MTF
Dr Jim Berry
President
Canada
Dr Jim Berry
I have been in clinical practice for 34 years, working in 3 different areas of Canada.
In the past 15 years, I have concentrated on companion animal lameness and pain management employing an integrated approach to patient care. I currently am certified in veterinary acupuncture (IVAS), canine rehabilitation (CRI), animal chiropractic (Options for Animals), and I am a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner (IVAPM).
I am actively involved in veterinary association work, having served on the executive boards and various committees of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, New Brunswick Veterinary Medical Association, and the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management.
I still work in clinical practice but try to spend as much time as possible hiking, running, or snowshoeing with my wife and 3 dogs. Our cat is invited but prefers to stay inside by the food bowl.
Dr Jerzy Gawor
President Elect
Poland
Dr Jerzy Gawor
Dr Jerzy Paweł Gawor (1966) graduated in April 1992. He received his PhD in 1996. Since January 2009 Fellow Academy of Veterinary Dentistry. In 2015 successfully completed re-quirements and became Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) and European Veterinary Dental College (EVDC). At present Dr Gawor provides dental teaching services in European School of Advanced Veterinary Studies in Europe and Asia.
His main field of professional activity is dentistry, head and neck surgery and oncology. Several hundred advanced dentistry procedures a year have resulted in a wealth of skill and practical knowledge. Published and presented over 120 publications in veterinary dentistry.
Dr Ellen van Nierop
Immediate Past President
Ecuador
Dr Felisbina Queiroga
Dr Ellen van Nierop is a Dutch veterinarian. She qualified from Ghent University in Belgium and now lives and works in Ecuador where she runs a small animal clinic in partnership with her husband who is also a veterinarian. In addition to her veterinary qualifications, Dr van Nierop has studied accounting and auditing and, in 2016, achieve a degree as an Engineer in Accounting and Auditing from the Ecuadorian Universidad Particular de Loja.
Dr van Nierop has been the Ecuadorian representative of the WSAVA for AMVEPE since 2009 and joined the WSAVA Executive Board, initially as Seventh Board Member and later as Treasurer.
Dr Oscar Umaña
Treasurer
Costa Rica
Dr Oscar Umaña
Dr. Oscar Umaña is a Honduran/ Nicaraguan citizen, he graduated as a Veterinarian from the School of Veterinary Medicine of Universidad Nacional in Costa Rica in the year 2000, he began his professional career with a series of business ventures, with the conviction of maximizing the value offered to the community he serves.
In 2002 he was co-founder of Veterinarios Asociados in Managua, Nicaragua, a company dedicated to veterinary services in equine practice and companion animals. In 2007 services were extended to Costa Rica where he founded Hospital Veterinarios Asociados in San José, where he currently lives and works. In 2010 he co-founded Consulab (Grupo Albeitar), a company dedicated to services in Veterinary Clinical Pathology and Microbiology in Costa Rica.
In 2013 he completed an Executive MBA from INCAE Business School. Since then he participated in the creation of MEVEPES (Veterinary Companion Animal Association of Costa Rica) and has been a board Member since then, and consequently started his involvement in WSAVA. He has special interest for topics such as Leadership, Organizational Culture, Strategy and Pricing. He recently received his ICF Coaching Certification from Ignite Global and is currently working as a consultant for Private Practice owners throughout some countries in Latin America.