Disclaimer: This schedule is subject to change
Friday September 18th
| Time | Topic and Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Track 1 | Track 2 | Track 3 | Track 4 | |
| 1:00 pm | “Advanced Colic Work Up and Diagnostics” Tasha Likavec, DVM, DACVIM (Large Animal – Equine) |
“Veterinary Technician Procedural Skills Workshop” Jennifer Lyons, CVT, LVT, MS, VTS (ECC), Sharon Klingler, CVT, RVT, VTS (Anesthesia/analgesia, equine nursing), Valeria Hernandez-Madrigal |
“Small Animal Ultrasound Techniques” (15 max) Casey Larsen, DVM, MS, DACVR Sponsored by: Esaote |
“The Neurological Examination” Ashley Hechler, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology) |
| 2:00 pm | “Intervertebral Disc Disease: Practical Evaluation and Recent Advances” Ashley Hechler, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology) |
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| 3:00 pm | “Backyard Chicken Management” David Frame, DVM, DACPV |
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| 4:00 pm | “Autoimmune Disease Management” Josh Ravitz, DVM, MS, DACVECC |
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Wet Labs | 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Veterinary Technician Procedural Skills
Led by:
Jennifer Lyons, CVT, LVT, MS, VTS (ECC)
Sharon Klingler, CVT, RVT, VTS (Anesthesia/Analgesia, Equine Nursing)
Valeria Hernandez-Madrigal
This hands-on wet lab is designed for veterinary technicians at all experience levels who want to build confidence in the procedural skills that matter most in everyday practice. Working in small groups under expert guidance, participants will rotate through three skill stations covering point-of-care ultrasound, locoregional anesthesia techniques, and essential tube placement — walking away with practical skills ready to apply the very next day.
Skills covered:
- POCUS — Thoracic & Abdominal
Evaluating for thoracic effusions, glide sign, and 4-chamber cardiac view; free fluid assessment, bladder identification, and a guided overview of abdominal organ locations.
- Locoregional Anesthesia
Dental nerve blocks including maxillary and inferior alveolar; neuraxial techniques including epidural and sacrococcygeal blocks.
- Tube Placement
Jugular catheter placement, nasogastric tube placement, and urinary catheter placement.
Space is limited — register early to secure your spot.
Introduction to Small Animal Ultrasound Techniques
Led by:
Casey Larsen, DVM, MS, DACVR — Sponsored by Esaote
Ultrasound is one of the most valuable diagnostic tools in small animal practice, but building true confidence at the probe takes hands-on repetition. This lab is designed for practitioners who have some ultrasound exposure and are ready to sharpen their technique and deepen their understanding of what they're seeing on screen. Led by board-certified radiologist Dr. Casey Larsen, participants will work directly with equipment to refine probe handling, image optimization, and key anatomical landmarks in small animal patients. As with all wet labs, space is strictly limited to 15 participants — register early to secure your spot.
Advanced Colic Work Up
Led by:
Tasha Likavec, DVM, DACVIM (Large Animal – Equine)
Colic remains one of the most time-sensitive and high-stakes presentations in equine practice, and confident, systematic evaluation makes all the difference. This hands-on wet lab is designed for practitioners at all experience levels, combining physical examination techniques with imaging to sharpen your diagnostic approach in the field. Participants will work through both hands-on exam skills and ultrasound techniques, then put their newly developed skills to the test through case-based problem solving that mirrors the real decisions you face in practice. It's the perfect blend of hands-on learning and clinical reasoning, and spots are extremely limited, so early registration is strongly encouraged.
Saturday September 19th
| Time | Topic and Location | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 – 9:00 am | Breakfast CE – Food to be served: 7:45 am, Session starts at 8:00 am “Recruitment and Retention Part 1” Sheila Fitzpatrick, DVM, CVA, CEPA, Broker Associate |
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| Small Animal | Equine | Vet Tech | |
| 9:00 am | “Ovariohysterectomy: Preventing and Treating Complications” Michael Conzemius, DMV, PHD, DAVCS, Lead Surgeon with Gilbert Queen Creek Emergency Sponsored by: Hippo Vet |
“Management of Castration Complications” Nicholas P. Hall, DVM, MS, DACVS-LA (Equine Surgery) |
“Anesthesia in the High-Risk Patient: Managing Cardiac, Renal, Geriatric, and Obese Patients” Sharon Klingler, LVT, RVT, VTS (Anesthesia & analgesia, Equine Nursing) |
| 10:00 am | “Thoracic Limb Orthopedics: Pathologies, Interventions, and Outcomes in Dogs and Cats” Peter Welsh, MS, DVM, DACVS (Small Animal) |
“Equine Fracture First Aid and Field Stabilization” Nicholas P. Hall, DVM, MS, DACVS-LA (Equine Surgery) |
“Keys to Capnography” Sharon Klingler, LVT, RVT, VTS (Anesthesia & analgesia, Equine Nursing) |
| 11:00 am | “Pelvic Limb Orthopedics: Pathologies, Interventions, and Outcomes in Dogs and Cats” Peter Welsh, MS, DVM, DACVS (Small Animal) |
“Equine Anesthesia and Sedation” Danielle Strahl-Heldreth, MSEd, DVM, MSVMS, DACVA, CVA |
“Compassion Fatigue and Management Strategies for Veterinary Technicians” Geoff Simons, MSW, CSW-UT |
| 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm | Lunch CE UVMA Business Meeting + "Driving BVD Out of the Herd" Rafael Paiva, DVM, PhD Sponsored by: IDEXX |
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| 1:40 pm | “Anesthesia of the Acute Abdomen” Danielle Strahl-Heldreth, MSEd, DVM, MSVMS, DACVA, CVA |
Equine Focused Topic Austin Cook, DVM, MBA – South Valley Equine |
“Career Pathways for Veterinary Technicians” Panel Discussion Jennifer Lyons, CVT, LVT, MS, VTS (ECC); Sharon Klingler, LVT, RVT, VTS (Anesthesia & analgesia, Equine Nursing); Valeria Hernandez-Madrigal |
| 2:40 pm | “Hypotension Mitigation” Danielle Strahl-Heldreth, MSEd, DVM, MSVMS, DACVA, CVA |
“Cardiology of the Horse” Tasha Likavec, DVM, DACVIM (Large Animal – Equine) |
“Bloodwork for the Veterinary Technician: What the Values Mean” Jennifer Lyons, CVT, LVT, MS, VTS (ECC) |
| 3:40 pm | “Differentiating CHF from Other Respiratory Disease” Kayla Grint, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology) |
“Field Medicine of Neonates” Tasha Likavec, DVM, DACVIM (Large Animal – Equine) |
“CPR: RECOVER Guidelines” USU Veterinary Technicians Sponsored by: USU CVM |
| 5:00 – 7:00 pm | Tour of New Building Dinner Starts at 5:30 pm Open Exhibit Hall Trivia Night |
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Sunday September 20th
| Time | Topic and Location | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 – 9:00 am | Breakfast CE – Food to be served: 7:45 am, Session starts at 8:00 am “Recruitment and Retention Part 2” Sheila Fitzpatrick, DVM, CVA, CEPA, Broker Associate |
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| Small Animal | Food Animal | Miscellaneous/Zoo | |
| 9:00 am | “Corneal Ulcer Management: The Good the Bad and the Ugly” Jessica McDonald, DVM, DACVO |
“Anesthesia of Small Ruminants” Rusty Stott, DVM, DACT Sponsored by: USU CVM |
“Common Procedures in Zoological Companion Animals” Mike McEntire, DVM, MSVSM, DACZM (Zoo) Sponsored by: USU CVM |
| 10:00 am | “Managing Feline Conjunctivitis” Jessica McDonald, DVM, DACVO |
“Small Ruminant – Pre Breeding Health and Lambing Management Part 1” Roselle Busch, DVM, UC Davis |
“How Communication Builds a Strong and Satisfied Veterinary Team” Sheila Fitzpatrick, DVM, CVA, CEPA, Broker Associate |
| 11:00 am | “Updates in Cancer Treatment” Trish Paulos, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology) |
“Small Ruminant – Pre Breeding Health and Lambing Management Part 2” Roselle Busch, DVM, UC Davis |
“Controlled Substances and Common Record Keeping Mistakes” Lance L. Empey Sponsored by: DEA |
| 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm | Lunch CE – AVIP – Technicians and the Team Role Sponsored by: USU CVM |
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| 1:40 pm | “Treating the FIC Patient” Max Parkanzsky, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine) |
“Bee Biology, Managing Bees” Andree Walker, MS; James Akagi, DVM Sponsored by: UDAF & USU CVM |
“Medical Record Mishaps” Speaker TBA Sponsored by: DOPL |
| 2:40 pm | “Management of Complicated Urinary Tract Infections” Max Parkanzky, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine) |
“Bovine Lameness” Gretchen Grissett-Hardwick, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Large Animal) Sponsored by: USU CVM |
“State Veterinarian Update” Amanda Price, DVM Sponsored by: UDAF |
| 3:40 pm | “Allergic Dermatitis and Numelvi” Jessica Burns, DVM Sponsored by: Merck |
“Basics of Swine Medicine with Pot Bellied Pigs” Mike McEntire, DVM, MS, DACZM (Zoo) Sponsored by: USU CVM |
“Disaster Management and Planning” Sabo, DVM Sponsored by: UDAF |
| 4:40 pm – 5:20 pm | Close Conference: Announce Prizes for In App Game – Must be present to Win Tour of New Building |
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