A Past President looks back
Claudio Brovida’s mandate as WSAVA President stretched over two-and-a-half
years, allowing time for “many interesting experiences concerning our profession
around the world”. He describes his presidential period as “a very unique
opportunity”.
“First of all the human experience has been unique. I found friendship
and enthusiasm everywhere; and I realise that there are not big differences
in the veterinary “behaviour” from the Colleagues from all over the Globe,
except perhaps those linked to local culture and traditions”. The problems,
too, are very similar, although they may vary according to the financial
situation.
Claudio and his wife Alessandra with a tiger cub during
their trip to Bangkok for the WSAVA Board meeting in March
Dr Claudio Brovida describes his mandate as very intensive, during which
the WSAVA Board developed several major projects.
Firstly, Claudio Brovida applauds “the incredible development of the
organisation of the Continuing Education Courses”, now reaching virtually
every corner of the World, including Central America and China. Another
highlight is “the strong improvement in the communication with our members
around the world”, both through the six-monthly newsletter, reaching over
60,000 colleagues worldwide, and the recent additions to the WSAVA website.
Furthermore, the WSAVA Committees have been very active, “in particular
the Committees for Animal Welfare and for Hereditary Defects”. |
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But the activity to which Claudio Brovida feels
closely related is the improved co-operation with colleagues from Academia.
“For the very first time we managed to bring together ten top scientists
form North America, Europe and Australia, in order to create the WSAVA
Liver Diseases and Pathology Standardisation Research Group, sponsored
by Hill’s Pet Nutrition”. Purpose of this group is to define general guidelines
to approach and classify the Liver problems. The final results will be
shown worldwide during the Bangkok World Congress in 2003. Similar projects
are under evaluation. “But these goals could only be reached thanks to
the enthusiastic input and support of the other WSAVA Board members, the
Committee members and the National representatives. From Panama City to
Osaka, from San Antonio to Bangkok as throughout Europe, I always found
enthusiasm, hospitality and friendship”. Regretting “not having been able
to visit all the places I wanted”, Claudio Brovida wishes to stress that
his devotion was nevertheless the same for all the members of the Association.
But however unique, it has not always been easy, combining private
practice (employing twenty veterinarians and support staff) and family
life – “all my spare time went to the Association”. Claudio is grateful
to his wife Alessandra for her patience and comprehension during the past
30 months. “Especially since we also moved house and welcomed a female
puppy “Niki”, to the household”. And the future? “For the first two years
I will remain on the board, assisting the new President to work for the
association in order to turn a lot of dreams into reality”.
Postcard from Granada
"Wish you were here!"
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The congress organisers have supplied all participants with a free
Garnada postcard, especially designed for this congress. Why not take the
opportunity and send one to your colleagues back home?
The folded format increases the space for writing while it allows for
discretion since the text is covered by the fold. The postage for this
type of postcard is as follows:
Spain (including Gibraltar and Andorra): 0,34 euro; Rest of Europe:
1,03 euro; Rest of world: 1,36 euro. |
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