NEW Education Side Quests
Remember that game you played where you went off the main storyline to earn more XP?
Well, we're taking that concept and applying it to your WVC conference education program! Attend a series of lectures on topics, including practice management or small animal dentistry, and you may walk away with a sweet badge to commemorate your achievement.
Choose Your Quest
Pick the side quest you wish to embark on, favorite the necessary sessions and labs each day, and get ready for an exciting day of CE.
Attend The Sessions
Make sure to join the sessions and labs you picked, and keep track of your progress with your 2025 WVC Education Program.
Claim Your Badge
After completing your side quests, claim your badges by visiting our team at Pawp Up. You will also receive a digital badge 3-4 weeks after the show.*
*subject to change.
WVC Side Quests
Explore and plan your side-quests in the WVC 2025 education program. Sessions highlighted below give you a place to start, but make sure you verify the details so you're able to complete each quest.
Note that sessions are subject to change prior to WVC 2025.
WVC Side Quest 1: Code Blue
Earn the Code Blue Side Quest badge by completing 3 Emergency Critical Care (ECC) and 2 RECOVER sessions, hands-on labs, or workshops. Below are a few sessions and labs to help you build your schedules toward attaining the Code Blue badge.
Please note: This is a partial list of ECC & RECOVER sessions.
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Sunday, March 2, 2025
Session: Recover CPR - Basic, Advanced Life Support, & Neonatal Resuscitation
Speaker: Jamie Burkitt, DVM, DACVECC
Times: 2:00 - 2:50p, 3:00 - 3:50p, 4:00 - 4:50p -
Monday, March 3, 2025
Session: A 2 Part Series - Hold the Salt...
Speaker: Rita Hanel, DVM, DACVIM (SA Int Med), DACVECC- Part 1: The Recipe for Hyponatremia
Time: 2:00 - 2:50p - Part 2: The Recipe for Hypernatremia
Time: 3:00 - 3:50p
- Part 1: The Recipe for Hyponatremia
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Tuesday, March 4, 2025
- Hands-On Lab: Technician ECC
Title: Advanced Emergency Skills Lab
Instructor: Amy Newfield, MS, CVT, VTS (ECC)
Time: 7:30 - 11:30a
Location: Oquendo Campus - Veterinary Technician Session: The Shocky Patient: What You Should Know & What You Should Do
Speaker: Michelle Rice, LVT, VTS (ECC)
Time: 2:00 - 2:50p
- Hands-On Lab: Technician ECC
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Wednesday, March 5, 2025
- Session: Recover CPR (extension from Sunday’s Recover CPR sessions)
Title: Monitoring During CPR: ECG Diagnosis Algorithm, ETC02
Speaker: Jamie Burkitt, DVM, DACVECC
Time: 8:00 - 8:50a - Session: Fluid Therapy: The Choice is not Always Clear!
Speaker: Rita Hanel, DVM, DACVIM (SA Int Med), DACVECC
Time: 3:00 - 3:50p
- Session: Recover CPR (extension from Sunday’s Recover CPR sessions)
WVC Side Quest: Practice Powerhouse
Earn the Practice Powerhouse Side Quest badge by completing the following five types of sessions: one HR session, one Communication session, one Technology session, one Professional Development/Practice Operations session, and one Leadership session. Below are a few sessions and labs to help you build your schedule toward attaining the Practice Powerhouse badge.
Please note: This is a partial list to help get you started
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Sunday, March 2, 2025
Managers are People Too: Resilience Skills for Leaders
Time: 3:00 - 3:50 PM
Speaker: Andi Davison, BA, BS, LVT, CAPP, APPCPower of Praise: Feedback to Cultivate Veterinary Superheroes
Time: 4:00 - 4:50 PM
Speaker: Andi Davison, BA, BS, LVT, CAPP, APPC -
Monday, March 3, 2025
A 2-Part Series
Part 1: Professionalism in Veterinary Medicine
Time: 8:00 - 8:50 AMPart 2: From 'Ruff' to 'Resolved': A Guide to Critical Thinking and Problem-solving
Time: 10:00 - 10:50 AM
Speaker: Susie Crockett, BS, CVPM -
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Recruiting New Grads: Pay, Benefits and More!
Time: 3:00 - 3:50 AM
Speaker: Monica Perry, CVPMNo Stupid Questions: Increasing Psychological Safety
Time: 11:00 - 11:50 AM
Speaker: Theresa Cosper-Roberts, BA, RVT, CVPM, ACE(DE), CVBL -
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
RECRUITING DVMS
Title: Finding New DVMs and Keeping Them
Time: 10:00 - 11:50 AM
Speaker: Sheila Fitzpatrick, DVM, CVA, CEPA
WVC Side Quest: The Clinical Explorer
Earn The Clinical Explorer Side Quest badge by completing the following five types of sessions: one internal medicine session, one imaging session, one clinical pathology session, one dermatology session, and one parasitology session. Below are a few sessions and labs to help you build your schedule toward attaining The Clinical Explorer badge.
Please note: This is a partial list to help get you started.
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Sunday, March 2, 2025
Imaging
Title: Small Animal Abdominal Ultrasound
Times: 7:30 - 11:30 AM & 1:30 - 5:30 PM
Instructors: Becca Baumruck, DVM, DACVR, & Kate Sippel, DVM, DACVR, & Reynsen Shigemoto, DVM, MS, DACVR, & Shannon Holmes, DVM, MSc, DACVR, & Jay Griffin, DVM, DACVR -
Monday, March 3, 2025
Pathology
Location: "WVC Central" Learning Hub
Sponsored by: Zoetis
Title: CBC, Easy as 1,2,3: RBC Interpretation
Time: 9:15 - 9:40 AM
Title: CBC, Easy as 1,2,3: WBC Interpretation
Time: 9:45 - 10:10 AM
Speaker for Both: Eric Morissette, DVM, DACVP, Clinical PathologistInternal Medicine - Toxicology
Title: Gastrointestinal Decontamination Methods in the Dog & Cat
Time: 1:15 - 1:45 PM
Speaker: Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVTInternal Medicine
Title: Non-Pharmaceutical Treatment for Internal Medicine Disorders
Time: 2:00 - 2:50 PM
Speaker: Janice Huntingford, DVM, MS-TCVM, DACVSMR, CVA, CVPP, cAVCA -
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Parasitology
Location: "The Pharmacy" Learning Hub
Sponsored by: Boehringer Ingelheim
Title: Better Client Conversations About Parasite
Time: 10:30 - 11:30 AM
Speaker: Wendy Myers, CVJDermatology
Title: Fungus Among Us: Fungal Skin Infections in Dogs & Cats
Time: 10:00 - 10:50 AM
Speaker: Domenico Santoro, DVM, MS, DrSc PhDInternal Medicine
Title: Dietary Management of Common Problems in Brachycephalic Dogs: An Internist Perspective
Time: 3:00 - 3:50 PM
Speaker: Aida Vientós-Plotts, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine) -
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Dermatology & Pathology
Title: The True Interface - Where Clinical & Pathology Meet & Thrive!
Time: 10:00 - 10:50 AM
Speaker: Ryan Jennings, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVP
WVC Side Quest: Speed Run
Earn The Speed Run Side Quest badge by completing 2 30-min sessions throughout the week and two sessions at a Learning Hub inside the WVC Exhibit Hall. Below are a few sessions and labs to help you build your schedule toward attaining The Speed Run badge.
Please note: This is a partial list to help get you started.
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Sunday, March 2, 2025
Decontaminating the Poisoned Pet
Time: 1:15 - 1:45 PM
Speaker: Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT -
Monday, March 3, 2025
The Evolving Parasite Landscape: Implications for Veterinary Practice (Sponsored by Boehringer Ingleheim)
Time: 10:30 - 11:30 AM
Speaker: Elzbieta Misuno, DVM -
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Happy Practice Series: The Blueprint for Unstoppable Practice Growth in 2025 (Sponsored by WEAVE)
Featuring: Dr. Hodges & Dr. Ferguson from CRITTER FIXERS!
Time: 12:30 - 1:00 PM
Speakers: Vernard Hodges, DVM & Terrence Ferguson, DVMFrom Dying to Saved in 12 Minutes - The Ingredients of a Successful ER Team
Time: 1:15 - 1:45 PM
Speakers: Rachel Cepelak, LVT, VTS (SAIM) & Jessica Carter -
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Mastering a Modern Practice: Creating a Standout Veterinary Practice (Sponsored by Petdesk)
Time: 1:00 - 1:45 PM
Speaker: Mary Schwartz, CVTTips, Tricks, Tools & Techniques in Veterinary Dentistry
Time: 1:15 - 1:45 PM
Speaker: Vanessa Huizar, LVT, VTS (Dentistry)
WVC Side Quest: Leader of the Pack
Earn The Leader of the Pack Side Quest badge by completing three leadership and three communication sessions. Below are a few sessions and labs to help you build your schedule toward attaining The Leader of the Pack badge.
Please note: This is a partial list to help get you started.
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Sunday, March 2, 2025
Mastering the Art of Training
Time: 10:00 - 10:50 AM
Speaker: Andrea Crabtree, BS, CVPM, PHR, SPHR, PHRca, CCFP, FFCPEQ, IQ, or No Clue: Leadership Issues in Veterinary Medicine
Time: 12:00 - 12:50 PM
Speakers: Rob Best, CVPM, CFN & Peter Weinstein, DVM, MBACommunication in a 24/7 ER Environment
Time: 5:00 - 5:50 PM
Speaker: Susie Crockett, BS, CVPM -
Monday, March 3, 2025
A Culture of Accountability (Sponsored by National Veterinary Associates (NVA) )
Time: 2:00 - 3:50 PM
Speaker: Ken Flamer -
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Effective Communication: Do You Want to Be Right or Do You Want to Be Effective?
Time: 12:00 - 1:50 PM
Speaker: Rob Best, CVPM, CFN -
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
2 Part Series
Title: Managing Emotions to Become a Better Leader
Part 1 – Time: 8:00 – 8:50aPart 2 – Time: 10:00 – 10:50aSpeaker: Melissa Tompkins-Lewis, CVPM, PHRca, CCFP
Time: 2:00 - 2:50 PM
Speaker: Kelly Cooper, DVM
WVC Side Quest: Holistic Healer
Earn the Holistic Healer Side Quest badge by completing one Integrated Medicine session, one Nutrition session, one Behavior session, and one Neurology session. Below are a few sessions and labs to help you build your schedule toward attaining the Holistic Healer badge.
Please note: This is a partial list to help get you started.
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Sunday, March 2, 2025
Behavior
Title: Is it Behavioral or Is It Medical? Or Could It Be Both?
Time: 4:00 - 4:50 PM
Speaker: Marion Desmarchelier, DMV, MSc, DACZM, DECZM (ZHM), DACVBNutrition
Title: Feeding Pets to Thrive Throughout Life
Time: 10:00 - 10:50 AM
Speakers: Sarah Abood, DVM, PhD & Julie Churchill, DVM, PhD, DACVIM-NutritionIntegrated Medicine
Title: Basic Concepts of Acupuncture
Time: 11:00 - 11:50 AM
Speaker: Mushtaq Memon, BVSc, PhD, DACT, CVABehavior
Title: Stereotypes & Problem Behaviors: What Have We Learned About Managing Them?
Time: 3:00 – 3:50pm
Speaker: V Wensley Koch, DVM, DACAW -
Monday, March 3, 2025
Nutrition
Title: Tips for Talking to Clients about Nutrition When They Don't Want to Learn
Time: 8:00 - 8:50 AM
Speakers: Sarah Abood, DVM, PhD & Julie Churchill, DVM, PhD, DACVIM-NutritionIntegrated Medicine / Neurology
Title: Non-Pharmaceutical Treatment for Neurological Disorders
Time: 11:00 - 11:50 AM
Speaker: Janice Huntingford, DVM, MS-TCVM, DACVSMR, CVA, CVPP, cAVCAIntegrated Medicine
Title: Non-Pharmaceutical Treatment of OA
Time: 3:00 - 3:50 PM
Speaker: Janice Huntingford, DVM, MS-TCVM, DACVSMR, CVA, CVPP, cAVCA -
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Neurology
Title: Emergency Seizure Management: The Current Standards May Surprise You
Time: 8:00 - 8:50 AM
Speakers: Fred Wininger, VMD, MS, DACVIM (Neurology) & Joseph Wakshlag, DVM, PhD, DACVSMR, DACVIM (Nutrition)
WVC Side Quest: Surgical Wizard
Earn the Surgical Wizard Side Quest badge by completing one Soft Tissue session, one Orthopedic session, one Dentistry session, one Anesthesia session and one Pain Management session. Below are a few sessions and labs to help you build your schedule toward attaining the Surgical Wizard badge.
Please note: This is a partial list to help get you started.
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Sunday, March 2, 2025
Soft Tissue Surgery - Hands-on Lab
Time: 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Instructor: Nancy Zimmerman, DVM, MS, DACVSAnesthesia
Title: Anesthetic Risk & Considerations for Brachycephalic Dog Anesthesia
Time: 10:00 - 10:50 AM
Title: Anesthetic Management of Brachycephalic Dogs
Time: 11:00 - 11:50 AM
Speaker: Juliana Figueiredo, MV, MS, DACVAA -
Monday, March 3, 2025
Pain Management
Title: Pain Management for the Low-Surgical Dose Patient
Time: 2:00 - 2:50 PMTitle: Pain Management for the High-Surgical Dose Patient
Time: 3:00 - 3:50 PM
Speaker: Mark Epstein, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (C/F), FF CAPM, CVPP,PhD -
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Orthopedic Surgery
Topics: Forelimb Lameness, Distal Extremity Injuries, & Hip Dysplasia
Times:
8:00 - 8:50 AM
10:00 - 10:50 AM
11:00 - 11:50 AM
Speaker: Nina R. Kieves, DVM, DACVS-SA, DACVSMR (Canine)Soft Tissue Surgery
Title: Trauma Surgery: The Insult to Injury
Time: 8:00 - 8:50 AM
Speaker: Kathleen Ham, DVM, MS, DACVSDentistry
Title: Join the Local Block Party!
Time: 2:00 - 2:50 PM
Title: The Gingival Games: The Oral Tumor Challenge
Time: 3:00 - 3:50 PM
Speaker: Heidi Lobprise, DVM, DAVDC
WVC Side Quest: Innovative Integrator
Earn the Innovative Integrator Side Quest badge by completing one Integrated Medicine session, Technology session, Pharmacology session, and Imaging session. Below are a few sessions and labs to help you build your schedule toward attaining the Innovative Integrator badge.
Please note: This is a partial list to help get you started.
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Sunday, March 2, 2025
Integrated Medicine
10:00 - 10:50 AM: Intro to Integrative Medicine
2:00 - 2:50 PM: Application of ACP and TCVM in Practice
Speaker: Mushtaq Memon, BVSc, PhD, Dip ACT -
Monday, March 3, 2025
Pharmacology
12:00 - 12:50 PM: Evidence-based Drug Use, Pharmacology & Navigating GFI 256 & the FDA Postings
Speaker: Joseph Bertone, DVM, MS, DACVIM -
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Pharmacology
8:00 - 8:50 AM: Pharmacokinetic Puzzles: Navigating Drug Metabolism & Adverse Reactions in Dogs & Cats
Speaker: Marike Visser, DVM, PhD, DACVCPPOCUS (Point of Care Ultrasound) Lecture Sessions
10:00 - 10:50 AM: Abdominal Ultrasound
11:00 - 11:50 AM: Pleural Space & Lung Ultrasound
2:00 - 2:50 PM: Cardiovascular Ultrasound
3:00 - 3:50 PM: Advanced Ultrasound Applications
Speakers: Soren Boysen, DVM, DACVECC & Serge Chalhoub, BSc, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM) -
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
POCUS Hands-On Labs
7:30 - 11:30 AM: Hands-On Lab Session 1
1:30 - 5:30 PM: Hands-On Lab Session 2
Speakers: Soren Boysen, DVM, DACVECC & Serge Chalhoub, BSc, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM)Technology
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM: Learning Lounge "The Pharmacy"
Title: Cyberbullying: Winning the Battle (Sponsored by Hill's Vet Hope Foundation)
Speakers: Heather Owen, DVM, MAV, CCRP, CCFT, MT & Krista Martin, LISW-CP, LCSW, C-AAIS2:00 - 2:50 PM: Ready for the Cloud? Critical Checklist
Speaker: William Lindus (Director of Operations for I.T. GURU)2:00 - 3:50 PM: Integrating ChatGPT into Veterinary Clinical Practice
Speaker/Instructor: Shawn Wilkie (Founder and CEO of Talkatoo)
WVC Side Quest: Tooth Furry
Earn the Tooth Furry Side Quest badge by completing four Dentistry sessions. Below are a few sessions and labs to help you build your schedule toward attaining the Tooth Furry badge. Please note: This is a partial list to help get you started.
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Sunday, March 2, 2025
Rabbit & Rodent Dental Care (Hands-On Lab)
Time: 7:30 - 11:30 AM or 1:30 - 5:30 PM
Instructor: Jeffrey Applegate, DVM, DACZMPeriodontology ReGum (Hands-On Lab)
Time: 7:30 - 11:30 AM
Instructor: Heidi Lobprise, DVM, DAVDC -
Monday, March 3, 2025
Basic & Advanced Feline Extraction Labs (Hands-On Labs)
Times: 7:30 - 11:30 AM & 1:30 - 5:30 PM
Instructor: Jennifer Mathis, DVM, DAVDC -
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Canine Extraction Lab (Hands-On Lab)
Time: 7:30 - 11:30 AM
Instructor: Jennifer Mathis, DVM, DAVDCGame On: Mastering COHAT Dental Procedures with Hands-On Lab Skills
Time: 1:30 - 5:30 PM
Instructor: Denise Rollings, CVT, VTS (Dentistry)Tooth or Dare, All Things Dentistry Gamified
Time: 3:00 - 3:50 PM
Speakers: Jennifer Mathis, DVM, DAVDC & Vanessa Huizar, LVT, VTS (Dentistry) -
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
What Lies Beneath: Intraoral Radiographic Interpretation
Time: 8:00 - 8:50 AM
Speakers: Jennifer Mathis, DVM, DAVDC & Kristin Scott, DVM, DAVDC
WVC Side Quest: All Creatures
Earn the All Creatures Side Quest badge by completing two Small Animal sessions, two Food Animal sessions, two Equine sessions and 2 Avian/Exotics sessions. Below are a few sessions and labs to help you build your schedule toward attaining the All Creatures badge.
Please note: This is a partial list to help get you started.
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Sunday, March 2, 2025
Small Animal
Title: Cancer Treatment Options for Primary Practitioners: What to Do When Owners Decline Referral
Time: 5:00 - 5:50 PM
Speaker: Rachel Venable, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology)Avian & Exotics
Title: Handling a Prickly Situation: Managing the Hedgehog Patient
Time: 10:00 - 10:50 AM
Speaker: Grayson Doss, DVM, Dipl. ACZMTitle: See This Fish: Incorporating Fish Patients into Veterinary Practice
Time: 3:00 - 3:50 PM
Speaker: Jessie Sanders, DVM, DABVP (Fish Practice) -
Monday, March 3, 2025
Food Animal
Title: HONEYBEES! - 3 Sessions
Topics: Colony Losses, Important Diseases & the VFD, & the Foulbrood Vaccine
Times:
10:00 - 10:50 AM
11:00 - 11:50 AM
12:00 - 12:50 PM
Speaker: Amy Franklin, DVM, MS -
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Equine - 3-Session Series: Diagnosis & Treatment of Equine Back Pain
Times:- Imaging: 7:00 - 7:50 AM
- Treatment: 8:00 - 8:50 AM
- Rehabilitation: 10:00 - 10:50 AM
Speaker: Lauren Trager, DVM, MS, DACVSMREquineTitle: Sleep Deprivation in Horses: It's More Common Than You May Think
Time: 2:00 - 2:50 PM
Speaker: Joseph Bertone, DVM, MS, DACVIMSmall Animal
Title: Rattlesnake Vaccine - The Good, the Bad, & the Controversy
Time: 10:00 - 10:50 AM
Speaker: Ken Pawlowski, DVM -
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Small Animal
Title: Rattlesnake Vaccine - The Good, the Bad, & the Controversy
Time: 10:00 - 10:50 AM
Speaker: Ken Pawlowski, DVMSmall Animal
A 4 Part Series Title: Food Animal Veterinary Toxicology
Part 1 - 11:00 - 11:50 AMPart 2 - 2:00 - 2:50 PMPart 3 - 3:00 - 3:50 PMPart 4 - 4:00 - 4:50 PMSpeaker: Steve Ensley, BS, DVM ,MS ,PhD
Human Health
General Sessions: Kristen Bell
Presented by Boehringer Ingelheim
Viticus Group and Boehringer Ingelheim are proud to present a WVC keynote lunch with Actress, Philanthropist, Producer Kristen Bell.
CE-Conference Badge and RSVP required..