The WSAVA Continuing Education (CE) programme was started over 20 years ago. Initially WSAVA and FECAVA joined forces to provide post graduate education in the emerging countries of Eastern Europe and the Baltic States. The pilot programme was targeted at six countries and from these beginnings, a series of meetings has developed that spans five continents and includes forty one countries.
WSAVA CE has been strongly supported by sponsors, whose enthusiasm and financial commitment has enabled the programme to flourish Member Associations, Affiliate Member Associations and National Associations have also given generously of their time, money and personnel to assist the scheme. BSAVA (UK), NACAM (The Netherlands), NSAVA (Norway), ASAVA (Australia) and GVDE (Global Veterinary Dermatology Group), SVK & ACVD are currently generous sponsors.
Vision
The committee strives to help the local organizers increase their skills in preparing meetings with the aim of developing self-sufficiency and the ability to provide their own CE meetings, and promote companion animal veterinary activities among their members. This will increase the value and promote membership in the local associations, thereby supporting local benefits and sustainability.
Mission
The goal of WSAVA CE is to provide practical, relevant and inspiring CE that assists general practitioners solve clinical problems regardless of the size and sophistication of their practice.
Objectives
- The purpose of the scheme is to encourage both learning and professional development for companion animal practitioners and to assist member associations develop their own self sufficiency in continuing education programmes.
- The funding of WSAVA CE meetings in emerging companion animal markets is aimed to “prime the pump” of CE programmes for the recipient country.
- The support varies from full financial support for meetings for countries who are currently not in a position to support CE meetings featuring international speakers to partial financial support for countries whose CE programmes are more established but yet not yet fully self sufficient.
Chair(s)
Dr Jane Armstrong
Location: Canada
Biography
P. Jane Armstrong, DVM, MS, MBA
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
Dr. Jane Armstrong is a graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College in Canada. After pursuing advanced clinical and research training at the University of Illinois and Michigan State University, she joined the faculty at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. In 1991, she became a Professor in the Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department, University of Minnesota and later completed a Masters of Business Administration at the Carlson School of Management. Her clinical and research interests within internal medicine are diverse, but have focused primarily on clinical nutrition and gastrointestinal disorders. She has lectured internationally on these and other topics. She spent 2007 on sabbatical in Brisbane and Copenhagen doing collaborative research on feline obesity. She has authored over 125 refereed publications and book chapters, and participated in numerous review and advisory panels. Dr. Armstrong holds board certification in the ACVIM, and has served on multiple committees for that organization, including chairing the ACVIM Forum Committee. She is the immediate Past-President, and currently Past-Chair, of the ACVIM Board of Regents. She joined Nestlé Purina from 2016-2020 as External Relations Director for the Purina Institute, working with the research and development team to raise awareness of the Purina’s scientific innovations in pet nutrition, health and wellness. In that role, Jane had the opportunity to work with the WSAVA leadership and several committees. She is honoured by her recent appointment as Chair of the WSAVA Continuing Education Committee.
After leaving the University of Minnesota in 2015, Jane and her partner, Earl, moved to the west coast of Canada, where they live with two Australian Labradoodles and one cat. Her two daughters are, respectively, studying in Colorado and working in New York City. Jane is passionate about ocean swimming, and also enjoys hiking, kayaking, travelling, and gardening.
Committees
Continuing Education Committee(CEC): Chairperson
Members
Dr Makarand Chavan
Regional Coordinator - South Asia
DOB-- 22nd September 1976 , Born and brought up in Mumbai., . Graduated from Bombay Veterinary College, in 1998. (BVSC & AH) Finished Masters in Veterinary Gynecology in 2001.(MVSc), from Bombay Veterinary College. Stood First in university and won Gold medal in the overall masters program in University. Bombay Gowraksha Mandali Scholarship during masters Programme. Headed team of vets to Bhuj, Gujarat in 2001 after the earthquake and treated and rescued hundreds of animals ., in disaster management Initiative., of BSPCA. Volunteer for IDA from 1997 till 2011.. ( In defene of Animals) Worked with WSD as a Physician for year 1999.(Welfare of Stray Dogs) Visiting surgeon for IDA and WSD from 2001.till today. Managing committee member of IDA from 2002.till today. Visiting surgeon for BSPCA from 2008.to 2012 Managing committee Member of Bombay Veterinary College Alumni Association ( BVCAA) Successfully performed 45,000 ABC surgeries in various NGOS., on stray animals. Successfully performed more than 5000 various soft tissue surgeries at many clinics in Mumbai and Thane and own clinic as well. Managing committee member and Hon Secretary of Pet Practitioners Association of Mumbai (PPAM) from 2008 till today. Executive Council member and General Secretary of Federation of Small Animal Practitioners India(FSAPAI) from 2012 till today. WSAVA India Representative, from 2013, till today. Conducted regular workshops for volunteers of NGOs in Mumbai on first Aid. Conducted corporate trainings for SAVA , Zoetis and Bayer. Presented articles on : Status of Heart Worm in India at Penang Malaysia, at Asia Pacific CVBD Conference., 2013. Delivered Lecture: on Effective control of ectoparasites in Indian Subcontinent conditions at Asia Pacific CVBD Conference., 2013 Participated in , discussions and brainstorming events at WSAVA Assembly and invited quality International speakers to India for up gradation of skill and knowledge of pet practitioners in India. Arranged and participated in hands on trainings and CE events for 15 years. Leading Practitioner at Dogs & Cats Veterinary Clinic , at Shivaji Park, Dadar, Mumbai for 15 years, with team of 4 vets (2Physicians, an Ophthalmic Surgeon and a Microbiologist).
Dr Derick Chibeu
Regional Coordinator Assistant - Southern Africa
Derick graduated from the University of Nairobi’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in 1997 and am Honorary Secretary of the Kenya Small and Companion Animal Veterinary Association (KESCAVA). He works as a veterinary clinician/surgeon in a four-vet general practice (with a bias for dogs, cats and horses) in the Karen suburb of Nairobi, Kenya.
Dr Olatunji Nasir
Regional Coordinator - West Africa
Dr Chaiyot Tanrattana
Regional Coordinator - South East Asia
Dr Lea Kreszinger
Dr Oscar Umaña
Executive Board Liaison
Dr. Oscar Umaña is a Honduran Veterinarian who graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Nacional in Costa Rica. He also obtained an MBA degree from INCAE Business School in Nicaragua.
Dr. Umaña co-founded Veterinarios Asociados with his brother in Managua Nicaragua and is also co-owner of a five vet practice with the same name in San José Costa Rica. He is also a partner at Consulab a Veterinary Clinical Laboratory that provides services both in small animal practice as well as in the large animal and avian division.
Oscar and other colleagues joined to form MEVEPES (Costa Rican Small Animal Veterinary Association) in 2013. Dr. Umaña is currently the treasurer and representative for WSAVA on behalf of MEVEPES.