Oulu region environmental director Leena Tuuri named Veterinarian of the Year

The Finnish Veterinary Association has awarded Leena Tuuri, environmental director for the Oulu region, the title of Veterinarian of the Year for her work in reforming Finland’s veterinary services law, public broadcaster Yle reports.

Tuuri’s efforts helped ensure that high-quality basic veterinary services and 24/7 emergency care remain accessible across Finland. According to the association, her work preserved municipal veterinary services as affordable and reliable nationwide while preventing privatisation that could have reduced public services—particularly in rural areas—and driven up costs.

“Without the new and much-needed veterinary services law, service cuts or privatisation with major problems would have been inevitable,” Tuuri said.

The reform safeguards essential treatments, from pet vaccinations and parasite control to emergency care for snakebites and wounds, as part of municipal veterinary services.