The annual ECVO Congress was held on the 28th and 29th of May 2010 in the city of Berlin, for the first time in the history of the college. As usual, this meeting was open to everyone interested in animal ophthalmology. This was also the first year that the ECVO meeting was held separate from the Society (ESVO) with a new format that offered exciting possibilities. A total of 180 attendees from more than 27 countries came together in this vibrant, cosmopolitan and welcoming city to enjoy three days of scientific and social interaction with colleagues and friends. Click here for a link to the ECVO abstracts of 2010 through the Veterinary Ophthalmology Journal.
Attendees had the opportunity to become acquainted with the current trends in veterinary ophthalmology through a total of 25 oral presentations, a Hereditary Eye Disease session, 31 posters and ‘state of the art’ talks given by internationally renowned speakers. The guest speakers included Dr András Komáromy, DipACVO, DipECVO from the University of Pennsylvania (USA), Dr Frans C Stades, PhD, DipECVO, DVM (The Netherlands), Dr Ellen Bjerkås, DipECVO, University of Oslo (Norway), Dr Veit-Peter Gabel, Director, International Council of Ophthalmology Fellowship Program (Germany) and Dr Joseph C Wolfer DVM, DACVO, from the Animal Eye Clinic (Canada). In addition, the attendees also had the opportunity to visit the trade exhibition with a total of 9 exhibitors/sponsors that exhibited a wide range of ophthalmic equipment and related products for use in clinical ophthalmic practice.
The ECVO was proud to present Dr Frans C Stades with Honorary Membership for his work carried out over an inspiring and fruitful career in Veterinary Ophthalmology. A new Executive Committee was elected, with the main changes consisting of President Ingrid Allgoewer, Vice-President Gillian McLellan, Secretary Heidi Featherstone and our non-diplomate Administrator Sharon Green. Last but not least, the ECVO was proud to welcome four new members into our college. Stephanie Borer-Germann (Sch), Claudia Busse (D/UK), Ingrid Kraijer-Huver (NL) and Christine Watté (Be/Sch) brought the ECVO membership to 69 diplomates that practice in more than 13 European and non-European countries around the world. Later in the year, Simon Potts DACVO (Sch) also joined the College, rounding the count up to 70 members.
Since the 2010 Congress the ECVO has created the Communication Committee and launched a new website (www.ecvo.org). The website aims to increase communication between diplomates, residents and other veterinary professionals around the world in order to share information resources, disseminate scientific knowledge and promote veterinary ophthalmic education and multi-level collaboration. Remember that the abstracts for this and previous meetings are now available through a link in the website.
For further information on other previous and future ECVO Congresses please follow this link and visit our website regularly for updates.
Rick F Sanchez DipECVO
Chair of the Communication Committee