Taking place in the heart of Liverpool at the ACC arena, the annual British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) Congress is back from 8 to 10 September 2022. For those who cannot attend in person, BEVA is offering a virtual conference with selected sessions from the main congress programme live-streamed for online access.
With five concurrent scientific streams – including the return of clinical research presentations after a hiatus due to COVID-19 – this year’s congress is set to push boundaries, delivering updates on the latest world-leading clinical developments in equine practice. In championing the equine profession, BEVA is celebrating its 60th year and the diverse opportunities the profession offers while exploring the non-clinical challenges the profession faces, including recruitment, retention and work-life balance.
We need to empower the vet and individual to be their best self, but also to be satisfied and happy
Describing the choice of theme for the 2022 congress with us, BEVA President Huw Griffiths said: “The veterinary industry is having a problem with retention. It is important to champion what vets are doing and doing very well. We put ourselves under pressure to do the best we can do, often judging ourselves very harshly, which can lead to frustration and a lack of satisfaction professionally.
“I want to drive home the message that we are already doing very well and don’t need our endless self-questioning. We need to empower the vet and individual to be their best self, but also to be satisfied and happy.”
Attending in-person
Lectures run from 8.20am to 5.30pm each day, with three full days of content offering over 90 hours of CPD training.
This year’s opening address features two plenary lectures. In the first, Pat McCrue will provide a retrospective on the events that have shaped current practice in equine reproductive medicine. The second plenary – and inaugural Dr Peter Rossdale Memorial Lecture – will be presented by Celia Marr, who will focus on evidence in equine perinatology.
Testament to the all-encompassing theme, Lucy Grieve will chair the “How to…” session on day one, with presentations ranging from how to support a colleague struggling with mental health by Carolyne Crowe to how to place a subpalpebral lavage system by Mike Hewetson, while Justine Shotton sets the bar for sustainability, exploring how equine practice may help save the planet.
Also on day one, Andy Fiske-Jackson will explore whether objective gait analysis helps or hinders in cases of multi-limb lameness. He will also deliver a presentation in the imaging session on day two, highlighting techniques to maximise ultrasonographic imaging of the digital flexor tendon sheath.
Malcolm Morley will chair the “Professional jugglers” session on day three, with insights on practice management and balancing family life with professional expectations, while one of the final sessions of the congress will take a prospective look at equine practice in 2030, including presentations by Kathy Uprichard on the pop-up practice and the US equine perspective by Amy Grice.
Virtual congress
Selected sessions from the main programme will be live-streamed for those unable to attend in person. These will include a session chaired by Dave Rendle on pathology, discussing how to make the most of your diagnostics with applications for atypical myopathy and neuromuscular disease. In addition, sessions across ambulatory ophthalmology, gastroenterology, dentistry and general surgery will be live-streamed, providing virtual content on a variety of interests and specialities.
In a continued focus on sustainability this year, BEVA Congress is pushing boundaries by hosting a carbon-neutral session on Thursday afternoon. “We have a horizontal session, running across the five scientific streams, with 25 international experts presenting virtually and simultaneously, with no carbon footprint – it’s trail-blazing,” says Huw. All of the presentations and discussion will be live to maximise the learning opportunity.
We have a horizontal session, running across the five scientific streams, with 25 international experts presenting virtually and simultaneously, with no carbon footprint
This includes a session on nursing across the world, chaired by Rosina Lilywhite, bringing a wide range of insights on international nursing, from cultural differences in Middle Eastern equine nursing by Sarah Baillie to the challenges faced in American equine medicine by Andrea White. Sarah will also present on the opportunities the equine industry offers for veterinary nurses.
Interviews and exclusive content will be added to the virtual platform, with all of the main programme being recorded for access via the platform for six weeks post-congress.
Further information
Socials and awards
Do you want the chance to catch up with old colleagues and keep talking with new acquaintances? “It’s important to learn and laugh together, especially as this is the first time the equine family will be back together post-COVID,” Huw says, commenting on the weightier social elements of this year’s congress.
There will be welcome drinks held at the ACC on Wednesday 7 September from 7.30pm to 9pm with tickets from £15. The annual dinner dance will be held at St George’s Hall on Friday 9 September from 7.30pm with tickets from £79.
The BEVA Equine Welfare Award sponsored by the Blue Cross, which recognises individuals who have made a significant contribution to equine welfare, will be awarded during the annual general meeting on Thursday 8 September. Other awards include the Richard Hartley Clinical Award and the Peter Rossdale EVJ Open Award, both recognising excellence in research contribution.
Further details on the socials and the numerous other awards can be found on the BEVA Congress website.
Exhibition
There will be over 100 exhibitors at the exhibition, giving you the opportunity to browse specialist stands, exhibits and attractions. Exhibitors will showcase the most recent products and innovations and give you the opportunity to speak with the suppliers, referral practices and organisations interacting with the equine sector.
Sustainability
BEVA is committed to sustainability with all relevant information – including fliers from delegate bags – made available through the congress app, allowing reductions in waste. Delegates will also be provided with a hot lunch to reduce waste from packed lunches and disposable cutlery. This year BEVA’s lanyards will be made from environmentally responsible PET material – making use of recycled plastic.
More information about ticket prices, BEVA member discounted rates and the congress programme can be found on the BEVA website. FAQs regarding travelling to the ACC arena, CPD hours and more can be accessed on the website.
