Conference Schedule

Mountainlands Utah Veterinary Summit

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)
3:00 pm TBA
4:00 pm TBA

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
  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 “Review of the Orthopedic Exam: Tips and Tricks for the Physical Exam and Radiographs”
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 “Latest Research and Procedures that Accompany Common Orthopedic Conditions Seen by the Everyday General Practitioner”
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
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"Driving BVD Out of the Herd"
Rafael Paiva, DVM, PhD
Sponsored by: IDEXX
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
Equine Focused Topic
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)
Equine Focused Topic
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

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
  Small Animal Food Animal Miscellaneous/Zoo
9:00 am “Corneal Ulcer Management: The Good the Bad and the Ugly”
Nathaniel Violette, DVM, MS, DACVO
“Antimicrobial Use and Practical Case Examples”
Christy King, DVM, MPH
“Common Procedures in Zoological Companion Animals”
Mike McEntire, DVM, MSVSM, DACZM (Zoo)
Sponsored by: USU CVM
10:00 am “Orbital Disease”
Nathaniel Violette, DVM, MS, 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”
Speaker TBA
Sponsored by: DEA
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch CE – AVIP – Technicians and the Team Role
Sponsored by: USU CVM
1:40 pm “Treating the FIC Patient”
Max Parkanzsky, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
“Bee Biology, Managing Bees”
Sabo, DVM; Jenna Crowder, DVM
Sponsored by: UDAF
“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)
“Backyard Chicken Management”
David Frame, DVM
“State Veterinarian Update”
Amanda Price, DVM
Sponsored by: UDAF
3:40 pm “Treating Skin Infections”
Speaker TBA
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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