Saturday, May 17, 2025
Harrah's Atlantic City Waterfront Conference Center
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May 17-18, 2025
Kick off your VEC experience by hearing from the NJVMA President who will recap the successes of the last year and point out the Association’s direction for the coming 12 months. You’ll also hear from the AVMA District Representative and get a chance to thank outgoing Board members and congratulate newly-elected Directors.
This session will discuss normal, protective pain processing associated with tissue trauma and inflammation, and the pathways and receptors that provide therapeutic targets. Pain processing can go awry and become exaggerated, maladaptive, and even neuropathic; this session will discuss the pathophysiology of central and peripheral hypersensitization and the neuropharamcologic targets to mitigate maladaptive pain. Specific neuropathic syndromes recognized in dogs and cats will be discussed.
Learning Objectives:
These sessions will focus on a general overview of the anatomy of specific abdominal organs and other structures within the peritoneal cavity and review principles of abdominal exploratory. Presentation will include tips to improve visualization and discuss methods to collect diagnostic samples during abdominal exploratory. Sessions include discussions of various -otomies and -ectomies and clinical cases.
Learning Objectives:
Every week I fail. Every week I am told no. Every week I try again. This is how I know I am failing up! To be honest, failure is a thing when no lesson is learned. Veterinary professionals “failing up” may be exhibiting a trait of professionalism. What are the traits of a professional? The first exercise is just that, identifying the traits of a professional. Throughout your day, recognize the many ways in which you can further demonstrate and exemplify professionalism. As you progress through your course, these traits will become resoundingly more apparent.
Learning Objectives:
Implementing effective infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in the operating room can significantly reduce the incidence of avoidable infections, ultimately enhancing health outcomes and preserving the integrity of the surgical environment. This lecture will review the evidence-based range of practices and protocols to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone involved in patient care and minimize the risk of surgical site infections (SSIs).
Learning Objectives:
Most companion animals diagnosed with cancer never see an oncologist for various reasons. Many primary-care practices are not equipped to provide chemotherapy and radiation. However, many palliative measures are within the purview of most general practices. These therapies address clinical signs associated with different types of cancer thereby enhancing quality of life and potentially slowing the progression of disease. For some practices, direct cytotoxic treatments may also be appropriate.
Learning Objectives:
This session will focus on veterinary industry guidelines regarding the highest, wisest, and safest use of opioids in dogs and cats. A focus will be on clinical utility of longer-acting commercial products in dogs and cats.
Learning Objectives:
These sessions will focus on a general overview of the anatomy of specific abdominal organs and other structures within the peritoneal cavity and review principles of abdominal exploratory. Presentation will include tips to improve visualization and discuss methods to collect diagnostic samples during abdominal exploratory. Sessions include discussions of various -otomies and -ectomies and clinical cases.
Learning Objectives:
Throughout the course, you will be leaning a lot on the team approach to communication, goal setting, and synergistic growth. But for NOW, you are asked to focus on your personal values and vision aligning with a team’s purpose and daily mission. Time for some soul searching, answering the questions, “What do I value? What is the vision for my career in veterinary medicine?” You may feel the creation of a personal Values and Vision statement is cold and/or too corporate, however, in my experience, it is precisely the driver for all possibilities.
Learning Objectives:
The most critical aspect of maintaining an aseptic surgical environment is having well-trained personnel who understand and consistently apply the principles of aseptic technique. Key elements include hand hygiene, appropriate surgical attire, proper patient and scrub team preparation, and ensuring sterility maintenance. This discussion will focus on these principles of aseptic surgical techniques, highlighting their practical application in the operating room.
Learning Objectives:
Most companion animals diagnosed with cancer never see an oncologist for various reasons. Many primary-care practices are not equipped to provide chemotherapy and radiation. However, many palliative measures are within the purview of most general practices. These therapies address clinical signs associated with different types of cancer thereby enhancing quality of life and potentially slowing the progression of disease. For some practices, direct cytotoxic treatments may also be appropriate.
Learning Objectives:
This session will focus on the highest, wisest, and safest use of Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in dogs and cats. A focus will be on safe and appropriate (and inappropriate) use.
Learning Objectives:
There are many opinions regarding tubes and drains; which to use, how, and when to remove them. Drains have been used for centuries to manage a variety of conditions but research is ongoing into the best materials and application of these basic tools. In this session, participants will learn clinically relevant applications of various tubes and drains, and become comfortable with their management.
Learning Objectives:
A thriving veterinary practice relies not only on individual expertise but also on the collective synergy and collaboration of its team members. We’re going to address the concept of synergistic growth withinveterinary practices and delve into strategies for fostering a dynamic team environment conducive to innovation, productivity, and sustainable success. This session will provide you with actionable insights andstrategies for being on a dynamic team fostering teamwork, innovation, and excellence in veterinary care delivery.
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This session will focus on the proper care and handling of general surgery instruments, discussing their uses and advantages. The importance of proper cleaning, decontamination, and sterilization processes to maintain instrument integrity, ensure patient safety, and achieve effective sterilization will be emphasized.
Learning Objectives:
The axiom that cats are not small dogs is clearly evident in oncology practices. While there are some differences in the types of cancer seen in cats versus dogs, there is greater divergence in the biologic behavior of some common cancers in the two species. It is unfortunate since much of the information readily available on cancer in companion animals focusses on dogs. This session highlights the common cancers in cats, their expected behaviors and treatment options as well as discussing the special considerations in oncology care for cats.
Learning Objectives:
Coming Soon
During this lecture the audience will learn the practical and safe use of local anesthetics. Will include a “video wetlab” that demonstrates various techniques suitable for any clinician to master, with a focus on circumstances specific to the patient in any clinical setting
Learning Objectives:
Lymph nodes are important sentinels for disease, and sampling is critical to obtaining useful information for diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. This session will review clinically relevant lymph nodes, how to locate them, and the best methods to obtain samples (aspirate, biopsy, excision). The presentation will include information related to peripheral, mesenteric, and sublumbar lymph nodes.
Learning Objectives:
At the foundation of all functioning, productive, and purpose-driven teams is trust. Within trust is a high level of accountability. Checking Accountability, where does it begin? Answering, “Accountability begins with me,”is correct. Anything less of that falls short.
Accountability begins by looking in the mirror and asking ourselves, what are the traits of a person exemplifyinga high level of accountability? Together we will determine how you can build trust and accountability accounts.AND we have to talk about testing assumptions related to biases.
Learning Objectives:
Fundamentals of Soft Tissue Surgery provides a comprehensive introduction to the surgical principles for veterinary technicians. The topics covered include patient care, antibiotic usage, patient preparation and positioning, surgical draping, suture materials and patterns, wound healing and closure, surgical hemostasis, and options for surgical drains. Additionally, recommendations for surgical equipment needed for general surgical procedures will be discussed.
Learning Objectives:
Mast cell tumors are one of the most common cancers in dogs, and most mast cell tumors can be cured with surgery alone. However, some particularly aggressive tumors are locally invasive with high risk for recurrence and early metastasis. Identifying the bad actors and devising thoughtful diagnostic, staging and treatment strategies while avoiding excessive testing and over treatment of indolent mast cell tumors can be challenging. This session reviews the importance of the medical history, interpreting cytology and histopathology reports, when to consider prognostic panels, and devising a treatment plan.
Learning Objectives:
During this lecture the audience will learn practical and advanced use of local and loco-regional anesthesia. Will include a “video wetlab” that demonstrates various techniques suitable for any clinician to master, with a focus on circumstances specific to the patient in any clinical setting.
Learning Objectives:
Masses come in every shape, size, and location; some are manageable in general practice, and others are better handled elsewhere. This presentation will focus on subcutaneous and dermal masses that may be beyond the GVP’s comfort zone. The goal of this presentation will be to give the GVP confidence to tackle larger, more complex masses. The discussion will include a review of suture selection and patterns and methods to relieve tension.
Learning Objectives:
People skills, those hard, soft skills, may create a barrier to a veterinary professional’s ability to reach their full potential. It can be difficult to define your needs, share your goals and vision for the future. The mere thought of negotiating may paralyze forward motion in building a sustainable life and career in veterinary medicine.Together we will review a few communication styles and share tips in negotiations.
Learning Objectives:
An exploratory laparotomy is usually performed to diagnose, treat, or evaluate the prognosis of different abdominal conditions. These may include traumatic injuries, inflammatory diseases, infections, tumors, or congenital issues. This lecture will concentrate on the pre-operative and post-operative care and monitoring of patients, antibiotic prophylaxis, asepsis, assessing the viability of the stomach and intestines, and indications for using stapling and vessel sealing devices. Various case studies related to gastrointestinal surgical procedures will be reviewed.
Learning Objectives:
Carcinomas arising from the urinary bladder, urethra and prostate are challenging tumors to treat. Based on their degree of invasiveness and location, surgery is often unsuccessful removing the tumor completely. This session highlights the medical management of this cancer in dogs and cats including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, conventional chemotherapy and targeted therapies. Interventional procedures, such as urethral and ureteral stenting are also discussed.
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Time to get social! Join us in the exhibit hall for food, drinks, and raffle prizes! The perfect way to end a long day of learning before you head out on the town for the evening!
New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association
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Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Phone: (908) 281-0918
Fax: (908) 450-1286
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