Toronto conference feedback: Grant awardees

As a part of the student grants awarded yearly by the Student Section, four EAZWV student members were awarded grants to attend the Joint AAZV EAZWV Conference held in Toronto last September. Stay tuned for the presentation by the two in person grantees.

Paula Yagüez, who was awarded a 50% grant to register for the virtual conference writes:

The 2024 Joint AAZV/EAZWV Conference represents a significant milestone in the world of zoological and wildlife veterinary medicine. Key themes for the conference revolved around wildlife disease management, emerging infectious diseases, conservation medicine, and veterinary pathology. It provided a great opportunity for early-career professionals to engage with the profession and potentially create a network.

In my case, after six years of experience in small animal practice and finishing my MSc, I was eager to reconnect with the profession, meet professionals, and regain connections. The experience was incredibly enriching, allowing me to get up to speed on the research being conducted within the zoo environment. The plenary talks were very enlightening, covering topics such as Animal Welfare from a Nutritionist's Perspective, Contingency Plans for Zoos and Safari Parks, Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Applications to Zoo/Wildlife, and the Management of Behavioral Issues in Zoo Animals. These presentations provided me with a wealth of information to work with and inspired hopes of implementing them within my own conservation program one day.

Having recently developed an interest in pathology, I was particularly looking forward to the Diagnostics sessions that took place on Wednesday. My favorite talk was “Comparison between Manual and Automated White Blood Cell Differential Using the Cellavision DC-1V Analyzer in Seven Avian Orders,” as I had prior experience with white blood cell counts in raptors, and the research was conducted at Zoo de Beauval in France, which I hold close to my heart.

Overall, the experience was very positive, and I am incredibly grateful to the EAZWV student section for the grant, as I wouldn't have been able to attend without it. I hope to be able to attend the next conference in person, as the interaction is not the same when you are on the other side of the world.

 Esther Bernal who was also awarded a grant to register for the virtual conference writes: 

Dear Colleagues,  

First of all, I would like to thank the Association and all its members for the opportunity to participate in the virtual Conference through the grant.   At present, I am working to become a better veterinarian with dogs and cats, so for me, being able to attend the Conference was a thrill and connection to Wildlife 
World, which is my true passion.  A halo of expectation to continue delving into Animal and Nature Conservation in a real, biodiverse and updated way.  
From the Conference, I admire each person who in a few minutes shares years of work, experiences and numerous efforts with all of us, in the same way I admire each person who travels and changes the schedule to continue learning and progressing.  
The large compendium of presentations, ranging from megavertebrate species to corals, from analysis equipment to anaesthesia, show the broad and rich field of projects in which we are immersed and are part of, as well as the different perspectives in what the animal world is concerned.  
In general, the greatness, responsibility and concern for the living beings of our planet is the central axis of the Conference, which also enhances the importance of One Health.  
In particular, I would like to highlight Dr. Clauss’s on animal welfare from a nutritionist´s perspective as very thoughtful and pragmatic intervention.  

To conclude, I would like to paraphrase one of the many motivating sentences of the Conference: “We have the profession, and we do what most people wish they could do.” 
Thank you very much again.