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  Neil Forbes
  BVetMed, Dip ECZM(avian), FRCVS

  United Kingdom

  European & RCVS Specialist in Avian Medicine
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  Neil qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 1983. He is a Diplomate of the European College of Zoological Medicine, RCVS Specialist emeritus in Zoo & Wildlife (avian) and an FRCVS. Neil was responsible for teaching avian medicine at Bristol Vet School from 2001–2011. He has lectured internationally for many years, has contributed to more than seventy six peer review papers and to more than thirty-seven books. Neil has received multiple national and international awards and is a past President of both, The European College of Zoological Medicine and The European Board of Specialisation.

  Neil headed up Great Western Exotic Vets (part of the Vets Now group) in Swindon, from 2004 to 2017. He now consults part-time at a range of national and internal locations. He is otherwise occupied with voluntary conservation work with critically endangered vultures, lecturing, and managing other consultancy instructions.

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  Antonio Pozzi
  Prof., Dr.Med.Vet., Dipl.ECVS, Dipl.ACVS, Dipl.ACVSMR

  Switzerland

  European & American Specialist in Small Animal Veterinary Surgery, American Specialist in Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
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  Antonio Pozzi is the Director of the Clinic of Small Animal Surgery and head of the Small Animal Department at the University of Zurich. He completed an internship and residency at the Ohio State University. He became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2006 and a Diplomate of the American College of Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2013. From 2007 to 2014 he worked at the University of Florida where he was appointed Associate Professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine and adjunct Professor at College of Medicine and College of Engineering. Since 2014 he worked at the University of Zurich, where he leads a team focusing on sport medicine, trauma and surgery. His special interests are canine sports medicine, minimally invasive surgery, regenerative therapies and joint surgery.

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  Hans Westermeyer
  DVM, Dipl.ACVO

  United States

  American Specialist in Veterinary Ophthalmology
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  Dr. Westermeyer joined the NC State Veterinary Medicine team on January 20, 2015 as an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology. He grew up in Chile, South America. After obtaining his Veterinary Degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia, he completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Tennessee.

  Following a research fellowship at the University of California, Davis, he returned to the University of Tennessee to complete his residency training in Comparative Ophthalmology. Immediately after completing his residency, Dr. Westermeyer moved to Hong Kong for four years and worked in private practice. His research interest is in modulation of scarring after glaucoma valve surgery.

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  Bart Van Goethem
  DVM, PhD, Dipl.ECVS

  Belgium

  European Specialist in Veterinary Surgery
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  Bart graduated from Ghent University (Belgium) in 1996. He initially spent 4 years working in his own general practice combined with a part-time function as surgical assistant at Ghent University. In 2001 he started an ECVS residency training at Utrecht University (the Netherlands). He then went to private practice and worked as a surgeon in different referral clinics.

  He returned to Ghent University in 2005, became diplomate of the ECVS in 2007, became head of soft tissue surgery clinics in 2009, and obtained a PHD at Utrecht University in 2016. He is an enthusiast propagator of minimally invasive surgery, lectures national and international, has written 40+ articles and 5 book chapters, and acts as reviewer for a national and several international journals.

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  Johan Schoeman
  BVSc, MMedVet, PhD, DSAM, DECVIM-CA, MRCVS

  South Africa

  European Specialist in Veterinary Internal Medicine
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  Prof. Johan Schoeman qualified as a veterinarian from the University of Pretoria in 1991. After spending seven years working in a veterinary mixed (small and large animal) practice in the United Kingdom, he was appointed as a lecturer at the University of Cambridge, where he completed his training for the RCVS specialist diploma in small animal medicine (DSAM). He joined the Department as a senior lecturer in 2000.

  In 2001, he obtained specialist qualifications in Small Animal Medicine from the RCVS (DSAM), the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ECVIM) and the University of Pretoria (MMedVet). During 2004 and 2005 he was Head of Small Animal Medicine. Prof. Schoeman is a former chair of the ECVIM examination board – a body that examines and certifies specialist veterinary physicians across Europe. He has been Head of the Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies for two terms (8 years) until October 2017. He currently leads the Faculty’s pathobiology research theme and has rekindled his passion for clinical teaching, whilst diagnosing and treating referred small animal medicine cases, especially those with cardiac and/or endocrine disease manifestations.

  Prof. Schoeman has successfully supervised 14 Masters and 4 PhD students, published 65 scientific papers, 10 textbook chapters, and presented over 80 international scientific, peer-reviewed congress presentations in Europe and the USA and he has delivered more than 100 regional and national CPD lectures.

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  Adriaan Kitshoff
  BVSc (Hons.), MSc, Dipl.ECVS (SA)

  South Africa

  European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
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  Dr. Adriaan Kitshoff joined the Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies in February 2020 after spending some time in specialist private practice. Dr. Kitshoff attained his European board certification in small animal surgery in 2016 and is currently working as a specialist surgeon in the Section of Small Animal Surgery at Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital. Dr. Kitshoff’s primary duties are clinical case management and practical training of final year veterinary student and surgical residents. Dr. Kitshoff has 29 publications in peer reviewed journals.

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  Abdur Kadwa
  BSc(Vet Biol), BVSc, Dipl.ECVAA

  South Africa

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  Abdur Kadwa is a senior lecturer in anaesthesiology at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa. He graduated in 2015 from the same faculty and returned in 2017 to pursue a small animal rotating internship. In 2018, he commenced his residency in anaesthesiology. In 2021, he graduated with a Master of Veterinary Medicine degree in anaesthesiology; his mini-dissertation is titled Canine blood oxygenation using ultra-low blood flow in an in vitro, single-circuit, extracorporeal membrane oxygenator model. In 2022, he passed his ECVAA board examinations. He has published multiple papers in peer-reviewed journals. His professional interests include blood gas physiology and  analysis as well as extra-corporeal technologies.

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Event Program

Venue

Frequently Asked Questions

Travel to Dinokeng Game Reserve, South Africa

• Mongena Game lodge is located in the Dinokeng Game Reserve and one of the biggest lodges in the area. Dinokeng Game Reserve is in a malaria free area. Check your government advice on vaccination etc as it differs for country to country.

The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for South Africa: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, cholera, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza. Shot lasts 2 years.

• The following link shows a list of countries exempt from requiring a VISA when traveling to South Africa: http://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/exempt-countries. This list may change without notice so check just before your trip.
• Traveling with children: At immigration, requires Unabridged Birth Certificate which shows the details of both parents https://www.flysaa.com/manage-fly/before-flying/travel-documentation - if father travels alone, then the birth certificate needs to be certificated

Money and tipping

The local currency is South African Rand (ZAR) (100R is approximately $7.40 / £5.60 / €6.50)

It is advisable to exchange money into local currency – either at the airport or in your country ahead of the event. However, there is a shop nearby, where the rangers or VetPD can take you to, which has an ATM.

There is no expectation of tipping at Mongena Game Lodge. The guideline is voluntary tipping of 10% on service fee/food/beverages

Voltage

Plugs  are different and special adpaters need to be brought. Same applies to Voltage for vets traveling from the from US https://en-us.wikiconnections.org/power-supplies/continents/africa/what-can-i-connect-to-a-south-african-power-supply

Dress Code

The entire event is very casual. For wetlabs, shorts and t-shirt are perfectly fine.

For dinner, the dress code is also very casual.

During the early morning and evening safaris a warm jumper, cardigan or coat is useful to have as it can get quite cold on the open plan jeeps.

Don’t forget to pack: Top tips

• Adaptor for South African wall plugs
• Sunscreen
• Insect spray
• Binoculars

Optional Excursions

While the game drives at Mongena lodge are part of the attraction, you can also choose to visit some attractions outside Dinokeng Game Reserve.

The area offers lots of interesting places, activities and exciting things to do! Within just one to two hour drives you´ll get to some spectacular destinations. Take a look below!

If you need any further information or like to pre-book, please get in touch. For many of these events prebooking is essential and spaces are limited!

The Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre – Preservation & protection of cheetahs

Mystic Monkeys & Feathers Zoo  –Playing with cubs

Quad Bike Safari – Guided safari also for non experienced            

Diamond Mine Cullinan – Guided surface tour of a working diamond mine

Glen Afric Country Lodge – Home to the ‘Wild at Heart’ film place                                     

Microlite Flight – Go up if you dare

If you would prefer to book 'Lectures & Practical sessions only' alternative lodgings are available and can be booked:
https://www.dinokengreserve.co.za/our-rooms/

Please get in touch with regards to special prices for Lectures & Practical sessions only.