2024 New Graduates’ Symposium

Pawfect Beginnings

Launching Veterinarians into Success

Discover the latest as a new or recent graduate!

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Take the stress out of being a new grad Elevate your expertise Learn from the top professionals Overcome Career Obstacles That Graduation Couldn't Prepare You For Quality continuing professional development— completely FREE Be practice-ready!

Live Lecture Schedule

Under GA, Under Pressure: Managing Intraoperative Hypotension


Speaker: Delphine Holopherne-Doran DVM, MSc, PhD, DipECVAA, AFHEA

Hypotension is one of the most common complication of general anaesthesia in small animal patients. After reviewing the causes and potential consequences of intraoperative hypotension, this talks offer a comprehensive step by step approach to its management, from accurate measurement of the blood pressure to the use of vasopressors.

Approach to the Pruritic Dog


Speaker: Natalie Barnard BVetMed CertVD DipECVD MRCVS

The lecture will discuss the different causes of pruritus in the dog and how we approach these cases and investigate them to identify the cause. It will cover ectoparasites, infections and dietary trials as well as atopic dermatitis.

How to Approach Syncope in Cats and Dogs


Speaker: Liz Bode BVSc PhD DipECVIM-CA (cardio) FHEA FRCVS

This lecture will define terms such as collapse and syncope. It will cover the pathophysiology of syncope of a variety of types followed by a logical diagnostic approach. This lecture is complemented by several videos demonstrating various types of collapse or syncope to emphasise the content.

A Practical Approach to the Coughing Dog


Speaker: Guillaume Ruiz DMV CEAV-MI DipECVIM -CA (Internal medicine) MRCVS

This lecture will go through the basic pathophysiology of the cough, different causes, different clinical presentations with associated videos, and how to practically approach these cases.

Epileptic Seizures and their Mimics


Speaker: Laurent Garosi DVM, Dip ECVN, FRCVS

Epileptic seizures are one of the most common neurological presentation in dogs and cats. They can be generalized or partial depending on the brain being affected on both sides from the start or only in one specific area respectively. Although increasingly being recognized, paroxysmal dyskinesias (PDs) are often poorly characterised in the veterinary literature and are commonly mistaken for an epileptic seizure, both by owners and by vets. PDs are episodic movement disorders in which abnormal movements are present only during attacks. Between attacks, dogs are neurologically normal and there is no loss of consciousness during the attacks, though some dogs find the episodes disconcerting and do not respond normally. The attacks can last anything from a few minutes to a couple of hours and can sometime occur in clusters. Dogs and people with PD are therefore often misdiagnosed as having unusual epileptic seizures (in some types of seizure, the patient remains conscious – as in an attack of PD). Other mimics of epileptic seizures can be non-neurological (e.g. metabolic or cardiovascular events such as syncope) or neurological (myokymia, narcolepsy/cataplexy, vestibular attack and exercise-induced collapse syndrome). Correct identification of the exact nature of the paroxysmal event is therefore fundamental. A thorough description of the event, especially if supported by video footage, can provide important information about the speed of onset of neurological signs, potential loss of consciousness/awareness during the events and type of activity the patient was performing at the time of the ‘episode’.

What I Wish I Knew as a New Grad on Day 1


Speaker: Jenny Brown Bsc(Hons) BVM&S(dist) MSc GPCert(FelPr) PgC SADI MANZCVS(Medicine of Cats) MRCVS

In this lecture, Jenny will draw on her experience to reflect on what she wishes she knew on day 1, including: · Remember your why (what matters to you) · You know everything you need to clinically (and you can learn the rest) · Failing well (because it will happen) · Tips on client communication (what matters to your clients) · Look after your team (and they will look after you) · Take opportunities as they arise (don’t be afraid to change your plan) · Don’t forget who you are (the importance of work life balance)

Our Speakers

Don’t wait and struggle! Get all your questions answered from expert veterinary professionals in live, fully-interactive sessions online!

Delphine Holopherne-Doran

DVM, MSc, PhD, DipECVAA, AFHEA

Delphine graduated from Maisons-Alfort (Paris) vet school in 1998. Initial time working as an equine vet led her to discover a strong interest for veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia. She decided to pursue her passion for this discipline at the veterinary school in Nantes where she ran the Anaesthesia department for 11 years. During this time, she gained a masters degree and a PhD in cardiovascular pharmacology and completed a residency gaining the European board certification in anaesthesia and analgesia, which included training in many different universities all over the world, including the University of Bristol.

She left France to return to the University of Bristol in 2012, where she worked as a teaching fellow in veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia for five years before starting at Highcroft Veterinary Referrals in 2017. In 2018, she also became clinical director and has led the Highcroft team ever since, through to their new BVS adventure!

Natalie Barnard

BVetMed CertVD DipECVD MRCVS

Natalie graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2001. She spent 2 years in general practice before returning to the RVC to undertake a 3-year Residency in Veterinary Dermatology. She attained her RCVS Certificate in Veterinary Dermatology in 2006 and her European Diploma in Veterinary Dermatology 2009.

Natalie has worked at The Animal Health Trust, Langford Veterinary Services and Eastcott Referrals, prior to joining the team at Bristol Vet Specialists in 2018. As well as being an experienced clinical dermatologist she also currently heads up the VetOracle Teledermatology Service

Natalie enjoys all aspects of dermatology, but her passions are feline dermatology and allergic skin and ear disease in dogs.

Guillaume Ruiz

DVM CEAV-MI DipECVIM -CA (Internal medicine) MRCVS

Guillaume graduated from the Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, near Paris, in 2009. He then completed a small animal rotating internship followed by 3 years as a medicine clinician in the same school, during which he obtained the French certificate of advanced practice in small animal Internal Medicine (CEAV-MI). After that, he worked in first opinion and private referral centres for a year before moving to the UK to undergo a residency at Langford Vets – University of Bristol. He became an EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine in 2018 and an RCVS Recognised Specialist in 2020. Guillaume joined Highcroft Veterinary Referrals (now BVS) in April 2018.

He enjoys all aspects of Internal Medicine but has a particular interest in gastroenterology and endoscopic procedures and is a member of the European Society of Comparative Gastroenterology (ESCG). Guillaume is a ‘Cat advocate’ at BVS and works with the team to ensure that we provide the best possible care and stress-free environment to our feline patients, following the recommendations and guidelines of the International Cat Care.

Liz Bode

BVSc PhD DipECVIM-CA (cardio) FHEA FRCVS
Specialist in cardiology and Clinical Director at Chestergates Veterinary Specialists, CVS Ltd.

Liz graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2006. She started out in mixed practice before undertaking a rotating internship at the Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital, University of Cambridge. Following this she embarked on a PhD at the University of Manchester and was awarded her doctorate in 2013 for her thesis on cardiac calcium handling in heart failure and ageing.

After a further period in small animal practice, Liz started her residency in small animal cardiology at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh in 2014. She then joined the University of Liverpool’s Small Animal Teaching Hospital in 2016 as a senior lecturer, and was successful in achieving her specialist status in 2017. She joined Chestergates Veterinary Specialists in 2020, setting up a new cardiology service and is currently Clinical Director. Liz is also a Director of the Veterinary Thought Exchange. In 2022 Liz was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for meritorious contributions to clinical practice.

Laurent Garosi

DVM, FRCVS, DipECVN – RCVS & EBVS® European recognised specialist in veterinary neurology

Laurent is a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Neurology (ECVN), RCVS/European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology and Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeon by meritorious contribution to clinical practice. He is currently clinical director of a Teleradiology company called Vet Oracle, the first of its kind, offering off-site neuro-imaging (MRI and CT) and neurology/neurosurgery specialist advice across the globe as well as general imaging. His main clinical and research interests are cerebrovascular diseases, neuro-imaging, paroxysmal dyskinesia and feline neurology.

Laurent has published widely in the field of neurology and is a regular speaker on the national and international continuing education circuit. He is past president of the ECVN, past chief examiner of the ECVN examination committee, co-founder of the Facebook page Veterinary Neurology and co-editor with Simon Platt of a textbook on Small Animal Neurological Emergencies. He is the 2021 recipient of the WSAVA best speaker of the year and 2022 recipient of the BSAVA Bourgelat award for truly outstanding international contribution to the field of small animal practice.

Jenny Brown

Bsc(Hons) BVM&S(dist) MSc GPCert(FelPr) PgC SADI MANZCVS(Medicine of Cats) MRCVS

Jenny graduated as a vet from Edinburgh University in 2004 and then spent 19 years working in first opinion small animal practice, developing both her clinical and leadership interests. Having gained RCVS Advanced Practitioner status in Small Animal Medicine – Feline, Veterinary Anaesthesia and Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging, she felt it was time to further develop her leadership skills. In October 2023 she moved to the referral sector, taking the role of Hospital Director at Lumbry Park Veterinary Specialists, a large multidisciplinary referral hospital in Hampshire, UK. Jenny is interested in human factors, improving patient safety, what makes veterinary teams perform effectively and anything to do with cats.

Outside of work, Jenny is a British Cycling coach, and spends most Saturdays coaching children, including her two, at the local cycling club, or cycling herself.

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