USAVA Congress 2025

Reto Neiger

German

Reto Neiger taught for four years at the Royal Veterinary College in London, after which he was a professor and head of the Department of Small Animal Internal Medicine at the University of Giessen, Germany, for three years. From 2017 to the end of 2019, he worked as an internal medicine specialist at the largest private small animal clinic in Hofheim, Germany. Since December 2019, he has been the Medical Director of IVC Evidensia DACH, the largest veterinary group in the world. Reto Neiger is also a Diplomate of the American and European Colleges of Veterinary Internal Medicine and is passionate about teaching all aspects of internal medicine, including endoscopy!

Topics

• Chronic kidney disease
• Urinary tract infection
• Proteinuria Laboratory diagnosis of infectious diseases
• Hyperproteinaemia
• Hyperthyroidism

Janet Martin

USA

Dr Janet Martin grew up in Massachusetts near Boston where she obtained her doctoral degree in veterinary medicine from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. She also completed two post-graduate specialty internships, one in small animal surgery, and one in zoo and wildlife medicine. After completing her studies, she worked as a zoo veterinarian at the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, Rhode Island. There she spent her days caring for everything from frogs to elephants. Zoo work also took her to the Melbourne Zoo in Australia, where she developed a passion for marsupial species, and deep into the cloud forests of Papua New Guinea as a field research veterinarian for a tree kangaroo conservation project. After 10 years working in the zoo world, she returned to Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine to help lead projects on rabies control in wildlife species, and wildlife disease surveillance. 

Finally following an interest in animal welfare and desiring to make an impact on the tragedy of pet overpopulation, she joined the newly developing field of Shelter Medicine and performed spay/neuter surgery and advised on shelter medicine issues at several animal shelters in Massachusetts. In 2011 she and her husband relocated 1600 km south to Athens, Georgia where she continues to practice shelter medicine, first serving as Medical Director of the local humane society clinic and animal shelter, and now performing sterilization surgeries in the private practice setting and assisting a local non-profit organization in bringing veterinary services to pets in local low-income communities. She also obtained training in veterinary disaster response and has joined response teams in the US Virgin Islands after a devastating hurricane, in NYC after the 9/11 World Trade Center attack, and in Great Britain during the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak.

She continues to travel internationally and has assisted colleagues in spay/neuter and animal shelter programs in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, India and Romania. She lives happily in a little house in the woods with her wonderful husband with their 3 sweet dogs and 2 mischievous cats!

Topics:

• Different models of social clinics – who is served, how services are provided.
• Services and care – what is the purpose of the clinic, what is offered for care, how to assess the needs of the population served.
• Medical supplies and equipment needed to provide services.
• Financing – options for cost savings and cost sharing, pricing, and fundraising.

Dr. Jörg Mayer

USA

Dr. Jörg Mayer grew up in Germany, where he received his primary education. He traveled to Budapest/Hungary to study veterinary medicine shortly after the fall of the Iron Curtain. During his studies, he was lucky enough to work with veterinarians in South Africa and Namibia for 6 months. He has always had a strong interest in exotic animal medicine. After obtaining his doctorate from the University of Budapest (Hungary), he went to the United States for an internship in Zoological Medicine and Surgery at the Roger Williams Zoo in Providence, Rhode Island, Park Zoo in Providence, Rhode Island. At the end of his internship, he was part of a research team that spent 3 months studying wild tree kangaroos in the rainforests of Papua New Guinea.

After this exciting experience, he enrolled at the Royal Veterinary College in London/England to pursue a Master of Science in Wildlife Health. His master’s project, which focused on lead toxicity in the common loon, led him to the Tufts Wildlife Clinic in the United States. There, he was hired as a clinical assistant professor and head of the clinical service for exotic animals. clinical service for exotic animals. After 10 years at Tufts University, he moved to Athens, Georgia in 2010. He is currently a Professor of Zoological Medicine at UGA. He regularly lectures at major national and international conferences on all aspects of exotic animal medicine, including honeybee medicine.

Dr. Meyer graduated from the American Board of Veterinary Medicine with the first class of exotic companion mammal specialists and is a Diplomate of the American and European Colleges of Zoological Medicine. In 2010-2012, he was the President of the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians. Since 2012, he is also a Fulbright International Specialist in Zoological Medicine. Dr. Meyer has published many scientific articles and book chapters, some of which have been translated into French, Spanish and Portuguese. His most recent book, Veterinary Clinical Handbook for Birds and Exotic Pets, was published in early 2013 and contains over 750 pages.

In 2013 and 2024, he received the Exotic Speaker of the Year award from NAVC. In 2018, he was recognized at the Western Veterinary Conference as the Exotic Continuing Education Educator of the Year. In 2016, he received the Oxbow/AEMV Exotic Mammal Health Award, an annual honor that recognizes excellence and innovation in exotic mammal health care.

Topics:

• Surgery of the gastrointestinal tract in rabbits
• Interpretation of complete blood count in rabbits
• Ultrasound in birds, reptiles and small mammals – where to start
• Use of an endoscope
• Interpretation of biochemical analysis in ferrets
• Diagnosis and modern approach to the treatment of adrenal disease in ferrets
• Insulinoma in ferrets

Gualtiero Gandini

Italy

Gualtiero Gandini is a professor at the Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences at the University of Bologna in Italy. He has taught more than 130 international and national continuing education courses and seminars. He has been an invited speaker on neurology at about 50 international and national congresses. Our colleague is also the author and co-author of more than 120 scientific publications, 54 of which are in peer-reviewed international journals. A little bit about his biography:

• 1996. “Dottore di Ricerca” (Doctor of Philosophy) in veterinary internal medicine.
• 2003. Diploma of the European College of Veterinary Neurology (DECVN).
• 2000-2012. Member of the Executive Committee of the European Society of Veterinary Neurology (ESVN) and the European College of Veterinary Neurology (ECVN).
• 2008 – 2010 President of ESVN/ECVN 2006-2012. Chairman of the Educational Committee of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bologna – Italy
• 2015 – 2021. Director of the Diploma Program in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Bologna.

Topics:

• Localization of the lesion on the spinal cord: an approach to a clinical case
• Localization of intracranial lesions
• Interactive neurological session

Dr. Keren Kline

USA

Dr. Keren Kline earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from The Ohio State University in 1989 before completing her internship and residency in neurology at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. After residency, she served as a clinical instructor in neurology at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. In 1994, Dr. Kline was board certified in veterinary neurology by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

From 1995 to 2008, Dr. Kline was an adjunct professor of neurology and neurosurgery at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she earned her Master of Science degree in veterinary atology and defended her dissertation on the immunohistochemical differentiation of inflammatory and infectious diseases in dogs.

She was the medical director and associate neurologist at Seattle Veterinary Specialty Center and is now an associate neurologist and former medical director at VCA Northwest Veterinary Specialists in Portland, Oregon. She has published several journal articles, authored several veterinary textbooks, and presented at local, national, and international meetings. In 2000, she became board certified in veterinary acupuncture. Dr. Kline brought with her a passion for teaching and clinical care. When not in the clinic, Dr. Kline enjoys the treasures of the Pacific Northwest and spending time with her husband, Carl, and their wonderful dog, Woody.

Topics:

• Orthoneurological examination – how to distinguish an orthopedic patient from a neurological patient and localize lesions for further diagnosis.
• Diseases of intervertebral discs: diagnosis and treatment.
• The good old wobbler syndrome, you don’t scare us anymore – a presentation for general practitioners.
• Spinal injury: what to do and what not to do.
• Discospondylitis – a presentation on a common condition that can be difficult to treat.

Dr. Heidi Radke

Switzerland

Heidi is a passionate clinician, clinical researcher and educator in small animal orthopaedic surgery.  She is a Diplomate of the European College of Small Animal Surgery, an RCVS recognised Specialist in SA Surgery (Orthopaedics) and a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Having studied and worked at Universities in Germany, Switzerland, the US and the UK with experiences also in private practice, Heidi has an international outlook on veterinary medicine and small animal orthopaedic surgery.

After sixteen fruitful years as faculty of the University of Cambridge, UK, Heidi moved back to Switzerland in 2022 to take up her current position at the University of Zurich. Heidi has been lecturing in many countries and is very experienced in mentoring vets during all stages of their veterinary specialisation and career.

Heidi has a particular interest in challenging joint and trauma surgery cases that require close liaison with the animal, caretakers, and amongst disciplines. She is working with AO ITC, the AO Innovation and Translation Centre of the AO Foundation, towards routinely collecting outcome data.

“My scientific interest aims to improve our ability to routinely evaluate the outcomes of our orthopaedic patients. I want to better understand the challenges, experiences and priorities of carers of dogs with orthopaedic conditions and gain new insights into veterinary decision making in relation to orthopaedic canine patients.” 

Topics:

• Principles of internal fracture fixation 
• Practical fracture fixation
• Excision arthroplasy
• Canine and feline patellar fixation 
• Tendon injuires
• Canine developmental orthopaedic diseases

Dr. Daniele Corlazzoli

Italy

Dr. Daniele Corlazzoli graduated with honors in 1991 in Milan with a thesis on spinal infections under the supervision of Prof. Carlo Mortellaro. After a period of training in France, England and the United States, he worked in the Milan region, focusing exclusively on neurology and small animal surgery. Since 1995, he has been working in Rome, first at the Gregorio VII Veterinary Hospital and then at other veterinary institutions in the city. Since 2021, he has been working exclusively with the Gregorio VII Veterinary Hospital, where he is the head of the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery.

He is a certified specialist of the European College of Veterinary Neurology and is a lecturer at national and international courses and congresses. His areas of interest, in addition to raising adolescents, include surgery of disc pathologies, general spinal stabilization, including fractures and Wobbler’s syndrome, treatment of brain and spinal cord tumors, and management of patients with epilepsy. Daniele Corlazzoli is a highly qualified veterinarian specializing in neurology and neurosurgery.

Since October 2021, he has been the Head of Neurology and Neurosurgery at BluVet S.p.A. and CNV – Center for Veterinary Neurology. In addition, Daniele is the co-founder of Vetisfy, where he is engaged in recruitment and headhunting in the veterinary industry.

Previously, from January 2004 to September 2021, he was head of the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery at POLICLINICO VETERINARIO ROMA SUD S.R.L. Daniele holds a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine and is a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Neurology. He was educated at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Milan. Topics:

• Topics for veterinarians with experience in spinal surgery:
• Thoracolumbar osteochondrosis: surgical treatment.
• Diseases of the cervical discs: surgical treatment.
• Topics for veterinarians with experience in spinal surgery.
• Vertebral fractures: surgical treatment options.
• Wobbler’s syndrome: surgical treatment.
• Cauda equina syndrome: surgical treatment.

Dr. Manfred Hochleithner

Austria

Dr. Manfred Hochleithner was born in Vienna. His desire to become a veterinarian began at the age of six after watching the movie Dr. Doolittle. He studied veterinary medicine in Vienna and specialized in ornamental bird medicine during his studies, which took place at various universities in the United States, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

After graduation, he worked for seven years at the First Medical Clinic of the Vienna University of Veterinary Medicine, where he created a bird clinic and founded a reptile outpatient clinic. Manfred is a co-founder of the European College of Avian Medicine and Surgery and a Diplomate of the College. He is also a member of the scientific advisory board of various organizations and was president of the Association of Austrian Small Animal Veterinarians (VÖK) from 2012 to 2016.

He lectures on avian and exotic animal medicine in many countries, including Germany, the UK, Sweden, Spain, Israel and South Africa. He also completed neurosurgery training at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, USA, and specialized training in bone surgery in Switzerland. Since 2017, Manfred has been president of the Vienna branch of the Austrian Veterinary Chamber and represents the chamber at the Austrian Council for the Protection of Animals.

Topics:

• What is special about birds, reptiles and small mammals – anatomical and physiological aspects
• Manipulation of birds and reptiles: how to catch, keep, take samples and administer medicines
• Ultrasound examination in birds, reptiles and small mammals – where to start. Use of an endoscope.   
• Clinical aspects of anesthesia and analgesia in exotic animals.
• Bird surgery.
• Diseases of the genitourinary system in small mammals.
• Reptile surgery, including shell repair.
• Advanced ultrasound in exotic animals – tumors, joints and heart disease in birds, reptiles and small mammals.
• Oncology in exotic animals.
• Why laboratory results do not match the clinical case.  
• Cases from daily practice.
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Claudia Hochleithner

Austria

Dr. Claudia Hochleithner was born in Linz and moved to Vienna before starting her studies. After 13 years of experience working with a veterinarian in Linz, she decided to become a veterinarian. After graduating from the University of Vienna in 1991, she continued her studies at the Animal Medical Center in New York and at the A&A Hospital, where she specialized in soft tissue surgery. During her studies, Claudia developed a strong interest in exotic animals, which led her to further studies and internships in Austria, Germany, Holland, England, and the United States.

She has completed training in ultrasound diagnostics in Germany, the USA, Switzerland and Austria. Claudia lectures and conducts seminars on avian and exotic animal diseases as well as ultrasound diagnostics in many countries, including Austria, the UK, Brazil, Poland, Israel, Australia and the USA. She is also a lecturer on cat and dog breeding for WiFi pet stores in Vienna.

Topics:

• What is special about birds, reptiles and small mammals – anatomical and physiological aspects
• Manipulation of birds and reptiles: how to catch, keep, take samples and administer medicines
• Ultrasound examination in birds, reptiles and small mammals – where to start. Use of an endoscope.   
• Clinical aspects of anesthesia and analgesia in exotic animals.
• Bird surgery.
• Diseases of the genitourinary system in small mammals.
• Reptile surgery, including shell repair.
• Advanced ultrasound in exotic animals – tumors, joints and heart disease in birds, reptiles and small mammals.
• Oncology in exotic animals.
• Why laboratory results do not match the clinical case.  
• Cases from daily practice.

Dr Frédéric Gaschen

USA

Dr. Frédéric Gaschen is an internationally recognized expert in small animal internal medicine with more than 30 years of experience in veterinary education, clinical practice and research. Currently a professor at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Frederick is board certified by the American and European Colleges of Veterinary Medicine and has held key leadership positions in academic institutions and professional organizations.

He specializes in small animal gastroenterology and is the author of more than 75 peer-reviewed publications and co-editor of well-known veterinary textbooks. Frederic has chaired the scientific committees of many WSAVA congresses, curating cutting-edge educational content for veterinarians around the world.

Topics:

• Approach to Chronic Diarrhea in the Dog –Simple Impactful Steps
• Chronic Intestinal Diseases in Cats: Updated Approaches to Diagnosis and Treatment

Dr. Victoria Williamson

• Research Fellow
• President of UK Psychological Trauma Society

United Kingdom

Dr. Victoria Williamson is a researcher at the University of Oxford and King’s College London. At King’s College London, Victoria’s research focuses on psychological adjustment following traumatic events, including combat trauma, human trafficking, and moral injury. At the University of Oxford, her research focuses on identifying effective approaches to screening for anxiety disorders in children in schools and providing accessible, parent-led interventions to support children’s adjustment.

Topics:

• Information about professional moral trauma.
• Psychological adaptation after trauma in general – both in adults and children, and what parents can do to support their children’s well-being after trauma?

Prof. Ron Ofri

Israel

Professional experience and qualifications:

• 1985: BS, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Department of Biology
• 1989: DVM, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Koret School of Veterinary Medicine (charter class member)
• 1993: DVM, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine
• 1994: Clinical ophthalmologist, Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
• 1995: Lecturer in Veterinary Ophthalmology, Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
• 2002: Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Ophthalmology, Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
• 2005: Diploma, European College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists
• 2008: Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Ophthalmology, Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
• 2009-2010: Visiting Professor, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis
• 2016: Professor of Veterinary Ophthalmology, Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Topics:

• Ophthalmic examination made easy!
• Top Five ophthalmic emergencies

Federico Fracassi

Italy

Federico Fracassi graduated with honors from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) of the Bologna State University. He completed his internship at the same faculty.

In 2005, he defended his PhD thesis. After defending his doctoral dissertation, he became a permanent member of the Faculty of Veterinary Medical Sciences of the University of Bologna (Italy), where he is currently an associate professor of internal medicine and head of the Department of Internal Medicine. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the Clinic of Small Animal Internal Medicine at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, and received the status of European Specialist in Internal Medicine in 2012 (ECVIM-CA diploma – Internal Medicine).

His responsibilities include patient care, teaching (undergraduate, graduate, interns and residents) and research in the field of small animal internal medicine, with a special focus on endocrinology. He is a past president of the European Society of Veterinary Endocrinology (ESVE), past president of the Italian Society of Veterinary Internal Medicine (SIMIV), member of the Executive Committee of the ECVIM-CA Congress and editor of the peer-reviewed journal Veterinaria. His publications include journal articles, research abstracts, case reports and book chapters. His main research interest is small animal endocrinology.

Topics:

• Cushing’s syndrome in dogs: treatment
• Approach to the patient with polyuria and polydipsia
• Acromegaly in cats
• Approach to a patient with an adrenal tumor

Wolfgang Dohne 

DrMedVet MRCVS

United Kingdom

• FECAVA Past President (2017-2019)
• ESEVT Expert
• VVCA EA Member
• BSAVA SE Committee Member

Following his studies at Hanover Vet School in Germany and Oslo Vet School in Norway, Wolfgang moved to the UK where following working six years as an assistant, he in 1999 founded and then led the Virginia Water Veterinary Clinic which he sold to a corporate veterinary group in 2018.

He then established Blue Cat Holdings Ltd. providing international advisory and locum services in the UK, the DACH region and in the Nordic countries. In addition to this Wolfgang is involved in Telemedicine services in Germany and in Australia and New Zealand.

Starting in 2009 Wolfgang represented the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) within the Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations (FECAVA) and was elected as a Board member of FECAVA in 2011. From 2017-2019 he held the position of FECAVA President.

As the Chairman of FECAVA’s EuroCongress Committee he has been an active member of the organising committees of a number of European and World Small Animal Veterinary Congresses.

Wolfgang has initiated several international scholarships programmes and in 2021, in cooperation with former WSAVA Presidents Walt Ingwersen and Shane Ryan, he launched the joint FECAVA/WSAVA Global Principals of Veterinary Collegiality, which as text or as infographics have so far been translated into 24 different languages.

As a practitioner expert for ESEVT, Wolfgang participates on the regular visitation program of Veterinary Education Establishments in Europe to grant or to renew their accreditation with EAEVE.

In addition to this, Wolfgang is an active committee member of the European Affiliate of VVCA, the Veterinary Virtual Care Association.

Wolfgang lives in London and Munich and – if not working – enjoys traveling, hiking, endurance sports, ball room dancing, antique books on polar exploration and Nordic Noir fiction.

Topics

 • FECAVA – What is it and what are the benefits of FECAVA membership
• The provision of veterinary virtual care in Europe. What services are being provided where, including a look at practical aspects and the use of AI with these services.

Scott Miller

United Kingdom

Born in Brisbane, Australia, to British parents, Scott Miller began his veterinary career working at the largest animal hospital in Australia, the RSPCA Sydney Clinic. A year later, he moved to the UK, working throughout the British Isles before settling in London.

Scott is now a regular vet on ITV’s flagship show This Morning, giving advice to viewers in the studio and presenting live and recorded animals from across the UK and abroad. With 20 years’ experience in television, Scott is a regular guest on many UK channels including BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky. And

His own program for More4, Vet on the Hill, filmed at his clinic in Richmond, southwest London, has been broadcast worldwide in nearly 30 countries and dubbed into seven languages.

A husband, father, and veterinarian, he is a keen writer, regularly published in newspapers and magazines, and has written the book Puppy Training, a guide to what to do and when to do it when caring for puppies.
With 23 years of experience as a practicing clinical veterinary surgeon, he is the owner and chief veterinarian of three veterinary practices in South West London, located in Richmond, St Margaret’s and Old Isleworth.

Theme:

• Animal welfare is a veterinarian’s life.

Mark Johnston

UK.

Mark qualified as a veterinary surgeon in Cambridge in 1987 and after a year at the Milborne Equine Clinic, Ashford, spent 5 years in equine veterinary practice. He undertook a confidential study on perioperative equine mortality (CEPEF) for his PhD and then completed his PhD as a Wellcome Trust Research Training Fellow in Clinical Epidemiology.

In 2006, Mark became Managing Director of Vetstream, a company that provides comprehensive digital support to the veterinary profession through Vetlexicon, enabling veterinary practices to deliver the highest standards of clinical care. He is also Vice President of the ProSalus Foundation Committee Member of the British Beekeeping Veterinary Association Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Our Special Friends Founder of the Vets with a Purpose Alliance

Theme

• Initiatives of the ProSalus Foundation aimed at supporting Ukrainian colleagues and practitioners