By Daniel Tapaoan, Jr., StratCom Correspondent

To standardize veterinary medicine education in the country, MMSU collaborated with other Philippine tertiary institutions to develop a unified biosafety syllabus. This initiative involved a series of webinars from May to August 2024, followed by an onsite training workshop at the Hotel Kimberly Manila on September 9 and 10.

The project aimed to ensure that veterinary education in the Philippines aligns with the global biorisk management curriculum standards.

Representing MMSU were College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) Dean, Dr. Melvin Bagot, along with faculty members Dr. Roco Gearhart, and Dr. Arlyn Chokowen.

Dean Bagot stated that the project has equipped them with the knowledge and tools to create the syllabus and effectively teach and assess biosafety topics. He added that the syllabus will soon be implemented across veterinary institutions nationwide.  

“With a unified curriculum in place, future veterinarians will be better prepared to handle biological risks in both laboratory and field settings, contributing to public health and animal welfare protection,” he said.

The 2-unit syllabus contains seven topics: introduction to biorisk management; laboratory and field biosecurity; good laboratory wNEWork practices; biological specimen and waste handling; managing biorisk; bioethics and dual-use research of concerns; and hazard and risk communication in the laboratory and other veterinary facilities. 

The United States Agency for International Development supports the project through the Southeast Asia One Health University Network, in partnership with the Philippine Association of Veterinary Medical Educators and Schools.