The dyspneic oncology patient or when breathing isn’t easy
Annual Conference of the Association of Clinical Pathology & Oncology (VAKPO), Prague, Czech Republic, 13.9.2026
We invite you to the annual VAKPO congress, which will take place on September 12–13, 2026, at Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague.
The program on September 12 will be held in Czech and is intended for general practitioners.
We would therefore like to invite you to the international, advanced part of the program, which will take place on September 13 and will be conducted in English.
Programme
SUNDAY, 13.9.2026
Speakers

Barbara E. Kitchell, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM (Internal Med and Oncology)
Dr. Kitchell has been a board-certified veterinary oncologist since 1990. She has practiced in academia, private specialty and corporate practice over the years. She completed a Ph.D. in Comparative Medicine at UC Davis and a post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Comparative Medicine at Stanford Medical School. Dr. Kitchell was Director of Comparative Oncology programs at both the University of Illinois for 10 years and Michigan State University for 10 years. She has trained 45 residents in veterinary medical oncology and many rotating and oncology specialty interns, as well as hundreds of veterinary students during her career. She is currently the Director of Residency and Specialty Internship programs for VCA. Dr. Kitchell has 100 peer-reviewed publications and numerous research abstracts and continuing education lectures. She is twice past- president of Veterinary Cancer Society and served as Chair of the Board of Regents of ACVIM. Dr. Kitchell is proud Mom to 5 grown children and grandmother to 6 grandchildren, whom she does not see enough!

Dr. Georg Haimel, DECVS
Dr. Haimel graduated from the Veterinary University of Vienna in 2006. After working for six months in general practice, he completed a rotating small animal internship at the Veterinary University of Vienna. Thereafter, he worked for two years in the medical department of an international pharmaceutical company, before returning to the Veterinary University of Vienna. Georg then successfully completed a three-year ECVS approved residency program in small animal surgery. Georg joined the AHT as a clinician in soft tissue & orthopaedic surgery in 2015, he is particularly interested in minimally invasive surgery.

Dr Luca Bellini DVM, PhD, MVetMed, Dip ECVAA
Luca Bellini is currently an Associate Professor at the Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health at the University of Padova, with extensive experience as a veterinary anesthesiologist and clinical researcher. His academic and clinical work focuses on veterinary anesthesia, analgesia, and intensive care. He is a European Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia (Diplomate ECVAA) and is actively involved in university teaching, as well as in the supervision of undergraduate and PhD students. Throughout his career, he has held several academic and clinical roles, including Assistant Professor (Tenure Track, Type B) at the same university. He currently serves as the Animal Welfare Officer for the department’s laboratory animal facility. He has gained substantial practical experience as a clinical anesthesiologist at the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital and in private practice, working with a wide range of species, including exotic and equine patients. In addition, he has worked as a researcher and support staff in experimental facilities, developing expertise in preclinical research and the conduct of veterinary clinical trials. His educational background includes a Degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Padova and a PhD in Veterinary Clinical Sciences from the same institution. He completed advanced specialist training at the Royal Veterinary College in London, where he further developed his expertise in anesthesia, intensive care, and research methodology. He also holds a second-level Master’s degree in Advanced Biostatistics for Research, strengthening his skills in data analysis and clinical study design. Alongside his academic work, he is actively involved in teaching both in Italy and abroad, participating in Erasmus+ programmes and serving as a visiting professor.

MVDr. Magda Jiroušková, EMSAVM (Cardiology)
MVDr. Magda Jiroušková, EMSAVM (Cardiology), specializes in small animal cardiology. She works as an independent veterinarian and cooperates with a number of veterinary clinics in the Czech Republic, where she provides specialized cardiological examinations and consultations. She completed postgraduate training in veterinary cardiology (ESAVS) with the title EMSAVM (Cardiology) and is currently completing her doctoral studies at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, focusing on echocardiography in small animals. She is actively engaged in lecturing and publishing.
Congress venue

Assembly Hall of the Czech University of Life Sciences
Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Praha-Suchdol - www.czu.cz
Pricing
- VAKPO Non-member: 220 eur+VAT
- VAKPO Member or student: 150 eur+VAT
The listed prices are exclusive of VAT. VAT will be charged in accordance with applicable law.
The price includes admission, full-day catering, an electronic proceedings book, congress materials, and a certificate.
WWould you like to become a member of VAKPO? Please contact us at info@vakpo.cz. The annual membership fee is EUR 120 + VAT.
Interested in Czech programm on Saturday? Visit czech webpage: kongres.vakpo.cz
Registration
Our partners
Contact
Invoicing details:
Veterinární asociace klinických patologů a onkologů z. s.
Konice 171
66902 Znojmo
Czech Republic
VAT: CZ06853684
