Who we are
R-FETPV is a regional field epidemiology training program for veterinarians, hosted by the Department of Livestock Development (DLD), Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand.
About the Program
The Program is delivered in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Thailand’s Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) for human health professionals, and Thai universities. It is modeled on the Thai FETP and follows the same core principle: learning through providing services. Trainees are serving government veterinarians who remain in post, and the work they produce during training is work their veterinary service needs.
R-FETPV and Thai FETP run a joint one-month introductory course each year, bringing together professionals from human health, animal health, wildlife health and aquatic animal health, from both the public and private sectors.
The Program’s development, training model and role in the region are described in a peer-reviewed article by the R-FETPV Coordination Unit and its partners:
Premashthira S, Prarakamawongsa T, Chanachai K, Dejyong T, Wongsathapornchai K, Tang H, Castellan D, Iamsirithaworn S, Jiraphongsa C, Kalpravidh W. Building regional resilience through veterinary epidemiology training: Reflections from the Regional Field Epidemiology Training Program for Veterinarians (R-FETPV) in Asia-Pacific. Preventive Veterinary Medicine. 2026;253:106883. doi:10.1016/j.prevetmed.2026.106883
Subscription required. For reprint enquiries, contact the R-FETPV Coordination Unit.
The challenge
Early detection and early response to emerging infectious diseases (EID) depend on people who can do epidemiology in the field, not only in the laboratory.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza, SARS, Nipah virus and other emerging diseases have shown how quickly an animal health event becomes a human health, trade and economic event. Transboundary animal diseases (TAD) move across borders faster than the institutions that must respond to them. The social, economic and political costs are well documented.
Across Asia and the Pacific, the number of veterinarians trained in field epidemiology remains far below what national veterinary services need. The veterinary field epidemiologist works alongside medical epidemiologists and provides the animal health evidence that prevention and control decisions depend on.
Our response
R-FETPV was developed to meet the need to describe and analyze the frequency and distribution of animal and zoonotic diseases. Six issues must be addressed to detect, respond to and control diseases early:
- Train veterinary field epidemiologists with the competencies government veterinary services require, particularly for disease prevention and control
- Train veterinarians and medical epidemiologists together, so links between animal health and human health are built during training rather than improvised during an emergency
- Establish formal and informal epidemiology networks able to respond to diseases that cross borders and cross sectors
- Communicate the value of epidemiology to government administrators through sustained advocacy
- Support stable national epidemiology units with dedicated, trained personnel
- Produce timely surveillance analysis, outbreak investigation and situation assessment that give decision makers science-based recommendations
Our vision & objectives
R-FETPV aims to be a leading program in veterinary field epidemiology, advancing epidemiological knowledge and skills in Asia and the Pacific, and building a regional network capable of addressing animal and zoonotic disease threats through a One Health approach — in training, research, surveillance, investigation, and disease prevention and control.
Enhance the knowledge and skills of R-FETPV trainees and graduates, and collaborate with field epidemiology networks in the region to apply those skills.
Support national animal health services, with One Health partners, to reduce the burden of disease by providing reliable, transparent, evidence-based recommendations to policy makers.
Deliver training. Run a sustainable, fit-for-purpose training program that strengthens field epidemiology capacity and resilience for animal and zoonotic disease emergencies.
Use what the Program produces. Improve the use of program outputs and secure sustainable institutional arrangements covering governance, monitoring and evaluation, funding and advocacy.
Connect people. Strengthen the networks and communication linking graduates, trainees and mentors, so responses to animal health and One Health emergencies are timely and coordinated.
Work across sectors. Strengthen multisectoral and multidisciplinary collaboration at national, regional and global level.
Our team
The R-FETPV Coordination Unit sits within the Bureau of Disease Control and Veterinary Services at DLD headquarters in Bangkok.
Dr Sith PremashthiraDVM, MSc, PhD — Program Manager
Dr Tippawon PrarakamawongsaProgram Coordinator
Dr Arisara EurwilaichitProgram Veterinarian
Ms Sujira NgaojanSecretary
Ms Navaporn BunjongsattapornAccountant
Dr Hao TangRegional Animal Health Workforce Development Specialist, FAO RAP
Dr Kittikhun UdomFAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Dr MuGyeom MoonVeterinary Epidemiologist, FAO RAPOur partners
R-FETPV is delivered and supported in collaboration with government, international and academic partners.
Address : 69/1 Phraya Thai Rd, Ratchathewi Bangkok, Thailand 10400
Phone No. : +66 (0)80-698-7632 · +66 (0)2-653-4444 ext.4143
E-mail :
