BSAVA Congress aims to cater for all, with a wide ranging scientific programme. How can you decide whether a particular scientific session will be at the right level for you? Here is a handy guide to indicate the level and format of the different sessions.

General lectures (Veterinary and Nursing)

• Focus on common presentations
• Logical approaches to diagnosis and management

Ideal for new and recent graduates, those returning to work after a career break, those who don’t see small animals every day, or individuals who would like to refresh their knowledge on a topic.

Also useful for more experienced veterinary professionals who wish to learn about a subject new to them. Are there new technologies or procedures that you aren’t yet familiar with? Are there topics which weren’t considered when you were a student? A general lecture may provide the information you need.

Advanced lectures (Veterinary and Nursing)

• Focus on improved decision making
• Dealing with difficult cases
• Current controversies

Aimed at veterinary professionals who feel confident in their daily work, but who would like to improve their knowledge and skills, and make sure they remain up to date.

Veterinary Masterclasses

• An opportunity to explore a subject in greater depth
• Case-based discussion

Ideal for more experienced veterinary surgeons. Baseline knowledge of the subject and familiarity with commonly used terms will be assumed – but delegates are not expected to have specialist knowledge. The small group format is relaxed and informal, and discussion is encouraged but is not enforced – you can just sit, listen and learn.

Each masterclass runs for 3 hours, and is restricted to a maximum of 40 delegates. To take part in a masterclass you need to purchase a ticket for that class in addition to registering for Congress. Tickets for masterclasses may be purchased at Congress if spaces remain – but they have often sold out. To avoid disappointment therefore, we recommend that you purchase your masterclass ticket(s) at the same time as you register for Congress.

Nursing Master Series

• A chance to cover a topic in depth
• Double lectures allow plenty of time

Designed for veterinary nurses with more experience. These sessions may appeal to nurses working in specialist or referral practice, or with a particular interest in the topic.

State of the Art lectures

• Current concepts and ongoing research in the field
• Up to date approaches to diagnosis and treatment
• Cutting-edge technologies

Aimed at all veterinary professionals interested in the “how”, “when” and “why” of the conditions they recognise and deal with.

Clinical research abstracts

• Short presentations of current clinical research
• Informal sessions with a small audience
• Opportunity to ask questions

Clinical research abstracts are one of BSAVA Congress’s best kept secrets! ideal for those working in teaching and research, but also for experienced veterinary surgeons working in small animal practice.

Interactive lectures (Veterinary and Nursing)

• Case-based sessions with interactive decision making
• Personal delegate keypads allow anonymous voting

Ideal for any veterinary surgeon or nurse working in small animal practice.

The speaker leads the audience through the presentation and work-up of a series of cases. The delegates become involved in the decision-making process for each case through  their interactive voting keypads. The keypads, which are issued to each delegate as they enter the lecture hall, are simple to use – and completely anonymous. Questions are directed at the whole audience rather than at individuals, and only you know the decisions that you make. indeed there is no need to vote at all if you prefer just to think about your answers. The responses given by the audience are displayed graphically after each  question, so you can see the spread of decisions. And the speaker can then explain why one or more of the options would be better than others. it really is the ideal way to practice clinical decision making without anyone knowing if you make a mistake!

Interactive sessions can be very popular, so if you plan to attend one of these, make sure you arrive at the hall in good time.