Volunteer Stories
Dr. Mushtaq Memon
Lebanon
ACDI/VOCA Lebanon
Mushtaq has 30 plus years of experience in veterinary medicine and education, specializing in livestock reproductive health, disease diagnosis, treatment and disease control/ prevention. He teaches at Washington State University where he was instrumental in starting the International Veterinary Education program. In addition, Mushtaq has 25 years of veterinary teaching and designing university curriculum and courses around the world.
Profession: Associate Professor, Global Animal Health Pathway Coordinator at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health
Home State: Washington, U.S.
Career Summary: A volunteer for ACDI/VOCA since 2001, Mushtaq has 30 plus years of experience in veterinary medicine and education. He specializes in livestock reproductive health, disease diagnosis, treatment and disease control/ prevention. He also teaches at Washington State University where he was instrumental in starting the International Veterinary Education program. In addition, Mushtaq has 25 years of veterinary teaching and designing university curriculum and courses around the world.
Area(s) of Expertise: Veterinary medicine and education, livestock reproductive health, disease diagnosis, treatment and disease control/prevention
ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW
Name of project: ACDI/VOCA Lebanon
Country: Lebanon
Implementing Partner: ACDI/VOCA
Objective: To help organizations understand prevailing endemic livestock diseases and improve livestock veterinary practices.
Volunteer Assignment and Impact: Lebanon has experienced a deterioration of animal health and high mortality rates due a lack of knowledge about disease and vaccination, the sporadic availability of vaccines, and a lack of effective diagnostic veterinary laboratories or affordable services. To help address these issues and ultimately improve animal health, Dr. Mushtaq Memon visited dairy cooperatives and a private veterinary services company to impart knowledge and improve their practices, while also working to improve the education of and opportunities for Lebanese veterinary students.
During Mushtaq’s first assignment in Lebanon, he visited a dairy cooperative and demonstrated the value of keeping individual records for every cow in order to manage disease and revenue. His second assignment entailed working with a private veterinary services company. During his time with the company he proposed establishing a frozen semen facility and heifer replacement business to control breeding costs and provide an additional source of income. One year later, guided by his recommendations, the private company, Lebanon University (LU) and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization are working to create the facility. During his third assignment he worked with various stakeholders to address the shortage of Lebanese veterinarians. First, he worked with Lebanon University to guide the expansion of their small veterinary curriculum, including recommendations to allow students to gain more practical experience. As a former Fulbright Fellowship recipient, Mushtaq In addition, he also initiated discussions between the U.S. Embassy and LU to facilitate an agreement, and also approached an education and scholarship organization about providing opportunities for students and instructors to apply for veterinary education masters degrees at U.S. universities.
Over the last three years, Dr. Mushtaq Memon has helped Lebanon make incredible strides towards improved veterinary services, including preparing the next generation of veterinarians.