march 2023
Event Details
Stop the Cough- Canine infectious pathogens, new vaccine technology, and landscapes Approved for one hour California Statutory CEU
Event Details
Stop the Cough- Canine infectious pathogens, new vaccine technology, and landscapes
Approved for one hour California Statutory CEU
Seating Limited to 30 people
Objective: Discussion of CIRDC (canine infectious disease complex), updated information about infectious pathogens, new vaccine technology, and landscapes.
Speaker: Christopher A. Lee, DVM, MPH, DACVPM
Bio: Educating national audiences for over a decade, Dr. Christopher Lee speaks on infectious disease, immunology, vaccinology, and parasitology. As a boarded preventative medicine specialist, he pens a monthly column in the veterinary magazine, PULSE. He is a co-author of the updated Heroes for Healthy Pets Infectious Disease Handbook. Dr. Lee constructs and reviews NAVLE questions for the North American veterinary Licensing board.
To deliver edutainment, Dr. Lee interweaves practical wisdom with geeky humor. Previously owning veterinary hospitals and currently working as an overnight emergency doctor reinforces his clinical experience. His podcast has surpassed 10,000 downloads through various platforms, including Spotify, iTunes, and Podbean.
Sponsor:
Time
(Tuesday) 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Organizer
Melissa Garciascvmase@gmail.com
Event Details
Detect 30 different types of canine cancer with a simple blood draw:
Event Details

Detect 30 different types of canine cancer with a simple blood draw: Introducing liquid biopsy testing.
Approved for 1 hour California Statutory CEU
**Click Here to Register**
Speaker: Dr. Gina Brandstetter
Program Description:
At its most fundamental level, cancer is caused by abnormalities in DNA. Advanced genomic sequencing technologies now allow for the identification of these abnormalities using a simple blood draw, opening the door to non-invasive cancer detection in dogs. This session will provide a basic overview of cancer biology and introduce the fundamentals of “liquid biopsy” for canine cancer detection using next-generation sequencing of cell-free DNA. A review of the peer-reviewed clinical validation study of this testing in over 1,000 dogs will be presented, along with case examples from real-world veterinary practices.
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Gina Brandstetter is a veterinarian with experience in small animal general practice and a special interest in oncology, internal medicine, and preventive care. Originally from Southern California, Dr. Brandstetter returned to the area to practice after she graduated from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. In her current position as a Medical Science Liaison at PetDx, she is passionate about enhancing our approach to cancer detection and management with the adoption of liquid biopsy. Outside of work, Dr. Brandstetter enjoys spending time in nature and is the owner of a yellow lab who loves nothing more than tagging along on any adventure.
Location: Mimi’s Cafe, Located in: Huntington Oaks Center
Address: 500 W Huntington Dr, Monrovia, CA 91016
Time: Dinner service starts at 7p
Presentation 7:30-8:30p
Sponsor:
Time
(Wednesday) 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Location
Mimi's Cafe- Huntington Oaks Center
500 W. Huntington Dr., Monrovia, CA 91016
Organizer
Dr. Evelyn Sagastumesgvchapterscvma@gmail.com
Event Details
Verdinexor: A Novel Oral Therapy for Canine Lymphoma Approved for one hour California Statutory CEU
Event Details
Verdinexor: A Novel Oral Therapy for Canine Lymphoma
Approved for one hour California Statutory CEU
**Click Here to RSVP**
7:00pm President does 5 to 10 min Association & Chapter update
7:15pm Sponsor 10 min presentation opportunity
7:15 – 7:30 Speaker starts and finishes with Q & A (1 HOUR); then
depart.
Objective: This presentation will focus on the novel class of drugs called SINE inhibitors and review SINE mechanism of action. We will also look at where this oral option fits into specialty and primary care practice therapies as consideration for future use. The attendee will learn how to properly dose and safely dispense Verdinexor as well as how to monitor their lymphoma patient on Verdinexor, including how to address any potential adverse events.
Speaker: 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.
Sponsor:
Time
(Thursday) 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location
Citrus Cafe of Tustin
Organizer
Brian McNamarabrian@msttaxreduction.com
Event Details
Spinal cord diseases- the good, the bad, and the ugly- Overview of different spinal cord pathologies with varying prognoses.
Event Details
Spinal cord diseases- the good, the bad, and the ugly- Overview of different spinal cord pathologies with varying prognoses.
**Click Here to RSVP**
Approved for one hour California Statutory CEU
Speaker: Dr. Furman has a bachelor degree in Neurophysiology from the University of California, Davis. She received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of California, Davis in 2012. Afterward, she completed a one-year rotating small animal internship at the Veterinary Medical Surgical Group in Ventura, CA followed by a three-year residency in small animal neurology/neurosurgery in Colorado. She also has a Master’s degree from Colorado State University in Clinical Sciences.
Dr. Furman is happy to be back in sunny California and has been practicing since 2016. She is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Neurology)
Sponsor
Time
(Tuesday) 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Organizer
Dr. Laura Weatherford laurawdvm@aol.com
Event Details
Brachycephalic Dogs - How do we make them suck less? Approved for one hour California Statutory
Event Details
Brachycephalic Dogs – How do we make them suck less?
Approved for one hour California Statutory CEU
**Click Here to RSVP via E-Mail**
Objective Statement: The lecture will provide an overview of Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome, current treatment recommendations as well as complications from surgical procedures.
Lecturer: Nicola Volstad, BVSc (Hons), DACVS (Small Animal)
Lecturer 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 v
eterinarian 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.
Although Dr. Volstad enjoys all aspects of surgery, her area of expertise lay in soft tissue surgery. She has a special interest in surgical diseases of the upper airway, oncologic surgery, reconstructive surgery and challenging thoracic and abdominal procedures. Dr. Volstad is the author of several articles in the field of small animal surgery. In February 2023, Dr. Nicola Volstad joined the VCA Veterinary Specialists of the Valley team in Woodland Hills, California.
Sponsor
Time
(Thursday) 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location
Maggiano's
6100 Topanga Canyon
Organizer
Dr. Inez Del Pino
Event Details
How veterinarians are using liquid biopsy for cancer detection in dogs: a look at clinical performance and real-world results
Event Details
How veterinarians are using liquid biopsy for cancer detection in dogs: a look at clinical performance and real-world results
Approved for one hour California Statutory Approved CEU
Limited to 40 People
Program Description: Once a test has been validated and is commercially available, it is important for the laboratory to periodically report utilization and performance metrics regarding the test. Blood-based liquid biopsy using next-generation sequencing became clinically available in May 2021. Since that time, the test has been ordered for thousands of patients, primarily as a screening tool for dogs at higher risk of cancer, and as an aid in diagnosis for dogs for which there is a clinical suspicion of cancer. This session will review data from a cohort of 1,500 consecutive liquid biopsy tests received for commercial testing at one clinical laboratory, and will include a discussion of ordering patterns, positivity rates, and patient outcome data, along with how this data can be used to discuss liquid biopsy testing with clients. A series of interesting case studies will be presented, exploring the use of this testing in a variety of clinical settings.
Speaker: Gina Brandstetter, DVM
Bio: Dr. Gina Brandstetter is a graduate of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. She has experience in small animal general practice and special interests in oncology, geriatric care, preventive care, and scientific communication. In her current position as a Medical Science Liaison at PetDx, Dr. Brandstetter is passionate about enhancing our approach to cancer detection and management with the adoption of liquid biopsy. Outside of work, she enjoys travel, spending time in nature, and going on family trips that include her yellow lab who loves nothing more than tagging along on any adventure.
Sponsor:
Time
(Tuesday) 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Organizer
Teri FisherTeri.fisher@vca.com
Event Details
Communicating with Clients in the Human Medical Field Please join us for a live and interactive meeting, lecture, and
Event Details
Communicating with Clients in the Human Medical Field
Please join us for a live and interactive meeting, lecture, and workshop
Approved for 2 hours California Statutory CEU
**Click Here to Register**
Objective: Learn to communicate with human health care providers in order to provide the best care for their pets. Gain an informed ally for your patients’ care. Practice using terms and phrases that promote collaboration for care rather than a combative situation where the pet suffers.
Speakers:
Mandy Helton, BAS,RVTg, VTS (ECC)
Bio: Mandy is an RVT and VTS in emergency and critical care who works at a specialty practice in Ventura, California, where she is the training supervisor. Mandy earned her VTS in 2017 and has been in veterinary medicine since 2009. Mandy was in the US Navy prior to veterinary medicine. Mandy enjoys teaching, and has a passion for critical care cases such as distributive shock cases, polytraumas, cardio-respiratory cases, and neonatal and pediatric cases. In her free time she is an avid runner, and takes her eight year old border collie, “Whisper,” on runs and hikes regularly.
Allyne Moon, RVT, CCFP
Bio: Allyne Moon has been working in veterinary medicine since 1992. She received her LVT license from the State of Alaska in 2003, her Californian RVT license in 2004, is an Expert Witness for the State of California, and is a former VMB Hospital Inspector. As a result of a continued interest in improving the veterinary community, she lectures nationally and locally on a variety of subjects including: veterinary forensics, shelter medicine, radiation safety, and suicide prevention. Allyne’s love for animals led her to work for an open-admission municipal animal shelter in Southern California for 8 years. She now works as Membership Secretary at the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association in Cypress, CA. In her “spare time,” Allyne provides consulting and staff training services and volunteers at veterinary free clinics run by Downtown Dog Rescue (South Central LA) and Amanda Foundation (Watts). She is heavily involved in veterinary professional organizations- including the Animal Health Foundation, Southern California Veterinary Medical Association, California Registered Veterinary Technicians Association, and is the first non-DVM to be appointed to the SCVMA Board of Trustees.
Time
(Thursday) 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Organizer
Anthony Stoneastone@ocvas.com
april 2023
Event Details
How veterinarians are using liquid biopsy for cancer detection in dogs: a look at clinical performance and real-world results
Event Details
How veterinarians are using liquid biopsy for cancer detection in dogs: a look at clinical performance and real-world results
Out of respect to our sponsors and to ensure we have only as much food as we need, please only RSVP if you truly will be attending this event
Agenda
6:30 pm- 7:00 pm Welcome and Social
7:00 pm-8:00 pm Dinner and Lecture
Approved for one hour California Statutory CEU
**Click Here to RSVP by email**
Program Description:
Once a test has been validated and is commercially available, it is important for the laboratory to periodically report utilization and performance metrics regarding the test. Blood-based liquid biopsy using next-generation sequencing became clinically available in May 2021. Since that time, the test has been ordered for thousands of patients, primarily as a screening tool for dogs at higher risk of cancer, and as an aid in diagnosis for dogs for which there is a clinical suspicion of cancer. This session will review data from a cohort of 1,500 consecutive liquid biopsy tests received for commercial testing at one clinical laboratory, and will include a discussion of ordering patterns, positivity rates, and patient outcome data, along with how this data can be used to discuss liquid biopsy testing with clients. A series of interesting case studies will be presented, exploring the use of this testing in a variety of clinical settings.
Speaker Bio: Gina Brandstetter, DVM
Dr. Gina Brandstetter is a graduate of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. She has experience in small animal general practice and special interests in oncology, geriatric care, preventive care, and scientific communication. In her current position as a Medical Science Liaison at PetDx, Dr. Brandstetter is passionate about enhancing our approach to cancer detection and management with the adoption of liquid biopsy. Outside of work, she enjoys travel, spending time in nature, and going on family trips that include her yellow lab who loves nothing more than tagging along on any adventure.
Sponsor:
Time
(Tuesday) 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Event Details
Radiology Assessments & AI (artificial intelligence) Approved for one hour California Statutory CEU **Click Here
Event Details
Radiology Assessments & AI (artificial intelligence)
Approved for one hour California Statutory CEU
**Click Here to RSVP**
Presentation overview:
An introduction to AI (artificial intelligence) technology and its applications in veterinary radiology. Creating a successful product in practice.
Learning outcomes:
- Understand the benefits of AI
- Set appropriate expectations for what AI can do
- Understand the difference between AI assessment and human interpretation of films
Speaker: Emily Angell Crosley graduated in 2008 with the second graduating class of Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California. After completing a rotating internship and an ECC internship, the majority of her practicing career was split between emergency and general practice. In 2019, Emily joined SignalPET, just before the official launch of their AI radiology product in January 2020. Currently, she is the VP of Clinical Research and Development and is highly involved in the quality control process.
Sponsor:
Time
(Wednesday) 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Organizer
Dr. Evelyn Sagastumesgvchapterscvma@gmail.com