[{"text_idx": "#000001", "text": "Here at the Food Standards Agency, we're delighted to share that our Vet of the Year for 2023 is Jose Gomez-Luengo. We sat down with Jose and asked him about his career and what the award means to him."}, {"text_idx": "#000002", "text": "I was truly surprised when Jane Clark, Veterinary Director at the FSA, called me to inform me that I have been selected as the Vet of the Year. I know I was up against stiff competition as many of my FSA veterinary colleagues do outstanding things and being nominated is just the first step - then comes the scrutiny about the merits of those nominated. And I know it is tough to win it: I am proud to say I have been nominated in the four years the award has been running but it has taken all that time to finally win it!"}, {"text_idx": "#000003", "text": "I was not a vocational veterinarian. I have always liked animals, but I had planned to become an architect, like my father and grandfather. It was in my last year before starting university that I decided to become a vet."}, {"text_idx": "#000004", "text": "I graduated from vet school in my hometown of Cordoba, Spain in 1993, but needed to do National Service before I could start work. After being discharged from the Army, I helped a small animal veterinary surgeon in my hometown whilst I looked for a job."}, {"text_idx": "#000005", "text": "The first offer came from the UK. At that time, as now, the UK needed vets wanting to work in meat hygiene. Most vets here were attracted by clinical work and considered those working in food safety or in a slaughterhouse almost second rate. (Yet, I trained as a clinician and didn\u2019t want to be a vet to look after sausages rather than animals!) Thankfully the outdated view that those who choose to work supporting public health are \u201cnot proper vets\u201d is changing."}, {"text_idx": "#000007", "text": "I worked for private practices for a few years and when a vacancy arose in the Meat Hygiene Service I applied and was offered the job, joining the Civil Service in August 2001. This year will mark my 22nd anniversary, just as the FSA turns 23 years old."}, {"text_idx": "#000008", "text": "Initially, I worked in the Operations Division. This took me out and about visiting mainly meat establishments conducting official controls, doing approval assessments, or more recently leading a team of auditors. I did enjoy that work and it gave me a thorough grounding and, I believe it is fair to say, extensive knowledge of the meat industry and its regulatory framework."}, {"text_idx": "#000010", "text": "Our small team is made up of vets with various backgrounds. Whilst we share our work in a way that allows for resilience, we have what might be called specialisms that play on our strengths. Years of practice have made me be happy to provide opinions about things I know about. I tend to be vocal in discussions, despite being shy by nature (which some may find surprising)."}, {"text_idx": "#000011", "text": "I assist in the formulation of meat hygiene and operational policies such as the supply of partially chilled Qurbani meat. There are always situations you never came across before. We have positioned ourselves as advisors and liaise with other government bodies, joining groups with people who work in other areas \u2013 it\u2019s challenging and interesting!"}, {"text_idx": "#000012", "text": "I am honoured to follow in the steps of those that have won the Vet of the Year Award, as they all deserved it. I intend to honour the recognition and keep the flag up until I pass it on to next year\u2019s winner."}, {"text_idx": "#000013", "text": "Yn yr Asiantaeth Safonau Bwyd, rydym yn falch iawn o rannu mai Jose Gomez-Luengo yw ein Milfeddyg y Flwyddyn ar gyfer 2023. Gwnaethom sgwrsio a\u0302 Jose am ei yrfa a\u2019r hyn mae\u2019r wobr yn ei olygu iddo."}, {"text_idx": "#000014", "text": "Roedd yn sioc enfawr pan ffoniodd Jane Clark, Cyfarwyddwr Milfeddygol yr Asiantaeth Safonau Bwyd (ASB), i roi gwybod taw fi oedd Milfeddyg y Flwyddyn. Rwy\u2019n gwybod ei bod hi\u2019n gystadleuaeth frwd gan fod llawer o\u2019m cydweithwyr milfeddygol yn yr ASB yn gwneud pethau rhagorol a dim ond y cam cyntaf oedd cael fy enwebu \u2013 wedyn daeth y gwaith craffu ar rinweddau\u2019r sawl a enwebwyd. Ac rwy\u2019n gwybod ei bod yn anodd ennill y teitl: rwy\u2019n falch o ddweud fy mod wedi cael fy enwebu ym mhob un o\u2019r pedair blynedd y mae\u2019r wobr wedi\u2019i chynnal, ond mae wedi cymryd yr holl amser hwnnw i\u2019w hennill o\u2019r diwedd!"}, {"text_idx": "#000015", "text": "Nid oeddwn yn filfeddyg galwedigaethol. Rwyf bob amser wedi hoffi anifeiliaid, ond roeddwn wedi bwriadu dod yn bensaer, fel fy nhad a fy nhad-cu. Penderfynais fod yn filfeddyg yn ystod fy mlwyddyn olaf cyn dechrau yn y brifysgol."}, {"text_idx": "#000016", "text": "Graddiais o ysgol filfeddygol yn fy nhref enedigol, Cordoba, yn Sbaen ym 1993, ond roedd angen i mi wneud Gwasanaeth Milwrol cyn i mi allu dechrau gweithio. Ar o\u0302l cael fy rhyddhau o\u2019r Fyddin, gwnes i helpu milfeddyg anifeiliaid bach yn fy nhref enedigol tra roeddwn i\u2019n chwilio am swydd."}, {"text_idx": "#000017", "text": "Daeth y cynnig cyntaf o\u2019r DU. Bryd hynny, fel sydd hefyd yn wir nawr, roedd angen milfeddygon ar y DU a oedd am weithio ym maes hylendid cig. Roedd y rhan fwyaf o filfeddygon yn y DU yn cael eu denu gan waith clinigol ac yn meddwl bod y rheiny sy\u2019n gweithio ym maes diogelwch bwyd neu mewn lladd-dai yn filfeddygon eilradd bron. (Serch hynny, gwnes i hyfforddi fel clinigwr a doeddwn i ddim eisiau bod yn filfeddyg i ofalu am selsig yn hytrach nag anifeiliaid!). Diolch byth, mae\u2019r farn hen ffasiwn nad yw\u2019r rhai sy\u2019n dewis gweithio i gefnogi iechyd y cyhoedd yn \u201cfilfeddygon go iawn\u201d yn newid."}, {"text_idx": "#000019", "text": "Gweithiais i bractisau preifat am rai blynyddoedd a phan ddaeth swydd wag yn y Gwasanaeth Hylendid Cig, gwnes i gais a chynigiwyd y swydd i mi. O ganlyniad, ymunais a\u0302\u2019r Gwasanaeth Sifil ym mis Awst 2001. Erbyn hyn, rwyf wedi gweithio fel milfeddyg yn y Gwasanaeth Sifil ers 22 mlynedd, a hynny wrth i\u2019r ASB droi\u2019n 23 oed."}, {"text_idx": "#000020", "text": "I ddechrau, roeddwn i\u2019n gweithio yn yr Is-adran Gweithrediadau. Fel rhan o\u2019r gwaith hwn, roeddwn yn ymweld a\u0302 sefydliadau cig yn bennaf i gynnal rheolaethau swyddogol, gwneud asesiadau cymeradwyo, ac arwain ti\u0302m o archwilwyr yn fwy diweddar. Gwnes i fwynhau\u2019r gwaith hwnnw. Rhoddodd sylfaen gadarn i mi ac, rwy\u2019n credu ei bod yn deg dweud, wybodaeth helaeth am y diwydiant cig a\u2019i fframwaith rheoleiddio."}, {"text_idx": "#000022", "text": "Mae ein ti\u0302m bach yn cynnwys milfeddygon o gefndiroedd amrywiol. Er ein bod yn rhannu ein gwaith mewn ffordd sy\u2019n sicrhau gwytnwch, mae gennym arbenigeddau sy\u2019n manteisio ar ein cryfderau. Mae\u2019r blynyddoedd o brofiad wedi fy mharatoi ar gyfer rhoi fy marn am bethau rwy\u2019n gwybod amdanynt. Rwy\u2019n dueddol o godi fy llais mewn trafodaethau, er fy mod i\u2019n berson swil (a allai beri syndod i rai)."}, {"text_idx": "#000023", "text": "Rwy\u2019n helpu i lunio polisi\u0308au hylendid cig a gweithredu fel cyflenwi cig Qurbani sydd wedi\u2019i oeri\u2019n rhannol. Mae bob amser sefyllfaoedd nad ydych wedi dod ar eu traws o\u2019r blaen. Cynghorwyr ydym wrth i ni gysylltu a\u0302 chyrff eraill y llywodraeth, a grwpiau o bobl sy\u2019n gweithio mewn meysydd eraill \u2013 mae\u2019n heriol ac yn ddiddorol!"}, {"text_idx": "#000024", "text": "Mae\u2019n fraint fawr dilyn yn o\u0302l-traed y rhai sydd wedi ennill y wobr Milfeddyg y Flwyddyn dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf, gan fod pob un ohonynt yn enillwyr haeddiannol. Rwy\u2019n bwriadu anrhydeddu\u2019r gydnabyddiaeth a hyrwyddo\u2019r gwaith nes i mi drosglwyddo\u2019r teitl i enillydd y flwyddyn nesaf."}, {"text_idx": "#000025", "text": "You may also be interested in:"}, {"text_idx": "#000029", "text": "Follow her on Twitter: @ChiefVetUK"}, {"text_idx": "#000030", "text": "Sign up and manage updates"}]