2026 Central Ohio CE Conference

Veterinarian Track 

9:00 am ET

Degenerative Lumbosacral Stenosis

This live interactive medical program for veterinarians will examine the pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (DLSS) in canine patients. This course will also review and compare treatments including surgical decompression, epidural steroid injections, and medical management to optimize patient outcomes.

Presenter: Jessica Kmiecik, DVM, Diplomate, ACVIM (Neurology)

10:00 am ET

Lower Back Pain and Conservative Management of Lumbosacral Disease

This live interactive medical program for veterinarians will review the diagnosis and conservative management of lower back pain and lumbosacral disease in canine patients. This course will include common etiologies, physical examination techniques for differentiating spinal from orthopedic pain, and the role of biomechanics in spinal compression.

Presenter: Emily Falk, DVM, CCRT, CVA

11:00 am ET

Can’t Walk or Won’t Walk?

This live interactive medical program for veterinarians will review common presentations of mixed orthopedic and neurologic conditions, in addition to awkward metabolic systemic disorders. This course will also highlight front limb and rear limb examination findings plus treatments options for non-ambulatory patients.

Presenter: Shawn C. Kennedy, DVM, Diplomate, ACVS (Small Animal)

1:00 pm ET

Canine Respiratory Emergencies

This live interactive medical program for veterinarians will review recognition and stabilization of patients presenting in respiratory distress. This course will also include point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) diagnostics with a focus on lung ultrasound, plus diagnostic interpretation and interventional strategies for critically ill patients.

Presenter: Anda Young, DVM, MS, Diplomate, ACVECC

2:00 pm ET

Chronic Canine Respiratory Diseases

This live interactive medical program for veterinarians will review signalment, clinical signs, diagnostics, and treatment of the most common canine chronic respiratory diseases that can lead to respiratory emergencies and pulmonary hypertension.

Presenter: Taylor N. Sherrod Jolin, DVM, Diplomate, ACVIM (SAIM)

3:00 pm ET

Pulmonary Hypertension: What Is It and Where Does It Come From

This live interactive medical program for veterinarians will review the pathophysiology, clinical signs, diagnosis, and treatment of pulmonary hypertension. This course will also include case-based examples to distinguish between pulmonary disease with hypertension and cardiogenic pulmonary edema.

Presenter: Yanni Giatis, DVM, Diplomate, ACVIM (Cardiology)

4:00 pm ET

Medical and Surgical Management of Otitis Media in Rabbits

This live interactive medical program for veterinarians will review the diagnosis and treatment of otitis media in rabbits. This course will cover how to identify clinical signs, apply advanced imaging techniques, and surgical management approaches to optimize patient outcomes in exotic practice.

Presenters: Sarah K. Bisgard, DVM, Diplomate, ACVS (Small Animal); Nicholas A. Jew, DVM, Diplomate, ABVP (Reptile & Amphibian)

Technician & Practice Management Track 

9:00 am ET

Self-Compassion for Veterinary Professionals

This live interactive non-medical program for veterinary professionals will focus on self-compassion. We are often our own worst critics, especially when we are passionate about our work. This can negatively impact our mood, mental health, and work performance. This program will provide tools and techniques to practice that protect our wellbeing, plus the reasoning behind why these methods work.

Presenter: Jess Hindman Clark, MSSW, LSW

10:00 am ET

Sterile Processing

This live interactive non-medical program for veterinary technicians will provide an overview of sterile processing practices focusing on the principles of sterility and infection prevention. This course will examine key sterilization methods, including the differences in types of sterilizers for clinical applications, plus review the use of chemical and biological indicators to ensure effective sterilization and patient safety.

Presenter: Brant Klink, Operations Technician

11:00 am ET

BRisky Business: Brachycephalic Anesthesia

This live interactive medical program for veterinary technicians will review congenital issues common to brachycephalic breeds and focus on utilizing brachycephalic risk (BRisk) scoring to assess anesthetic dangers. In addition, this course will include methods to improve safety under anesthesia by implementing brachycephalic protocols plus review best practices to manage brachycephalic patients to optimize peri-operative safety.

Presenter: Sarah Lustgarten, RVT, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia)

1:00 pm ET

Connecting with Empathy to Clients Under Stress 

This live interactive non-medical program for veterinary professionals will review how to have difficult conversations with pet parents in crisis to communicate information. This course provides guidance regarding the neurological implications of stress and strategies for the best way to communicate.

Presenter: Claire Johnson, MSW, LSW

2:00 pm ET

Fur Real Math: Calculations and Dilutions

This live interactive medical program for veterinary technicians will provide practical guidance on common veterinary calculations and dilution techniques. This course will review how to accurately calculate dosages based on dose and weight conversions, prepare dilutions for medications, plus calculate appropriate additive volumes.

Presenter: Brenda Starkey, RVT

3:00 pm ET

Understanding and Interacting with the Pain Pathway 

This live interactive medical program for veterinary technicians will introduce the pain pathway and its role in patient care. This course will review pain pathway components, how protocols interact with each stage, and the importance of multimodal analgesia in comprehensive pain management for veterinary patients.

Presenter: Emma Hill, RVT

4:00 pm ET

My Pet has Diabetes

This live interactive medical program for veterinary technicians will review the clinical signs leading to the diagnosis and management of diabetes mellitus in dogs and cats. This course will review the underlying etiologies, appropriate glucose monitoring techniques, and evidence-based treatment options.

Presenter: Kimberly Muñoz, RVT

Hands-on Labs

9:00 am ET

Ophthalmic Surgery

This live interactive medical program for veterinary professionals will be presented as a lecture plus hands-on lab focusing on ophthalmic surgery for eyelid mass removal, laceration repair, entropion correction, and pocket imbrication for cherry eye. This course will include a review of surgical indications for these conditions, pre-operative testing, client communication strategies in preparation for the procedures, plus post-operative recommended care. The hands-on lab portion will feature step-by-step demonstrations on porcine cadaver eyes with eyelids for participants to practice surgical techniques. In addition, live patient surgical videos will be featured.

Presenter: Terah E.R. Webb, DVM, Diplomate, ACVO

1:00 pm ET

External Coaptation Principles: Casting and Splinting 101

This live interactive medical program for veterinary professionals will be presented as a hands-on lab focusing on splinting and casting techniques for fracture stabilization. This course will include indications for external coaptation, proper application methods, and complication prevention strategies to optimize patient outcomes.

Presenter: Matthew D. Barnhart, DVM, MS, Diplomate, ACVS

3:00 pm ET

Does Another One Really Have to Bite the Dust?

This live interactive medical program for veterinary professionals will be presented as a hands-on lab highlighting how outdated habits, team communication gaps, and drug protocol missteps can turn a survivable code into a tragedy. Participants won’t just review the latest reassessment campaign on veterinary resuscitation (RECOVER) initiative updates, they’ll perform them on canine and feline manikins to build the muscle memory and confidence needed to deliver high-quality chest compressions, master the single-dose atropine rule, and run a coordinated code. This course will provide the skills to give patients the best possible shot at the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).

Presenter: Emily Hill, DVM, MSc, Residency Trained in Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care