Prof. Jonathan Van-Tam to deliver Wooldridge Memorial Lecture
Prof. Van-Tam's lecture will be accompanied by sessions on emerging and reemerging diseases.
Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, who was deputy chief medical officer during the COVID-19 pandemic, will deliver the Wooldridge Memorial Lecture this November.
He will speak as part of BVA Congress, which is being held at London Vet Show, on Friday, 20 November 2026.
The lecture will see Prof. Van-Tam discuss the UK’s readiness for a major disease outbreak. Drawing on his experiences responding to the global pandemic, he will explore how the veterinary profession can prepare and respond effectively during a major animal disease outbreak.
He also has extensive expertise in infectious diseases, epidemiology, vaccinology and pandemic preparedness.
Professor Van-Tam, said: “SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) was the largest global public health crisis in the last 100 years. It has changed the interaction between scientists, politicians and the public forever. As humans encroach further on the animal kingdom, future pandemics of zoonotic origin are inevitable; therefore it is important we learn the lesson from 2020 to apply to the future.”
Gwen Rees, BVA president, added: “The COVID-19 pandemic and following years proved incredibly challenging for everyone, including vets and with ongoing outbreaks of devastating animal diseases like bluetongue and avian flu, it is essential that as a country and as a profession we are ready for the next major pandemic.
“Professor Van-Tam is uniquely positioned to provide incredible insight and we’re so lucky that he can join us and share his experience.”
His speech will be accompanied by a number of sessions focused on resilience against the continued threats from emerging and reemerging diseases.
This will include a session, chaired by veterinary surgeon Danny Chambers MP, called ‘When crisis hits: A practical guide to the vet’s role in national emergencies’. Considering outbreaks such as bluetongue, the MP will discuss how the profession can strengthen disease resilience and prepare for future animal-origin pandemics.
The London Vet Show will take place from 19-20 November 2026 at the Excel.
Image © BVA
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