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WSAVA appoints new committee chairs
Ann Hohenhaus has been made chair of the WSAVA Oncology Working Group.
Four new chairs have been appointed to three committees.

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has appointed four new committee chairs.

Paulo Steagall and Jo Murrell are the new co-chairs of the WSAVA Global Pain Council, which focuses on eliminating the gap between pain incidence and pain treatment.

Dr Steagall is a professor of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia at the City University of Hong Kong. Dr Murrell works in referral practice in the UK and has previously been an academic at the University of Bristol, where she studied pain mechanisms and clinical analgesic protocols in dogs, cats, and horses.  

Ann Hohenhaus has been appointed as chair of the WSAVA Oncology Working Group, which works to raise awareness of effective and accessible treatments for cancer. Dr Hohenhaus has practised oncology at a veterinary centre in New York, USA, for more than 30 years.

Jane Sykes has been made chair of the WSAVA’s Scientific Committee, which makes sure that WSAVA clinical guidance and educational material is based on the best-possible scientific evidence. Dr Sykes is a professor at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine.

The WSAVA has 12 committees in total, each focusing on an area of companion animal practice. The committees create WSAVA Global Guidelines and other educational resources.

WSAVA president Ellen van Nierop said: “Our chairs lead their committees with great dedication and ensure that the resources and continuing education they create support our goals of setting global standards of care for companion animals and campaigning for change on key issues affecting our members.

“We’re delighted to welcome our new chairs and thank them for stepping up to serve our global veterinary community.”

Image © WSAVA

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BSAVA partners with BVA Live 2026

News Story 1
 BSAVA is to partner with BVA Live (11-12 June 2026) to champion clinical research.

The organisation will be supporting BVA Live's Clinical Abstracts programme, showcasing selected abstracts of veterinary research throughout the event.

The clinical abstracts can be on any small animal veterinary subject, and must be based on research undertaken in industry, practice or academia. Abstracts can be presented in poster or oral formats.

Submissions will open on 15th December 2025, and close on 6th March 2026. You can register interest here

Click here for more...
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Nominations open for RCVS and VN Council elections

The nomination period for the 2026 RCVS Council and VN Council elections is now open, with three veterinary surgeon seats and two veterinary nurse seats available.

Prospective candidates can download an information pack and nomination form from the RCVS website. Individuals can nominate themselves for the elections, with the results to be announced in the spring.

Clare Paget, the recently appointed RCVS Registrar and elections returning officer, said: "If you want to play your part in influencing and moulding how the professions are regulated, and making key decisions on matters of great importance to your peers, the public and animal health and welfare, please consider standing for RCVS Council or VN Council next year."

Nominations close at 5pm on Saturday, 31 January 2026.