Speakers
Keynote speakers
Sophie Dennison
Sophie is a proud Dick Vet who graduated in 2000 and started out in mixed practice and emergency medicine. In 2004 she moved to the USA for a two-year residency in marine mammal medicine and pathology, a joint program between UC Davis and The Marine Mammal Center (TMMC). While at TMMC she became involved in an MRI study in sea lions in collaboration with the epilepsy group at UCSF that would alter her career path and lead to her to apply for ACVR-accredited radiology residencies. Sophie completed the University of Wisconsin radiology residency program and became board-certified by the ACVR in 2009 and listed as an RCVS Recognised Specialist in Diagnostic Imaging in 2012. Sophie has built a successful solo teleradiology practice where approximately 50% of her time, sometimes more, is spent interpreting exotics, wildlife and zoo animal imaging studies from facilities around the world.
Padraic M. Dixon
Prof. Padraic M. Dixon is a graduate of University College Dublin, later obtaining a PhD on equine respiratory disease at The University of Edinburgh, where he has worked for most of his professional life including as a lecturer, senior lecturer and reader. He is Professor of Equine Surgery in Edinburgh University where his main clinical and research interests are equine dental disorders and head and neck surgery and he had published extensively on these topics. He is a European Specialist in Equine Dentistry and a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Specialist in Equine Soft Tissue Surgery. He has lectured and tutored extensively around the world on these areas.
Danièlle Gunn-Moore
Danièlle Gunn-Moore graduated from the R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, with the Dick Vet Gold Medal (1991). After a year in small animal practice she joined The Feline Centre, University of Bristol, initially as the Feline Advisory Bureau Scholar, then the Duphar Feline Fellow, and completed a PhD study into Feline Infectious Peritonitis in 1997. After a short period as Lecturer in Veterinary Pathology, University of Bristol, she returned to Edinburgh to establish the Feline Clinic and became Professor of Feline Medicine in 2006. She is interested in all aspects of feline medicine; she is an internationally recognised expert in her area, has lectured extensively and published over a 150 peer-reviewed research papers, plus many reviews and book chapters. In 2009 she was awarded the BSAVA Woodrow Award for outstanding contribution in the field of small animal veterinary medicine, in 2011 she was awarded the International Society for Feline Medicine/Hill’s award for Outstanding Contributions to Feline Medicine, in 2012 the Royal Dick students voted her “The clinician I would most like to be”, in 2016 FECAVA awarded her “Increased Vocalisation in Elderly Cats” the most original paper in the European Journal of Companion Animal Practice that year, and in 2017 she became a Fellow of the RCVS. She shares her home with her husband Frank, a 18 year old Maine Coon boy called Mortlach (named after a Scottish single malt whisky), and a tiny little 18 year old black cat called Sheba-Ardbeg.
Silke Hecht
Education
1998 Graduation (Veterinary Degree), Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany
2001 Doctorate (Dr. med. vet.), LMU, Munich, Germany
1998-2002 Internship and Clinical Instructor, Department of Surgery, LMU, Munich, Germany
2002-2005 Residency in Diagnostic Imaging, Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, Massachusetts, USA
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Radiology (ACVR) 2005
Diplomate, European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (ECVDI) 2006
Employment
2005-present University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN, USA
Current position: Professor in Radiology
Other
Specialty/areas of interest: Magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, neuroimaging, oncologic imaging
2013-2015: President, CT/MRI Society of the American College of Veterinary Radiology (ACVR)
2015-2016: President, American College of Veterinary Radiology
2019-present: Director North America, International Veterinary Radiology Association
Lecture summaries
Jeremy Jones
Dr. Jeremy Jones is a Consultant Paediatric Radiologist at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh and Training Programme Director for Radiology Training in South East Scotland. He is clinical lead for Radiology IT for Scotland and chair of the clinical advisory board for National PACS.
He is Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Radiopaedia which he has been involved in building with Frank Gaillard from 2008 when he started radiology training. He is passionate about open-source material. He is a keen educator and wants to maximise the use of the best of IT to aid training opportunities.
Lecture summary
John Keen
Following graduation from the RVC in 1996, John spent 4 years in mixed and then equine practice before being appointed the RCVS Clarke and Sparrow Resident in Equine Studies at the ‘Dick’ Vet in 2000, where he has remained ever since. John is currently a senior medicine clinician in the equine hospital. He gained an MSc and PhD investigating the pharmacology and physiology of digital laminar microvasculature; became a Diplomate of ECEIM in 2007; and is an RCVS and European Specialist in equine internal medicine. Clinical and research interests are focussed on cardiovascular disease, metabolic/endocrine disease, laminitis and the potential links between these disorders. In the field of cardiovascular imaging, John has current research activities using novel echocardiographic tools for assessing both structure and function in the equine athletic heart and common valvular disorders of the equine heart.
Sarah Mason
Sarah is the Head of General Oncology at Southfields Veterinary Specialists in Essex. She is a European Specialist in Oncology and Radiation Oncology.
Sarah obtained the ECVIM diploma in Oncology in 2014, and the ECVIM diploma in Radiation Oncology in 2019.
Sarah is a member of the ECVIM/ECVDI Radiation Oncology Education and Credentials Committee and is passionate about promoting the utility and benefit of radiation as a treatment modality. Her clinical interests include the optimization of chemotherapy protocols in veterinary patients, and the role of chemoradiation in the treatment of small animal neoplasia.
Joanna Wardlaw
Professor Joanna Wardlaw is Professor of Applied Neuroimaging and Consultant Neuroradiologist at the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian. She has worked for many years to understand the brain and its blood supply, and on treatments to improve blood flow to the brain. She now focuses on the much more complicated problem of ‘small vessel disease’, a common cause of stroke and dementia. She and her colleagues have been instrumental in advancing understanding of the causes of small vessel disease in particular the role of the blood-brain barrier, and are now testing possible treatments. She holds a Foundation Chair and Programme in the UK Dementia Research Institute (at the University of Edinburgh Centre in the DRI), is leading the Cross-Centre Theme in Vascular Disease in the UK DRI, and led the Vascular Experimental Medicine Theme of the Dementia Platform UK (2015-2018). A Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and of the Academy of Medical Sciences, she was made a CBE for services to Medicine and Neuroscience in 2016.
Lecture summary
Masterclass speakers
Susanne Boroffka
Dr Boroffka studied at the Free University of Berlin, Germany. Working with Prof. Hartung she discovered her love for diagnostic imaging and was lucky to be able to do her residency at the Division of Diagnostic Imaging at the University of Utrecht. After that she worked there as a staff member for many years and completed her PhD thesis on Diagnostic Imaging of the canine eye and orbit successfully in 2007. 2008/2009 she worked at the Radiology Department at UC Davis, USA, as an associate professor. She published many peer-reviewed scientific articles and co-authored several chapters in comprehensive textbooks.
In 2016 she decided to start a new adventure and started her own company: Boroffka Diagnostic Imaging. She works as a radiologist in a specialist veterinary hospital in Utrecht, as a teleradiologist consultant. She is involved in clinical research and loves teaching diagnostic imaging.
Since 2020 she is vice-president of the European College of Diagnostic Imaging.
Ines Carrera
Ines Carrera studied veterinary medicine at the University of Santiago de Compostela (Lugo) in Spain. She did a master’s degree and a diagnostic imaging residency at Glashow University Veterinary School and became a diplomate in diagnostic imaging in 2010. She has worked in several universities (Illinois-USA, Sydney-Australia and Zurich-Switzerland). While working at the University of Zurich she did also a PhD in MR spectroscopy of the brain in dogs. She is now working in the UK at Willows Referral Centre and VetOracle (Teleneurology).
Her particular interest is MRI and has published extensively focused on Neuroimaging.
Magdalena Parys
Dr. Magdalena Parys graduated from the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland in 2010. After graduating, she moved to Michigan State University and spent two years working at the Centre for Comparative Oncology as an international fellow and intern. Subsequently, she completed a Medical Oncology Internship at the University of Guelph in Canada. In 2013 she returned to the USA to start a combined Residency and Masters program in Radiation Oncology at Purdue University. Magdalena has been the head of Radiation Oncology Service at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies since 2016.
Jenna Richardson
Jenna graduated from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh, Scotland in 2008. After spending four years working in mixed practice in Wales then Scotland, she returned to Edinburgh to concentrate on a career in rabbit, exotic pet and wildlife veterinary medicine.
Jenna has written numerous book chapters (both in UK and US print), including BSAVA manuals, and has co-authored a book on Rabbit Medicine and Surgery. She regularly lectures throughout the UK to veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and students.
As a ‘Lecturer and Clinician in Rabbit, Exotic Animal and Wildlife Medicine and Surgery’, her work involves medical and surgical management of a busy first opinion and referral caseload of small mammal, avian, reptile, amphibian, fish and wildlife species.
Jenna is a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and European College of Zoological Medicine specialist in Small Mammals Medicine and Surgery. She has a research interest in pet rabbits, particularly relating to the use of computed tomography (CT) in this species and has published on the diagnosis and grading of middle ear disease using CT scanning.
Jeffrey Schoenebeck
Jeff graduated from The Pennsylvania State University (USA) in 1999 with a BS in Biology and minor in Spanish language. Intercalated during his undergraduate studies, he rotated as a technician in the Toxicology and Molecular Genetics units of SmithKline Beecham. After completing his undergraduate degree, he spent two years at the National Institutes of Health (USA) as a research technician. He went on to earn his PhD in developmental genetics at the New York University School of Medicine (USA). During this time, he studied the genetics of cardiac patterning and fate specification using zebrafish. His postdoctoral training was conducted in the laboratory of Dr. Elaine Ostrander, within the National Human Genome Research Institute (USA). During this time, he applied geometric morphometrics methodologies to create quantitative data to genetically map canine skull traits such as face length and skull size. Jeff’s research group is based at the Roslin Institute and he is affiliated with the University of Edinburgh Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. His research group’s interests centre on companion animal genetics and genomics, with a focus on discovering the genes and genomic landscapes that underpin canine morphological diversity as well as the diseases caused by breeding extreme phenotypes.
Giliola Spattini
She started an alternate residency program in Diagnostic Imaging, at the Royal Veterinary College of London, under the supervision of Christopher R. Lamb. In 2008 She obtained the Diploma of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (ECVDI). In 2009 She discussed her PhD thesis at the Department of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging at Parma University. Since 2008 has been working with sport medicine experts on musculoskeletal ultrasound in sportive dogs. She has published in national and international journals. She has contributed to three books on Diagnostic imaging, one of which, has been translated into English. She is a frequent contributor to continuous post-graduate education (CPD) in Italy and around the world. She works in Clinica Veterinaria Castellarano, a private practice in Italy, and as a specialist consultant for Antech. She founded www.diagnosticmindset.com.
Allison Zwingenberger
Allison Zwingenberger is a dual-boarded specialist (ACVR, ECVDI) in veterinary radiology. She earned her DVM at the University of Guelph before completing her residency at the University of Pennsylvania and an MAS in Clinical Research at UC Davis where she is Professor, Service Chief, and Co-Director for the In Vivo Translational Imaging Shared Resource. Her research interests include vascular imaging with emphasis on portosystemic shunts and oncologic molecular imaging, with 90 publications to date (http://bit.ly/ALZpubs). She has served as associate editor for Veterinary Radiology and Ultrasound and on the Editorial Review board of Veterinary Surgery.
Dr. Zwingenberger has held positions in both the ACVR and ECVDI to promote and develop the specialty and its members. In the ACVR, she has served on the Examination, Website, and Scientific Conference Committees as well as being president of the CT/MRI Society and Council member. Her ECVDI Committees included the Webmaster, Job Task Analysis, Resident Education Task Force, and service as ECVDI President.
Early in her career, Dr. Zwingenberger developed a passion for creating systems for curating data, creating knowledge, and sharing it with like-minded people worldwide. She provides case-based learning resources for students and veterinarians, as well as teaching resources for educators. She and her co-author, Erik Wisner, published the Atlas of Small Animal CT and MRI in 2015.
Speakers Wellbeing, Mindfulness and Professional Skills Stream
Petra Agthe
Petra Agthe graduated from the TiHo Hannover, Germany. Following several years in general small animal practice, she completed a residency in diagnostic imaging at the University of Cambridge and became an ECVDI diplomate. After her residency, Petra joined Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists, where she is currently head of service. Her particular clinical interests are MRI and CT. Over the years, Petra has developed a strong interest in psychology in general, and the science of wellbeing and performance in particular, including the role of non-technical skills and errors in radiology. Petra is a certified mindfulness practitioner and currently working on an ICF accredited coaching diploma.
Marlène Finck
Marlene is a graduate from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Lyon, France. She enrolled into a small animal rotating internship at the University of Liege, Belgium; and then completed an ECVDI approved residency programme at the University of Glasgow, UK. Marlene became a European Specialist in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging in 2015. After spending a short period of time in a referral centre in England, she moved to the south of France where she now works in a private referral centre in Marseille (CHV Massilia), and also reads part time for Antech Imaging Services.
In her free time, Marlene is very active and is passionate about body movement, including yoga and cross training. She has been a certified yoga instructor (RYT®-200) since 2016.
Elle O'Donnell
Elle turned to yoga over fifteen years ago and has been firmly rooted to the mat ever since. She took an Introductory and Foundation Course with the Association of Yoga Studies (AYS) in 2007. In 2008 she completed her teacher training qualification with Yoga Scotland and has been teaching ever since.
Initially combining teaching with full time work in Private Client Investment Administration until a combination of stress and dissatisfaction with corporate life saw her transition away from this. Elle has undertaken further training in: Yoga & Mindfulness, Yoga for MS, Gentle Yoga, Core Strength Yoga, Yoga for Mental Health Problems, Yoga and Disability, Yoga for People Living with Cancer, Ayurveda, Yoga for ME & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. She has an Aerial Yoga Teaching qualification and a Thai Yoga Massage Diploma
After completing an HNC in Counselling, Elle moved into administration in the charity sector and combines this with her passion for teaching community yoga.
Manuel Pinilla
Manuel studied veterinary medicine at Zaragoza, Spain and Lyon, France, graduating in 2002. He completed a small animal rotating internship at the University of Lyon followed by four years of work in general practice. He completed a residency in diagnostic imaging at University College Dublin in 2009 when he gained the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging Diploma. He has worked as a radiologist at Murdoch University in Australia, Queen’s Veterinary Hospital in Cambridge, University College Dublin and SCVS. He is a senior radiologist in the VetCT team and responsible for much of our quality assurance. He brings a wealth of clinical experience to his role and is highly skilled in radiographic, MRI and CT interpretation.
Tobias Schwarz
Tobias studied veterinary medicine at the Humboldt and Free University of Berlin in Germany. He did a diagnostic imaging residency at Glasgow University Veterinary School and became a Diplomate in Veterinary Radiology with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the UK, the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging and the American College of Veterinary Radiology. He has been an academic radiologist at the Universities of Pennsylvania and Wisconsin-Madison and is the head of the Diagnostic Imaging Service at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh. He has been awarded Fellowships of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the Royal Society of Biology and the Higher Education Academy in the UK. In 2022 he became Chair and Professor of Veterinary Radiology at the University of Edinburgh. He has published over 120 peer-reviewed articles and his particular interests are in thoracic imaging and computed tomography. He has edited a comprehensive textbook on both subjects and lectures extensively worldwide.
Resident day speakers
Tiziana Liuti
Education
Degree in Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Italy
Master’s Degree in Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Italy
Postgraduate Programme
2003 – 2007 Approved Residency Programme ECVDI, University of Ghent, Faculty Veterinary Medicine
Positions
2008-Present Senior Lecturer in Diagnostic Imaging, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Scotland
Supervisor of Postgraduate programme (Approved ECVDI residency Programme at Edinburgh University)
Specialty Certification
PhD University of Edinburgh
Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (Dipl.ECVDI)
Post Graduate Certificate of Academic Practice (Pg.CAP)
Fellow in High Education Academy (FHEA)
Certified PennHip member
Publications
Author of multiple international publications in ultrasound and Computed Tomography, small and large animal
Main Interest
All aspects of Diagnostic Imaging in particular: ultrasound small animal, Computed Tomography small and large animal (equine)
Radiology of thorax and abdomen.
MRI small animal
Maurizio Longo
Dr Maurizio Longo graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Milan in 2011. After a rotating and Imaging internship at the Istituto Veterinario di Novara, he was enrolled in a PhD program on soft tissue sarcomas, completed in 2016 (Doctor Europaeus). He did a residency in Diagnostic Imaging at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies – University of Edinburgh and is now a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging. He has a strong interest in research especially focused on the urinary tract, neurodegenerative, oncological and cardiovascular diseases. He is author and co-author of several peer-reviewed publications and reviewers for different scientific journals. He is the Head of the Diagnostic Imaging Unit at the C.T.O. Veterinario located in Arenzano (Genova – ITALY) and Antech Imaging Service teleradiologist.
Sarah Taylor
Sarah graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2001 following which she spent a year in mixed practice before returning to the Dick Vet to undertake a residency in Equine Surgery. Sarah became a Diplomat of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2007. On completion of her PhD in 2010 she returned to the Dick Vet for the second time to accept the post of Senior Lecturer in Equine Surgery. Subsequently Sarah spent a sabbatical during 2011 working as a surgeon at the Liphook Equine Hospital, Surrey. Sarah became RCVS Specialist in Equine Surgery in 2012. She was awarded De Facto Diplomat status by the European College of Veterinary Sports Medicine in 2019. She has a keen clinical interest in equine sports medicine and surgery, while her research interests continue to focus on fractures in racehorses, osteoarthritis and MRI.
Erik Wisner
Dr. Wisner is currently a professor of diagnostic imaging & past Chair of the Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and holds a joint appointment in the UC Davis, School of Medicine, Department of Radiology. His clinical interests are in computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging with research interests in selective and targeted contrast media delivery and functional imaging. He has previously served as Associate Hospital Director for Imaging Services in the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital and as Director of the UC Veterinary Center for Clinical Trials. During his career, he has authored over 140 peer-reviewed journal articles, contributed to more than 25 book chapters, written 1 textbook (Atlas of Small Animal CT & MRI) and has trained over 45 diagnostic imaging residents.