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Today's Veterinary Practice May/June 2014 8 Editor's NotE tvpjournal.com I just returned from attending and speaking at one of my favor- ite conferences, the annual Congress of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA). For those of you who haven't heard about it, it's a large meeting that reminds me very much of the biggest U.S. con- tinuing education conferences, with multiple venues and lecture streams. The hotels and conference sites are within comfortable walking distance of each other, and the conference is staffed by plentiful, friendly, and knowledgeable helpers. The meeting is held in early April every year, in the city of Birmingham, England. Previously an industrial town, Birmingham has undergone revitalization in recent years. The conference is held near the center of town, in an area situated on a picturesque canal that is replete with barge boats, restaurants, bars, and clubs. It's quite the happening place in the evening! Books That Inspired While I was there, I was reminded that we were not so very far from the Yorkshire Dales, the place featured in the wonderful books of James Herriot, the penname of real Yorkshire veterinary surgeon, James Alfred Wight. How many of us were inspired or confirmed in our desire to become veterinarians when we read this remarkable series of books? In them, we learned about the trials and tribulations of a young veterinarian starting his career in a small local mixed animal prac- tice in early 1940s England. It is remarkable that the books managed to so effectively capture the joys and heartaches of veterinary practice. Despite the dramatic changes in veterinary medicine that have happened over the years since then, many of us still experience similar situations and emotions in our daily work life. Who can forget Mrs. Pumphrey, with her overfed Pekingese dog, "Tricky Woo"? Mrs. Pumphrey adored James and showered gifts on him, while Tricky Woo suf- fered a variety of minor, imagined, or food-induced ail- ments. Or the old man who knelt down to say goodbye to his elderly dog, then gave James a cigar in gratitude after he performed a peaceful euthanasia? The charac- ters and situations haven't changed much—these rela- tionships are what brought many of us to veterinary medicine, and continue to sustain us in the profession on a daily basis. The Real Herriot Wight lived and worked in Thirsk, a picturesque town in the heart of Yorkshire. Although I wasn't able to get there on this trip, I learned that his home and veterinary practice still exist as a museum that is open to visitors daily. You can tour the restored 1940s home, a collec- tion of Herriot memorabilia, and a 4000-piece archive of veterinary instruments. At the BSAVA conference, the World of James Herriot organization (worldofjamesherriot.org) publicized a new initiative called the James Herriot Legacy Fund, in which they plan to establish links with universities, agri- cultural colleges, and veterinary practices to encourage work experience and training for young people who have a passion for pursuing animal welfare. Exploring the lifestyle brought to us by James Herriot is just one way to combine international travel with high-quality continuing education and wonderful vaca- tion opportunities. Your Own Adventure The BSAVA Congress is one international conference that I highly recommend. For those of you who are even more adventurous, why not think about attend- ing the annual World Small Animal Veterinary Associa- tion (WSAVA) Congress, which takes place in different countries each year? This year, the WSAVA meeting is in September in Cape Town, South Africa, and will feature many top speakers from the U.S. as well as others from all over the world. There are lots of great topics, including what looks like an interesting series on rabies and its impact on dogs and wildlife in South Africa. There are also pre- conference offerings of tours of Kruger National Park and a "fly-in" safari, among others. Find out more at wsava2014.com. Food for thought for anyone looking for something different to do this year! —Lesley King, Editor in Chief The Land That Gave Us James Herriot Lesley G. King, mVB, Diplomate aCVim & aCVeCC University of Pennsylvania 20114-0506_01-11_Mast_TOC_Ed_Ad.indd 8 5/24/2014 10:33:12 AM