To mark the 250th anniversary of the veterinary profession, 2011 has been designated World Veterinary Year. Modern veterinarians provide medical care for animals and are advocates for animal welfare, but they are also key public health stakeholders because of the crucial role they play in promoting food security by supervising animal production hygiene, controlling zoonoses, monitoring food quality and safety, biomedical research, and protecting the environment and biodiversity. For more information about World Veterinary Year, click here.