Early Career* Program
Open to 2019 - 2024 graduates.
*Recent graduates are DVMs who graduated from veterinary college within the years 2019-2024. Early Career Conference registration is only for the Early Career sessions. If you’d like to attend the other tracks, you must register at the member/nonmember conference rate.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:
Exclusive Program
Thursday, May 29
9:20am - 11:00am
Senior Care in Exotic Pets, Part I and 2
with Doug Mader, MS, DVM
Dr. Doug Mader is a triple board-certified veterinary specialist and has been a veterinarian for over three decades. He is an internationally recognized speaker, has written three best-selling medical textbooks and numerous book chapters and scientific publications, and has had long standing pet columns in the Long Beach Press Telegram, Reptiles magazine, and the Key West Citizen. Dr. Mader is the recipient of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Award, the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Achievement Award, and the Fred L. Frye Lifetime Achievement Award for Veterinary Medicine, and is a seven-time winner of the North American Veterinary Community Speaker of the Year award and a four-time winner of the Western Veterinary Conference Educator of the Year award. He is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine in the UK. Dr. Mader practiced in California for many years, but today lives and works in the Florida Keys.
11:20am-1:00pm
Foundations of Geriatric Medicine:
Establishing the Basics for the Best Geriatric Care
with Monica Tarantino, DVM
Dr. Monica Tarantino is a small animal veterinarian and pet parent educator.
She’s on a mission to help senior cats and dogs around the world by simplifying pet health and showing pet parents how they can give their pets their best lives.
Check out her educational content on Instagram @seniordogdoc or sign up for her latest information at www.seniordogdoc.com.
Friday, May 30th
7:00am-7:50am
End of Life Care: The Do's and Don'ts
Monica Tarantino, DVM
7:50am-8:40am
Old Pet, New Diet: Case Studies in Senior Nutrition
Catherine Ruggerio, DVM, DACVN
Dr. Catherine Ruggiero is a board certified veterinary nutritionist® and Scientific Communications Specialist for Hill’s. She completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine training at the University of Missouri in 2014. Prior to that, she received a Bachelor of Science at St. Lawrence University and a Master of Science in Biological Sciences at Fordham University. She was an associate veterinarian at a small animal veterinary practice in Upstate New York for just over three years before returning to the University of Missouri to pursue residency training in small animal clinical nutrition. Upon completion of an ACVN residency program in 2019, Dr. Ruggiero joined Hill’s Pet Nutrition as a Consulting Clinician in VCS, and is currently working in Scientific Affairs.
10:10am - 11:50am
(Onco)logical Approach to the Canine and Feline Patient
with Kim Johnson, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)
Dr. Kim Johnson is an Army brat from Memphis, TN. She graduated from Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine in 2002 and completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Tennessee in 2003. She was fortunate to be selected outside of the match for a Small Animal Oncology residency at the University of Missouri which she completed in 2006 and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2007. She remained on faculty for 2 years as a Clinical Instructor before returning to Mississippi State University as an Assistant Professor where she was the only veterinary oncologist in the state.
Following her stint at MSU CVM, she joined Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners becoming the first veterinary oncologist in Nashville. She played a key role in building the reputation and strength of Blue Pearl as a premier veterinary referral clinic for middle Tennessee. She built a successful oncology service from a 1 doctor/1 technician practice to a 2 doctor/4 technician service in 7 years. She is now starting a new chapter and is the President/CEO of PetCancerConsulting. This includes telemedicine and a busy locum practice.
When off duty, she enjoys SEC sports, especially football. She also thoroughly enjoys traveling and spending time with her friends and family.
12:10pm-1:00pm
Feeding Cats with Cancer
with Catherine Ruggiero, DVM, DACVN
Dr. Catherine Ruggiero is a board certified veterinary nutritionist® and Scientific Communications Specialist for Hill’s. She completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine training at the University of Missouri in 2014. Prior to that, she received a Bachelor of Science at St. Lawrence University and a Master of Science in Biological Sciences at Fordham University. She was an associate veterinarian at a small animal veterinary practice in Upstate New York for just over three years before returning to the University of Missouri to pursue residency training in small animal clinical nutrition. Upon completion of an ACVN residency program in 2019, Dr. Ruggiero joined Hill’s Pet Nutrition as a Consulting Clinician in VCS, and is currently working in Scientific Affairs.
Saturday, May 31st
7:00am-8:40am
Cognitive Dysfunction in Dogs and Cats + Case Based Discussion
with Leticia Fanucchi, DVM, PhD
Leticia Fanucchi is a veterinarian from Brazil. She came to the US in 2005 and worked with small animal medicine in New York and Florida, with a special interest in behavioral medicine. In 2010, she went to WSU to pursue her PhD, where she taught animal behavior and started a behavior service. She uses evidence-based behavior modification techniques to manage and prevent behavior disorders in pets. She joined OSU in April 2022 to start a new behavior service and is now doing her residency in behavior medicine. Her special interests are attachment systems and applied behavior research.
10:10am-11:50am
Graying Muzzles, Aging Minds: Cognitive Dysfunction in Pets
Ryan Gibson, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology)
Ryan Gibson (@thebraindogtor) is a veterinary educator and neurologist from Auburn University. His teaching focuses on foundational neuroscience, applications in clinical neurology, and microanatomy. His virtual consulting services are aimed at improving access to care for neurological patients and supporting general practitioners. Dr. Gibson collaborates with researchers in exploring new drugs for neuropathic pain, translating the age of the neurological system across species, seizure therapies, and veterinary education. He founded Pet Parent Educators, which aims to increase client education following the diagnosis of chronic conditions such as seizures and diabetes.
12:10pm-1:00pm
Nutrition for the Aging Dog Brain
with Catherine Ruggiero, DVM, DACVN
Sunday, June 1st
7:00am-8:40am
Geriatric Rehabilitation for the General Practitioner
with Erin Miscioscia, DVM, DACVSMR, CVA
Dr. Miscioscia is a clinical assistant professor of integrative medicine at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. She received her DVM degree from Cornell University and completed her residency in canine sports medicine and rehabilitation/integrative medicine at the University of Florida. Her primary research focus is the efficacy of integrative therapies in veterinary medicine, especially for the management of canine osteoarthritis and mobility.
9:00am-10:40am
Building the Foundation: The Basics of Multiodal Pain Management in Companion Animals
Beyond Basics: Navigating New and Targeted Treatment Options for Companion Animals with Osteoarthritis
with Bryan Torres, DVM, PhD
Dr. Bryan T. Torres is an Associate Professor of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at the University of Georgia. He is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) and the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (ACVSMR). Previously, he served as an Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and the Director of the Motion Analysis Laboratory at the University of Missouri. He received his DVM from the University of Georgia (UGA) and after graduating he stayed at UGA for an internship and then worked as a small animal general practitioner for several years in the Atlanta area before returning to UGA to complete a research fellowship, a surgical residency, and a PhD in Physiology. He has research interests in gait analysis, musculoskeletal and joint biomechanics, sports medicine and rehabilitation, and osteoarthritis and pain management.
10:50am-11:40am
Weight Management and DJD: Helping Pets Live Better Lives
with Jeb Cade, DVM, MS
Dr. Cade is a 2006 graduate of Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation Dr. Cade spent 7.5 years in private practice seeing small animal and exotics in a busy 4 doctor practice in Jackson, MS. Dr. Cade joined the faculty at Mississippi State in 2013 as an Assistant Clinical Professor in Community Veterinary Services. At the MSU-CVM Dr. Cade worked his way to Associate Clinical Professor and became Service Chief for CVS. After 9 years in academia Dr. Cade joined Hill’s Pet Nutrition’s newly formed Academic Affairs Managers team where he works with 7 veterinary schools and several veterinary technician programs providing nutritional education and tools for veterinary and veterinary technician students, house officers, and faculty.
Events
Thursday 5/29
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Recent Grad Social on the Grand Lawn
Friday 5/30
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Recent Grad Social at the Baytowne Marina
Pricing
Rates increase after April 22nd!
This program is available to DVMs who graduated from veterinary college within the years 2019-2024. Early Career DVM registration is only for the Early Career DVM sessions. If you’d like to attend the other tracks, you must register at the member/nonmember conference rate.
Early Bird
On or before April 22
Early Career DVMs
Member Rate
325
Non-member Rate
375
Late Rate
After April 23
Early Career DVMs
Member Rate
375
Non-member Rate
475
