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2023 Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association Winter Meeting
February 4, 2023
2023 Winter Meeting Speaker List/Schedule:
7:20 AM- AVTA TABLE OPEN OUTSIDE MEETING ROOM TO SIGN IN (for CE certs.)
8-8:50AM: “What is a VTS and How Do You Apply?” by Meg Harrington, BS, CVT
9-9:50AM: “Helping Owners Assess Quality of Life and When is Time to Say Goodbye” by Mary Gardner, DVM
10-10:50AM: “Welcome to Veterinary Cannabis: The Basics, Legalities, and More” by Andrea Harris, VCC
11-11:50AM: AVTA General Membership Meeting by AVTA Board Members (1hr CE- MEMBERS ONLY)
12-1PM BREAK FOR LUNCH
1-1:50PM: “Veterinary Cannabis, Clinical Application” by Andrea Harris, VCC
2-2:50PM: “The Technician's Role in Oral Surgery” by Stefanie Perry, CVT, VTS (Dentistry)
3-3:50PM: “Dental Nerve Blocks for Zen Dentistry Events” by Stefanie Perry, CVT, VTS (Dentistry)
4-4:50PM: “Adding Small Ruminants to Your Practice” by Cy Shurtleff, DVM
5-5:50PM: “Analgesia without Opioids” by Katrina Lafferty, BFA, RLAT, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia/Analgesia)
6PM- FINAL REGARDS AND DISMISSAL BY AVTA BOARD.
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Speakers
Andrea Harris
Andrea is the CEO & Founder of Hippie Hounds. After 10 years in the veterinary industry she knew that it was her calling to combine her two passions: cannabis and canines. She founded her full-spectrum hemp manufacturing company in 2019 and her products have been changing veterinary professionals' minds about herbal medicine. She is an international master speaker on veterinary cannabis, and she enthusiastically paves the way for other veterinary professionals within the emerging cannabis space. In 2022 Andrea became the learning program manager for Veterinary Cannabis Education & Referral Services.
Katrina Lafferty, BFA, RLAT, CVT, VTS (anesthesia/analgesia)
Katrina Lafferty is a 2001 graduate from DePaul University in Chicago, IL with her BFA in Theatre. She returned to school and graduated with her degree in Veterinary Technology in 2005. She was accepted into the Academy of Veterinary Technician Anesthetists in 2009. She earned her registered lab animal technician certification in 2019.
Katrina has worked at the University of Wisconsin-Madison since 2005. She was a senior technician in the Anesthesia and Pain Management Department at the school of veterinary medicine until 2016; she transitioned to the National Primate Center at the University in 2016, where she was a senior technician in the anesthesia and surgery department. She moved back to the anesthesia department at the school of veterinary medicine in 2022. She is extremely involved in the education of the veterinary community and has written several articles and book sections and has presented at a number of continuing education sessions on an international level.
Mary Gardner, DVM
There is nothing better to Dr. Gardner than a dog with a grey muzzle or skinny old cat! Her professional goal is to increase awareness and medical care for the geriatric veterinary patient and to help make the final life stage to be as peaceful as possible, surrounded with dignity and support for all involved.
A University of Florida graduate, she discovered her niche in end of life care and is the co-founder and CIO of Lap of Love which has over 300veterinarians around the country dedicated to veterinary hospice and euthanasia in the home.
Dr. Gardner published 2 books on caring for geriatric pets. "It's Never Long Enough" (dogs) and "Nine Lives Are Not Enough" (cats). She is co-author of the textbook “The Treatment and Care of the Veterinary Patient”, co-author of a children’s activity book focused on saying goodbye to a dog called “Forever Friend”.
Dr. Gardner also won VMX Small Animal Speaker of the year in 2020!
​Stefanie Perry, CVT, AAS, VTS (Dentistry)
Stefanie has over 18 years of experience in the veterinary field, starting out of high school in the south suburbs of Chicago with reception and assistant duties in the office of a board-certified feline specialist. She moved to the valley in 2006 where she began work at a general practice in Scottsdale, AZ. She obtained her license as a Certified Veterinary Technician in 2010 and completed her Associate's Degree in Small Business Management in 2017. In 2015, she accepted a position at Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine where she continues to teach and assist students in veterinary dentistry and anesthesia. She completed a mentorship with the Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians in 2019 which granted me the distinction of Veterinary Technician Specialist (Dentistry) in the class of 2020. She is owner and operator of the VetNerd Dentistry Training, providing in-person and virtual lectures and labs in dentistry. She has lectured and taught labs at the Veterinary Dental Forum and acted as a co-instructor at Western Veterinary Conference. She is the Website Committee Chair of the Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians, the Arizona State Representative for NAVTA, a liaison for the Committee on Veterinary Technician Specialities. She is also the President and Co-founder of the Arizona Veterinary Technician Association.
Cy Shurtleff, DVM
Dr. Shurtleff graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in Agricultural Economics in 1989 and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1992. He is one of the most progressive beef cattle practitioners in the state. Dr. Shurtleff has 25 years of experience in beef cattle herd health, nutrition, and immunology. His background includes stocker cattle management, swine management, dairy cattle management, and equine reproduction. Dr. Shurtleff has the reputation as one of the most progressive small animal Veterinarians in the area and his clinic’s small animal medicine is of the highest quality. At Morrilton Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Shurtleff also works on goats, sheep, pigs, and a variety of wildlife which are services not offered by most clinics in the area. Dr. Shurtleff is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, and the Academy of Veterinary Consultants. Dr. Shurtleff’s diligent work ethic and commitment to exceptional small and large animal care has yielded clients who trust his sound judgement and admire his veterinary expertise.
Meg Harrington BS, CVT
Meg Harrington BS, CVT is a Certified Veterinary Technologist that specializes in livestock consulting and production animal care for Nashville Animal Hospital located in Nashville, Arkansas. Meg will sit for her Production Animal Internal Medicine board exam with the Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians in June of 2023. Growing up on a cow/calf operation in southern Indiana she has always had a passion for the cattle industry. She graduated from Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine with a degree in Veterinary Technology in 2010. While at Purdue her focus was on Herd Health & Production Medicine. Her previous experience includes working for the Purdue University Animal Science Beef Research Center and as a Veterinary Technologist in mixed animal practice. In 2013, Meg relocated to Arkansas, became a Veterinary Technology Program Director, and built curriculum for a two-year college seeking AVMA accreditation. Within one year Meg was hired at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health where she spent 8 years educating producers and veterinary professionals about cattle health, collecting diagnostic samples, participating in research projects, and consulting with herd veterinarians on unique medicine cases alongside her technical services veterinarian.