5 questions with CAHI’s outgoing president Jean Szkotnicki

Growing up in Newmarket, Ont., Jean Szkotnicki had a passion for horses. That led to a passion for agriculture. Now, after leading the Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI) for three decades, she’s transitioning into retirement. We asked her five questions.

Tell us about your background.
After finishing a master’s degree in meat science, I worked at the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association for nine years and was lucky to have wonderful mentors, in particular Graeme Hedley, Charlie Gracey and Carolyn McDonell. In my role with CAHI, it has been so enriching to work and collaborate with professionals in various sectors to the benefit of human, animal and environmental health.

What are you proudest of?
I am also proud to have been able to work with a talented team of pharmaceutical industry technical people in collaboration with Veterinary Drugs Directorate (VDD) personnel so that the VDD is now one of the most competitive regulatory agencies globally. It is a dynamic, positive change from where we were in the late 1990s. After many years of advocacy and collaboration, new regulation was implemented in 2018 to remove gaps that permitted the importation and use of animal health drugs not approved by Health Canada. No other developed countries in the world had such gaps, which posed a risk to animal and human health as well as trade in food products. The gaps did not support good stewardship of antimicrobials. Policy was also introduced to have veterinary oversight of over 340 antimicrobials.

I was inducted into the Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2017 largely due to leadership in initiating regulatory and policy changes to enhance antimicrobial stewardship. I know the success is not mine alone but owned by many others who collaborated across the industry and government.

What are your thoughts on Canada’s poultry industry?
I think the poultry sector’s antimicrobial reduction strategy has a marketing focus that is at the expense of bird welfare. Increased disease in birds could also potentially result in increased human health risks and increased environmental impacts. There needs to be balance as we move forward.

Any advice for your successor?
CAHI is comprised of skilled professionals able to provide excellent input on new initiatives that positively impact veterinary medicine and companion/production animal well-being. Member advice is a wonderful resource. It is my experience that no one person owns a success. Reaching out to people to collaborate and share ideas is very important to building positive outcomes.

What will you do in retirement?
Having very recently lost my husband, what is next is evolving day by day to some extent. With retirement, I find so much of our identity is wrapped up in the work we do. I am not ready to stop fully so will continue to serve on several boards and likely do some consulting work. I hope to give more time to riding and showing my horses and enjoying farm life, while fitting in some travel.