Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

BEVA appoints new president for 2023-2024
David Rendle (left) is succeeded by Roger Smith (right) as president.
Roger Smith has taken over the role.

The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) has announced that Roger Smith has succeeded David Rendle as their new president.

Professor Roger Smith, a professor of equine orthopaedics at the Royal Veterinary College, took over the role following the BEVA Congress on 16 September.

Bruce Bladon has been named president-elect, and Imogen Burrows has taken the role of junior vice president.

Alongside his new title as president of the BEVA, Professor Smith is a diplomate of the European Colleges of Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation as well as a large animal imaging associate of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging.

In 2016 he awarded the Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for meritorious contribution to knowledge, and in 2017 he was elected president of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons.

During his forthcoming year as BEVA president, Professor Smith has announced his intentions to build the BEVA’s international community, building upon his predecessor’s work with affiliate memberships.

Professor Smith has also voiced his concerns that having no requirement for veterinary students to ‘see practice’ will make it harder to showcase the career, and has raised his plans to increase recruitment and retention through the development of a career plan and complementary activities to encourage new veterinary surgeons.

His presidency will see him aim to empower equine nurses, giving them more involvement with patients in a move he says will alleviate the pressures from the current shortage of qualified equine veterinary surgeons.

He has also said that he plans to continue working on the BEVA’s CPD programme.

Professor Smith will remain president for a year, before the role is passed to president-elect Bruce Bladon.

Professor Smith said: “I am honoured to become BEVA president,

“While it is tough following on from some very effective presidents in the past, not least the outgoing president, David Rendle, I am really looking forward to spending time promoting BEVA’s activities, thanks to support from my work colleagues and the Royal Veterinary College.”

Nicola Housby-Skeggs, Helen Bickerton and Angela Jones join the BEVA council, with Kate Blakeman and Safia Barakzai also re-elected to council.

Image © @JasSansi

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.