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Success Story – Jim Berry of WSAVA
“Train the Trainer is a very interesting concept – ACTAsia is not teaching just the skill, but also how to teach the skill”
Dr. Jim Berry is a clinical veterinarian based in Fredericton, in the Canadian east coast province of New Brunswick.
Dr. Berry helped build a successful practice for small animals which focuses on preventative and integrative medicine. Last year, Dr. Berry was elected president of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), who collaborate with ACTAsia on training programs.
A Veterinary Professional and Animal Welfare Advocate
Dr. Berry has always been involved with and interested in animals. However, “I’m probably not the typical vet,” he laughs, admitting that “It wasn’t my first career choice.”
Jim grew up in Southern Ontario and initially pursued zoology and parasitology. He realized that his passion lay in animal work and medicine work rather than in research. This led him into veterinary medicine, a path he has now been on for over thirty years.
After graduating from Ontario Veterinary College in 1990, he relocated to New Brunswick, where he bought into a single person practice and helped it grow significantly. “We now have 6 vets and 17 staff members total.” He also helped shape the clinic into a focused, preventative and integrative model which incorporates holistic practices.
Jim calls his clinic an “alternative integrative practice.” We are strongly bent towards preventative medicine,” he says. “That means diet, obesity control, exercise and training, appropriate vaccines, and so on.” Approximately 25 years ago he was certified in acupuncture, physiotherapy, chiropractic and pain management, which figure significantly in his practice.
Jim has been actively involved in veterinary association work since 2006, having served on the executive boards and various committees of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, New Brunswick Veterinary Medical Association, and the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management. In September 2024, Jim was elected as the president of World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA). WSAVA is an international industry association with over 300,000 veterinarians in 115 member associations from over 90 countries. WSAVA works to advance the health and welfare of companion animals throughout the world and to speak on behalf of companion animal veterinarians globally.
Jim, WSAVA and ACTAsia
The WSAVA’s collaboration with ACTAsia is a key aspect of Jim’s work. ACTAsia has been partnered with WSAVA since 2019, which has enabled ACTAsia’s work to be rolled out on a much larger scale. “ACTAsia is one of our educational partners, collaborating on many educational pieces. This is a big part of our mandate,” he says.
Jim became directly involved with ACTAsia last September in China. He met with ACTAsia in many clinics in northwestern China, learning about the Train the Trainer programme and testing programme. “What I remember most were what phenomenal hosts the vets were,” says Jim. “These clinics were first class.”
“As I was travelling to these remote areas of China, I was surprised to see the level of infrastructure. The clinics were doing a very high level of veterinary medicine. A lot of that was because of the programmes with ACTAsia.”
Train the Trainer
“Train the Trainer is a very interesting concept,” says Jim. Part of ACTAsia’s Vets for Change Veterinary Training programme, Train the Trainer empowers local veterinarians to train others within their communities, tailoring education to local cultural nuances and constraints.“ACTAsia is not teaching just the skill, but also how to teach the skill. This two-pronged, grassroots approach is highly efficient and very impressive.”
Challenges in Veterinary Practice
Jim acknowledges the many challenges faced within the veterinary profession. “It is always a balancing act,” he explains. “Managing finances, ownership, and practice management while delivering high-quality medical care is difficult.” He emphasizes the importance of being realistic about the limitations of medicine: understanding what it can and cannot achieve. Despite these hurdles, Jim remains driven by a deep belief in the veterinary profession’s self-regulated responsibility to advance standards and promote animal welfare. His international work with organisations like ACTAsia and WASVA allows him to address these complex issues through collaboration, united by the shared mission of improving animal care across diverse global contexts.
Hopes for the Future
As Jim looks forward towards the rest of his WSAVA presidency, he hopes to increase global collaboration to achieve a common goal of wellbeing for animals. He hopes to work even more closely with ACTAsia. “I am interested in bringing Train the Trainer outside of China,” he says.
“My mission is to increase vet care and animal welfare for companion animals worldwide.”
“My mandate is to broaden our scope by harnessing collaboration amongst regions, educational partners, and commercial entities,” Jim announces.
Dr. Jim Berry’s dedication to preventative care, education, and global collaboration continues to inspire positive change in veterinary practice and animal welfare. His work with WSAVA and ACTAsia is helping to shape a more compassionate and sustainable future for companion animals around the world.
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