The FECAVA Laboklin Travel Scholarship 2016 in action

13 March 2016

Livia Dumitrescu and Mariana Lihet, winners of the 2016 Travel Scholarship, used the first 1000 euros of their grant to travel from Bucharest to Bath to spend some time at Rosemary Lodge Veterinary Hospital with UK veterinarians Alasdair Hotston-Moore and Alex Gough.

The two Romanian visitors were able to observe perineal hernia operations, laparoscopic ovariectomies, a few echocardiographies and an ultrasound guided pericardiocentesis, as well as a variety of first and second opinion consultations.

They were extremely impressed with the hospital’s CT imaging facilities, especially as, until recently, there was no functional CT equipment available for companion animals in Bucharest.

In addition to their visit to Rosemary Lodge Veterinary Hospital, they were able to take part in a regional CPD event on exotic animals. This patient group is still not frequently seen in small animal clinics in Romania and Livia and Mariana were surprised by the level of investigations and standard of care exotic animals receive in the UK.
Plus it wasn’t all work, in their spare time the two travellers visited the picturesque city centre of Bath.

As part of the exchange, Alex Gough and Alasdair Hotston-Moore are looking forward to visiting Orthovet Clinic in Bucharest for their return visit in mid May.

Orthovet have organised a CPD event at which Alasdair will be delivering three hours of teaching on nasal disease, airway obstruction and ear surgery. Livia and Mariana have invited colleagues from local practices and from the nearby University to this event.

FECAVA received several applications for the FECAVA Laboklin Travel Scholarship 2017 and is currently still looking for a partner practice for a group of companion animal practitioners from Turkey. So if you would like to take part in an exchange with a Turkish practice, please get in touch and send an email to Krista Arnold at kavs@gmx.com.