Speakers | AVA Spring Meeting
Dr. Nigel Caulkett
Dr. Caulkett completed his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) in 1989. Soon after graduation he worked in the Northwest Territories, performing semen analysis on wood bison. He spent a year in mixed animal practice and returned to WCVM in 1990 to start a clinical residency in veterinary anesthesiology. After completion of his residency, he started on faculty at WCVM in 1994 and received board certification in the same year. Dr. Caulkett was on faculty at WCVM until 2006, and subsequently moved to the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) where he served as the founding Head of the Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Science. He retired from the University of Calgary in 2024 and works in small animal and equine specialty practices.
Dr. Caulkett’s research interests include: Refinement of capture and handling techniques for free-ranging wildlife, large animal analgesia, farm animal welfare and comparative anesthesia. He has worked with graduate and undergraduate programs in Brazil, Uganda and India. Dr. Caulkett first started working with black bears in 1984 and has collaborated on projects to develop capture techniques and supportive care in black bears, polar bears and brown bears. He is a co-editor of two textbooks focused on wildlife capture and handling and has numerous scientific articles in this field.
Dr.med.vet. Shannon Axiak Flammer
Shannon Axiak Flammer has found that her professional journey has come full circle. In 1999, during an externship in integrative medicine, she was introduced to the concept that the individual—not the diagnosis—should be at the center of every treatment plan. Over the years, however, this focus was often lost. After self-reflection, she realized that with her experience, particularly in anesthesia and pain management, she could embody this concept by providing palliative care services. In 2021, she earned a certificate in Animal Hospice and Palliative Care from the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC) and founded a mobile palliative care practice, PalliativeVet, to support animals and their families during the final stages of their pets' lives.
Since 2007, she has been a senior clinician at the Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine at the University of Bern. Previously, she served as Co-Editor-in-Chief of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia from 2014 to 2019. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from Michigan State University in 2001, followed by an internship at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston, USA (2001-2002), and a residency in Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia at the University of Bern (2004-2007). In 2008, she was awarded Diplomate status by the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia (DACVAA).
Prof. Dr. Herwig Grimm
Since 2011, I have been a professor at the Messerli Research Institute of the University of Veterinary Medicine, the Medical University and the University of Vienna, as well as head of Ethics of Human-Animal Studies. I teach and conduct research on applied animal ethics, ethics in farm animal husbandry, and veterinary ethics. I am interested in pragmatism in applied ethics as well as methodological issues in problem- and application-oriented moral philosophy.
Prim. Dr. Michael Hüpfl
Prim. Dr. Michael Hüpfl is Head of the Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine at Neunkirchen University Hospital. The stages of his professional development began with work in intensive care and the ambulance service and, after training as a general practitioner, led to specialist training in anaesthesia, intensive care medicine, pain therapy and emergency medicine. After holding several positions, he worked for 18 years as head of department at the University Clinic for Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine at the Medical University. There he focussed on training and up-to-date teaching methods at an early stage and helped to shape the training systems for assistants. He was the first in Austria to start with high-fidelity simulation in 2001 and built up a simulation team that is now the largest in Austria and supplies the medical university and the Vienna Hospital Association.
The principles of medical training have changed in recent decades for a variety of reasons. The focus here is on the professionalisation of methods and systems with the aim of ensuring a high standard of training and the adequate implementation of theoretical knowledge in practice.
Dr. Cobus Raath
Dr. Cobus Raath is a South African wildlife veterinarian and entrepreneur with over three decades of experience in wildlife health and pharmaceutical development. He graduated with a BVSc from the University of Pretoria in 1985 and spent 11 years as Veterinarian for SANParks stationed at Kruger National Park. In 1997, driven by a passion for conservation, he founded Wildlife Pharmaceuticals, specialising in the research, development, and manufacturing of veterinary pharmaceuticals for zoo and wildlife species. As an expert in chemical immobilisation, Dr. Raath has made significant contributions to the safe and effective use of anaesthetics and sedatives in wildlife management. He continues to actively advance wildlife care and One Health implementation through research projects, sharing his knowledge by teaching, and clinically assisting wildlife veterinarians worldwide.
Christian Remus
Christian Remus is an experienced professional in the medical device industry with more than 18 years of experience, currently serving as the Director of Product Management at IMT Analytics in Switzerland. His expertise lies in ventilation platforms, focusing on the current development of the 'alveo' Lung Simulator. Christian's extensive experience in clinical applications and strategic product management, gained through senior roles at Vyaire Medical, imtmedical, and CareFusion, is a testament to his deep understanding of the field. His knowledge of global market trends, clinical experience, and managing cross-functional teams and international sales make him a significant contributor to discussions on medical technology advancements.
Dr. Aleksandr Semjonov
Dr. Aleksandr Semjonov is a senior lecturer in anaesthesia and intensive care at the Estonian University of Life Sciences. He graduated from the same university in 2011 and performed his clinical training in anaesthesia in Finland, Sweden and South Africa. In 2012 he joined Wildlife Pharmaceuticals company in South Africa as a researcher and clinical advisor. Dr Semjonov obtained his Doctoral Degree in anaesthesia of wild animals in 2021. Since 2016 he holds the position of Chief Clinical Officer at the Estonian University of Life Sciences, supervising work of Chair of Clinical Veterinary Medicine and Animal Clinic. Since 2023 he is also a chief veterinarian of Tallinn Zoo. He is an author of several scientific publications and book chapters in the field of anaesthesia. Dr. Semjonov trains veterinarians in anaesthesia worldwide. Dr. Semjonov has a special interest to exotic animals and wildlife anaesthesia.
Dr.vet.med. Svenja Springer
Svenja Springer completed her veterinary studies at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, subsequently obtaining her doctorate on the topic of euthanasia in small animal medicine. She then pursued a PhD program at the University of Copenhagen, focusing on the ethical challenges arising from the continuous advancements in small animal medicine.
Currently, Svenja Springer serves as a researcher and lecturer in veterinary ethics at the Messerli Research Institute. Her research interests are primarily centred on the empirical analysis of human-animal relationships and the moral challenges encountered by veterinary professionals. Additionally, she presents at national and international conferences, aiming to illuminate issues of veterinary ethics within the profession.
In her lectures, Svenja Springer prioritizes the identification and reflection on existing challenges and dilemmas over providing prescriptive action guidelines, with the objective of developing practical and contextually relevant solutions.
Dr. Evelyn Steinberg
Dr. Evelyn Steinberg is a post-doc at the Vice Rectorate for Study Affairs at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria. Her research interest is in veterinary medical education from a psychological perspective with a focus on self-regulated learning, competence-based higher education and technology enhanced education.
