october 2026
06oct7:00 pm8:30 pmSouth Bay Chapter Meeting October 2026Public Health Updates
Event Details
Public Health Update: Record-Breaking Rabid Bats, New World Screwworm, and More ***Click Here to RSVP***
Event Details
Public Health Update:
Record-Breaking Rabid Bats, New World Screwworm, and More
***Click Here to RSVP***
Please RSVP by October 2nd
**Our sponsor pays per RSVP. If your plans change, please be sure to update your RSVP accordingly so our sponsor will not be charged unnecessarily. If you need assistance prior to the meeting, please contact Teri Fisher at teri.fisher@vca.com
Dr Beeler will give an update on the unprecedented number of bats with rabies being detected in LA County, and make sure practitioners know what to do if a pet was found near a bat. She will also give quick updates on New World Screwworm and other new issues that may be affecting LA County animals.
Learning Objectives:
- Veterinarians will have improved awareness about the increasing number of rabid bats detected in LA County and the risk of their patients being exposed to rabies.
- Veterinarians will have greater familiarity with the steps they must take after a patient had has a potential or confirmed rabies exposure.
Speaker: Emily Beeler, DVM, MPH, DACVPM

Bio: Dr. Emily Beeler, DVM, MPH, DACVPM works for the Veterinary Public Health program at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Her focus is on animal disease surveillance, emerging infectious diseases, and bioterrorism. She previously worked for nine years in a general practice as a small animal veterinarian in the South Bay area.
Sponsor:

Time
(Tuesday) 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Organizer
Teri Fisher, Teri.fisher@vca.comAPPROVED FOR ONE HOUR CALIFORNIA STATUTORY CEU
08oct7:00 pm9:00 pmOrange County Chapter Meeting October 2026Team Empowerment
Event Details
Why an Empowered Team Is an Efficient Team ***Click Here to RSVP*** When a team member feels empowered at their
Event Details
Why an Empowered Team Is an Efficient Team
***Click Here to RSVP***
When a team member feels empowered at their job, they have better productivity, a better attitude, and have higher rates of job satisfaction. This presentation teaches managers and other leaders the benefits of empowerment and how they can do that with their team members.
In this lecture, attendees will learn:
- How empowering team members can save the hospital money through less wasted time for decision making, employee retention, and better customer service
- How delegating the right way to the right people is important
- How an empowered team is more efficient and can help the hospital become more profitable
Speaker: Melissa Tompkins-Lewis, BS, CVPM, PHRca, CCFP
Bio: Melissa started in the veterinary field in 2003 as a vet assistant/receptionist before becoming a practice manager in 2005 after graduating from Cal Poly Pomona with a bachelor’s degree in animal science. She earned her CVPM in 2011, and both her PHRca and CCFP in 2020. In 2018 she was the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association’s Paraprofessional of the year and in 2015 she was nominated for DVM360’s Practice Manager of the Year.
After working as a full-time practice manager for over 13 years she opened her own consulting company South Coast Veterinary Management Solutions in 2018. She now has the opportunity to help multiple hospitals all over the country. She is a published author of multiple articles in DVM360.com, Veterinary Practice News, Veterinary Team Brief, Firstline Magazine, Veterinary Economics, and VPN+. She has also spoken at several annual conferences and symposiums including Western Veterinary Conference, Pacific Veterinary Conference, Oklahoma’s Annual Conference, AAFP National Conference, VHMA management exchange, the Vet Show and multiple local or virtual symposiums.
Melissa is highly active within the local veterinary community, co-founding the North Orange County Veterinary Hospital manager group, the SoCal Veterinary Manager’s Network, and the Long Beach Area Veterinary Managers Group. She previously served on the SCVMA Board of Trustees and on the CVPM Board for the VHMA. She loves helping other managers and team members grow within the veterinary profession. She also has a YouTube channel @southcoastveterinarymanage263 where she hosts monthly webinars.
She spends her free time running or walking in 5k’s & half marathons. She also spends time with her friends and family. She shares her home with her husband, stepson, and their furry babies
Sponsor:

Time
(Thursday) 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Organizer
Autumn Lindsay-McIntyre, scvmaoc@gmail.comAPPROVED FOR ONE HOUR CALIFORNIA STATUTORY CEU
Event Details
Feline Injection-Site Sarcomas **for this meeting only** Stitches Veterinary Surgery
Event Details
Feline Injection-Site Sarcomas

**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!
***Click Here to RSVP***
This program reviews the challenge of feline injection-site sarcomas (FISS) faced by clinicians. First identified around 35 years ago, FISS has been the subject of substantial research regarding their epidemiology, risk factors, and management. This course reviews the history of FISS, the role of inflammation and cancer, management options, ways to minimize risk, and differences among the available vaccines for cats.
Speaker: Andrew Schreibman, DVM

Bio: Dr. Schreibman earned his DVM from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University, completed a residency program in Anatomic Pathology at the University of Missouri, and served as a Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Intern at the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine with the University of Illinois. He brings over 20 years of diverse education and experience in veterinary medicine built from multiple disciplines – clinical practice, research, academia, and industry. Dr. Schreibman has authored and co-authored several publications and scientific presentations. In his current role as Senior Professional Services Veterinarian, he educates and presents information to colleges, corporate accounts, local associations, sales distributor partners, and individual practices. Passionate about continuous learning and evidence-based medicine, Dr. Schreibman is always seeking opportunities to provide the best education to everyone from pre-veterinary students to specialized Key Opinion Leaders. Outside of veterinary medicine, he umpires high school football & baseball and runs marathons with his wife Lisa.
Sponsor:

Time
(Tuesday) 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Organizer
Melissa Garcia scvmase@gmail.comAPPROVED FOR ONE HOUR CALIFORNIA STATUTORY CEU
13oct6:30 pm9:00 pmSaddleback-Capo Valley Chapter Meeting October 20263D Printing for Orthopedics
Event Details
3D Printing in Veterinary Orthopedics ***Click Here to RSVP*** This is an introduction explaining how we can use 3D printing
Event Details
3D Printing in Veterinary Orthopedics
***Click Here to RSVP***
This is an introduction explaining how we can use 3D printing to optimize surgery for patients. It explains how we work with surgeons around the world to gain case experience, create custom guides to fit the patients, and in some cases even create custom implants to optimize the outcomes for challenging orthopedic cases. The program will highlight how this is a unique service that we have at our practice in Orange County.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand when an MPL case is not straightforward and may have underlying limb deformities
- Understand why high grade MPL cases have failed traditional management
- Understand how 3D printing makes us much more accurate and precise when managing angular limb deformities
- Understand the unique service that we can provide in Orange County that is not available in most of the United States/World.
Speaker: Dr. Dan Nucci DVM, MS, DACVS-SA
Bio:
Education
- Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons – Small Animal
- Residency, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
- Specialty Surgical Internship, Alta Vista Animal Hospital, Ottawa, ON
- Small Animal Rotating Internship, VCA Loomis Basin, Loomis, CA
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA
- Master of Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
- Bachelor of Science, University of California, San Diego, CA
Best Part of My Job:
The best part of my job is being able to help animals who would not survive without medical care. Seeing their faces and general demeanour brighten as they feel better and the faces of their families when they return reminds me every day why I am so lucky to work in this field. I feel even more fortunate that I am able to help rescue animals and shelter animals at Rise who would otherwise not receive care. It brings me great joy to help those who cannot find help elsewhere.
Special Talent:
I think my best veterinary talent is that I truly care for all of the animals that walk in the door. I will do everything I can to try to make sure the animals I see do well even if it is not within my field. Within veterinary surgery I am particularly skilled with minimally invasive soft tissue procedures which require laparoscopy and thoracoscopy. Orthopedically I am one of the few veterinarians in the world currently who can create custom 3D models and guides of our patients bones to allow for more accurate surgeries. This is particularly useful in angular limb deformities and high grade patellar luxations.
Sponsor:

Time
(Tuesday) 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Location
Hilton Garden Inn Lake Forest
23131 Lake Center Drive, Lake Forest, CA 92630
Organizer
Dr. Laura Weatherford, laurawdvm@aol.comAPPROVED FOR ONE HOUR CALIFORNIA STATUTORY CEU
14oct7:00 pm8:30 pmSan Gabriel Chapter Meeting October 2026 *New Location*Oral Diseases
Event Details
Common Oral Diseases of Dogs and Cats **Click Here to RSVP**
Event Details
Common Oral Diseases of Dogs and Cats
**Click Here to RSVP**

Please Note: There is a new location FOR THIS MEETING ONLY:
Covina Animal Hospital
302 E San Bernardino Road
Covina 91723
Speaker: Dr. Onyx Goins, DVM, Practice Limited to Dentistry
Bio: Dr. Goins was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. She obtained her Bachelor’s of Animal Science degree in 2018 from the illustrious Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama followed by her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine. During her tenure, she embarked on a zoo and wildlife journey in Nanjing, China researching red-crowned cranes, South Africa in the bush with wild buffalo and impalas, and Zoo Miami in Miami, Florida. It was then that she realized many exotic species, like domestic pets, had damaged teeth and few people able to treat them. Thus, the love for dentistry manifested!
Upon graduation, she completed a 1 year small animal rotating internship at BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital in Clearwater, Florida and a 3-year dental residency program in 2025 at the Center for Veterinary Dentistry and Oral Surgery in Gaithersburg, Maryland under the mentorship of Dr. Kendall Taney. Dr. Goins is currently thrilled in this next stage of her dentistry journey with the ADS family in Tustin! Her primary interests include endodontics, orthodontics, and periodontics with the hopes of incorporating zoo medicine into her treatment rotation in the future.
In her free time, Dr. Goins is an avid foodie, enjoys exercising, hiking, roller blading, and reading. She is accompanied by her husband, beagle mix Calypso, husky Gambit, ball python Barry, and panther chameleon Icarus.
Sponsor:

Time
(Wednesday) 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Organizer
Dr. Jessica Chen: sgvchapterscvma@gmail.comAPPROVED FOR ONE HOUR CALIFORNIA STATUTORY CEU
15oct7:00 pm8:30 pmSan Fernando Chapter Meeting October 2026Ophthalmology
Event Details
Ophthalmic Medications **Click Here to RSVP** Speaker: Dr. Sanskruti Potnis, DVM, DACVO Sponsor:
Event Details
Time
(Thursday) 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Organizer
Dr. Inez Del Pino, idelpino@dvm.comAPPROVED FOR ONE HOUR CALIFORNIA STATUTORY CEU
november 2026
Event Details
Osteoarthritis in Dogs: A Multifactorial Disease Requiring a Multimodal Approach **for this meeting only**
Event Details
Osteoarthritis in Dogs:
A Multifactorial Disease Requiring a Multimodal Approach

**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!
***Click Here to RSVP***
Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common conditions in dogs and can result in chronic, progressive clinical signs including pain, inflammation, and decreased range of motion (ROM). The presentation reviews common signs of OA (considerations to improve early diagnosis), pain pathways, various treatment modalities and the benefits of early intervention utilizing a multimodal approach to long-term management.
Learners will be able to identify the prevalence and common signs of OA, the pathways to pain and the benefits of the components of multimodal management, including medications, disease modifying OA agents, weight management, exercise modification, physical rehabilitation modalities, environment modifications, and surgical procedures. Finally, the learners will be taught about the role that Adequan® Canine plays in the multi-modal management of OA.
Speaker: Dr. Kelli Matheny DVM, MS
Bio: Dr. Matheny graduated from Purdue University with a B.S. in Animal Science followed by a Master’s in Animal and Dairy Science from Mississippi State University (MSU). While at Purdue and MSU, Dr. Matheny competed on the intercollegiate hunter-jumper circuit, completed a research thesis in equine reproduction, and served as a teaching assistant for several undergraduate equine courses. Dr. Matheny earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from Western University of Health Sciences. After completing a post-doctoral internship in equine medicine and surgery, Dr. Matheny pursued a career in equine private practice. She focused on providing personalized, thoughtful care to a variety of patients and disciplines with a special interest in sports medicine, preventative care, and emergency medicine. Throughout her career, Dr. Matheny has been passionate about community outreach. She has participated in educational events for her community and enjoys mentoring students and new graduates to foster a solid foundation for the future of veterinary medicine. Dr. Matheny joined American Regent in 2025 as a Professional Services Veterinarian where she continues to provide education and promote the health and welfare of equine patients and companion animals throughout the United States. Dr. Matheny currently resides in Northern California
Time
(Tuesday) 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Organizer
Melissa Garcia scvmase@gmail.comAPPROVED FOR ONE HOUR CALIFORNIA STATUTORY CEU
