Emma is programme coordinator for VET Festival and is clinical secretary to the festival’s founder, Professor Noel Fitzpatrick at Fitzpatrick Referrals. She has been involved with the organisation of the event since its launch year in 2015 and knows VET Festival inside out. Veterinary Woman took the opportunity to ask Emma about this year’s event, from clinical content to the blissful-sounding Wellness Hub.
Readers of Veterinary Woman can also a enjoy a 20% discount on VET Festival tickets – read on to find out more.
This year’s VET Festival looks set to continue its reputation as the veterinary conference with the feel-good factor. Please could you summarise what delegates can look forward to this year?
This year’s event will, once again, feature fantastic speakers delivering compelling lectures with real relevance to current veterinary practice, in a beautiful outdoor setting that encourages engaged, relaxed and fun learning. When not in lectures, delegates can catch up with friends and colleagues, listen to great live music, eat delicious, healthy food, and even take a yoga class! There is just so much to enjoy, so we hope our delegates will be able to take a breath and relax after a difficult two years.
Noel Fitzpatrick, VET Festival’s founder, is clearly dedicated to creating a conference with a difference, and once said that there won’t be anyone who leaves the festival the same as when they walked into it. Please could you tell our readers what makes the event so special?
Everyone who participates in VET Festival – delegates, speakers, exhibitors and organisers – will experience a strong feeling of community and of being part of something with real integrity and purpose. Stress and relentless pressure make it all too easy to lose sight of what we love about our vocation. We’ve therefore made VET Festival an opportunity to recharge and reignite that spark! Feel-good learning, with friends old and new, in a relaxed, outdoor environment is geared to remind you exactly why you do what you do! We care deeply about the overall experience and do our very best to ensure it is a truly memorable two days.
The event will feature lectures and seminars across 16 veterinary specialist streams with an impressive line-up of speakers. What varieties of topics will be on offer?
We are lucky this year to have so many great speakers, all of whom have been hand-picked for their expertise and knowledge. Every year, we challenge ourselves to provide an even better programme so, in addition to our regular streams, we’ve introduced new streams on ophthalmology, endoscopy, hepatobiliary, dentistry and dermatology. We will offer a unique and diverse programme, delivering all delegates with practical, cutting-edge CPD.
VET Festival has launched its annual wellness survey, in partnership with the Veterinary Management Group, with a theme of ‘wellness within the practice’. Why was this topic chosen this year?
The veterinary industry has had to cope with Brexit, the pandemic and a rapid increase in companion animal ownership. Talk about a triple whammy! Despite it all, veterinary teams across the country have worked their socks off to care for their patients. Our collective experience has simply confirmed how important it is that we look after ourselves and each other – we are all in it together!
Wellness and wellbeing have been a focus for VET Festival since the very start and we hope that this year’s survey will, once again, shine a light on how the profession is coping with the current turmoil, what we’ve learned and what we need to do to make the future better for us all.
“Everyone who participates in VET Festival will experience a strong feeling of community and of being part of something with real integrity and purpose”
We were particularly excited to learn about VET Festival’s Wellness Hub. Please could you tell us what we can look forward to here?
Ah! The Wellness Hub is at the heart of VET Festival. It’s where delegates can take a break, practise self-care, or just enjoy some peace and quiet. Yoga and tai chi sessions will be on offer together with take-home tips and tricks to improve physical and mental health at work. Representatives from Vetlife will also be on hand to offer advice and support.
We are so grateful to our headline partner, MWI Animal Health, for sponsoring the Wellness Hub. The company shares our passion for championing the wellbeing of veterinary professionals.
If there’s one thing the profession will welcome right now, it’s probably the opportunity to let our hair (and scrub hats) down. Please could you tell us more about the ‘Live Party Night’ entertainment this year?
Our party night is always so much fun and a chance to let your hair down after a day of learning! This year’s party night has a 70s theme, and we will be encouraging delegates to dress up, ready for our amazing band, Monkey Selfie. They will be playing a 70s set and will be followed by radio DJ, James Carpenter, who will ensure the evening ends on a high!
Finally, if you could describe VET Festival in three words, what would they be?
Relaxed, inspiring and fun!
VET Festival takes place 20th-21st of May 2022 at Loseley Park, Guildford, Surrey, UK.
The event will feature lectures and seminars across 16 veterinary specialist streams, 60+ suppliers in a diverse exhibitor village and 14 hours of CPD over two days.
Readers of Veterinary Woman can enjoy a 20% discount on VET Festival tickets. Simply book by 20th of May 2022 and quote ‘VETWOMAN’ in the discount code box after selecting your ticket: www.vetfestival.co.uk
You may also be interested in: