Advanced Orthopaedics Delegates Enjoy a Reunion in Portugal

15 June 2023 -

Six veterinarians who attended a new General Practitioner Advanced Certificate (GPAdvCert) Orthopaedics Programme launched by Improve International in 2018 have met for a reunion ‘CPD and social’ weekend in Porto.

Dr Sean Murphy, from Ireland, Dr Paulo Sousa from Portugal, Dr Paul van der Heijden from the Netherlands), Dr Jan Cucka from the Czech Republic, Dr Sophie Gafvert from Sweden and Dr Maria Perez, a Spanish vet working in the UK, practised techniques for treating conditions in distal extremities with Dr Alessandro Andreoni, DVM Dipl ECVS,CCRT during the days and enjoyed a cocktail party and dinner hosted by Improve during the evenings.

Improve International launched its GPAdvCert in Small Animal Orthopaedics Programme in February 2018 for veterinary professionals who wish to advance their knowledge and practical skills in this area. Six of the original cohort of 24, delegates enjoyed the programme so much that they requested a reunion on 1 and 2 June, which Improve was delighted to host.

Dr Sean Murphy said: “I’d previously studied for Improve’s Certificates in Diagnostic Imaging and Orthopaedic Surgery and, as I have recently set up my own business as an ambulatory vet in orthopaedics, signing up for the Advanced Certificate seemed a natural next step and a good way to add value to my business.”

“Improve’s programmes always have a strong practical focus but the Advanced Certificate took this to a new level and, after each module, I took away new skills and potential services to add to my business.

“In addition to the learning, I gained a great peer support group during the year. Many of us have kept in touch and we were delighted to get together again and to gain some useful additional knowledge to help patients with issues in their distal extremities.”

Mr John Douglass, General Manager of Improve, added: “Our Advanced Certificate Programmes are proving popular with veterinary surgeons and it was great to see the passion for orthopaedic surgery so clearly present in this group and the bond they have built.”

One of the world’s leading veterinary training companies, Improve International is celebrating its 21st anniversary in 2019.  Founded by a team of UK vets, the company has trained more than 20,000 veterinary professionals in 20 countries around the world.

Accredited by the European School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies (ESVPS) and validated by Harper Adams University in the UK, Improve’s General Practitioner Advanced Certificate Programmes cover Orthopaedic Surgery, Small Animal Medicine, Soft Tissue Surgery and Diagnostic Imaging (Computed Tomography). Each programme is delivered in blocks of training by globally recognised experts in state-of-the-art practical training centres around Europe.