For veterinary professionals working in smaller or more geographically isolated communities, accessing practical CPD can come with an additional hurdle: getting to it in the first place.
That is particularly true in Malta. The smallest country in the European Union is home to around 550,000 people and a strong population of pet owners, but only around 22 veterinary clinics. For vets wanting to develop practical skills, attending hands-on training can mean travelling overseas as well as taking time away from practice.
A recent feline dentistry course brought that training to Malta instead, giving veterinary professionals from across the island the opportunity to develop their skills in dental radiography and surgical extractions without having to travel abroad.
Delivered by Improve alongside industry partners BioScint and iM3, the two-day course brought together delegates from nine veterinary clinics — a substantial proportion of Malta’s veterinary community.
The two-day course combined expert-led lectures with valuable practical experience, giving delegates the opportunity to enhance both their knowledge and clinical skills. Participants explored key aspects of feline dentistry, including dental radiography and surgical extraction techniques, while gaining confidence through hands-on training sessions.
Beyond the practical learning, the event also provided an important platform for veterinary professionals from different clinics to connect, exchange experiences and discuss common challenges. Delegates were able to speak directly with experts from BioScint and iM3, who shared advice on dentistry equipment, consumables and how clinics can make the most effective use of their resources.
The course was presented by renowned dental specialist Alix Freeman (BA MA BVSc Cert VetEd FHEA Dip EVDC MRCVS EBVS®), whose expertise and engaging teaching style were highly valued by attendees.
Drawing on her experience working within a referral hospital setting, Alix provided delegates with practical insights into dental procedures, clinical decision-making and best practice approaches to veterinary dentistry. Her extensive knowledge, combined with real-world examples, helped bring the subject to life and encouraged lively discussion throughout the event.
BioScint and iM3 complemented the clinical teaching by sharing their specialist knowledge of dental equipment and consumables, helping attendees better understand how to optimise their dentistry services within practice.
Nine veterinary clinics were represented at the event, highlighting the demand for continuing professional development within Malta’s veterinary profession.
It was the first course of its kind to be held on the island and, importantly, removed the requirement for veterinary professionals to travel overseas to access this type of practical training.
That challenge is not unique to Malta. Veterinary professionals working on islands, in rural areas or further from major training centres often face a disproportionate cost in both time and travel when accessing hands-on CPD.
Online learning has made clinical education considerably more accessible, but there are still skills — particularly in disciplines such as dentistry and surgery — where supervised practical experience has an important role. Bringing that training closer to where veterinary professionals work can therefore make a significant difference to who is able to take part.
Feedback from delegates indicated strong interest in further CPD events covering other clinical disciplines. For Malta’s veterinary community, that could mean more opportunities to develop practical skills locally, while strengthening connections between professionals working across the island.
More broadly, the event is a useful reminder that improving access to veterinary education is not only about putting more learning online. Sometimes it means taking the practical training to the veterinary teams who would otherwise have to travel to find it.