News

“The NoVAS retreat” with Nell Ostermeier – Annual Meeting and Course March 2025

During the last weekend in March NoVAS held their Annual Meeting with lectures by Nell Ostermeier in beautiful Hawkhill Resort in Finland. What a treat of a weekend!

Dr. Nells lectures about the treatment of anxiety and cardiac conditions in our fourlegged patients und supporting senior animals were thorough and most engagingly delivered. We listened in socks and slippers in the cosy livingroom atmosphere of one of the cottages with a stunning view over the local lake surrounded by a soothing forest landscape. To keep the Qi moving Dr. Nell also guided us through three much-appreciated, small sessions of breathing and movement exercises in fresh air.

The not so secret co-star of the show was little Mini who also received a treatment by Dr. Nell. She went from super sweet and more quiet to the super sweet, tail-wagging Duracell version of herself. The positive effects were very clear to see the evening and day after.

Participants also got the chance to a pretty cold dip in the icy lake and time for enjoying the sauna. What a very brave IVAS president we have amongst us.

The close by forest trail and overall lovely weather gave the opportunity for some more fresh air movement.

We enjoyed time around the campfire as well. This might actually be the first NoVAS board meeting held by the fire.

We also got to enjoy good food and drink and had time to reconnect with friends and colleagues and to get to know Dr. Nell and her husband better.

A special thanks to Netta and Venla who organized this year’s meeting in this special location. Despite some concerns about the remoteness, transport with taxi to and from the airport went really well. We would like to keep this beautiful place in mind for future meetings.

Also we will be very happy to welcome back Dr. Nell at some point to lecture for NoVAS.

NoVAS Annual Meeting and Course 2025 with Nell Ostermeier in Helsinki, Finland

INVITATION TO NoVAS ANNUAL MEETING 2025
March 28.–30., At Hawkhill Resort, Lohja Finland

https://www.hawkhill.fi/en/

“Unforgettable cottages near Helsinki, surrounded by the Nuuksio National Park”

Some of the topics of the lectures :
● Decoding Acupuncture for Clients and Colleagues
● Anxiety: It’s Not Just A Heart-Shen Problem!
● Mentation Changes in Senior Animals – How and Why It Happens
● Treating the Triad: Kidney, Liver, Spleen
So there will be lots of tips for your practice

SPEAKER
Nell J. Ostermeier, DVM, CVA, FAAVA

Dr. Nell Ostermeier grew up on a small farm in Central Illinois and graduated from the
University of Illinois in 2004. She then moved to the West Coast with her husband Preston and
founded a small companion animal/exotic companion animal hospital in Portland, Oregon. Nell
began integrating acupuncture into practice while becoming certified through the IVAS course in 2010.

Practicing integrative medicine made such a difference for her patients and practice that
she wanted to help more veterinarians implement acupuncture successfully. She returned as a TA
to the IVAS program in 2014, then became the small animal lab coordinator, an instructor and is
now the Course Coordinator for the IVAS U.S. Course. One of her most proud moments was
receiving the IVAS volunteer of the year award in 2019.
Nell more recently founded a solo, mobile style acupuncture practice so that she has more time
to focus on developing online continuing education options for integrative veterinarians. She is
the creator and moderator of the private Facebook group “Every Day Acupuncture for
Veterinarians” which brings together vets from all over the globe who are interested in sharing
and learning more about this amazing modality. Her mission is to make acupuncture more
accessible to veterinarians and animals worldwide.


    Preliminary schedule


    Friday 28.3.2025


    14.00 Welcome, info + coffee Hawkhill Resort
    15–18 lectures by Nell Ostermeier
    18.15 NoVAS Annual Membership Meeting


    Saturday 29.3.2025


    8 Breakfast
    9-12 Lectures
    12 Lunch
    13.30- 18.30 Lectures
    19 Dinner


    Sunday 30.3.2025

    8 Breakfast
    9-12 Lectures
    12 Lunch

    REGISTRATIONS AT LATEST 29.01.2025!
    to Kim by email
    mr.kim600@gmail.com
    The course fee is 5650 DKK
    includes: accommodation in cottages, 2-3 persons/ room, meals mentioned in preliminary schedule

    • coffee/tea on breaks, lectures
      Kim will send an invoice to your email after your registration
      IF YOU HAVE ANY DIETARY REQUIREMENTS, LET US KNOW WHEN REGISTRATING!
      WELCOME to Hawkhill!

    NoVAS Annual Meeting 2024 – online March 2nd, 2024

    Dear Novas members,

    this year’s Annual Meeting/General Assembly will be held online on Saturday, March 2nd of 2024 at 16 CET. The board will send out links to the meeting per e-mail closer to the date.

    Since our mother organization IVAS is celebrating the 50th anniversairy this year and is even coming to Europe for that, the board would like to encourage as many members as possible to come to the IVAS congress during September 11-14, 2024 in Edinburgh, Scotland. For this reason no course is organized this year in connection to the NoVAS Annual Meeting.

    Sunny spring days in Copenhagen – Annual Meeting 2023

    NoVAS held it’s Annual Meeting a couple of days ago in Copenhagen which greeted the participants with the most awesome sunny weather on both Friday and Saturday. Dr. Colleen Smith held an interesting mixture of lectures for us. She was available for all sorts of questions all through the weekend and we are very grateful that Colleen made the long trip to Denmark for us. We were even joined by 3 students from the Veterinary University of Copenhagen. Lecture breaks were preferrably spent outside in the park next to the course venue.

    Two of our NoVAS members did a splendid job with helping the board to organize this year’s meeting in Copenhagen. A huge thanks to them! Catering was amazing this year, healthy and most tasty. We enjoyed one of our dinners at the canteen at vet school which was a true trip down memory lane for some of our members. The dinner on Saturday was supervised by Denmark’s favourite bird – the swan in the building of the anatomical institute.

    As per usual it was very nice to reconnect for the NoVAS Annual Meeting. The board continues in the same constellation for the next year. Suggestions for topics for upcoming Annual Meetings and involvement from members are most welcome. The board has been discussing to have the focus on equine patients next year. Hope to see many members there!

    NoVAS Annual Meeting April 21st-23rd, 2023 at the Veterinary University in Copenhagen

    The NoVAS Annual Meeting and Course will be held from Friday to Sunday April 21st to April 23rd, 2023 in Copenhagen

    at the Vet University, Dyrlægevej 100, Building 1-05, Auditorium A1-05.01.

    This is the old Kgl. Veterinær- og
    Landbohøjskole, now called University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg Campus.


    Friday 21st:

    13.30 – 14.00 Arrival and sandwiches


    14.00 – 17.00 Lectures by Dr. Colleen Smith, Chattanooga, Tennessee. Dr Smith will lecture on acupuncture,
    species appropriate nutrition, ozone, CBD, Mushroom medicine, Cancer, Crystal medicine, herbal medicine,
    microbiome health and/or mind/body care, all days.


    17:00 – 18.00: NoVAS Annual General Meeting. Agenda to be send out later.


    19.00: Dinner on Location. Beverage excluded.


    Saturday 22nd ,

    Lectures from 9.30 – 16.15

    Dinner on location also on Saturday

    Sunday 23rd

    Lectures from 9.30 – 12.30

    All meals excl. breakfast on location.

    The board will stay at Hotel Cabinn Scandinavia, Vodroffsvej 55, 1900 Frederiksberg, 1,5 km from the uni.


    Price including all meals: 5500DKK (740€) to be paid to:
    SparNord IBAN: DK65 7470 4562077982, BIC: SPNODK22 / Reg.nr. 7470 / Kontonr. 4562077982, no later
    than March 31., 2023.

    Please also send an email to mr.kim@mail.dk that you have signed up including information whether you will be arriving by car.

    If arriving by car you will need a parking permission. Let us know when signing up if you arrive in car; and
    we will arrange parking tickets. Otherwise, the parking is to be paid for .


    About our lecturer

    Dr. Colleen Smith is a graduate of Ross University and has been practicing integrative medicine since 2005.

    She has owned her small animal practice Chattanooga Holistic Animal Institute (CHAI) for 11 years
    and it has given her an opportunity to learn and apply the principals of conventional medicine and
    successfully integrating them with alternative treatments. She is a certified veterinary acupuncturist
    through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, and has a special interest in dietary therapy using
    principals of traditional Chinese veterinary food therapy. She is also a certified chiropractitioner, and
    integrates additional modalities such as herbal medicine, Ozone, stem cell therapy, microbiome transfers
    and additional therapies as needed. She is the past-president to the AHVMA (American Holistic Veterinary
    Medical Association) for the years 2020-2021, which is the US national association for holistic veterinarians.
    She also served on the Board of Directors for 8 years and now serves on the Council of Elders for the
    AHVMA. Additionally, she is on the Board of Directors of Chattaneuter, a low cost spay/neuter clinic in
    Chattanooga. Dr. Smith is an avid kayaker, paddleboarder and yoga practitioner, and she also enjoys hiking
    with her two dogs Scout, a Cattle dog mix, and Hank, a hound mix.


    Finally a real life NoVAS meeting again – Annual Meeting and Myofascial Kinetic Lines in Ejdrup, Danmark 2022

    Last weekend NoVAS held it’s Annual Meeting in Ejdrup in Danmark. Our treasurer Kim hosted the meeting and course this time in a cosy room in his clinic. He and his wife really outdid themselves as our hosts. They had even ordered the most splendid spring weather.

    Our fabulous, generous, approachable and knowledgable teachers for the weekend Rikke M. Schultz, Vibeke S. Elbrønd and Tove Due really brought the topic to life and made it easy for us to apply the new skills already on Sunday.

    We also enjoyed a get-together over dinner on Friday night at Kim’s place and a nice hotel dinner on Saturday night. Sorry, folks, no dancing this time 😉 Oh, and beautiful Ejdrup also gave ample opportunity to stretch one’s legs for the so-inclined to enjoy the fresh spring air and re-oxygenate our brains.

    Not surprisingly, we had mostly Danish participants this time. Thanks to everybody for coming!!! It was great to see both known and new faces, to connect and reconnect on a personal level after three years since the last real life NoVAS Annual Meeting. The board has been discussing to host this course in Finland as well, given that there will be enough interested participants. For those of you who can’t wait, check out http://www.fascialines.com to see all the courses Tove, Vibeke and Rikke have to offer. Stay also tuned for the book on Myofascial Kinetic Lines in the dog. The one on horses is already out.

    Thanks to everybody for coming!!! This was such a great experience. Looking forward already to the next Annual Meeting!

    NoVAS Annual Meeting 2022, March 11-13 in Denmark with Course on Myofascial Kinetic Lines in the Dog

    It is a pleasure of the board to invite our members to the annual meeting and a course on MYOFASCIAL KINETIC LINES IN THE DOG.

    Three Danish vets have discovered and mapped the myofascial kinetic lines of the dog (and horse) and they have agreed to give a course on the topic at our annual meeting. The vets are: Rikke M Schultz, Vibeke S Elbrønd and Tove Due. The course gives an understanding of the function of the lines, how to diagnose blocking of the lines and how to treat (unblock) the lines. The only tools you need are your hands and acupuncture needles!

    In most cases of restricted movements, contracted fascia and/or stiffness is involved. With this tool you are able to diagnose and treat tensions that are disturbing your lameness diagnosis and complimentary treatment’s efficiency. In many cases disturbed movements are likely to be corrected by use of this tool. The purpose of this course is to connect holistic and ordinary gate analysis in the dog.

    Agenda:

    Friday 11.

    13.00 – 17.00: Theory

    17.00 – 18.00: NoVAS annual membership meeting, separate agenda.

    19.00: Dinner on NoVAS, off location

    Saturday 12.

    8.30 – 17.00: Theory and HANDS ON live dogs, incl. lunch and breaks

    18.30: Dinner on your own (together) and more fun off location

    Sunday 13.

    8.30 – 13.00: Theory and HANDS ON live dogs

    13.00: sandwich or something else to travel home on

    Location:

    Kim’s Clinic (Ejdrup Akupunktur) at Ejdrupvej 43, DK-9240 Nibe, 45 minutes from Aalborg Airport.

    Price: 6.300DKK/ 850€ – for bank account information check the invitation in your e-mail inbox sent out at the end of January =)

    Accommodation and transportation not included.

    Payment and email sign up to Kim no later than February 28.

    Refund of payment is possible if someone on a waiting list can take your seat.

    Unfortunately, the course has a limit of 20 participants, so sign up quickly (at: mr.kim(a)mail.dk ) and then pay as soon as Kim has confirmed your seat at the course.

    If you have dietary restrictions, please let Kim know.

    Transportation from and to airport may possibly be arranged/ coordinated. Let us know if you need transportation.

    Accommodation:

    Koppes Mølle B&B: www.koppesmoelle.dk 4km from venue, about 4-5 double rooms. Kim may coordinate if you want to share room. If all rooms are booked, please call Karen (landlady) on the phone: she has another 3 beds available. Around 10 beds in total.

    Aars Hotel: 11 km from venue (search: http://www.aarshotel.dk )

    Nibe Camping Rooms and Cottages: 13km from venue (search: nibecamping.dk )

    New IVAS Basic Course 2022/23

    NoVAS, GerVAS (German Veterinary Acupuncture Society) and SNVA (Samenwerkende Nederlandse Veterinaire Acupuncturisten)

    is happy to welcome you to participate in our upcoming course:

    NoVAS / GerVAS / SNVA / IVAS BASIC COURSE IN VETERINARY ACUPUNCTURE

    Session I: March 16-19, 2022, Hotel Oud London, Zeist, NL

    Session II: April 27 – 30, 2022, Helsinge, DK

    Session III: June 8-11, 2022, Hotel Oud London, Zeist, NL

    Session IV: September 7-10, 2022, Hotel Oud London, Zeist, NL

    Session V: October 12-15, 2022, Helsinge, DK

    Session VI: November 17-19, 2022, Helsinge, DK

    Exam: January 2023, Helsinge, DK

    • The most comprehensive veterinary acupuncture course outside China.
    • This course can be attended by licensed veterinarians and last year veterinary students.
    • The participants will be able to integrate acupuncture into their practice immediately.
    • Price: 4950€ incl. course material, excl. travel and hotel expenses.

    For more detailed information, head over to:

    NoVAS Annual Meeting 2020 in Jevnaker, Norway

    An introduction to Japanese veterinary acupuncture diagnostics and moxibustion

    NoVAS Annual meeting 2020, Thorbjørnrud hotel, Jevnaker, Norway

    Time and lecturer

    Friday 24th – Sunday 26th April 2020.

    • Registration/lunch from 13.00 Friday, course starts 14.00.

    • Course ends Sunday 12.15 with Lunch afterwards.

    Lecturer: Rodrigo Fagundes, DVM | MSC | CVA | CVTP, Spain.

    Lectures will be held in English.

    About our lecturer and Japanese Acupuncture

    Rodrigo Fagundes graduated in Veterinary Medicine from UFG – Federal University of Goias in Brazil in 1996 and has a Masters degree in Genetics and Biotechnology from the UCB/CENARGEM, Brazil. He is certified in Veterinary Acupuncture and Veterinary Tui-Na from the Chi Institute of Florida/USA and in Herbal Therapy from the C’hien Institute in Brazil. He also studied Japanese Veterinary Acupuncture at the Acacia Animal Hospital in Tokyo/Japan.

    In 1997 he founded CAANES, the first Veterinary Acupuncture clinic in Brazil and a few years later he helped founding the Brazilian veterinary acupuncture association (ABRAVET). From 2002 to 2012 he was the responsible for the Veterinary Acupuncture service at the Brasilia University (UnB) and the wild animals acupuncture service at the Brazilia Zoo and the wild animal’s ambulatory at the Brasilia University (UnB)/Brazil. He teaches Japanese Veterinary Acupuncture at the Chi Institute of Europe and IVAS (International Veterinary Acupuncture Society) from Spain, Netherlands and Belgium besides many postgraduation courses in Brazil, and is also board member of the WATCVM (World Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine). In 2017 he moved to Spain and founded CAANES Spain, a veterinary acupuncture and rehabilitation centre in the city of Alicante.

    JAPANESE ACUPUNCTURE

    Chinese medicine made its way to Japan through Korea in the 6th century. However, Japan has practiced this medicine for 14 centuries, and over time a difference in practices and techniques was developed making a real distinguished form of “make” acupuncture.

    One of the main reasons for this differentiation was the fact that during many years, acupuncture was a profession destined for the blind people in Japan. Today, around 40% of the human acupuncturists 

    in Japan are blind.

    For this reason, acupuncture in Japan was much more related to massage techniques than to herbal therapy and it brought many interesting characteristics to Japanese acupuncture.

    Palpation is the main part of the diagnostic procedure and many palpation techniques were developed to make it a solid and reliable tool. In addition, there is a lot of emphasis on the use of palpation before needle treatment.

    The needles used are smaller, thinner and inserted more superficially. The Qi sensation is lighter and less perceptible by the patient.

    The moxibustion techniques are more subtle too and this technique is applied in the majority of the 

    treatment protocols.

    We can take advantage on all these characteristics on Veterinary Acupuncture. Animals love to be 

    touched and to receive massage therapy and the more subtle needle and moxa techniques make the acupuncture sessions easier to apply and more comfortable for the animal patients.

    Location AND HOW TO GET THERE:

    Thorbjørnrud Hotell, Jevnaker, Norway. http://www.thorbjornrudhotell.no

    1 hour from Oslo – 45 minutes from Gardermoen. 

    Nearest airport Gardemoen Airport, Oslo. Then Askeladden bus service from platform no. 32 directly to hotel. See timetable bus here: https://askeladden.net/airportshuttle/

    WHEN IN AREA, CHECK OUT:

    *Depending on interest, a guided tour of Kistefos with transportation will be organized for those interested after course ends on Sunday 26 th. Please let us know when registering for course. The cost of this is not included in the course fee.

    Accommodation:

    We have reserved rooms at Thorbjørnrud until 28 th of February 2020.

    Contact the hotel directly to book rooms at e-mail: kristoffer@thorbjornrudhotell.no.

    Refer to NOVAS annual meeting. After the 28 th of February the rooms will be released, but possible to book as long as rooms available.

    Cost rooms incl. breakfast:

    • Single room: NOK 935,- per night

    • Double room: NOK 798,- per night.

    Registration and course fee:

    Registration at the latest: March 15th 2020.

    (NB: Hotel rooms are released at 28th February 2020)

    Pay to: Spar Nord Bank 7470 4562077982, IBAN: DK65 7470 4562077982, BIC: SPNODK22

    Register on e-mail to: netta.novas@gmail.com with:

    • Name, address, tel.no, e-mail.

    • NoVAS member, Vet/Vet student or PT/PT student. 

    • Dietary requests

    The course fee includes:

    • Lectures and lecture-notes incl. workshops

    • Tea-coffee/break-snacks

    • Lunch Friday, Saturday and Sunday

    • BIG dinner party Saturday

    Paying before 15th March:

    • NoVAS members: Euros 700 / DKK 5250 

    • Non-members: Euros 740 / DKK 5530

    Paying after 15th March:

    • NoVAS members: Euros 740 / DKK 5250

    • Non-members: Euros 780 / DKK 5825

    PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE

    Friday April 24th

    13:00 – 14:00: Registration/Lunch

    14:00 – 15:30: Short Introduction to Japanese Acupuncture.

    Main differences between Chinese and Japanese Veterinary Acupuncture

    15:30 – 16:00: Break

    16:00 – 17:30: Abdominal Palpation (Theory)

    17:30 – 18:00: Questions and Answers

    18:00 – 18:30: General Annual Meeting

    Saturday April 25th

    08:30 – 10:00: Modified Akabane Test (theory and practice with the students)
    10:00 – 10:30: Break
    10:30 – 12:00: Abdominal Palpation (practice with animals
    12:00 – 12:45: Lunch
    12:45 – 14:00: Time for taking a walk or having a look at Hadeland Glassverk
    14:00– 15:30: Japanese Veterinary Moxibustion (main techniques)
    15:30– 16:00: Break
    16:00 – 17:30: Japanese Veterinary Moxibustion (main techniques)
    19:30: Dinner Party

    Sunday April 26th

    09:00 – 10:30 Moxibustion (practice with animals)

    10:30 – 10:45: Short Break

    10:45 – 12:15 Moxibustion (practice with animals)

     

     

     

    NoVAS/IVAS – Membership fee 2019/2020

    Dear members,

    Membership fee for NoVAS (incl the IVAS membership) is due =)

    For all our existing members our Danish treasurer Kim Samuelsen has sent out invoices per mail.

    The adress is “Nordisk Veterinær Akupunktur Selskab” (post(a)dinero.dk) – because of the bookkeeping programme Kim uses for NoVAS.

    Please contact Kim if you have NOT received that e-mail.

    The current fee for 2019 – 2020 is


    825 DKK
    110€


    as agreed upon during this year’s Annual Meeting.We only operate with 2 currencies in NoVAS from this year on.