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Ettal, Germany – U.S. Army Public Health Command Europe hosted the 70th International Military Veterinary Summit bringing together more than 120 members from 19 partner nations. The event in Ettal, Germany, from May 17 – 23, served as a critical platform for veterinary training and international collaboration.
IMVS, a cornerstone of military veterinary medicine for seven decades, has evolved significantly since its inception in 1952 at Chiemsee, Germany. Initially focused on food safety, the summit now addresses a broad spectrum of issues vital to Force Health Protection. This year’s theme, “Veterinary Partnerships, the Foundation for Building Capacity Across Borders,” underscored the importance of collaborative solutions to global health challenges.
Attendees included the Commanding General of Medical Readiness Command Europe, the President of the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps Chief, alongside Public Health Command Europe Command Team members, veterinarians and Veterinary Corps Chiefs from numerous partner nations.
The summit fostered interoperability through critical information sharing and the advancement of shared standards in areas like disease surveillance, food safety, animal and zoonotic disease control.
Presentations and dis-cussions covered a wide range of topics, from combating trans-boundary ani-mal diseases and investi-gating food-borne ill-nesses to rapid rabies risk as-sessment, Canine Leish-mania-sis, Highly Patho-genic Avian Influenza, and water supply quality.
In his opening remarks, Public Health Command Europe commander Col. Paul Lang highlighted the evolution of the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps from its initial focus on food inspection to its current multifaceted role in force protection, global health engagement, biomedical research, and partner capacity building. Lang stressed that the veterinary profession is not simply about treating animals, but about “safeguarding readiness, preventing disease, and strengthening alliances.”
Several attendees highlighted the lasting value of the IMVieand the benefits of international collaboration.
Col. Niels Nielson, the Veterinary Corps Chief for the Danish Armed Forces Medical Com-mand, an attendee since 2006, emphasized the practical benefits of the event.
“We all struggle with the same tasks,” Nielson explained. “Meeting and discussing how each country is handling them proves beneficial for all of us. If a Danish veterinarian and a U.S. veterinarian meet in Afghanistan, it’s easier if we go with the same approach.”
The Chief of the Veterinary Support Branch in Slovakia, Col. Jozef Nemeth, noted the importance of networking and knowledge exchange.
“Seeing what other nations are doing and we are not, allows us to implement that in our country,” Nemeth said, adding that even informal interactions during coffee breaks provide valuable learning opportunities, particularly for junior officers. Given Slovakia’s proximity to Ukraine, he was particularly interested in presentations regarding veterinary role 2 capabilities.
The 70th IMVS reaffirmed the enduring importance of international collaboration in addressing shared health security challenges. By fostering knowledge sharing, strengthening partnerships, and promoting interoperability, the summit laid a strong foundation for continued success in protecting both military personnel and global public health.
