Wound Complications & Healing

Approved for one hour California Statutory CEU

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Speaker: Dr. Yaz Aryazand

Dr. Aryazand is a foreign graduate. He obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in Iran and then moved to the United States. He did a post-doc fellowship at Cornell University department of small animal surgery, where he spent a year doing research and published an article on infection rate of TPLO in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA). He completed a small animal medicine and surgery internship at Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island in New York, followed by a specialty surgery internship at Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center in Texas. He is very excited to be part of the VCA West LA team as a surgery resident. He has a keen interest in clinical research and is interested in all aspects of surgery with a particular interest in minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopy, thoracoscopy, arthroscopy, interventional radiology) and fracture repair.

Dr. Yaz lives in LA with his wife (also a veterinarian) and his sassy JackRussel mix dog Soren. He is a professional chess player and you can find him competing in chess tournaments in his free time

Sponsors:

Wound Management

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Approved for one hour California Statutory CEU

Lecture:

• Briefly discuss skin anatomy and species differences.
• Talk about types of wounds and the phases of wound healing.
• Discuss some important principles for wound management and reasons behind delayed wound healing.
• Discuss present two cases and how they were successfully managed.

Speaker: Dr. Thomas Keeshen, DVM, DAVS

Dr. Thomas Keeshen graduated from University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine in the top of his class. Following graduation from veterinary school in 2014, he completed a rotating internship and a surgery internship at the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine. He continued to advance his training by completing a three-year surgical residency at Animal Specialty Group in Los Angeles, California. Prior to joining the staff at VSSOC, he was a staff surgeon for 3 years at the largest specialty practice in Australia. He was awarded Diplomate status of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2021.

Dr. Keeshen has extensive experience in a wide variety of orthopedic and soft tissue surgeries. He is specially trained in managing cranial cruciate disease with arthroscopic joint surgery in combination with TPLO in both large and small breeds. His special interests include complex fracture repairs, especially ones involving joints, skin reconstructive surgery for oncologic surgery and wound management, and thoracic surgery for diseases involving the heart, lungs, and other vital organs that travel through the chest. He is also interested in minimally invasive surgery and has published a paper in minimally invasive abdominal surgery in dogs with underlying coagulopathies.

A native Californian with roots in Laguna Beach, Dr Keeshen is an avid surfer.

Sponsors:

Nutritional Management of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome

Approved for one hour California Statutory CEU

**RSVP by email to sgvchapterscvma@gmail.com**

Agenda

7p-7:20 mingle

7:25p announcements

7:30p sponsor introduction

7:35-8:30p presentation

8:30p raffle, question and answer session

Speaker: Dr. Avi Shaprut

Dr. Avi Shaprut originates from Long Island, New York.  After graduating Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1998, Dr. Shaprut practiced in New York for 2 years.  He then set out for the West Coast, and in 2000 he called San Diego home.

For 16 years Avi enjoyed the challenges of full-time small animal practice. His special interests are nutrition, abdominal ultrasound, cardiology, and internal medicine. When the practice he worked in for 10 years was sold Avi decided it was the perfect time to tackle some new challenges. A long-time proponent of good nutrition, he decided to work for Nestlé Purina PetCare where he now enjoys his position as Veterinary Communications Manager, supporting veterinary teaching hospitals and providing technical support for Purina’s sales consultants. Avi also has a long-standing passion for technology and innovation in the veterinary field and beyond. On weekends he continues to practice as a relief veterinarian in San Diego. He lectures at UC Davis, Washington & Oregon State Universities, Western University, at specialty hospitals, and at multiple regional vet med association meetings.

Avi spends his free time with his wife and two young kids. He enjoys traveling, being outdoors, especially near the ocean, playing soccer with his son, and spending time at the gym. He also attends to the needs and whims of his two rescue dogs, Duke & Storm, and his two cats, Skye & Joey.

Sponsored by:

Feline Hypertension

Talk touches on the pathophysiology and importance of identifying hypertensive patients. Groups at risk for elevated blood pressure are defined. Emphasis is placed on proper measurement and treatment strategies for control of hypertension.

Approved for one hour California Statutory CEU

RSVP by Email: sgvchapterscvma@gmail.com

Dr. Mark Acierno, MBA, DVM, DACVIM

Mark Acierno received his DVM from Mississippi State University. After an internship in small animal medicine and surgery, he completed an internal medicine residency at Tufts University in 2004. Dr. Acierno spent 12 years at the Louisiana State University developing one of the most advanced nephrology programs in the world. As of Janurary 2017 he is proud to call Midwestern University in Phoenix Arizona “home.” His clinical and research interests include hypertension, kidney disease and renal replacement therapies. He also maintains a special interest in personal finance as it relates to veterinarians.

When he is not treating patients at the Midwestern University clinic, teaching in the classroom, or working in his labratory, Dr Acierno can be found lecturing internationally on topics relating to urology and nephrology. He also manages the veterinary financial blog “The PocketDVM” and lectures on topics related to DVM personal finance.

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

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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