Basics and Necessity of Estate Planning

***Click Here to Register***

Monica will share key insights into the basics of estate planning, providing attendees with practical strategies to safeguard their personal and professional legacies.

Speaker: Monica Goel, Esq., Managing Partner of TLD Law, Certified Legal Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law by the California Board of Legal Specialization

Bio: Monica Goel is a Certified Legal Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law with over 23 years of experience guiding individuals and families through estate planning, trust administration, probate, and elder law matters. She is a Managing Partner at TLD Law, working primarily out of the firm’s Irvine and Long Beach offices.

Sponsor:

Urgent Orthopedics Demystified:

Orthopedic Emergency Pearls for the Primary Veterinarian

**for this meeting only**

Stitches Veterinary Surgery

2211 N Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90815

 Seating is VERY limited- RSVP NOW to save your spot!

This event is FULL!  

This lecture will explore critical aspects of assessing, stabilizing, and managing urgent orthopedic cases. The focus will be on five key presentations:

• limb fractures
• joint luxation
• distal extremity trauma
• tendon and ligament ruptures
• post-surgical complications.

Speaker: Dr. Courtney Campbell, DVM, DACVS

Bio: Dr. Courtney Campbell is a board-certified surgeon, author, and veterinary media correspondent. Dr. Campbell is dedicated to quality pet care and has a deep passion for education. His mission is to foster genuine connections with clients, patients, and the veterinary community.

Dr. Campbell’s love for animals blossomed in bucolic Burlington, Connecticut. Surrounded by diverse wildlife and a menagerie of pets, a spark ignited on his tenth birthday with the arrival of his first puppy. That’s when the dream of becoming a veterinarian took root.

Dr. Campbell has completed three rigorous internships and a surgical residency. His focus is orthopedics, soft tissue surgery, and minimally invasive surgery including arthroscopy. Dr. Campbell’s commitment to learning extends beyond the operating room. He actively shares his knowledge through lectures and continuing education programs. His goal is to make scientific knowledge and pet health information readily available to everyone. He is committed to making the veterinary profession more inclusive for all. Dr. Courtney is a passionate advocate for animal health and a compelling voice for pet lovers everywhere.

Sponsor:

Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV) in Dogs-

From Triage to Surgery

***Click Here to RSVP***

This comprehensive lecture provides a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to the management of Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV) in dogs, focusing on the critical transition from triage to surgery. Delivered by a board-certified criticalist and surgeon, the session highlights the importance of early recognition, rapid stabilization, surgical intervention, and intensive post-operative care in optimizing outcomes.

Key Topics Covered:

• Triage and Stabilization
• Prognostic Indicators
• Surgical Principles
• Anesthetic Considerations
• Post-Operative Care

This lecture underscores the life-saving potential of coordinated, team-based emergency and surgical care in GDV cases, emphasizing swift action, meticulous technique, and vigilant post-op support.

Speaker: Dr. Heike Botha, BVetMed, MVetMed, DACVECC- Critical Care Specialist

Bio: Dr. Heike Botha was born in Pretoria, South Africa, and earned her veterinary degree from the University of Zurich in Switzerland. During her studies, she completed a Master’s thesis with the Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets, and Wildlife, focusing on dietary management in wild herbivores.

After graduation, Dr. Botha completed a rotating internship at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, where she gained broad exposure to internal medicine, surgery, and emergency care. She then moved to California to pursue a residency in Emergency and Critical Care at Veterinary Specialty Hospital (VSH) in San Diego.

Following residency, Dr. Botha spent two years practicing in Hawaii before returning to Southern California, where she joined VCA West Coast. Most recently, she joined Rise Pet Health, establishing the Emergency and Critical Care departments at the newly opened specialty hospital. Her clinical interests include trauma, sepsis, transfusion medicine, and critical stabilization of surgical emergencies.

Speaker: Dr. Daniel Nucci, DVM, MS, DACVS-SA- Small Animal Surgeon

Bio: Dr. Daniel Nucci was born in Chicago, Illinois, and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of California, Davis in 2012. Following graduation, Dr. Nucci completed a rotating internship in Northern California, followed by a surgical internship in Ottawa, Canada.

He then pursued a residency in small animal surgery at Colorado State University, where he received advanced training in minimally invasive techniques, including laparoscopy and thoracoscopy. In 2017, Dr. Nucci became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (Small Animal).

Since completing his residency, Dr. Nucci has cultivated a special interest in the application of 3D printing in veterinary surgery. He is one of only four surgeons worldwide who work with Vet3D, a company that designs and produces patient-specific surgical guides and implants for complex angular limb deformities and high-grade medial patellar luxations. Through this collaboration, he helps bring customized, precision-based solutions to veterinary surgeons around the globe. Dr. Nucci is currently the only surgeon in Orange County offering this level of personalized surgical planning and 3D-printed implant technology.

When not working, Dr. Nucci enjoys spending time with his wife and three children in San Clemente, California.

Sponsor:

Diagnosis and Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure

**Click Here to RSVP**

Congestive heart failure is a strong negative prognostic factor in dogs and cats with heart disease. Attendees will learn the latest updates on CHF medications and how to assess the cause and diagnosis of CHF and to formulate treatment and monitoring plans.

Speaker: Dr. SeungWoo Jung, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM (Cardiology), DAiCVIM (Cardiology)

Sponsor:

Advanced Techniques for a Better Death

**Click Here to RSVP**

Please Note: There is a new location for Chapter Meetings:

Marmalade Cafe

14910 Ventura Blvd

Sherman Oaks, 91403

This will be the location for future meetings unless otherwise noted.

This lecture will equip veterinary professionals with advanced sedation protocols and euthanasia techniques to ensure peaceful end-of-life experiences regardless of the clinical challenges faced. Attendees will learn sedation and euthanasia approaches based on clinical status, safety protocols for aggressive patients, and alternative techniques when IV access is limited—all designed to optimize comfort for the pet, client, and veterinary team.

Speaker: Dr. Shea Cox, DVM

Bio: Dr. Shea Cox is a leader in veterinary hospice and palliative care. In 2012, she created the first hospice and palliative care service within a specialty hospital setting. In 2017, she developed the nation’s first telehealth platform focused specifically on quality-of-life and end-of-life support for families. Her work gained industry recognition when BluePearl Specialty + Emergency Pet Hospitals acquired her PetHospice practice in 2020, where she expanded hospice services nationwide. In 2024, she joined Honor Pet to build the industry’s first comprehensive end-to-end pet end-of-life center. Dr. Cox’s contributions to veterinary medicine include developing a 125-hour RACE-approved Hospice and Palliative Care Certification Program for veterinarians and technicians. She has authored 14 book chapters on hospice, pain management, and telehealth, while helping establish professional standards as a contributing author to the AAHA/IAAHPC End-of-Life Guidelines, AAHA/AVMA Telehealth Guidelines, and AAFP Hospice Guidelines. As Past President of the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care, she continues to shape how veterinarians approach end-of-life care.

Sponsor:

VCA West Los Angeles Presents

UNLEASHED

Includes Three Different Tracks:

DVM Track (6 CE Units)

Technician Track (6 CE Units)

Administration Track (3 CE Units)

Social Event Happy Hour
Raffle Prizes & more!

Sunday May 18, 2025

Skirball Cultural Center
2701 N Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049

 *Click Here to Register*

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT:

https://www.vcawlaunleashed.com/conference

**Non SCVMA event

Debunking Common Practices in a General Practice Setting with New Insights

***Click Here to RSVP***

This course covers major shifts that have occurred in veterinary medicine over time in regard to general practice.

Attendees will get the latest evidence-based updates on:

• Treatments: A clear understanding of updated treatment recommendations for conditions like parvovirus in dogs, FIP in cats, diabetes management, osteoarthritis, acute diarrhea, and mast cell tumors.
• Diagnostics for conditions: Insights into the latest diagnostic paradigms for Cushing’s disease, hypothyroidism, and leptospirosis. Knowledge of when PCR is helpful in diagnosing conditions and when it is not.
• Pain management: An understanding of which pain medications are most effective for specific conditions and the current recommendations for fluid rates
• Anesthetic monitoring: The ability to explain the benefits of tailored anesthetic plans for patients

Speaker: Vanessa Aberman, DVM, DABVP (Canine/Feline)

Bio: Dr. Vanessa Aberman is a Ross University graduate and has been practicing in Los Angeles for 20 years. She was a medical director in a busy veterinary practice for 12 years in the San Fernando Valley. In 2011, she became a diplomate with ABVP in canine and feline medicine. Dr. Aberman has worked in multiple private practices, as well as a large corporation for a number of years. She is currently the Director of Medical Quality for Modern Animal. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her boys and husband, boxing, and traveling.

Sponsor:

Maximizing Topical Therapy in Companion Animal Practice

***Click Here to Register***

With dermatologic conditions making up a large volume of the caseload in companion animal medicine and with antimicrobial resistance on the rise, topical therapies need to play a bigger role in dermatologic therapy. This presentation will discuss why topical therapies are helpful and how cytology helps guide topical product choice. The most common active ingredients in topical products for companion animals will be highlighted including their mechanism of action and suggested use. By having a complete understanding of active ingredients, veterinarians will be better equipped to make a topical product selection.  Compliance strategies will be discussed to help ensure that what a veterinarian prescribes actually gets used.

Speaker: Dr. Katie Marcus, DVM, CVA; Professional Services Veterinarian

Bio: Dr. Marcus is a west coast native and 2005 graduate of Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, with a BS in Biology from University of Puget Sound. She completed an equine medicine/surgery internship at Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in Los Olivos, CA, before spending 17 years in clinical practice, first as an equine ambulatory practitioner, and then as a small animal veterinarian in both small and large, corporate and private practices in California and Oregon. Dr. Marcus is a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist and is Fear Free Certified with a special interest in pain management and dentistry. Dr. Marcus joined Dechra in January 2023 as a field-based Professional Services Veterinarian for the Mountain/West Region. She lives in Portland, OR, with her family, enjoying all the food and outdoor activities offered by the Pacific Northwest.

Sponsor:

SCVMA and BI Present:

Practice Management Symposium:
Communications That Increase Accountability and Eliminate Problem Behaviors on the Veterinary Team

**Click Here to Register**

Sunday June 1, 2025 

Provided FREE for SCVMA Members!

10:00 AM to 1:30 PM
Doors Open at 9:15 for Registration and Breakfast
**Breakfast Included**

3 hours of CA Statutorily Approved CE

Presented By:

Amanda Donnelly, DVM, MBA

Bio: Dr. Donnelly is a graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri.  She has an MBA from Baker University in Overland Park, Kansas, and holds a certificate in Veterinary Practice Administration from the AAHA Veterinary Management Institute (VIM) at Purdue University.

Dr. Donnelly is the author of Leading and Managing Veterinary Teams: The Definitive Guide to Veterinary Practice Management. She also writes the Talk the Talk communication column for Today’s Veterinary Business Journal.

Well know as a dynamic speaker, Dr. Donnelly was the 2023 Practice Management Educator of the Year for WVC and has twice been named Practice Management Speaker of the Year for the VMX Conference.

Dr. Donnelly lives with her adorable dog in Nashville.

Sponsored By:

The Elephant in the Exam Room:

Addressing Unconscious Bias in Vet Med

***Click Here to Register***

This webinar discusses the components of unconscious bias and its effects on veterinary medicine. This course will cover how cognitive biases are processed and perceived, how to unpack individual and systemic biases, and how to make actionable steps to counter bias.

Learning Objectives:
1. To understand the concept of heuristics and biases, and how they affect our interactions.
2. To understand your own biases and your potential for biases.
3. To understand how to navigate the impact of your biases, and how to course correct when needed.
4. To understand how to create systemic change that challenges institutional biases in veterinary medicine.

Speaker: Stiles Foster, Chief Learning Operator, blendVET

Sponsor:

SCVMA and VCA OCVS Present

GI Foreign Body Surgery:

Tips, Tricks and Warning Signs

Objectives of this lecture include:

• Review perioperative management of a patient with a gastrointestinal obstruction
• Review preoperative imaging techniques and diagnosis of obstruction
• Discuss decision making strategies for medical management vs surgical intervention
• Discuss gastrointestinal surgery techniques
• Review assessment of bowel viability
• Review risks for and management of septic peritonitis
• Discuss post-operative management of patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery

Wednesday June 11, 2025

Dinner Included!

Dinner Served: 6:15pm

Lecture Starts: 6:30pm

Location:

VCA OCVS

3021 Edinger Ave, Tustin, CA 92780

For More Information and to RSVP   **Click Here**

Presented By:

Dr. Jessica Smith, DVM, DACVS-SA

Bio: Dr. Jessica Smith is a residency-trained small animal veterinary surgeon. She obtained her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University in 2019, completed a rotating internship in small animal emergency, medicine and surgery at the University of Minnesota in 2020, and recently completed a residency in Small Animal Surgery at the University of California—Davis in July 2023.

She has a special interest in minimally invasive surgery, including laparoscopy, thoracoscopy, arthroscopy, minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis, and interventional radiological procedures such as ureteral stents and SUB placement. Dr. Smith is also skilled in fracture repair, thoracic surgery, gastrointestinal surgery and oncologic surgical procedures. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, playing soccer, traveling, trying new food, visiting breweries, and spending time on the coast with her husband and terrier mix, Blitz.

Dr. Ava Song, DVM, MS, DACVS-SA

Bio: Dr. Ava Song is a graduate of University of Missouri-Columbia, where she obtained the Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2016. Her love of small animal surgery continued with the training by completing a Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Internship at the University of Tennessee, followed by a specialty internship in surgery at Coral Springs Animal Hospital in Florida. Dr. Song then joined University of Illinois in 2018 for another specialty internship in surgery and stayed on to complete her Master’s degree and residency in Small Animal Surgery. While at the University of Illinois, her Master’s research focused on CT volumetric analysis of tongue size and tongue fat in different canine brachycephalic breeds.

While enjoying all aspects of surgery, Dr. Song has particular passion in soft tissue surgery, especially cardio-thoracic surgery, oncological surgery, and urogenital surgery. She enjoys the hands-on nature of surgery and endeavors to provide excellent patient care. She is excited to return to sunny California where she spent most of her life before veterinary school. When not practicing, she enjoys watching movies, taking care of her plants, spending time with her lovely cat Laon, and going out for good food. She also enjoys hiking and camping.

What’s New at the Animal Dermatology Clinic

***Click Here to Register***

This webinar will discuss:

• Current treatments for atopic dermatitis including Zenrelia
• Venomous Insect Testing and Immunotherapy
• New CT and videoscopsy diagnostics and treatment
• Current therapy for methicillin resistant infections

Speaker: Dr. Wayne Rosenkrantz, DVM, DACVD

Bio: Wayne Rosenkrantz is a graduate of the University of California, Davis and completed his residency training in private practice. He is a past-President of the ACVD, is one of the original co-owners of the Animal Dermatology Group, and is a current member of the ADG Board Of Directors. He actively trains residents in the ADG- ACVD approved residency training program, participates in clinical research trials and serves on multiple drug company advisory boards. He has published many articles and book chapters on small animal and equine dermatology, including significant contributions to the text “Current Veterinary Dermatology: The Science and Art of Therapy” (Mosby) as well as the therapy section in the 7th edition of Muller and Kirk’s Small Animal Dermatology. He is also a co-editor of the text “Veterinary Allergy” (Wiley Blackwell). He is a recognized national and international speaker on veterinary dermatology. He has previously served on several World Congress committees, as well as the World Congress for Veterinary Dermatology (WAVD), where he was instrumental in the development of the Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) for common skin diseases of companion animals. He was awarded the DVM Pharmaceutical Award of Excellence and the Frank Král Award for his contributions to veterinary dermatology. He has special interest and skills in veterinary dermatology therapeutics, feline and equine dermatology, dermatopathology, canine alopecia, immune mediated skin diseases, and the management of chronic allergic skin and ear disease.

Sponsor:

                    SCVMA
and
UC Irvine
present

12th Annual Conti Symposium
On Veterinary Continuing Education

Current Concepts & Controversies in
Clinical Genomics

Sunday, July 13, 2025
9:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Doors Open at 8:00 AM for Registration

**Lunch included**

Irvine Barclay Theatre
UC Irvine
4242 Campus Drive

Directions and Parking Instructions w/Registration

***7 hours California Statutorily Approved Continuing Education***

**Click Here to Register** 

-LIMITED SEATING-

SCVMA, CaRVTA, & IVVTA members prior to June 26, 2025: FREE
NON-SCVMA members prior to June 26, 2025: $50
All registrations after June 26, 2025: $150.00

Featuring:

Lucy Davison, PhD, MA,VetMB, DSAM DipECVIM-CA, MRCVS
Tools of Precision Medicine, Clinical Genomics in Infectious Disease, Clinical Genomics in Endocrinology

Joshua A. Stern, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Cardiology)
Clinical Genomics in Cardiology

Will Hendricks, PhD
Clinical Genomics in Oncology

Maria Soltero-Rivera, DVM Dipl AVDC, DEVDC
Incorporating Genomics in Clinical Practice

There will be a $50.00 fee to SCVMA Members that RSVP and fail to attend or fail to cancel by June 26, 2025

Nobivac® NXT FeLV:
The Next Generation of Non-Adjuvanted Protection

***Click Here to Register***

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is not a new thing. We have all been talking about, reviewing, diagnosing, and managing FeLV for as long as we have been veterinarians, and the attention we pay to this retrovirus is well-deserved. Infection with FeLV sets the stage for a battle between the cat’s immune system and the virus: with lifelong consequences if the virus manages to integrate into the cat’s DNA.
Safe and effective protection against this pathogen is of paramount importance, and Merck Animal Health’s Nobivac® NXT FeLV brings that protection to the next level with cutting-edge vaccine technology in a non-adjuvanted, 0.5 mL dose with a two year duration of immunity.

In this presentation, learn how RNA particle vaccines are allowing us to protect our feline friends against an old virus in an entirely new way.

Program Agenda:

• A look at feline leukemia virus: what it is, how it works, and what clinical outcomes can occur following exposure of a cat to this retrovirus.
  A review of our diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventative options when it comes to feline leukemia virus.
• An explanation of the unique advantages of RNA particle vaccine technology and the mechanism by which it provides both cell-mediated and antibody-mediated immunity
• Presentation of the data demonstrating the protection provided to our feline patients by Nobivac® NXT FeLV

Learning objectives:
1. Review the pathogenesis of feline leukemia virus and the significance of the clinical outcomes of infection.

2. Be able to easily discuss the importance of feline leukemia testing with pet owners, as well as the importance of vaccination of all kittens and cats less than 1 year of age with feline leukemia vaccine as a core vaccine.

3. Gain familiarity with the historical classes of vaccines used in companion animal medicine and gain an appreciation of how Nobivac® NXT is a novel class.

4. Understand how RNA particle vaccines work to provide both cell-mediated and antibody-mediated immunity, and the unique characteristics of this vaccine class.

5. Learn about Nobivac® NXT FeLV and how this is an innovative and exciting new way to protect our pets from feline leukemia virus.

Speaker: Laura M. Greene, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM)

Bio: Dr. Laura Greene graduated with her DVM from NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine,
completed a rotating small animal internship at the University of Georgia, and then returned to NC State for her residency in small animal internal medicine. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and spent several years in specialty private practice before joining Merck Animal Health as a Senior Professional Services Veterinarian and member of the Veterinary Insights and Medical Affairs Department. She is published in multiple journals including JAVMA and the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, has spoken both nationally and internationally on topics including infectious disease, immunology, endocrinology, and oncology, and regularly presents continuing education to veterinarians around the country.

In her free time, she enjoys watercolor painting, digital art, and spending time with her family and her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Primrose.

Sponsor:

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

***Click Here to Register***

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).

Sponsor: