The Mysterious FIP:
Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Complicated Cases, Relapses, and Comorbidities in Cats with FIP

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Speaker: Petra Černá, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM), MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats), CertAVP (SAM-F), MRCVS, AFHEA, AdvCertFB

Bio: Dr. Černá is an ACVIM diplomate in small animal internal medicine. She graduated from the University of Veterinary Sciences in the Czech Republic in 2018 where she also obtained her PhD in 2023. After completing two internships in the UK, she completed Small Animal Internal Medicine Residency at Colorado State University, USA in 2023. Dr. Černá was awarded the RCVS Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice in Feline Medicine and also gained the Membership of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in the Medicine of Cats. She was also awarded the ISFM Advanced Certificate in Feline Behaviour with Distinction. Dr. Černá has particular interest in feline medicine and is currently a PhD candidate at Colorado State University in Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP).

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Osteoarthritis in Dogs:

A Multifactorial Disease Requiring a Multimodal Approach

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Speaker: Dr. Denis Marcellin-Little, DVM, DACVS- Dept. Chair (Interim) and Professor Surgical & Radiological Sciences, UC Davis

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Hill’s Presents:

Oldies But Goodies:
A Senior Pet Focused Symposium

Topic: Senior Feline Nutrition

Objectives:
– Feline Nutrition and Metabolic Requirements
– Definition of Senior Cat
– Physiologic Changes in Senior Cats
– Nutritional Assessment
– Diet Options

Presented By: Dr. Jose Ruiz Romero, DVM, MS

Bio: Dr. Jose De Jesus Ruiz Romero earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Ross University in 2019. Following that, he completed a one-year rotating internship at a private specialty practice in Orange County, California. He was then accepted into a combined Small Animal Internal Medicine residency and Master’s degree program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Veterinary Medicine. He successfully completed both programs, and passed his specialty boards exam. He is working on getting his study published to become a diplomate of ACVIM. Soon after completing his SAIM residency, in the summer of 2024 he then proceeded to start a 2 year Clinical Nutrition residency program in Southern California. Dr. Ruiz aims to use both of his specialties to help canine and feline caregivers deepen their understanding of their pets’ clinical health. As a Spanish speaker, he can also serve the Spanish-speaking community.

Topic: Fur-getful Minds: Clinical Insights into Cognitive Dysfunction in Cats and Dogs

Objectives: Recognize common clinical signs of cognitive dysfunction in geriatric cats and dogs. Understand the diagnostic approach, especially in differentiating CDS from other conditions. Identify treatment options for supporting pets with CDS, including dietary support, supplements, medications, and environmental enrichment.

Presented By: Dr. Han “Emily” Sun, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology)

Bio: Dr. Sun graduated from UC Berkeley in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Environmental Biology. She then received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Western University of Health Sciences in 2020. Following graduation, Dr. Sun completed a one-year rotating internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at VCA California Veterinary Specialists in Ontario, California, followed by a three-year residency (2021-2024) in small animal neurology/neurosurgery at Auburn University, Alabama. She also completed a Masters Degree in Veterinary Biomedical Sciences during her residency.
Dr. Sun is happy to return to sunny southern California and call it her new and hopefully final home. As someone who grew up in Beijing, China, Dr. Sun is fluent in Mandarin.

Topic: Diagnosis and Management of Canine Osteoarthritis

Objective: An in-depth discussion of the diagnosis and management options available for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis

Speaker: Dr. Nicola Volstad, BVSC DACVS-SA

Bio: Dr. Nicola Volstad was born and raised in Norway. She received her BVSc from the University of Queensland, Australia in 2010. Following several years of practicing as a veterinarian in private and academic settings in Australia, she relocated to the United States in 2014 to complete an orthopedic research fellowship at the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Volstad completed her small animal surgery residency at the University of Georgia and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2019. She has been practicing as a surgeon in Southern California since then. Dr. Volstad is the author of several articles in the field of small animal surgery.

**Click Here to Register**

Approved for 3 hours of California Statutorily Approved CEU

Limited to 120 Attendees

FREE for SCVMA members before 8/20/2025

$75.00 for non-members before 8/20/2025

$75.00 for everyone after 8/20/2025

**Discounted park tickets are available for purchase for $52.00 each for attendees only**

Click Here to Purchase Discounted Knott’s Theme Park Tickets

Preparing For An ICE Visit:

What Employers Need to Know to Stay Compliant and Prepare Their Workplace

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Agenda:

• Understanding ICE Notices and Warrants
• Private vs. Public Areas
• Potential Penalties
• Preparing for an ICE Visit – What to do now?
• During an ICE Visit – Your rights and responsibilities
• Communications with Employees
• What to do after an ICE Visit

Speakers: 

• Shannon Jenkins, Partner, TLD Law
• Audrianne Adams Lee, Founder, HR NETwork
• Richard M. Wilner, Board Certified in Immigration Law by State Bar of California, Founding Partner, Wilner & O’Reilly

Sponsor:

Canine Otitis Externa:

Diagnosis, Management, Success

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Canine otitis externa is one of the most frequently encountered conditions in small animal veterinary practice. This presentation explores the causes of canine otitis externa including the predisposing, secondary, primary and perpetuating factors, the importance of otic cytology, and the essential treatment modalities to help ensure clinical resolution. The development of a long-term maintenance cleaning and allergy management plan will also be discussed

Speaker: Dr. Julie Kluxdal, DVM 

Bio: Dr. Julie Kluxdal is a 1998 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. She spent eight years in clinical practice. Her practice experience includes canine, feline, emergency, exotic pet and wildlife medicine. Her career transitioned to the animal health industry when she accepted a position as a Field Technical Services Veterinarian in 2006 and most recently joined Dechra Veterinary Products as a Professional Services Veterinarian in November 2019. Outside of work Julie enjoys spending time outdoors with her family hiking and biking at home in California. When they can, they enjoy visiting other parts of the United States and the world. Her family includes her husband, son, a house full of cats and one snake.

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From “Itch-uation” to Solution:

Optimizing Comfort in Atopic Pets

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Discussing how to effectively arrive at a diagnosis of environmental allergies and how to address treatment, as well as appropriately setting up expectations to optimize success.

Speaker: Christie Yamazaki DVM, Dipl ACVD

Bio: Dr. Christie Yamazaki, originally from Sacramento, spent much of her adult and professional life in Southern California, where she earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, San Diego. Her veterinary journey began as a receptionist at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital in San Diego, and after being promoted to dermatology technician and adopting an allergic dog, she realized her passion for dermatology. This led her to pursue a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at the Atlantic Veterinary College (University of Prince Edward Island, Canada), where she graduated in 2014. She then completed internships at VCA Emergency Animal Hospital (rotating) and Veterinary Specialty Hospital (dermatology) before completing her dermatology residency at Animal Dermatology Clinic in Tustin and Ontario, California. In 2019, she earned Diplomate status with the American College of Veterinary Dermatology. After a brief time living and working in Marietta, Georgia, she returned to California to practice at Dermatology For Animals in Oakland.

Outside of work, Christie loves exploring local food spots, reading food blogs, and spending time with her charming French husband, their two daughters, two atopic chihuahuas, and two (seemingly healthy and low-maintenance) rescue kittens.

Sponsor:

Maximizing Your Online Pharmacy

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Learn the steps grow a new revenue stream by providing clients an additional way to purchase pharmaceuticals through a process they are already seeking to utilize. Learn how to do this while not damaging your in-house sales

Speaker:  Dr. Brent Lakia DVM, MS

Bio: Dr. Brent Lakia is a proud Ross University graduate from 2010. During his time on the Island of St. Kitts, he was involved in becoming a professional SCUBA diver, a member of a band that opened the national music festival that was headlined by KC and the Sunshine Band, T-Pain, and Regina Belle who sang “A Whole New World” from the Disney movie Aladdin, and met his wife with whom he has 3 elementary school aged children. He moved home to the practice he started working at in high school as a kennel attendant and has moved his way up to partnering and operating Vale Park Animal Hospital since 2018. In 2020 they moved the practice into a state of the art, 12,600 sq ft building near their old location. The trials of being a new owner when the pandemic hit, taking on a large mortgage shortly after buying in, and relocating a business at the height of COVID caused him to look for innovative ways to keep his practice successful.

Sponsor:

Updates in Pancreatitis:

Innovation and PANOQUELL-CA1

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Acute pancreatitis is common in dogs and the clinical presentation can vary widely. This CE presentation will review the current standard of care for dogs with acute pancreatitis. It will also review canine pancreatitis pathophysiology as well as the mechanism of action of the leukocyte-function associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) inhibitor, fuzapladib sodium for injection (PANOQUELL-CA1).

Speaker: Dr. Shereen Burton, DVM

Bio: Dr. Shereen Burton spent her childhood in San Jose, CA where she raised a guide dog for the blind and persistently tried to take home every animal she saw. Throughout middle school and high school, she worked as a veterinary assistant at a local veterinary hospital until leaving for college where she received a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Chico State University. Dr. Burton earned her veterinary degree from Ross University, School of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. After veterinary school she moved to Las Vegas with her husband and began working as an associate in a small animal general practice. She joined the US Army Reserves, Veterinary Corps in 2009 to expand her skillset and give back to our community and country. Throughout Dr. Burton’s career she has been a Medical Director at The Animal Foundation, a large nonprofit open admission animal shelter and a Medical Director at a general practice in Henderson, NV. She has also worked at Zoetis as a Professional Services Veterinarian for over 5 years, empowering veterinary hospital teams to feel confident and knowledgeable with products and leadership skills throughout California, Arizona and Southern Nevada.

Shereen currently lives in Henderson, Nevada with her husband Jason and two dogs, Winston Gustavo and Clementine Larue. In her spare time, she loves CrossFit, running, hiking and anything outdoors. She is an avid reader and a Star Wars enthusiast.

Dr. Burton is Human-Animal Bond Certified, Fear-Free Certified and is Certified as a Compassion Fatigue Professional. Her mission is to provide education and support to veterinary teams through innovative medical products and the power of the human-animal bond.

Sponsor:

Veterinary Team Members Seminar

New Educational Event for Veterinary Teams!

For all non-DVM team members including, but not limited to:

CSRs, Veterinary Assistants, RVTs, CVPMs

***Limited to 50 Attendees***

5 hours of CA Statutorily Approved CE

Join us for the debut of an exciting educational experience just for veterinary team members!  This event features dynamic sessions on topics of pet behavior, financial literacy, client communication, customer service, and vaccine practices.

Whether you’re on the floor or at the front desk, there’s something here to support your growth, confidence, and care. Don’t miss this chance to learn, connect, and elevate your impact!

Sunday, September 28, 2025

8:30 AM to 3:00 PM

Doors Open at 8:00 for Registration and Breakfast
**Breakfast and Lunch Included**

Platt College
1400 South Douglass Road, Anaheim, CA 92806

More Details Regarding Speakers and Topics Coming Soon!

**Click Here to Register**

Approved for 5 hours of California Statutorily Approved CEU

Limited to 50 Attendees

FREE for SCVMA members before 9/22/2025

$75.00 for non-members before 9/22/2025

$75.00 for everyone after 9/22/2025

**$50.00 cancellation fee to anyone who fails to cancel or no shows to the event

Available FREE to members, thanks to our sponsors:

How to Become a Client Whisperer:

Unlocking the Secrets to Client Communication

***Click Here to Register***

Mastering client communication is the key to building trust, strengthening relationships, and ensuring the best outcomes for patients.  In this session, you’ll learn how to engage clients with confidence, lead conversations effectively, and build lasting connections through transparency, empathy, and education.

This session will cover:

• The art of active listening to truly understand client concerns
• Strategies to build trust through consistency, follow-up, and proactive communication
• How to educate clients in a way that empowers decision-making while keeping the focus on patient care
• Techniques to navigate difficult conversations and turn complaints into opportunities

Together, we will uncover the key strategies to becoming a trusted advisor—guiding clients toward the best care decisions while strengthening your practice’s reputation and fostering lasting client loyalty.

Speaker: Kasey Ellinwood, RVT, Founder of VetSnoot

Bio: Kasey Ellinwood, RVT is a registered veterinary technician with over 30 years of experience in the veterinary industry.  From receptionist to practice manager and beyond, Kasey has worn many hats, giving her a deep understanding of client communication and team dynamics.  As the founder of VetSnoot, Kasey is passionate about helping veterinary teams enhance client interactions, build trust, and improve patient care through effective training and education.

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SCVMA Presents:

Level II Leadership Training Parts I & II

Much like the Level I training, Level II will be delivered in two full days of fun, informative, didactic, and hands-on training at the SCVMA HQ in Cypress. *Only those that have attended the Level I training may attend this training, as the two build on each other*

**Click Here to Register**

**By clicking this link to register, you will be registered for BOTH sessions. Attendees must attend both sessions to receive CE credit**

Two 6 Hour Sessions
Part I-  Sunday October 19th
Part II-  Sunday November 16th

Provided FREE
for DVM Graduates from 2014 to Present, Practice Managers, and DVM Students
***Limited to 25 Attendees**
Attendees Must Attend BOTH Sessions

9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Doors Open at 8:30 for Registration and Breakfast
**Breakfast and Lunch Included**
SCVMA Headquarters
5576 Corporate Avenue, Cypress, CA 90630

12 hours of CA Statutorily Approved CE

Presented By:

Peter Weinstein, DVM, MBA

Dr. Peter Weinstein attended Cornell University undergraduate and the University of Illinois to receive his DVM.  After graduation, he worked as an associate for three years before opening his practice. As he was running his practice, he identified the need for increased business acumen to make his practice successful. Thus, while managing and practicing full time, he attended University of Redlands to receive his MBA. As a result of the MBA, he was able to relocate, expand and sell his practice to a corporate consolidator.

Politically, he served as President of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association and the California Veterinary Medical Association and President for VetPartners, the national consultants association. He just completed three years as the Chair of the Veterinary Economic Strategy Committee of the AVMA’s Veterinary Economics Division

In the veterinary industry, he acted as Medical Director overseeing the Claims Department for Veterinary Pet Insurance.  Dr. Weinstein has provided small business and corporate consulting via his company, PAW Consulting. After 14 years, Dr. Weinstein retired from his role as the Executive Director for the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association to pursue other interests including teaching at Western University.

He was the 2018 Speaker of the Year for the Western Veterinary Conference Practice Management Section.  And in 2021 for the VMX Practice Management section. He co-authored with Michael E Gerber, “The EMyth Veterinarian- Why Most Veterinary Practices Don’t Work and What to Do About It”. Dr. Weinstein has spoken and written extensively on practice management, team building, leadership, collegiality, marketing, and other topics focused on making the veterinary profession better for all those affiliated with it.

Dr Weinstein lives in Orange County, California with his wife Sharon, two daughters (one a veterinary student at Oregon State), two dogs, and Bazinga, a Senegal parrot.

Rob Best, CVPM, CFN

Rob Best is a certified expert in Neuroleadership, the science-based field centered around emotional intelligence. His work focuses on increasing the emotional and psychological safety within professional environments to help attract, retain, and develop talent.

And he certainly knows a little something about talent, having been a basketball player, a world explorer who’s trekked six of the seven continents, and even the CEO of a global nonprofit supporting teenage entrepreneurs in over 30 countries.

Rob holds two bachelor’s degrees, Business, and Organizational Communication. And his learning & education have never stopped; he’s earned his CVPM, is a licensed expert in body language, statement analysis, and deception detection. Along with his excellence in neuroleadership, these educational advances have helped grow his ability to support leaders and influence positive change with measurable business and interpersonal improvements.

His message for professionals today? A reminder that being resilient often means taking a breath and making an intentional decision to be kind to yourself and to others. So, in the words of the famous Dr. Odie Marcovici, “Always be kinder than you feel”!

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