The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI ), the independent statutory body responsible for the regulation of the practise of veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing in the public interest and in the interests of animal health and welfare, has appointed Vivienne Duggan as President of the Veterinary Council and Rachel Brown as Deputy President of the Veterinary Council.
The incoming President and Deputy President were appointed following an uncontested election, by members of the Veterinary Council at the most recent Veterinary Council meeting of January 19 2022. Vivienne Duggan and Rachel Brown assume office with immediate effect.
Vivienne Duggan works as an Associate Professor in Equine Clinical Studies at the School of Veterinary Medicine in University College Dublin. She has a PhD in Veterinary Biomedical Sciences from Oklahoma State University and has spent time working across a number of mixed veterinary practices including equine, general and specialty practice in Ireland and abroad.
Speaking about her appointment as President of the Veterinary Council, Vivienne Duggan, said: "It is an immense honour to have been elected as President of the Veterinary Council of Ireland. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on the Council, along with the Registrar and executive team in the interest of the public and of animal health and welfare."
Rachel Brown is a Veterinary Practitioner, working from Moy Veterinary Clinic, a mixed practice serving companion animal and farm animals in Ballina.
The new Deputy President of the Veterinary Council of Ireland said: "It is truly a privilege to be serving in this new role and it was extremely gratifying to have been elected by my colleagues on the Council. The work of the Veterinary Council is essential to ensuring a well-regulated veterinary sector in Ireland, and protecting the interests of the public."
Niamh Muldoon, CEO and Registrar of the Veterinary Council of Ireland said: "I warmly congratulate our new President and Deputy President on their incoming term of office and look forward to working with them both to advance the work of the Veterinary Council on matters of animal health and welfare and public health. This is an historic election, as it is the first time that the Veterinary Council benefits from a female President and Deputy President in office simultaneously.
"I would also like to recognise and sincerely thank our outgoing President and Deputy President, Joe Moffitt and Dr Ailís Ní Riain, for their unwavering levels of commitment and dedication in the performance of their roles over the preceding two years."
