BSAVA Congress – the event for the entire team

With well over 3000 delegates and over 250 exhibitors already registered just after Christmas, BSAVA Congress will once again bring the profession together in Birmingham this April – and thanks to a fresh approach to the science programme the organisers are convinced that there are relevant talks for the new vet, experienced general practitioner and practice manager, as well as for the keen VN and veterinary specialist. 

With over 300 lectures delivered by the world’s best speakers covering all experience stages, BSAVA is describing this as the event for the whole team. It is certainly a comprehensive programme, and alongside the time spent in the exhibition and the post event availability of the talks as podcasts you can meet your entire annual CPD requirement with Congress.

In recent year delegates at BSAVA Congress have asked for more intimate sessions where they can get closer to the experts and specialist speakers. This has led to a growth in Small Group Sessions and Practical sessions which will have limited numbers and offer a more informal learning environment than is normally available at these kind of large events.

What makes BSAVA Congress stand out from much of the event-based CPD on offer is that this is genuinely devised and developed by the profession for the profession. There are 11 vets and VNs on the Programme Committee and 15 on the Congress Committee, including practice managers, GPs, academics and specialists to ensure that every aspect of the profession is represented.

Following the success of last year, the 2013 Management programme has been expanded, with four streams running over three days in the Olympian Suite at the NIA. This allows the Sunday free for practice managers to access the industry expertise in the exhibition.

Another new development for 2013 is the Exhibitor Stream. BSAVA has a reputation for the variety of lectures by the best speakers. Of course, equally as essential are the companies who provide industry expertise and help fund the event. So BSAVA is providing Exhibitors the opportunity to cover the latest hot topics that relate to their area of expertise – and delegates the chance to engage with the latest industry innovations.

Of course for many of you, Congress is as much about the people as it is the science – and the social programme has plenty to guarantee it will be much talked in the weeks after the event.

There’s a special lecture from Richard Dawkins, Congress Banquet with its infamous fine and the unmissable Party Night which will feature comedy from Alan Davies, Chris Ramsey and Rhodri Rhys and music from The Noisettes – described by the Guardian as one of the UK’s best live bands.

The BSAVA Publications Stand forms part of the BSAVA Balcony in the exhibition hall at the NIA. New titles available this year will be the BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Neurology, 4th edition – with a DVD featuring over 100 video clips; and the BSAVA Manual of Exotic Pet and Wildlife Nursing.

BSAVA President Mark Johnston has a long relationship with Congress, as he reflects; ‘My first experience of the event was as a new graduate, getting up very early and travelling up from practice in South Wales to London. I was fascinated by the outstanding Commercial Exhibition with all the ‘state of the art’ equipment. I saw my first example of a computerised practice management system and wanted one straight away. All I had to do was persuade my boss to buy it! The lectures were outstanding and it was a great reunion of friends from College. Since then I have continued to visit the exhibition and learned as much from all the industry expertise in the NIA as I have from the invaluable CPD in the scientific programme.’

Mark continues to value Congress now as an owner of a small animal practice. ‘Now, as a boss I appreciate having such a resource that all the practice can attend and benefit from – without killing our CPD budget. Meeting up with old friends and networking is still very much bit part of the experience. The press conference at Congress is becoming an important feature of the event – allowing us to engage in serious debate and hold a conversation with colleagues on a wide range of topics – this year it will be genetic and inherited diseases, with an impressive panel that includes Sheila Crispin, Cathryn Melersh, Chris Laurence, Steve Dean and Aimee Llewellyn. A chance for the profession to talk about the positive things it is doing in terms of the science and treatment of genetic diseases – as well as talk about the dangers we face if we don’t continue to pursue a path of best practice and instead get diverted by the politics.’