Governance

After studying Veterinary Medicine at the Vet School Hannover and a short period in a private practice I have started working at the Institute of Veterinary Medicine, University of Goettingen in 1992.
In 1996 I received the diploma as a national specialist for small animals and in 1998 for clinical pathology. In 2004 I received the certificate of the ECVCP. 2007 I finished my habilitation and since 2010 I am Professor at the University of Goettingen.
My scientific fields of interest are gastroenterology, especially liver diseases; orthopaedic diseases, especially osteoarthritis; cytokine research of different disease mechanisms and development of biomarkers.
I am author of about 70 publications in international journals; currently I supervise 7 dissertations, 7 master theses and 3 bachelor theses. I give lectures in four faculties.
Furthermore I am active in continuing education and specialisation in Lower Saxony and nationwide. I am a board member of the GSAVA, the GSAVA working group gastroenterology, the CT-user group, the InnLab and the ESVCP.
I have a family, but my children left their home for studying. My hobbies are skiing, driving motor bike,  horseback riding and mowing the lawn.

Graduated as a veterinarian in 1994 at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FVM), Agricultural University of Tirana (AUT). Right after, worked at the Institute for Food Safety and Veterinary Medicine, Tirana, Albania, Virology Department. In 2000 established his own small animal practice in Tirana, working as a small animal practitioner without any interruption until currently. In 2004 earned a PhD degree and in 2009 (until currently) started as a full time academic staff member and lecturer of veterinary forensics and necropsy at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, AUT, Albania. 2012 earned the title of Associate Professor. From 2016 -2020, head of the Department of Clinical Sciences, FVM.  Areas of interest: small animal medicine, forensics, dentistry and communication.

Marc graduated in 1987 at the University of Gent, Belgium.
After performing his military service, he took over a practice in 1989.
Together with his wife, he is now co-owner of two companion animal practices in Northern Antwerp. He attended many congresses and CE in Europe and the U.S., where his focus was/is Internal Medicine and Cardiology.
Marc joined SAVAB-Flanders in 1993, where he became Treasurer after a few years. As this position is not really the most favourite, he stayed for almost 10 years. After this he was elected as President of SAVAB-Flanders for two years. In 2013 he became the WSAVA-representative of Belgium, and the FECAVA Director in 2014.

Lea Kreszinger graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Croatia in 2003. She is the founder of Small animal veterinary clinic Kreszinger in Sesvete, Croatia where she works as a small animal practitioner.
Most of her interests include orthopedics, neurology and neurosurgery.
Her happiness are her 4 children and her giant schnauzer Freya.
In her spare time, she enjoys outdoor activities, sports, cooking and traveling.

2013-2019 President of CSAVS (Croatian Small Animal Veterinary Section) within Croatian Veterinary Chamber and organizer of educational events in Croatia (national congresses, seminars, workshops) for small animal practitioners and veterinary technicians.

FECAVA Director for CSAVS active in FECAVA working groups:

• Award and Scholarship Committee (Chair)
• Marketing Committee
• Working group on Continuing Education in Eastern European Countries

WSAVA Representative for CSAVS.
EERVC Board member and one of the founder of EERVC (Eastern European Regional Veterinary Conference).
VOG Board member and one of the founder of VOG (Veterinary Orthopedic and Neurology Group).
AOVET active member, junior speaker and instructor with finished AOVET Chairman Education Program, Budapest (27.-28.05.2016.) and AOVET Faculty Education Program, Amsterdam (01.-02.07.2016.).
GRSK e.V. active member (Gesellschaft für Röntgendiagnostik genetisch beeinflusster Skeletterkrankungen bei Kleintieren).
Organizing courses in the field of Orthopedic and traumatology in Croatia and region.

Julija Abram, DVM, has been FECAVA Director for Estonia since 2021. Julija graduated from the Estonian University of Life Sciences with a degree in veterinary medicine in 2011. In 2010, she was recruited by the local wholesale company Dimela AS as a Sales and Marketing Specialist for Dechra Specific, where she worked for more than four years.

From 2018 to 2025, she served as a Product Manager and later as a Brand Manager for Purina Pro Plan. This role provided her with valuable opportunities for professional growth, including writing articles, appearing on Estonian television and radio, training pet shop and clinic staff in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania (in three languages: Estonian, English, and Russian), and managing the product range while maintaining close contact with customers.

Within FECAVA, she is most often found engaging with other Directors about new initiatives that can be developed by the Marketing Working Group to strengthen the FECAVA brand. If you are new to FECAVA, she will gladly take you under her wing—introducing you to everyone, involving you in events, and ensuring you enjoy the vibrant community that the Directors foster.

She is passionate about pet nutrition, pet food labeling, sharing knowledge about better pet care, and bringing together people from diverse backgrounds.

Julija served as President of the Estonian Small Animal Veterinary Association (ESAVA) from February 2021 to October 2023. Following this, ESAVA merged with the Estonian Veterinary Association, restructuring into a two-stage governance system and renaming the organization as the Estonian Veterinary Chamber. In the Estonian Veterinary Chamber, Julija sits on the council.

Alan qualified from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of University College Dublin in 1997 and worked in Ireland and abroad in the UK and New Zealand, before taking over as lead vet and owner of Blacklion Pet Hospital in Greystones Co Wicklow in 2003. He was the 2012 President of Veterinary Ireland and remains active on the Animal Welfare Committee of Veterinary Ireland, campaigning nationally on matters relating to animal welfare. Alan was the lead campaigner to ban tail docking of dogs in Ireland and to bring in mandatory microchipping of dogs. Forever supported by his wonderful wife Anna and 2 dogs Izzie and Rex and cat Skye, his days are busy with the 2 jobs he loves most – being a dad for their 4 great boys Mikey, Tom, Nicky and Peter (who all come in to ‘help’ in the practice) and being a vet for the local pets. A Alan is also a Director the Pet Emergency Hospital in Dublin.

Graduated  at the Faculty of Veterinary medicine , University of Belgrade -Serbia also has specialization in Belgrade

Works in his own veterinary clinic for small animal practice -Vetkoll -Skopje

He is International cinologikal judge for all FCI breeds (all rounder)

He is general distributor for Eukanuba pet food in Macedonia.

Birte graduated from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh in 2000. She worked in mixed practice in Scotland and Iceland for 12 years before returning to Norway where she is partner and clinical director of a small animal clinic in Bergen. She is a general practitioner with a particular interest in soft tissue surgery, and also treats the occasional zoo animal.

Birte sits on the board of the Norwegian Small Animal Veterinary Association and the Western Norwegian Veterinary Association, and has been the FECAVA director for Norway since 2024.

Zbigniew Blimke graduated from the Veterinary Faculty in Warsaw in 1982. Specializes in dermatology. Owns a veterinary clinic in Ustroń in the south of Poland.

Past President of PSAVA. He is currently a board member of PSAVA. The organizer of the annual international Dermatological Workshops “Dermatologia pod Czantorią” in Ustroń.
Member of the Local Host Committee of WSAVA/FECAVA/PSAVA Congress in Warsaw.

Dr Emir M. Chaher qualified from the University of Buenos Aires (Argentina) in 1997. Short time after graduating, Dr. Chaher went to live and work for several years in Germany where he completed postgraduate studies at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich. He now lives and works since 2004 in Portugal where he owns a Small Animal Clinic in sunny Alcochete, just across the river from Lisbon. Dr. Chaher is President of the Associação Portuguesa de Médicos Veterinários Especialistas em Animais de Companhia (APMVEAC), FECAVA Director and FIAVAC Representative. He is also Chair of the Southern Regional Assembly of the Portuguese College of Veterinary Surgeons (OMV). In his spare time, Emir is an avid sailor, amateur cook and a frequent traveler.

Dr. Bogdan-Alexandru Vitalaru
Associate Professor, DVM, MS, PhD

AMVAC/RoSAVA, President

Professor Bogdan Alexandru Viţălaru graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest in 2004, a PhD in October 2009, and Professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest since 2023.

Starting in 2017 Dr. Bogdan Alexandru Viţălaru became Associate Professor at Pisa University, Perugia University, Zagreb University, Milano University, Thessaloniki University, and Lublin University, teaching urology and nephrology both for students and postgraduates.

Over the years he has written more than 150 scientific papers on topics related to oncologic surgery, dialysis, hemodialysis and emergencies. His 4 books about emergencies were sold in more than 2000 copies in Romania in the last 4 years. His last book it is completely dedicated to peritoneal dialysis in small animals and it has been released also in English in Italy, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Croatia, Ukraine and Poland starting February 2018.

The Peritoneal dialysis in small animal book received the Romanian Academy Award, “Traian Savulescu”, in December 2019.

Since January 2014, in collaboration with BBraun Romania, within the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, he opened the first Veterinary Hemodialysis Clinic in Romania and one of the few in Eastern Europe.

Starting 2013, he established the Romanian Association of Veterinary Nephrology, Hemodialivet, who’s Chairman he is.

In the last 10 years, Dr. Viţălaru has been a lecturer for Hills Romania and KTL in Romania and Europe regarding urology, nephrology and renal replacement therapies. He is also leading the Emergency Department of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest since 2015.

Starting 2014, Dr. Viţălaru has initiated a program of workshops and seminars regarding renal patients all over Romania (București, Iași, Cluj, Timișoara, Brașov, Constanța), Bulgaria (Varna, Stara Zagora), Poland (Krakow, Warsaw), Croatia (Zagreb), Italy (Perugia, Pisa) and in Turkey (Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya). He was awarded with the Continuing medical education prize – AMVAC/RoSAVA, Sinaia 12-14 November 2015 and SPEAKER OF THE YEAR – Romanian College of Veterinarians, Bucharest, 17 December 2015. He is a member within the board of some of the most prestigious publications in Romania: Cat life, 2015, Romanian Journal of Veterinary Orthopedics and Imagistic, 2015, Romanian Journal of Veterinary Medicine & Pharmacology, 2016, Romanian Cardiology Review. In 2016, Dr. Viţălaru has received the Special Prize for the best veterinary initiative of the year in Romania – Innovation in Health.

Since June 2022 Dr. Vițălaru is President of AMVAC (Small Animal Romanian Practitioners Association), FECAVA Director for Romania and since March 2019, Dr. Vitalaru is FECAVA Ambassador and ROVECCS Ambassador (Romanian EVECCS partner).

In September 2019, Dr. Viţălaru received the Didier-Noël Carlotti Award (DCA), named after a veterinary surgeon who initiated, planned and inspired FECAVA and who served as its first President for four years. The DCA is to be awarded annually to one of FECAVA members who has provided an outstanding service in the fields of inter professional communication and/or continuing education for companion animal veterinarians in Europe.

In November 2019, at the AMVAC Congress, he receives the ”Ion Alin Bîrțoiu” Award for best medical practitioner in Romania, and the Romanian Society of Veterinary Nephrology Hemodialivet receives the Award for the best veterinary medical Society of the year 2019.

In December 2022, Dr. Vițălaru was awarded Man of the Year Award, by International Organisation for Diplomatic Relations, for the first veterinary haemodialysis clinic in Eastern Europe.

His passions are mountain hiking, fishing and nature and as a result of this, he has initiated in 2017 a Vet Camp in the Romanian mountains with vets all around Romania.

The greatest achievements of his life are Silvia his wife and his two beautiful daughters: Natalia and Sofia.

Brutus, his amazing and brave dog is waiting for him every night, after long clinical days…

Denis graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, and is one of the founders and partners of Veterinary Clinic Novak in Belgrade, providing referral and first-opinion veterinary services. In 2002, he completed postgraduate training at the University of Cambridge, Veterinary School, obtaining MRCVS status, and since the same year he has held the European Diploma for the Radiological Assessment of Hereditary Skeletal Diseases in Small Animals (GRSK).

He is President of SASAP, the Serbian Association of Small Animal Practitioners, represents SASAP within the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), and previously served as the FVE/UEVP representative for the Serbian Veterinary Chamber.

Denis is Chair of the Eastern European Regional Veterinary Conference (EERVC) and has been actively involved in FECAVA since 2005, when he joined as a SASAP Director. Within FECAVA, he has held elected leadership roles including four years as Treasurer, two mandates as President, and the role of Past President; he also chairs the FECAVA CPD Committee, is a member of the Media and Marketing Group, and has contributed to the EJCAP Committee, Policy Working Group, and Financial Advisory Committee.

He is a recognised international speaker in small animal diagnostic imaging, soft tissue surgery, reproduction, and general clinical practice. His professional contributions have been recognised with several distinguished awards, including honours from the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, the North American Veterinary Community, and the prestigious Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons – RCVS International Award in 2023.

Lara Kralj graduated from the Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, in 2002. During her fourth year of University, she joined a student IVSA program and spent two months training with a private vet in San Diego, California. She returned to San Diego another three times at the end of her studies and joined a spay and neuter association of US vets, who were doing free surgeries in the south of Mexico. In 2005 she founded her own clinic in her hometown Izola. she is a general companion animal practitioner, and her main interests are surgery and dermatology. Since 2020 she has been the president of the Slovene dermatology section, and in 2022 she was elected as president of Sisava and Slovene FECAVA officer.
In her private life, she likes traveling, sports, and spending time with her daughter Sofia, their malinois Bond, and sphynx cat Lancelot.

Ellinor graduated from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in 2012 and completed her Swedish Speciality in dog and cat diseases in 2022.

Ellinor has worked for 10 years in an emergency small animal hospital but is currently working in a small specialist clinic. She has a special interest in endocrinology but also likes other fields such as ultrasound and soft tissue surgery.

Ellinor has been a member of the SSAVA board and is the Swedish director of FECAVA since 2022.

Käthi qualified 1983 at the university of Zurich, veterinary department. For more than 30 years she runs her own small animal practice. She is past president of the Swiss association for companion animals SVK and was in the board of the Swiss association of veterinarians GST. She is the Swiss director for FECAVA and WSAVA since 2011.

Käthi is active in the following FECAVA Working Groups and Committees:

• Working group on Animal Health and Welfare / Working group on Animal-Assisted Therapy and Welfare in Practice
• Working group Veterinary Mental Health and Well-being
• Marketing Committee
• Policy Committee
• Financial Advisory Committee

Graduated from Utrecht University in 2005 and have been in companion animal practice since. After
14 years she started her own business as a locum vet. Special interest in Feline Medicine. Board
member companion animal of the Royal Dutch Veterinary Association from January 2019-2021. Karin
is active in: FECAVA Working group Veterinary Mental Health and Wellbeing and FECAVA
Working group Sustainability.

President, KLIVET – Turkish Association of Companion Animal Practitioners

Dr. Çağıl Çokcoşkun Yılmaz graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in 2002 and holds a master’s degree in Veterinary Surgery. She also completed a bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management and regularly delivers trainings and seminars on veterinary practice management in Turkey. In 2004, she founded Minouvet Veterinary Polyclinic in Istanbul, where she continues to serve as founder and chief veterinarian.

Since 2013, Dr. Yılmaz has played an active role on the KLIVET Board of Directors, contributing to numerous social responsibility projects, congresses, and continuing-education programs. In 2024, she was elected President of KLIVET and continues to serve in this role. Under her leadership, KLIVET achieved full membership in FECAVA in 2025, strengthening ties between Turkish veterinarians and the European veterinary community. She continues to work for the advancement of veterinary medicine in Turkey and to promote an accurate public understanding of the profession.

She is also the mother of two children.

Tricia qualified from Glasgow University Veterinary School and worked in small animal practice for 16 years before moving into non-clinical roles.
Tricia has completed a Masters in Business Administration and is a Past President of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association.
Tricia is currently Business Development Director with Vets Now, the UK’s leading provider of pet emergency care and a Trustee of Vetlife.

Dr. Hannes Gressl
Viktringer Ring 3
A-9020 Klagenfurt
Austria

Born: 05.12.1963 in St.Jakob/Rosental, Carinthia, Austria

Studied veterinary medicine at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna

1988 Clinic for surgery and ophthalmology at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
1994 Veterinary Clinic Dr. Krebitz in Klagenfurt, Austria
Main focus: ophthalmology, oncology, soft tissue-, orthopedic, neurosurgery and diagnostic imaging (computer tomography, MRI, X-ray, endoscopy)
1996 PhD in veterinary medicineat the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
Topic: “About the occurrence of eyelid diseases in dogs in Austria (1983-1993)”
1996 Audited member AKVO (Working Group of Veterinary Ophthalmology Austria),
• Certified Eye Scheme Examiner ESE
• ECVO (European Collage of Veterinary Ophthalmologists)
2006 Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the VÖK (Austrian Small Animal Veterinary Medicine Association)
2010 Deputy Chairman AKVO (Working Group of Veterinary Ophthalmology Austria)
2012 Member of the Board of the VÖK(Austrian Small Animal Veterinary Medicine Association)
2014 “Specialist veterinarian for small animals” (Qualification and exam)
2016 President of the VÖK (Association of Austrian Small Animal Medicines)
2016 Appointed member of the Examination board for specialist veterinarian for small animals
2017 “Diploma small animal oncology” (ÖTK_Austrian veterinary chamber qualification and exam)
2018 Appointed instructor small animal medicine at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
2019 FECAVA representative (Director FECAVA)

Member of
• AKVO: Working Group of Veterinary Ophthalmology Austria
• FVO: Advanced Training Community Veterinary Ophthalmology
• ESVONC: European Society of Veterinary Oncology
• VÖK: Austrian Small Animal Veterinary Medicine Association