by Zoe Polizopoulou, Professor, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Introduction by Manos Vlasiou, Assistant Professor, Head of the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Programme Coordinator, UNIC School of Veterinary Medicine

BRIEF SUMMARY

This seminar will cover key focus points relevant to graduates from Veterinary Schools and practicing veterinarians. We will discuss the Current Day One competences requirements, set by the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE), and examine how realistic these competences are in the real professional life of newly graduated veterinarians. Insights from the recent 2023 survey conducted by the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) will also be highlighted, providing an understanding of the challenges and expectations ahead. We will explore Continuous Professional Development (CPD) options available to veterinarians at all stages of their career, including Continuing Education (CE) seminars, internships, achieving Advanced Practitioner status, and specialisation opportunities through European Board of Veterinary Specialisation (EBVS) residencies.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Zoe Polizopoulou completed her veterinary studies at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (A.U.Th.) in 1986, and her PhD also at A.U.Th. in 1991. Dr Polizopoulou worked as a junior research fellow and then joined the academic staff in 1999. By 2015, she became a full professor and now runs the Diagnostic Laboratory and the Department of Clinical Studies.

She was a founding member of the European College of Veterinary Clinical Pathology (ECVCP) in 2001 and has served as its vice president and president. Zoe also served as vice president and then president of the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation (EBVS) from 2021 to 2023, and is currently the EBVS Senior Vice President. She represents her country at FECAVA and works on a group focusing on diseases spread by insects. Her research field is veterinary clinical pathology, mostly clinical biochemistry of companion and farm animals, focusing on the long-term changes of cardiac biomarkers in canine mitral valve disease, the study of selected biomarkers in chronic renal disease, senile cognitive dysfunction of companion animals, epilepsy and degenerative CNS disorders, and trace elements in farm animals.