28/07/2025
🌟 We are incredibly proud to share that Lisa Buren has been awarded the title of Honorary Life Member (HLM) of the IVSA – a prestigious recognition for her outstanding dedication to our global community. 🌍🐾
Lisa has been active within the IVSA from 2015 to 2024, serving in multiple roles such as Chair of SCOVE, President of IVSA the Netherlands, and member of the Trust. Over the years, she has inspired countless students through her leadership, passion, and international engagement.
Here’s what Lisa shared about her IVSA journey:
“I’ve been active in IVSA from 2015 to 2024 on various levels. I started in my first year with the Exchange Committee – my first exchange was to Budapest, Hungary. Shortly after, I attended an international animal welfare congress in Utrecht where I met vet students from all over the world. I found this so inspiring that I wanted to learn more about IVSA globally.
My first IVSA symposium was in Raleigh, USA, where I joined the General Assembly (GA). Discussions ranged from organizational matters of a ~35,000-member association to global veterinary issues like antimicrobial resistance and animal welfare – I knew then I wanted to be part of that.
Since then, I’ve served as SCOVE Chair, IVSA NL President, and Trust member. I travelled to places like Malaysia, South Africa, South Korea, and Brazil, and made lifelong friendships across the globe. It opened my eyes to how broad the veterinary profession can be – far beyond clinical practice.
To every student: I wholeheartedly recommend joining an exchange or attending a congress. The travel is fun, but what you learn from fellow students around the world is unforgettable. Thanks to IVSA, I’ve had opportunities I could never have imagined.
In January 2025, I was honored by the GA with the title of Honorary Life Member (HLM) – an incredible honor!”
💙 Thank you, Lisa, for everything you’ve contributed to IVSA over the past 9 years. Your story is a true inspiration to students worldwide.
