Rose City Veterinary Conference

Tammy McCarty CVT, LVT, VTS (ECC)

she/her

Radiation safety is a critical—yet often overlooked—component of veterinary practice. Veterinary professionals are routinely exposed to ionizing radiation, and understanding how to minimize that risk is essential for long-term health and regulatory compliance.

In this interactive, hands-on workshop, we explore the real dangers associated with occupational radiation exposure and discuss how the principles of ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) can be put into practice every day. Participants will learn practical hands-free radiographic positioning techniques designed to significantly reduce—or eliminate—the need for manual restraint during imaging.

Through demonstrations and guided practice stations, you’ll gain confidence in applying hands-free methods across a variety of patients and radiographic positions. Fun, engaging interactive games will help reinforce key concepts and test your growing knowledge throughout the session.

You’ll leave with the practical skills you need to implement safer, more efficient, and more compliant radiology protocols in your practice starting tomorrow.

Ryanne Heiny CVT, VTS (SAIM)

she/her

In this nteractive session, we will be working through the case presentation and history taking process, where small details obtained can change the differential diagnosis significantly. (Grass-awns from years past, fun infectious disease from long-ago travel history, fungal potentially). AI involvement in gathering history. 

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Ladan Mohammad- Zadeh DVM, DACVECC

Taryn Pestalozzi DVM

Residency-Trained in Small Animal Clinical Nutrition

she/her/hers

This lecture will review nutritional strategies for common chronic conditions and suggest a methodology for selecting commercial diets for patients with multiple comorbid conditions. Guidance will also be provided on when to refer cases to a veterinary nutritionist.

Dan Krull DVM, DACVIM-Neurology

Roberto Novo DVM, MS, DACVS

he/him

This lecture will present techniques to help differentiate and solve common problems encountered during routine reproductive surgical procedures, specifically during spays and neuters.  Specific techniques for improved visualization, handling common complications, and addressing anatomic abnormalities will be discussed. These techniques can be applied to other abdominal procedures.  

Kat Pankratz DVM, DACVB

This lecture focuses on understanding and addressing common cat destructive behaviors, such as scratching, jumping on surfaces, fear of travel, and play aggression. We will explore the underlying causes of these behaviors, their impact on both the cat and the owner, and effective strategies for prevention and management.

Carl Winch DVM

he/him

Insights from a Comprehensive Analysis of Primary Care Dental Procedures in Dogs and Cats.

This lecture will provide a comprehensive overview of antimicrobial utilization in dental procedures for dogs and cats in a network of primary care veterinary clinics across the United States. We will delve into the retrospective analysis of a substantial dataset, encompassing over 800,000 dental procedures performed under general anesthesia in 2020 across more than one thousand veterinary clinics. The presentation will explore the prevalence, patterns, and potential factors associated with antimicrobial administration. Additionally, the lecture will shed light on the specific antimicrobial agents most commonly used in canine and feline dental care. Furthermore, the impact of co-morbid conditions (hepatic and renal disease, cardiac murmurs, and others) on antimicrobial usage will be discussed. The lecture aims to underscore the implications of systemic antimicrobial administration in professional dental cleanings with or without extractions, with a detailed examination of the most frequently prescribed agents and the influence of co-morbidities on treatment decisions.

In summary, the presentation will provide a nuanced understanding of antimicrobial practices in veterinary dental procedures performed in primary care practice, offering insights into optimizing patient care, promoting prudent antimicrobial use, and identifying areas for further research and collaboration within the veterinary community. This work also underscores the urgent need for evidence-based professional guidelines around antimicrobial usage in oral health procedures.

Jennifer Barbineaux DVM, DABVP-Feline

This course will review 10 unique feline diseases or anatomic variations that rarely occur in dogs and their ultrasound appearance, including hepatic lipidosis, biliary cystadenoma, bilobed gallbladder, honeycomb spleen, feline gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia, peri-nephric pseudocyst, big kidney little kidney syndrome, polycystic kidney disease, lipiduria, and pseudomembranous cystitis.

Casey Sleznikow DVM, DACVIM

Megan Seekins DVM, DACVECC

Christopher Pachel, DVM, DACVB, CABC (IAABC)  

he/him

In this session, we’ll explore the warning signs we often overlook in everyday settings: a walk through the neighborhood, play at the dog park, interactions at the veterinary clinic, or even casual encounters at the pet supply store. Using real-life scenarios and visual examples, we’ll unpack how body language, miscommunication, and mistaken assumptions about motivation can escalate to conflict. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to sharpen your observation skills, refine your interpretation of canine communication, and intervene early. Because once you learn to see these moments, you can’t unsee them—and that’s the key to safer, kinder, and more effective behavior support.

Lauren Bracchi DVM, DACVECC

she/her

In general practice, veterinarians are often the first—and sometimes the only—line of defense when critically ill patients present and referral is declined or unavailable. This talk will equip practitioners with practical, real-world stabilization strategies for common emergent scenarios, from dyspneic pets and shocky trauma patients to status epilepticus, toxin exposures, and hit-by-car injuries. We’ll review how to rapidly assess and stabilize respiratory distress without stressing the patient, initiate effective fluid therapy and set resuscitation endpoints, manage pain in unstable patients safely, and control seizures prior to transfer. We’ll also discuss decontamination approaches when referral is delayed, and outline essential crash cart contents to ensure your team is prepared. Designed for general practitioners, this session emphasizes efficient, evidence-based interventions that can be performed with limited resources—helping save lives when specialty care isn’t an option or prior to referral. 

Sonja Zabel 

Board Certified Veterinary Dermatologist

she/her

This is a clinically relevant, practice-based lecture, looking at what we have learned from Apqouel since it first came on the market, how Zenrelia is different (if applicable, also Numelvi). This lecture is supposed to help colleagues discuss side effects, warning labels, differences, and make. decision on when to use what product, and if the lecture time permits, ask all questions, raise concerns, and have a meaningful, outcome-based discussion. 

Michael Lovasz DVM, MS, DACVAA

Alice Sievers DVM, DAVDC

Board Certified Veterinary Dentist

she/her/hers

Dread being faced with a cat with oral inflammation? Do you want to decode what the inflamed feline oral cavity is trying to tell you? Let's talk about the types of diseases that present with an inflammatory appearance in the oral cavity, how to develop diagnostic plans for these patients based on clinical presentation, formulate treatment strategies, and assist your patients back towards a life of comfort.

Valli Parthsarathy PhD, DVM, DACVB

Mandi Blackwelder DVM

Low-stress veterinary visits and cooperative care are no longer “nice extras”—they are critical tools for improving outcomes in everyday practice. By minimizing fear and distress, clinics can enhance patient and staff safety, build stronger client relationships, and deliver more effective care. Cooperative care approaches further support the human–animal bond and increase compliance with medical procedures that are traditionally stressful or difficult for clients to implement.

TBA

Ginger Grellman DVM

What’s normal, what’s not, and what to do when they don’t grow out of it

Pediatric dental cases are often underestimated—but early intervention can make all the difference. In this informative and engaging session, we’ll dive into the unique challenges of juvenile oral health in puppies and kittens, with a focus on recognizing abnormal development, addressing retained deciduous teeth, and managing occlusal issues before they cause lasting harm.

You’ll learn what’s expected in normal dental eruption and development—and how to spot the red flags early. We’ll cover when to monitor, when to intervene, and how to communicate the value of early treatment to pet owners who may be reluctant to address dental issues in young animals.

Whether you’re in general practice or specialty referral, this course will sharpen your clinical judgment and give you practical tools to manage those tiny—but potentially troublesome—teeth.

Key Takeaways:

·      Understand normal timelines for tooth eruption and occlusal development

·      Recognize common pediatric dental problems and their long-term impact

·      Learn how and when to treat retained deciduous teeth, crowding, and malocclusions

·      Improve client education around the importance of early dental care

Rosalie Alls DVM, DACVO

Discussion and case presentation on diseases of the cornea and eyelid with emphasis on non surgical treatment.

Gabrielle Wallace DVM, DACVIM-Cardiology

A review of traditional cardiac medications and new cardiac medications such as torsemide and felycin. The lecture will discuss medications' pros and cons and when/how we use these novel therapies.

Melody Martinez CVT she/ella

Nicole Perkins

This presentation will highlight some invaluable lessons learned from PAW Team’s community based engagement in our first year of work with PetSmart Charities’ Incubator Grant. The goal of this grant is to improve access to veterinary care within diverse communities by addressing the barriers these families face beyond the financial. The best place to start is by listening to the experts, the community members themselves. In building programs to support and engage our most systemically neglected neighbors we must trust the knowledge their lived experience brings and work together to empower pet owners as participants rather than recipients. 

Ross Luetchke DVM, PhD, DACVIM

In this co-learning workshop, we will review key concepts related to social determinants of health (SDOH), and explore how they may be applied to identify and prioritize the dismantling of key barriers to veterinary specialty care in the Portland metropolitan and surrounding communities. Topics include an introduction to SDOH and brief overview of recent research approaches to SDOH in veterinary medicine, including sources of publicly available data. We will then explore immediate opportunities for growth in access to care research and practice, and potential next steps to begin individually and collectively bridging some of these gaps in the Portland area. Participants from primary care and specialty settings will be invited to share examples of barriers to specialty referrals from their own experience as clinicians and pet owners, list personal skills and resources that can empower their advocacy, brainstorm potential collaborators in the community for joint efforts in further exploring these questions, and identify one action they can take to start exploring potential new collaborations and/or solutions rooted in community support. 

Saheema Rawat

The Rose City Veterinary Conference serves as a pivotal platform for addressing the essential themes of Wellbeing and Belonging (W&B) within the veterinary community. This proposal outlines a dedicated session to explore these themes, emphasizing their importance in fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for veterinary professionals.

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Objectives

1.        Raise Awareness: Educate attendees about the significance of W&B in the veterinary field. 

2.        Engage Participants: Foster discussions around practical strategies for enhancing wellbeing and belonging among veterinary professionals, based on Banfield’s approach.

3.        Promote Resources (TBC): Introduce available resources and initiatives that support W&B within the community.

Kelly Bremken MSSW, CSWA, VSW 

she/her

People are at the heart of our work, and their stories give us insight into both their needs and their pets’. Yet the demands of veterinary practice can leave us pressed for time and, at times, conditioned to expect the worst. This session invites us to consider how approaching clients with curiosity and compassion—rather than judgment—can strengthen trust, improve outcomes for pets and people, and enhance the well-being of staff. Together, we’ll explore practical ways to reframe client narratives and rewrite the stories we tell about those we serve.

Sarah Nunn BFA, Certified Pet Alkaline Hydrolysis Operator

she/her

Providing euthanasia and aftercare at a busy general practice can feel like running an obstacle course – the lobby is full, a hospitalized case in ICU needs diagnostics, the team are swooning over kittens in an exam room, and a longtime client just walked in sobbing while cradling the body of their beloved dog that passed away overnight. 

In this reality, how do you support clients on one of the worst days of their life? We’ll discuss how prioritizing end-of-life care can be part of your practice culture. In a world that fears and avoids this inevitable part of life, talking about the experience of grief and loss can teach every staff member how to connect and create an effective practice support network. Comfort rooms and candles in the lobby are important, but learning to work as a team to prepare for and process these experiences helps reduce burnout and strengthen our client and team bonds.

Joe Carlisle JD

Lauren Russell JD

Kelly Cooper DVM 

Do you avoid giving constructive feedback because it feels like conflict, or you worry about hurting someone’s feelings? How about seeking feedback for yourself? Is it something you relish or avoid? While it sometimes feels uncomfortable, feedback truly is a gift. Without it, how else would anyone improve their performance? In this session, you’ll learn the skills of giving and receiving effective feedback in a non-threatening and positive way that will not only build your skills but those of your entire team.  

Objectives:

•        Understand the value of giving feedback to others and seeking it for yourself.

•        Learn the skills and scripts for delivering effective feedback to others. 

•        Learn how to obtain specific constructive feedback from others to build your skills.

•        Apply the skills of giving and receiving feedback with a specific situation.

Jake Kamins

Senioe Assistant Attorney General

Animal Cruelty Resource Procecutor

When prosecuting animal cruelty, a competent veterinary witness can mean the difference between a conviction and acquittal. Generally, prosecutors cannot prove animal cruelty beyond a reasonable doubt without a veterinarian who had an opportunity to view the evidence at or near the time of the incident. Further, in Oregon veterinarians are mandatory reporters of Aggravated Animal Abuse, and permissive reporters of other kinds of animal cruelty.

Despite all this, and despite our state having the best animal protection laws in the nation, most Oregon veterinarians are not trained in the basics of animal cruelty laws, investigative tactics, and court procedures.

Jake Kamins, Oregon’s Animal Cruelty Resource Prosecutor, has been prosecuting animal cruelty and training law enforcement, animal services, and veterinarians since 2013. In this presentation, Kamins will explain Oregon’s animal cruelty statutes, investigative tactics, and reporting requirements, with a focus on what veterinarians need to know.

Peter J. Burns, MS. Ed.

Dr. Max Rinaldi

Dr. Ragan Borzcik

This session provides an overview of the Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining Board (OVMEB) and its role in protecting the public while supporting the veterinary profession. Attendees will gain insight into the Board’s statutory responsibilities, licensing and renewal processes, continuing education oversight, complaint intake and investigations, and common issues that arise in regulatory practice. The presentation will also highlight trends, challenges, and opportunities for collaboration between the Board and veterinary professionals, with an emphasis on transparency, education, and shared responsibilities and partnership.

Kelly Bremken MSSW, CSWA, VSW 

she/her

Work in veterinary medicine is challenging. While the demands of the job are high, the way the public speaks about our work can add an extra layer of stress—making the way we speak to ourselves even more critical. In this workshop, we’ll explore how perfectionism, shame and guilt influence our inner critic, impact burnout and shape our capacity for resiliency. We’ll take an honest look at the role of the perfectionism and discuss how self-compassion can become a powerful antidote. While we may not be able to eliminate these internal pressures, we can build greater capacity for self-kindness, increase compassion satisfaction and remember just why we love this work! Attendees will leave with practical strategies to tame that perfectionism into constructive self-reflection and strengthen both personal and team well-being.

Kat Bennett LVT, VTS (SAIM)

she/they

This will be an interactive session discussing the effect that fat-shaming our patients has on ourselves and our coworkers.

Stacy Montgomerie DVM, CHPV

she/her

Debrah Lee LCSW

she/her

In this workshop, we’ll provide a framework for compassionate client communication interwoven with intrapersonal skills and tools to support well-being in the context of moral distress. Workshop participants will have an opportunity to work together to practice communication skills using case examples, which will be provided and can also be drawn from participant experiences. 

Mel Bocchiochio CVT, CCFP, MS

she/her

We all know how to recognize burnout symptoms in ourselves, but we aren't always great at recognizing it in others.  It may be easier to blame them or call them toxic, when the underlying issue is deep burnout.  Together we find more compassionate ways to approach and support a burned out colleague. 

Sonja Olson DVM, C-MMT 

she/her

A healthy culture doesn’t happen by accident—it is intentionally built through emotionally intelligent leadership and a deep understanding of psychological safety. In this session, Dr. Olson explores how to cultivate a “culture of care” that promotes trust, transparency, and retention. Participants will examine how benefits, communication styles, and leadership behavior directly influence morale, loyalty, and burnout. Through practical frameworks and real-world examples, attendees will learn how to create veterinary environments where people feel safe, heard, and supported.

Key takeaways:

•        Define and apply the principles of psychological safety in veterinary settings

•        Explore the relationship between trust, communication, and retention

•        Learn how to realign values, benefits, and leadership behaviors to support team wellbeing

Lauren Bracchi DVM, DACVECC

Megan Seekins DVM, DACVECC

Medical errors are an inevitable part of veterinary medicine, yet they remain one of the most challenging aspects of clinical practice to address. This session will explore how medical errors occur, including common contributing factors such as system flaws, communication gaps, and cognitive overload. We’ll discuss strategies for building hospital structures that minimize risk and support staff when errors happen, as well as compassionate, transparent approaches for communicating with pet owners. The first 30 minutes will focus on practical frameworks for error prevention, disclosure, and recovery, while the final 15–30 minutes will be an interactive discussion of real-world case scenarios. Audience members will be invited to participate in analyzing how errors occurred and how they might be addressed, fostering open dialogue and a culture of learning rather than blame.