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WSAVA 2007 Sydney Congress Highlights
The beautiful city of Sydney, Australia welcomed 2,048 delegates representing 67 countries during the 32nd WSAVA Congress held from August 19-23, 2007. The top 5 countries of attendee origin were Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the USA. The continuing education (CE) program was comprised of over 240 lectures (including 4 State-Of-The-Art Lectures or SOTALs) accommodated into 8 streams with over 23 disciplines presented by 70 speakers from 10 different countries. This was complemented by 95 oral or poster Abstract presentations and several Pre-Congress meetings that included the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS), a PennHIP training seminar, and a Triple Tibial Osteotomy workshop. As well, the Animal Welfare track continues as a Congress Highlight, attracting more attendees year-over-year. The Congress was supported by Prime Partner Hill’s, Partners Intervet, Fort Dogde, and Novartis, as well as over 80 other exhibitors within the Exhibition Hall.
Evenings were spent meeting old friends and making new ones at a variety of lively social events. The Opening Ceremonies took place on Sunday, August 19 at the Sydney Convention Centre and featured a didgeridoo performance, joined later by a trio of lively violinists called String Angels, as well as opening addresses by Drs. John Holt, Di Sheehan, and Brian Romberg, including presentation of the WSAVA Awards (see later). This was followed by a cocktail party in the Exhibit Hall that featured a variety of entertainers including a pair of human kangaroos and dancing geckos. Wednesday night played host to the Gala Evening, which featured wonderful Australian dishes complimented by superb regional wines followed by an evening of dancing that saw the dance floor crowded with revelers. The Closing Ceremonies wrapped up the Congress on Thursday afternoon and featured Irish Line Dancers and the Irish Congress organizing committee inviting guests to attend next year’s Congress in Dublin, Ireland on August 20-24, 2008. And all of this took place with the back drop of Sydney, including the iconic Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge (affectionately called “the Coat Hanger”), which many a brave attendee conquered during their memorable Sydney Bridge Climb. The Sydney Congress was a tremendous event, complimented by many pre, congress, and post-congress tours arranged by the Congress Organizing Committee, all of which will leave attendees with many fond and lasting memories.
WSAVA Assembly Meeting WSAVA President Dr. Brian Romberg welcomed the Assembly members after a 10-month hiatus since the last assembly meeting in Prague, Czech Republic on October 10, 2006. He provided assembly members updates from a very active WSAVA leadership, including the Executive Board and various committees, which he highlighted in his Congress President’s Message (see August WSAVA News).
An election of Officers was also held that included filling the Vice President vacancy created by Dr. Terry Lake’s resignation (prompted by the demands of his burgeoning political career in British Columbia, Canada) and also included the addition of Dr. Di Sheehan (following nomination by Australia) to the Executive Board in the position of Honorary Treasurer. The “new” Executive Board, pictured left to right, is now comprised of Drs. Luis Tello (Executive Board Member; Chile), Brian Romberg (President; South Africa), Anne Sorensen (Honorary Secretary; Denmark), Jolle Kirpensteijn (Vice President; Netherlands pictured in the back row), Di Sheehan (Honorary Treasurer; Australia), David Wadsworth (President Elect; UK), and Larry Dee (Immediate Past President; USA).
The assembly members voted in favour of accepting 4 new full member associations from Ecuador (AMVEPE), Morocco (AMVAC), Namibia (VAN), and the Philippines (PAHA), as well as one associate member from Albania. Additionally, Jeju, South Korea was chosen as the site for the 2011 WSAVA Congress.
Additional Assembly Meeting highlights included:
• A revised and more equitable fee structure that will reduce reliance on outside sponsorship dollars
• Acceptance of the 2008 budget
• Announcement of Hill’s as a long-term Prime Partner for the WSAVA Congresses
More details will be provided in the Assembly Minutes. Dr. Romberg's Assembly address Draft Assembly Meeting Minutes Additional Congress Highlights and Pictures VETCONTACT News 2007 WSAVA Award Winners Drs. Steven Ettinger, Craig Greene, Jody Lulich, and Peter Schawalder were this years recipeints of WSAVA Awards. Read more...
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