Dr. Gillian Declercq worked for the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development as a State Community Service Veterinarian in South Africa for several years. In this position she provided training to small scale and emerging farmers in sustainable livestock production and disease management. She piloted multiple mobile veterinary clinics in conjunction with animal welfare organisations that provided clinical veterinary support for small animals and livestock. These projects and others were used as a base for clinical veterinary training for students and new veterinary graduates during their year performing compulsory community service.
Dr. Declercq presented and taught at multiple farmers’ days and agricultural expos. She also was the primary presenter of Video Vet, an initiative started with Plaas Media providing basic information and instructional videos to small scale farmers and the public. These videos focussed on disease information and prevention guidelines as well as basic ‘how to’ animal care instructions.
Dr. Declercq completed her MSc in Tropical Animal Health, focusing on the One Health connection. She completed her dissertation on the human health risk factors associated with informal slaughter, focussing on Brucella abortus.
Dr. Declercq has several years experience as a locum clinical veterinarian, working in both small animal and mixed animal practice.
While livestock production and One Health remain her primary passion, she enjoys small animal medicine and surgery.
