Passing The Torch : How APCOVE Turned a Trainee into a Mentor
Isnaniah Bagenda joined APCOVE’s first Field Epidemiology Training cohort while working as a government veterinarian in West Sulawesi, Indonesia. Her brucellosis research led to a presentation at ISVEE 17 in Sydney, and she has since returned to APCOVE as a mentor, supporting a new trainee’s anthrax control project. Here, Isnaniah shares how the training strengthened her work in animal health and helped her pass those skills on to others.
Tell us a bit about yourself
Warm greetings! My name is Isnaniah Bagenda. I participated in the first cohort of APCOVE Field Epidemiology Training and have been selected as a mentor for the second cohort.
I am a government veterinarian and Head of the Animal Health Center Unit in the Department of Plantation, Food Crops, Horticulture and Livestock of Polewali Mandar Regency, West Sulawesi, Indonesia. Together with fellow veterinarians and veterinary paramedics, I deliver animal health services across 16 subdistricts and 167 villages
My role includes overseeing disease control and responses to major contagious animal diseases and zoonotic threats. Our current priorities include rabies, African swine fever (ASF) and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
My commitment to applied epidemiology led me to complete the first APCOVE training program. The journey began with self-paced online learning and culminated in a four-week fellowship at the University of Melbourne and Murdoch University. I am grateful that the APCOVE team has since entrusted me with mentoring a participant in the second cohort.
Images: Trainer of Professional Development of First-Line Veterinary Paraprofessionals, East Kalimantan Provincial Animal Health Center meeting; AFKHI-RMCP; Oral Presentation at ISVEE 17 Sydney
What was the most important thing you learned from the APCOVE Field Epidemiology Training?
Participating in the first APCOVE cohort was a transformative experience. Learning from international epidemiology experts, completing six months of online training and undertaking a six-month field project strengthened my confidence and ability to control animal diseases in the field. The program also helped me combine practical experience with scientific principles and build connections across the Asia-Pacific region.
My field project, “Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Brucellosis Vaccination Program in Beef Cattle in Polewali Mandar Regency”, addressed rising brucellosis cases in the region. I am grateful to the APCOVE team for supporting my oral presentation at the 17th International Symposium on Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics (ISVEE 17) in Sydney. I have also presented the findings to the head of the local government to seek approval for implementation. Putting the findings to use in my community was my primary goal.
I am deeply grateful to the APCOVE team for entrusting me with a mentoring role in the second cohort. Working with my mentee, Dr Riska Wahyuni Alwi, a fellow veterinary professional in my operational area, has strengthened our ability to address the animal disease challenges facing our region.
We are delighted that Dr Riska successfully advanced through the field project selection stage. Her chosen theme directly addresses the critical challenges of anthrax control in our region.
Current activities involve finalizing the report draft, with the aim that its findings will support evidence-based anthrax control measures and help maintain the region’s zero-case status.
The spirit of collaboration and strong communication are the key drivers to successfully achieving the ultimate goals of this project
How have you applied or used these skills in your work?
After completing the first APCOVE training program, I felt more confident applying my skills in my work as a government veterinarian, particularly when responding to the many challenges of animal disease control.
Since joining the first cohort in 2022, I have received several awards. More recently, I passed a selection process and completed an intensive six-week online course. I now look forward to attending the International Rabies Course at the Institut Pasteur in Vietnam in October 2026, alongside seven participants from other countries.
One of the most rewarding aspects of mentoring in the second cohort has been the collaboration between mentors and trainees. Earlier this year, we worked together in the field during responses to African swine fever (ASF), highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and rabies outbreaks. We also applied data analysis skills gained through the APCOVE modules to prepare evidence for discussions with the local government and advocate for animal health as a priority.
We share what we have learned with veterinarians, veterinary paramedics and livestock farmers in our region through communication and education activities. We also exchange insights with colleagues in other areas and mentor veterinary students completing professional placements at the veterinary service centre.
Moving from trainee to mentor has broadened my professional perspective. Having completed the program myself, I can offer mentorship grounded in practical experience and an understanding of the challenges trainees face. For me, mentoring means helping trainees apply technical knowledge to local challenges and develop confidence in their ability to lead.
Images: Dr Isnaniah Bagenda and Dr. Riska Wahyuni Alwi (APCOVE trainee): Rabies Investigation (2026)
What advice would you give to current APCOVE trainees?
Make the most of this opportunity. APCOVE brings together practitioners and epidemiology experts from across the region. Reach out, ask questions and build lasting professional connections. The network you build may become an invaluable source of support during future animal health emergencies. Use the program to strengthen your problem-solving skills in the field. Choose a project that addresses a need in your local community, engage with fellow participants and mentors, and practise turning data into recommendations for decision-makers. By working together and applying what you learn, you can make a lasting contribution to animal health in Indonesia.
