Sedef Yagmur Korkmaz Celik

Export Certification Experience – I work as an Official Veterinarian involved in the certification of a wide range of export consignments, including meat, dairy and animal by-products destined for third countries. My role involves verifying products on site, checking and completing export documentation in line with EHC and APHA requirements, and working closely with exporters and cold store teams to ensure compliance with both UK and importing country regulations. I also support the export process by identifying and resolving any discrepancies to ensure smooth and efficient certification of shipments.

• I began this role due to my experience in poultry meat inspection as a new graduate. I participated in workshops in Belgium focused on broiler production, and in Poland on Mycoplasmosis. Additionally, I completed a poultry health course at the Pirbright Institute and the University of Surrey in Guildford. I also visited APHA in Lasswade, where I learned key aspects of post-mortem procedures, sampling, and disease testing. My fieldwork primarily involves broiler production, game birds, and some cases of layers and free-range laying poultry. My responsibilities include managing zoonotic diseases, developing flock health plans, supporting clients for vaccinations, providing treatments, and ensuring welfare standards, all while considering client needs and adhering to the latest Lion Code and Red Tractor requirements. I have been in this role for nearly a year.

• I performed diagnostic imaging using X-rays and practiced veterinary medicine with a focus on preventive care, chronic disease management, and emergency medicine in small animals. My responsibilities included reviewing pet health histories, examining animals, conducting tests, and prescribing treatments for diagnosed conditions. I developed a personal veterinary practice specializing in preventive care and chronic disease management, effectively communicating diagnoses, prognoses, and treatment options to pet owners. I induced anesthesia via inhalation or injection, gathered health histories to identify root causes of medical issues, and advised owners on improving animal well-being. Additionally, I dressed wounds, prescribed medications to prevent infections, maintained detailed diagnosis and treatment records, collected blood samples for laboratory testing, diagnosed diseases, euthanized animals humanely, and quarantined infected animals to control disease spread.

• I conducted visual pre-operational hygiene checks in the slaughter houses (mainly pig, poultry, and cattle) to ensure the plant's cleaning schedule was effective and the facility was clean prior to production. I monitored the effectiveness of stunning, ensuring compliance with stun-to-sticking times and minimum bleed-out times. I observed the standards of carcass dressing and evisceration until the carcasses were ready for post-mortem inspection. During post-mortem inspections, I thoroughly examined green and red offals, as well as the interior and exterior of each animal, following prescribed guidelines. My detailed knowledge of pathologies, parasites, and conditions enabled me to assess the fitness of carcasses for human consumption.

• I maximized healing opportunities by providing clear and comprehensive home-care instructions to pet owners. I minimized animal stress and discomfort through effective handling and restraint techniques. Additionally, I conducted post-mortem examinations to diagnose causes of death and induced and maintained anesthesia in animals while operating surgical monitoring equipment to ensure patient stability. In emergency situations, I delivered treatment while continuously monitoring patient conditions to prevent deterioration.

• I assisted in research on E. Coli O157:H7 by collecting samples from carcasses, wool, and intestines, and helped with real-time PCR to identify specific E. Coli genes. Additionally, I contributed to the Disc Diffusion Method in another research project and learned techniques for collecting quantitative and qualitative data from milk and milk products, as well as how to incubate microbiological cultures.

• As an intern veterinarian, I assisted in small animal surgeries and was responsible for diagnostic and preventive medicine. I managed first opinion and emergency/critical care cases, minimizing animal stress and discomfort through effective handling and restraint techniques. Additionally, I engaged in discussions about disease mechanisms and conducted thorough reviews of case management plans for each patient.