Vets In A Changing Environment - British Veterinary Association Congress 2008, 25 - 27 September, Royal College Of Physicians, London

Main Category: Veterinary
Article Date: 02 Jul 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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With climate change having taken a central position on the world's agenda and the arrival of bluetongue having all too vividly demonstrated how climate change can impact directly on Britain's animal health, delegates at this year's BVA Congress will have an opportunity to hear Professor Robert Watson, Defra's Chief Scientific Adviser, set out the challenges ahead for the profession. Bluetongue is seen by some as a harbinger of worse to come, and with Defra having listed work on new and emerging diseases as one of its priorities for research, Professor Watson's Wooldridge Memorial Lecture 'Climate change: the global challenge' should prove thought-provoking.

The Congress programme also offers plenty for the small animal and equine practitioner, as well as those working with wildlife, in practice management or considering working in developing countries.The BSAVA have organised a programme covering ophthalmology and orthopaedics, while the Royal Veterinary College feature 'managing the cardiac patient - new horizons'. BEVA will be looking at field equine dentistry and legal issues and BVZS at topical aspects of captive wildlife management, while SPVS will be up-beat on the future of farm animal practice as well as offering advice on retirement strategies and planning for individuals and practices as well as inspirational leadership and self-motivation. The BVA Overseas Group programme features empowerment through livestock and the human/animal bond, health and interdependence.

The popular BVA contentious issues programme, including debates on 'Cull or let live?', cost and responsibility sharing, 'Adapting to the new environment - how vets can help', 'Better regulation on medicines' and 'Training the next generation' - from the perspective of recent graduates, the veterinary schools and practice will be complemented by a number of divisional sessions including BCVA on health management delivery and SVS on flock health planning, the Association of Government Veterinarians on notifiable disease control and 'Farm to fork: leading the integrated production progress', AVTRW on veterinary students and EMS; university and practice working together and LAVA on 'Animals in research - working for the benefit of animals'.

This year's Congress will be held in the heart of London, at the Royal College of Physicians by Regents Park, a venue which offers exceptional conference, meeting and banqueting facilities with convenient links to transport on its doorstep. Having returned to London, BVA Congress will also make use of some of the facilities the capital has to offer with the Party Night at the world famous Café Royal and the Congress Banquet at Stationers Hall, one of the few ancient livery halls remaining in the City of London and certainly one of the most beautiful.

1. For further information please contact the BVA Press Office on 020 7636 6541 or email media@bva.co.uk. You can see the full Congress programme at .bva.co.uk/congress/programme/index.asp

2. The following organisations will be running CPD sessions at Congress:

-- Association of Government Veterinarians (AGV)
-- Association for Veterinary Teaching and Research Work (AVTRW)
-- British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA)
-- British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA)
-- British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) Metropolitan Region
-- British Veterinary Zoological Society (BVZS)
-- BVA Overseas Group
-- Laboratory Animals Veterinary Association (LAVA)
-- Royal Veterinary College (RVC)
-- Sheep Veterinary Society (SVS)
-- Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS)
British Veterinary Association
www.bva.co.uk