Atlantic Veterinary College has strong representation at Atlantic Provinces Veterinary Conference
The Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) at the University of Prince Edward Island participated in the Atlantic Provinces Veterinary Conference (APVC) that was held in Halifax, Nova Scotia from April 22 to 24, 2022.
APVC is an annual education conference for veterinary medicine that invites close to nine hundred veterinarians, veterinary students, veterinary technologists, hospital and clinic managers, and front office staff from all four Atlantic provinces.
“APVC is an opportunity for AVC faculty and staff to connect with our clients, stay up to date with education and advancing technology in the industry, and reconnect with our alumni,” says Dr. John VanLeeuwen, interim dean, AVC.
Again, this year, AVC had an industry booth that focused on promoting the services of our Diagnostic Services Unit (DSU). The DSU includes high quality testing and services across eight laboratory sections. The industry booth for Diagnostic Services had staffing provided by Elizabeth Dobbin, director, Diagnostic Services; Dr. Andrea Bourque, anatomic pathologist, Diagnostic Services; and Dr. Cornelia Gilroy, associate professor and clinical pathologist, Department of Pathology and Microbiology.
During the conference, Dr. Sandra McConkey, associate professor and clinical pathologist, Department of Pathology and Microbiology; Dr. Shelley Burton professor and clinical pathologist, Department of Pathology and Microbiology; and Ms. Ellen McMahon, laboratory manager, Diagnostic Services, also provided two urinalysis laboratories. Through these efforts, AVC personnel successfully interacted with staff and veterinarians from many regional veterinary clinics.
Additionally, Dr. Karen Overall, professor of health management, presented on behalf of AVC's Behavioural Medicine Service, and Dr. Heather Gunn McQuillan assistant dean, clinical and professional programming, gave presentations on mindfulness and stress management in veterinary medicine.
On Saturday evening, AVC hosted an alumni dinner that filled RSVPs on a first come, first served basis. Dr. VanLeeuwen and Dr. Gunn McQuillan welcomed alumni for a night of networking and conversation where they discussed upcoming and previous initiatives at AVC and learned more about the guests' professional journeys.
“Our alumni serve as ambassadors for AVC in their communities and professional endeavors all over the world,” says VanLeeuwen. “We are incredibly proud of all they have achieved and value any opportunity we have to build stronger, meaningful relationships with them.”
On the final day of the conference, Dr. VanLeeuwen presented the 2021 Atlantic Award of Excellence in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Care at the APVC awards presentation. This year’s award recipient was Dr. Gary Conboy, professor emeritus, AVC.
“As the only institution in Atlantic Canada that educates Doctors of Veterinary Medicine, it is vital that we are at APVC to support and be part of the greater conversation,” says Dr. VanLeeuwen. “We appreciate all of the arduous work of the organizers and presenters who participated and planned this valuable event.”
Are you an alumnus/a of the Atlantic Veterinary College? Did you miss the alumni dinner invitation? It’s possible we have outdated contact information for you. If you’d like to confirm your contact details or would like to update them, please contact Rachel at racutcliffe@upei.ca.
