Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy- Food for Thought

Registration Details Coming Soon

This discussion will begin with a review of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) including clinical signs and history, physical examination changes, and diagnostic findings. Possible mechanisms of a diet association with DCM will be discussed with a focus on the most current research and updates from the FDA.

Speaker: Dr. Courtney Smith

Bio: Dr. Courtney Smith is a veterinary cardiologist working at Metropolitan Animal Specialty Hospital (MASH) in Los Angeles, California. She graduated from Oregon State University Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine where she developed a love of cardiology and alpacas. After training at a large specialty hospital in San Diego, she traveled North back to Oregon State University where she obtained a Master of Science degree and completed a comprehensive cardiology residency. Dr. Smith moved to Los Angeles shortly after her residency and has enjoyed working with a large well-educated referral community. In addition to her two-legged family members, she shares her home with two sphynx cat sisters and a great Pyrenees puppy.

Sponsor: MASH

How to Become a Practice Owner Sooner Than Later

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Food and Drinks

Venue Limited to 30 attendees

**Click Here to RSVP**

Red Car Brewery

1266 Satori Ave, Torrance, CA  90501

Objective:

Discuss best practices how to prepare and timeline to start a practice

Building a team I will bring a commercial broker to discuss briefly about identifying the right space for a practice and what’s going on in the market

Discuss start up vs acquisition positives and negatives

Loan and business banking options for the practice

How we can help outside of just lending-Demographics report, in house consultants and we will build a healthcare exclusive team dedicated to the practice

Speaker: Tim Wilson, Wells Fargo Bank

Tim Wilson AVP, Business Development with Wells Fargo Healthcare Industries Group. We offer specialty financing and business banking products and services exclusive for Veterinarians.

Dental Anomalies/Weird Stuff!

**Click Here to RSVP**

Approved for one hour California Statutory CEU

Speaker: Dr. Margaret Smith, DVM, DAVDC

Bio: Dr. Margaret Smith is a veterinary dental specialist at VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital. She’s passionate about relieving oral pain in all animals and has a special interest in maxillofacial trauma, oral tumors, and porcine dentistry.

As a board-certified dental specialist, Dr. Smith completed her undergraduate degree in biology at Indiana University and earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Ross University. She went on to complete her small animal internship at VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital and her Dentistry and Oral Surgery residency training at Colorado State University.

“My goal is for every pet to maintain a good quality of life throughout the course of their life and a large part of that is their oral health,” expresses Dr. Smith.

Sponsor

Surviving Clients While Maintaining Sanity

Approved for one hour California Statutory CEU

RSVP by Email: sgvchapterscvma@gmail.com

Speaker: Melissa Tompkins, BS, CVPM, PHRca

I am a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager, I am credentialed in HR for California (PHRca), and I am also a Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional.

I am very active within the veterinary profession and was the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association’s 2018 Paraprofessional of the year.

In 2011 I co-founded the North Orange County Veterinary Hospital manager’s group.  I help organize our monthly meetings and help provide quality education to our local managers.  I love helping other managers and team members grow within the veterinary profession.

I have published multiple articles in DVM360.com, Veterinary Team Brief, and veterinary economics.  I have been a speaker at multiple conferences and symposiums, including ASEC’s Annual Symposium, California Veterinary Specialists Management/Technician Spring forum & Symposium, and Fur Paws Consulting Training Symposium.  I have also been a featured speaker on how to create a Cat Friendly Practice with Ceva Animal Health and at the 2016 AVSG Wet Lab.  Recently I was a speaker at Oklahoma’s Veterinary Medical Conference in Oklahoma City!

Becoming a veterinary practice consultant allows me to do what I love best, which is helping other veterinary professionals grow their business.

Sponsor:

Seizures-Diagnosis & Management

Approved for one hour California Statutory CEU

RSVP by email: sgvchapterscvma@gmail.com

Speaker: Dr Clarisa Robles

Originally from Pasadena, Clarisa attended University of California, San Diego, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Animal Physiology and Neuroscience in 2002. After working in a small animal clinic in San Diego for a few years, she attended University of California, Davis, graduating in 2008 with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine.

From there, Clarisa went on to complete a rotating internship at Veterinary Medical and Surgical Group (Ventura, CA) in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery. After that, this California girl moved out to Minnesota where she completed a Neurology/neurosurgery residency and learned how to live in the cold!

Along with her great technical training, Clarisa offers wonderful communication skills and a fondness for building close relationships with referring veterinarians and her patients’ families. She finds such collaboration allows for the best possible patient and client care. Her interests include inflammatory brain disease as well as spinal and intracranial surgery.

At home in Pasadena, Clarisa can be found out with her golden retriever Saffron, hiking, or exploring new restaurants.

Sponsor:

Oncology

Approved for one hour California Statutory CEU

RSVP by email: sgvchapterscvma@gmail.com

Speaker: Dr. Vincent Baldanza, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)

Dr. Vincent Baldanza was born and raised in northern New Jersey. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Delaware, where he studied Animal Science and spent semesters studying abroad in Australia and Italy.

Dr. Baldanza graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania. After graduating from veterinary school, Dr. Baldanza completed a one-year small animal rotating internship at the University of Minnesota. He then went on to complete a three-year residency in medical oncology at Cornell University, where he was selected as an American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation Clinician-Scientist Fellow for his research in canine osteosarcoma.

Upon completion of his studies, Dr. Baldanza moved to Los Angeles and worked with the Veterinary Cancer Group for several years before joining the ACCESS team at their new Pasadena hospital.

Dr. Baldanza is a board-certified specialist in medical oncology and his special interests include treatment of lymphoma, mast cell tumors, osteosarcoma, novel therapeutics, and palliative care.

Outside of work, Dr. Baldanza enjoys exploring the food and drink scene in Los Angeles, attending concerts and live theater, relaxing out in the desert, and traveling with his partner. Their family of rescues include a Great Pyrenees/Golden Retriever mixed breed dog named Otis, a long-haired tabby cat named Milo, short-haired calico, tortie, and tabby cats named Chicklette, Taffy, and Morty, and a Persian mixed breed calico cat named Edie.

Sponsor