Tasha Mcnerney, BS CVT CVPP VTS is a Certified Veterinary Technician form Glenside, PA. She is also a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner and works closely with the IVAPM to educate the public about animal pain awareness. Tasha became a veterinary technician specialist in anesthesia in 2015. Tasha loves to lecture on various anesthesia and pain management topics around the globe and was recently named the VMX 2020 speaker of the Year for veterinary technicians. Tasha has authored numerous articles on anesthesia and analgesia topics for veterinary professionals and pet parents. In her spare time Tasha enjoys reading, spending time with her husband and son, and recording the Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds Podcast.

Analgesia Arsenal and Post Op Pain Management (2CE) – January 18, 2022, 7:00pm CST

Walter Brown, RVTg VTS ECC is a registered veterinary technologist, veterinary technologist specialist in Emergency and Critical Care, social media public figure, influencer, comedian and founder of SKINNI GO LIVE LLC. Walter combines his background in veterinary medicine with comedy to bring education and relief to veterinary professionals around the world. He has millions of views and continues to create viral content.

While devoting his time to SKINNI GO LIVE LLC, Walter works as a veterinary technologist at a number of Emergency and Critical Care specialty facilities across Georgia and South Carolina. Walter has future plans to develop supplemental learning courses and seminars for veterinary technology students, pet parents, and kids of all ages. His ultimate dream is to create veterinary assistant programs for inner-city schools and charter schools in low-income areas.

Walter received his veterinary technology degree from Fort Valley State University and was academically trained in emergency and critical care at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Teaching Hospital. In addition to social media influencing and education, he is an avid arachnid hobbyist. He enjoys the life stages and development of tarantulas and has a personal collection with over ten different species.

What’s To See in A CBC Lecture Series (3 CE) – February 3, 2022, 7:00pm CST

What’s to see in a CBC? The Leukocytes – This lecture is one of a series of hematology lectures covering the basis of the complete blood count. In this fundamental and foundational course, we will cover hematology terminology, anatomy and physiology of leukocytes, basic leukogram analysis, and abnormal and normal cell morphology. The goal of this lecture is to develop an understanding of how to read and analyze a CBC.

What’s to see in a CBC? The Erythrocytes – This lecture is one of a series of hematology courses covering the basis of the complete blood count. In this fundamental and foundational course, we will cover hematology terminology, anatomy, and physiology of erythrocytes, basic erythrogram analysis, and abnormal and normal cell morphology. The goal of this lecture is to develop an understanding of how to read and analyze a CBC.

What’s to see in a CBC? The Thrombocytes – This lecture is one of a series of hematology courses covering the basis of the complete blood count. In this fundamental and foundational course, we will cover hematology terminology, anatomy, and physiology of thrombocytes, basic thrombogram analysis, and abnormal and normal cell morphology. The goal of this lecture is to develop an understanding of how to read and analyze a CBC.

Robyn Saar, RVT VTS (Nutrition) graduated from the now TRU University, and completed the Veterinary Technician National Exam in 1996. Robin’s professional experience includes working in small and mixed animal practices as an RVT and Practice Manager, along with managing a large canine, feline, and equine boarding facility. She successfully completed her Veterinary Technician Specialty in Nutrition (June 2019), and a certificate in both Small Business Human Resources, and Small Business Management. Her current role as the National Nutrition Ambassador at Vetstrategy is a one of a kind role for an RVT. She looks forward to sharing her passions as an RVT with others. “Nutrition is a part of every pet, every day”.

The Nutrition Diet Conundrum – How to Choose Which Diet Matches Which Disease. (2 CE) – January 27, 2022, 7:00pm CST

The veterinarian has made the diagnosis, the owner is waiting to leave, and the pet is hungry! How do we know which diet to recommend? What if there are multiple diseases? What if it’s still growing or nursing? This session will look at how to break down the nutritional significance of the diagnosis, understand the value of the key nutritional factors, and prepare attendees to compare diet to diet, which will aid in the accurate recommendation of veterinary therapeutic diets for pets.

Brianne Bellwood, RVT, VTS (Clinical Pathology), CCRVN is a 2002 graduate of the Animal Health Technology program at Olds College.  Her work experience includes mixed animal rural practice for 6 years after which she moved onto a faculty position at Lakeland College in their AHT and VMA programs.  In 2016 Brianne obtained her Veterinary Technician Specialty (VTS) in Clinical Pathology and is an executive board member of the Association of Veterinary Clinical Pathology Technicians (AVCPT). 

In 2021 Brianne completed her master’s degree in Advanced Practice in Veterinary Nursing through the University of Glasgow.  Since pursuing her passion in veterinary clinical pathology, Brianne has enjoyed the opportunities to work with other RVTs and veterinary nurses within Canada and internationally.

Hematology Concepts, Tests and Case Studies (2 CE) – February 24, 2022, 7:00pm CST

This 2-hour webinar will begin with a review of foundation hematology concepts and common hematology tests performed in veterinary medicine.  We will cover both automated hematology as well as manual tests and blood film reviews.  Finishing the session, we will examine case studies with the opportunity for open discussion.

Dr. Jennifer Loewen, DVM, DACVECC is an assistant professor of small animal emergency medicine and critical care at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Loewen grew up in Winnipeg, Man., before earning her veterinary degree at the WCVM in 2014. Following graduation, she completed a small animal rotating internship at Iowa State University and a residency in small animal emergency and critical care at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Dr. Loewen obtained her board certification from the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in 2018. Her research interests include fluid management and simulation teaching.

The Bleeding Small Animal Patient – (2CE) November 23, 2021, 7:00pm CST

Red blood cells are meant to stay in blood vessels, but you don’t need to be in the veterinary field for long to see patients bleeding where/when they shouldn’t. This could be due to a platelet problem, deficiencies in coagulation factors, inflammation, or abnormal tissue such as ruptured masses to list a few.

This talk will review important information to try and differentiate between some of these problems, discuss differentials for these problems and review some cases of bleeding patients and how they were handled.

Dr. Caroline Brookfield, DVM believes that if everyone took small, unconventional actions to embrace their inherent creativity, we could change the world. Caroline dances on the line between art and science, thrilled to discover that we don’t have to choose. Veterinarian, researcher, and stand-up comedian, she delights in using humour and immersive experiences, backed up with research and data, to sway the most reluctant creative. She is always up for a challenge, like learning guitar, rock climbing, getting her kids to eat vegetables, surfing, meditation retreats with sniper rifles. You know, the usual stuff.

Caroline received honors for her veterinary degree from the Ontario Veterinary College, is a certified level 2 Creative Problem Solving facilitator, and holds a Certificate of Professional Management from the University of Calgary, where she lives, Her lectures go unheeded by her family. The dog listens, sometimes. 

How to use everyday creativity to DANCE into a brighter future as a better human (2 CE) – December 2, 2021, 7:00pm CST

How do you prepare for the unknown? How will you motivate yourself, or your team, to accept change, seize new skills, build resilience, pioneer innovation, and thrive on ambiguity?

This is for veterinary team members who are tired of getting the same results with the same efforts, but who struggle to see alternatives. Or, who are just plain tired. Everyone is creative. But it’s not what you think.

We will examine creativity through a lighthearted, interactive and immersive exploration of “everyday creativity”. Everyday creativity lifts your mood, salary, team culture and profits, and builds resilience and agility. Yes, really.

Learn 5 habits you can do in only a few minutes a day, to build creative success. Caroline will challenge your paradigms of creativity. If you think you are too analytical to be creative, science proves you wrong (ironic?).
Much more, and much less, than a paint night, creativity is the secret sauce to success that is hiding in plain sight.

1. Describe Everyday Creativity
2. Contrast the environments and applications of Divergent vs. Convergent thinking.
3. List 5 easy ways to increase creative potential (D.A.N.C.E).
4. Laugh out loud

Attendees will leave this lecture with confidence that they are capable of creativity, know some ways to practice creativity, and why creativity is crucial.

Dr. Ashifa Virani, DVM graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1997.  Since that time, she has worked in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia and in Halifax, Nova Scotia where she lived previously for 7 years. As a small animal practitioner, she has been able to combine her passion for learning, working with animals and helping others.  Dr. Virani has a special interest in Internal Medicine and is committed to working with other veterinarians and staff to make a positive impact on the lives of pets and their owners.  She is an active member of the community, has volunteered and worked with a number of animal shelters, rescue organizations, therapy groups and bird and wildlife societies.  In her spare time, she loves to hike with her two dogs, do yoga, photography and art.  She currently lives in Vancouver with her two kids and her husband.  Dr. Virani joined IDEXX in 2020 as a Professional Services Veterinarian for Western Canada in order to pursue her dedication for ongoing education and fulfill her desire to help her veterinary colleagues provide the best standard of care for their patients.

Understanding SDMA through a case review – IDEXX (1CE), January 6, 2022, 7:00pm CST

In this session we will be using a case-based approach to understand the significance of an elevated SDMA, including mild elevations and what they mean.  I will use the SDMA algorithm to help walk us through the steps in investigating, managing and monitoring our patients.   We will also be discussing how a complete urinalysis can aid in our diagnosis and treatment of an elevated SDMA.  We will round out this session by reviewing how and when to use the IRIS guidelines for the diagnosis, staging and management of Chronic kidney disease.

Decoding Dot Plots – IDEXX (1 CE), March 3, 2022

In this session we will discuss how dot plots are generated and decode exactly what they mean.  We will be examining normal canine and feline RBC and WBC dot plots and learn how to recognize abnormal patterns and understand their significance.  I will be using case examples to demonstrate common abnormalities seen in daily practice such as platelet clumping, thrombocytopenia, left shifts and reticulocytosis.  There will be a strong emphasis on looking at dot plots with every CBC and understanding how abnormal patterns may impact CBC results.  Finally, we will be discussing when blood smears must be evaluated and how dot plot patterns can inform us of where we should focus our attention.