Polskie Stowarzyszenie Lekarzy Weterynarii Małych Zwierząt PSAVA THEMATIC CONFERENCE

Dr Kurt De Cramer qualified as a veterinarian at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Onderstepoort, University of Pretoria, in 1986. He later furthered his studies and obtained his Master’s degree MMedVet (Gyn) (specialist in animal reproduction) followed by a PhD with the main theme of timing caesarean section in the dog. Dr De Cramer practises as both general practitioner and reproductive specialist. Dr De Cramer has extensive experience with service dog breeding, neonatology and infectious diseases related to dog and cat colonies. He has remained in close contact with his Alma Mater through collaboration in research projects and still publishes in both lay and scientific journals. He is member of a variety of the international committees related to animal reproduction, infectious disease and responsible breeding initiatives. Dr De Cramer closely collaborates with dog and cat breeder associations. He has written and presented many breed specific seminars and held numerous talks on various aspects of dog and cat breeding. His inquisitive mind compels him to continue making a contribution to the science of animal reproduction; constantly researching and solving clinical problems that breeders experience. This he manages despite time constraints placed upon him by private practice activities. He has completed a comprehensive reference book on dog breeding.

Dr. Michelle Kutzler, MBA, DVM, PhD, DACT has worked in the field of veterinary reproduction (theriogenology) since 1993 in both private and academic clinical practice and research. She has written over 100 peer reviewed articles, over 50 book chapters, and 2 books, which have been translated into several languages. She has published widely in the area of non-surgical sterilization as well as the long-term adverse health effects of spaying and neutering. Dr. Kutzler is a member of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Reproduction Control Committee, a board member for the Society for Theriogenology, on the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs, and the Chair of Scientific Committee for the 2026 International Symposium on Canine and Feline Reproduction. In addition, Dr. Kutzler is an American Kennel Club Breeder of Merit with her Dachshunds. Dr. Kutzer and her husband (Sean) of 27 years have 3 amazing children, including one who is also a practicing veterinarian.

Natali completed her veterinary medicine degree and a Doctorate degree in equine clinical research at the Free University of Berlin. Afterwards, Natali commenced a residency in the Section of Theriogenology at Cornell University, USA. She passed the board exam of the American College of Theriogenologists and remained at Cornell as a Clinical Instructor in Theriogenology and a Postdoctoral Associate in Developmental Biology. In 2011 Natali completed her PhD degree at The University of Melbourne, where she is since employed, currently as a Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Reproduction. Her other roles include being Deputy Director of the DVM and Director of Student Experience. Her research interests are infectious uterine diseases in domestic animals and student wellbeing.

Dr. Robert McCarthy graduated from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine’s first class in 1983. He subsequently pursued internship and residency training at the University of Minnesota, and was boarded by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1992. For the last 30 years Dr. McCarthy has been employed as a faculty member in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. He also owns and runs a mobile surgical referral practice in the central Massachusetts area. In 2022 Dr. McCarthy was elected to the Tufts Faculty Hall of Fame and received the Outstanding Alumni Award. He is a member of the World Small Animal Veterinary Medical Association’s Reproduction Control Committee. Dr. McCarthy is interested in all aspects of veterinary surgery, but especially issues related to sterilization of pets and free-ranging cat populations. Although he works primarily with companion small animals, he also frequently performs surgery on exotic, wildlife, and zoo species. He especially enjoys lecturing on surgical procedures applicable to small animal practice. Dr. McCarthy lives with his wife Paula, 2 rescue dogs and a cat. He is an avid Scuba diver and cyclist.

Stefano Romagnoli graduated in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Pisa in 1982 and then was a Fulbright Fellow at the University of Minnesota, where he completed a Master of Science Degree in Theriogenology in 1986. He then returned to Italy, got his PhD (1987) and became an Assistant Professor (1987) and then Associate Professor (1991) at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Pisa, and joined the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Padova as a Full Professor in January 2001.
He is a Diplomate of the European College of Animal Reproduction, has published 66 papers in refereed journals and more than 300 papers in total. His research interests have focused on small animal reproduction for the last 30 years with a special focus on reproduction in cats, as he has served as President of the Italian Feline Practitioners Association (1993-1999) and President of the European Society of Feline Medicine (2000-2006). He has also been Secretary and then President of the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation (EBVS, 2004-2008 and 2008-2010, respectively), President of the European College of Animal Reproduction (2011-2014)

Sabine Schäfer-Somi was born the 21st of May 1966 in Germany (Essen; G). She became an Austrian citizen in 1984, started her studies in veterinary medicine in the same year and graduated in 1991. In 1993, she finished her studies as DVM. Since 1994 she is working at the Clinic for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Andrology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna as a university assistant. Even though trained in all fields of animal reproduction, she always favoured small animal reproduction. In 2002, she became Diplomate of the European College of Animal Reproduction (Dipl. ECAR). In 2004 she became an Assistency Professor and habilitated in 2006. At present she is working as a veterinarian, university lecturer and scientist at the Platform for Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna. She is mainly responsible for the area “Reproduction and Gamete Conservation in Small Animals” and within this field cooperates and publishes with an excellent international group of specialists. Special fields of interest are spermatology, cryopreservation of gametes, artificial insemination, immunology of pregnancy and the neonates, neonatology, and contraception.

Prof. Wojciech Niżański graduated in 1992 from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Environmental and Life Sciences in Wroclaw. He is an active vet practitioner, and his areas of interest include artificial insemination, fertility disorders in males and females, obstetrics, and neonatology. He carries out scientific projects on the use of advanced assisted reproduction techniques in programs to save endangered animal species. His PhD was granted in 1999 and his postdoctoral degree in 2009 in the field of small animal reproduction. In 2014, he was awarded the title of professor of veterinary sciences. He is Head of the Department of Reproduction and Chairman of the Discipline Council for Veterinary Science of Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences. In 2007-2013 he was on the Board of the European Veterinary Society for Small Animal Reproduction EVSSAR, and in 2011-2013 he was President of EVSSAR.. Member of the Board of the Society for Reproductive Biology. The current Chairman of the Committee on Veterinary Science and Reproductive Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (2020-2023) and President of the PSLWMZ (since 2022). To date, he has published more than 200 original papers, reviews and books dedicated to practitioners and researchers. Speaker at many national and international congresses (including ESDAR, ISCFR, EVSSAR, AI Vets Oslo, WSAVA, NVC, ALARPA and others). Winner of the "Golden Chiron" for promoting science in 2018. He has organized many workshops and international conferences in the field of small animal reproduction.

Prof. Michał Jank is an employee of the Institute of Veterinary Medicine at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences. He is specialized in veterinary nutrition of companion animals. He provides classes for students of veterinary medicine and veterinarians - participants of veterinary congresses and conferences, as well as the postgraduate specialization course "Diseases of dogs and cats". He is the author and co-author of dozens of scientific and popular science publications on dog and cat nutrition, and has created more than a dozen nutritional supplements for small animals available in Poland and other countries. Since October 2020, he has been the Head of Research and Development at Vet Planet sp. z o.o..

He graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University (now University of Life Sciences) in Wroclaw in 1990 and started work as an assistant in the Department of Internal Medicine with the Clinic for Horses, Dogs and Cats. In 1998, he was granted the title of Doctor of Veterinary Sciences in Internal Medicine, and in 2001, the title of specialist in canine and feline diseases. In 2011, he was granted a postdoctoral degree in veterinary science. Since 2013, he has been working as an associate professor. Since 2017, he has been the head of the Department of Internal Diseases with the Clinic for Horses, Dogs and Cats at Wrocław University of Life Sciences. He teaches veterinary diagnostics, clinical immunology and internal diseases. He created the facultative subject "Animal Dermatology", which he has been running for 14 years. He is a teacher of dermatological issues at postgraduate courses in canine and feline diseases and veterinary surgery. He is the supervisor of the endocrinology and dermatology unit in the Department of Internal Medicine with the Clinic of Horses, Dogs and Cats, where he consults on dermatological and endocrinological cases.
Member of PSLWMZ, PTNW and the European Society of Veterinary Dermatology (ESVD). Member of the editorial boards of "Życie Weterynaryjne" and "Magazyn Weterynaryjny".
Author of more than a hundred scientific publications and co-editor of scientific books: "Clinical endocrinology of dogs and cats", "5 minutes of veterinary consultation - dogs and cats" "Clinical Practice Dogs", as well as the scientific editor of the first and second Polish edition of "Dermatology of small animals- Colorful atlas and therapeutic guide" and "Veterinary Dermocosmetics".

He is head of the Department of Surgery and Anesthesiology of Small Animals at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences. His main interests are issues related to soft tissue surgery. He has developed new methods or modified many existing methods of diagnosing or surgically treating diseases in small animals. He has been particularly involved in issues related to cryodestruction of the prostate gland, oncologic surgery, surgery of the pelvic diaphragm, thoracic organs, blood vessels and the nervous system in dogs and cats. In this field, he has published 121 original papers. In addition, he is the editor of three volumes of book: "Surgery of Small Animals”.
Since the beginning of his scientific work, he has participated in the realization of the teaching program for students of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW). In addition, he teaches students of the Postgraduate Specialization Program in Small Animals at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the SGGW in Warsaw and the Postgraduate Specialization Program in Veterinary Surgery at the Faculties of Veterinary Medicine of the Wrocław University of Life Sciences and the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn. He has organized or co-organized numerous workshops, conferences, courses and trainings for veterinarians and doctors of medicine. He is a member of the editorial board of the bimonthly journal "Weterynaria po Dyplomie"..

Graduate of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin. He has been running his own veterinary practice for more than 30 years. He completed a specialization in Dog and Cat Diseases and Veterinary Radiology. Radiology and small animal surgery are passions that dominate his professional life. He is a national consultant for Irap therapy in dogs and cats. He has been Chairman of the PSLWMZ Veterinary Surgery Section for 12 years. He has completed internships at veterinary clinics in the USA. Member of the Polish Association of Small Animal Veterinarians and the European Association of Veterinary Radiologists. The organizer and leader of many courses for the veterinarians.

A graduate of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Life Sciences (formerly the Academy of Agriculture) in Wroclaw, he obtained the title of doctor of veterinary medicine in 1982. Since 1989 he has run his own veterinary practice in Poznan.
In 1997, he received a PhD in veterinary medicine, granted by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Wroclaw, on the basis of a dissertation entitled: "Extensiveness of Toxoplazma gondii infection of cats in Poznań and its surroundings in the aspect of the danger of invasion of this protozoan for humans.”.
Obtained specializations: diseases of dogs and cats, veterinary surgery and veterinary radiology..
In 2011, he completed a course in canine and feline rehabilitation at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, laying the groundwork for the founding of the Animal Obesity Rehabilitation and Treatment Unit at the Veterinary Clinic in Poznan.
Member of PSLWMZ, European Society of Veterinary Orthopedics and Traumatology (ESVOT).
He organized or co-organized national conferences and seminars on veterinary surgery of small animals and orthopedic workshops, with the participation of invited lecturers from national and foreign veterinary faculties and veterinary practices. He has been invited to give lectures or workshops abroad, in Italy, Ukraine, Lithuania, Russia and Bulgaria.
He is the author of articles in the field of orthopedics and rehabilitation published in veterinary journals and co-author of the book "Selected Developmental Malformations and Hereditary Diseases in Dogs and Cats" published in 2017 and editor of the Polish edition: "Atlas of Surgical Techniques in Orthopedics of Dogs and Cats" (Ann L. Johnson, Dianne Dunning: Atlas of Orthopedic Surgical Procedures of the Dog and Cat" 2005).
Since 2017, he has been employed at the Center for Veterinary Medicine at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, as an assistant professor.

He graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Wroclaw in 1991. After graduation, he completed a one-year internship at the University Clinic of Veterinary Surgery in Wroclaw. Since 1993 he has been running a private Veterinary Clinic for Small Animals in Szczecin at 53 Chopina St. and 62 Mieszka I St. He obtained the title of specialist in veterinary surgery and radiology. The organizer of many conferences and workshops on oncology, surgery and orthopedics, which were attended by lecturers from top universities in Europe and North America. Founder of the Veterinary Oncology Section at PSLWMZ. Member of the organization: Polish Society of Small Animal Veterinarians (PSLWMZ), European Society of Veterinary Oncology (ESVONC), European Society of Veterinary Orthopaedics and Traumatology (ESVOT). He regularly improves his qualifications by participating in workshops, internships and conferences in Europe and North America. Author of specialized scientific publications, participant in radio and television programs. Since the beginning of his veterinary activity, he has constantly promoted veterinary oncology, organizer of many leisure and sports events for the veterinary profession: canoeings and golf competitions for veterinarians, as well as integration meetings in the veterinary community. Passions: work, golf, travels.

M.Sc. Bogdan Andrzej Miechowicz, designer and software developer, graduated from the Faculty of Computer Science and Management at Wroclaw University of Technology. After training in the United States, he led the implementation and later designing of ERP systems. Author of articles on management, published in Weterynaria w Praktyce, speaker conducting workshops on business management, the use of IT in veterinary medicine at the Kozminski Academy, among others. He runs the Office of IT Solutions, which for more than 25 years has been developing a software program to support the work of veterinarians, Klinika XP. The program has been implemented in more than 4800 clinics, shelters, wholesalers and laboratories in Poland, the Arab Emirates and Ukraine.