malaysia has slightly morethan 2,000 registeredveterinarians in the countryunder the Malaysian VeterinaryCouncil. Graduates will have noproblem getting a job or openingup their own practice," saysDr Chin.