The 44th World Small Animal Veterinary Association World Congress 2019, organized in collaboration with the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, welcomed more than 2,200 veterinary professionals from 80 countries in Toronto aiming to advance the health and welfare of companion animals worldwide while celebrating the 60th anniversary of the association.
The 2019 event had firm focus on education with over 50 different streams covering three levels of education, with topics on soft tissue surgery, diagnostic imaging, pain, dentistry, welfare, vet techs, microbiomed, exotic animals, professional wellness, shelter medicine, and more, in sessions supported by WSAVA, CVMA, and other affiliated societies.
As each edition of the congress, there was a highlight on one of WSAVA’s committee groups. In Toronto, there was a presentation of the initial findings of the first study of global veterinary wellness, undertaken by the WSAVA’s Professional Wellness Group.
The WSAVA Therapeutics Guideline Group has developed a list of essential veterinary medicines as a minimum standard, as to what should be available for a veterinary pharmacy regardless of where a veterinarian practices in the world. This list was shared with VIPs and dignitaries from the global veterinarian community during a Veterinary Leadership Summit on July 17.
The WSAVA Congress saw the presentation of the WSAVA’s Annual Awards. They included the presentation of the prestigious Global One Health Award to Dr Michelle Lim, a Canadian veterinarian and founder of the Community Veterinary Outreach charity. Its veterinary volunteers care for the animals of homeless and vulnerable people while its human health partners provide preventative health care, education, and support to their owners.
“WSAVA 2019 showed the power of working in collaboration between societies, but also with partners and suppliers alike,” says Perry Gil-Ran, director of client accounts at Kenes Group. “The event was very smooth, and it was precisely because everyone involved—from the destination, through the venue, to the last supplier—understood well the goal of the event and worked to achieve it. I am happy that our team at Kenes was once again a part of WSAVA’s success”.
With five new members, at its 60th anniversary WSAVA, represents 113 veterinary associations and more than 200,000 individual companion animal veterinarians around the world.
Kenes is passionate about delivering superior, world-class conferences. Over 50 years of knowledge and market expertise have led Kenes Group to the forefront of global conference management and ranked among the world’s leading Professional Conference Organisers (PCOs). Kenes brings accrued confidence that comes from hosting more than 3,600 conferences around the globe, for over 160,000 participants a year. Founded in Tel Aviv in 1965, and headquartered in Geneva, Kenes Group is the only global PCO dedicated to medical and scientific events. The company boasts a team of over 350 professionals, in 18 offices on four continents, and more than 100 long term clients. For more info, visit www.kenes.com.
WSAVA aims to advance the health and welfare of companion animals worldwide through creating an educated, committed and collaborative global community of veterinary peers. Its core activities include the creation of Global Guidelines which set standards for veterinary care and providing continuing education (CE) and other educational resources for its members, particularly those in which companion animal veterinary care is still emerging. It currently represents more than 200,000 veterinarians through 113-member associations. Its annual World Congress brings together globally respected experts to offer cutting edge thinking on all aspects of companion animal veterinary care. For more info, visit www.wsava.org.
