January 15, 2021

Event

26th International Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Symposium, virtual meeting, Sept. 12-14, 2020

Program

This year’s symposium focused on imaging in emergency and critical care. The symposium was conducted jointly by the Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Society, American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technicians and Nurses, American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia, Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Anesthesia and Analgesia, International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management, and Association of Veterinary Hematology and Transfusion Medicine. Dr. Dianne Ansari-Winn, Physician Vitality Institute, presented the Knowles Memorial Keynote Lecture, discussing the challenges facing veterinary medicine practitioners in maintaining their health and well-being.

Awards

Ira M. Zaslow VECCS Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Marie Kerl (Auburn ’87), Fulton, Missouri. Dr. Kerl is the chief medical officer of the VCA Animal Hospitals network. She previously served as an associate professor of emergency and critical care and internal medicine at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. A diplomate of the ACVECC and American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Dr. Kerl has served as president of the VECCS and as vice president of the ACVECC and has chaired the ACVECC Scientific Program and Examination committees. Dr. Kerl is an assistant editor with the Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care and is a member of the National Veterinary Response Team.

Hill’s Dr. Jack Mara ACVECC Achievement Award
Dr. Benjamin Brainard (Pennsylvania ’00), Athens, Georgia. Dr. Brainard is a professor of small animal critical care at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. A diplomate of the ACVAA and ACVECC, he has served two terms as vice president of the ACVECC and is an associate editor with the Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. Dr. Brainard’s research has focused on the analysis and characterization of coagulation and platelet function in dogs, cats, and horses. He has a special interest in the documentation of the effects of novel anticoagulant, pro-coagulant, and anti-platelet drugs.

VECCS Practice Manager of the Year, sponsored by Nationwide Insurance
Bo Compton, Bellingham, Washington. Compton is the hospital manager at Animal Emergency Care in Bellingham. 

ACVECC Research Grant Award ($9,978)
Dr. Noa Berlin, Tufts University, for “Establishment of a reference interval for thiamine levels in healthy dogs and evaluation of the prevalence of absolute thiamine deficiency in critically ill dogs with and without sepsis using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)”

ACVECC CPR Research Grant Award ($10,000)
Dr. Elizabeth Rozanski, Tufts University, for “Use of automatic external defibrillator in dogs”

VECCF Research Grant Award ($9,950)
Dr. Jamie Kopper, Iowa State University, for “Intestinal alkaline phosphatase: A novel treatment for restoring barrier function of injured intestine”

Small Animal Resident Abstract Award
A $500 stipend was awarded to Dr. Anda Young, The Ohio State University, for “Liponucleotides improve gas exchange in mice with ARDS and dogs with aspiration pneumonia”

Large Animal Resident Abstract Award
A $500 stipend was awarded to Dr. Shune Kimura, Auburn University, for “Evaluation of orally and rectally administered misoprostol in a low-dose endotoxin challenge in horses”

ACVAA Resident Abstract Award, sponsored by Akorn Animal Health
Dr. H. Nicole Trenholme, University of Georgia, for “Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of meperidine in healthy horses,” and Dr. Erika Militana, Cornell University, for “Effects of an experimental preparation of encapsulated lidocaine on conduction blockade in sheep”

Veterinary Case Report Award, sponsored by Animal Blood Resources International
A stipend of $500 was awarded to Dr. Philip Krawec, The Ohio State University, for “The parvo that wasn’t! Pancytopenia in a pediatric Beagle”

Technician Case Report Award, sponsored by Animal Blood Resources International
A stipend of $300 was awarded to Bonnie Lockridge, University of Georgia, for “Spontaneous atrial fibrillation in an anesthetized patient for PDA ligation”

Royal Canin Nutritional Case Report Award
A stipend of $500 was awarded to Dr. Katrina Manson, Westborough, Massachusetts, for “Gastroesophageal intussusception in a puppy”

Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society

Business

It was announced that membership has grown to more than 7,000. Finances are still strong despite cancellation expenses resulting from the transition from an in-person to a virtual meeting because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which were drawn from reserve funds. The addition of a copy editor for the Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care has decreased journal backlog. Online continuing education offerings to membership have risen and will continue to expand. Participation in social media has improved exposure for the society. A task force with the ACVECC, to address the shortage of veterinary emergency and critical care staff members, continues to work on new certification for veterinary technicians, separate from that of the AVECCTN; mentorship for young veterinarians with experienced emergency room doctors; and increased knowledge and career advancements for emergency and critical care staff members.

Officials

Dr. Elisa Mazzaferro, Norwalk, Connecticut, president; Kenichiro Yagi, Ithaca, New York, president-elect; Dr. Matt Booth, Boulder, Colorado, treasurer; Leslie Carter, Fort Collins, Colorado, recording secretary; Dr. Linda Martin, Pullman, Washington, immediate past president; Dr. Chris Gray, DeWitt, Michigan, chief executive officer; and members-at-large—Dr. Julie Dechant, Davis, California, and Cindy Hauser, Denver

American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care

Program

The ACVECC conducted its certification examination and held its annual business meeting. The president of the ACVECC, Dr. Ken Drobatz, and ACVECC executive secretary, Dr. Armelle de Laforcade, moderated the meeting.

New diplomates

Sixty-one individuals passed the certification examination. They are as follows:

Samantha Aumann, Neptune Beach, Florida
Adrienne Barchard-Couts, Lynn, Massachusetts
Nicole Barrella, Andover, Massachusetts
Erin Binagia, East Lansing, Michigan
Rachael Birkbeck, London
David Carabetta, Cheshire, Connecticut
Kelsey Casey, Aspinwall, Pennsylvania
Steven Centola, Philadelphia
Michelle Coady, Coldwater, Ontario
Lillian Cousto, Guelph, Ontario
Sarah Cudney, Culver City, California
Sage De Rosa, Philadelphia
Ian DeStefano, Brookline, Massachusetts
Margret Donahue, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Justin Duval, Calgary, Alberta
Mark Louis Eramanis, Glebe, Australia
Poppy Gant, Loughborough, England
Anais Gautier, Orleans, Ontario
Ide Gillespie, Geelong, Australia
Daniel Gordon, Columbus, Ohio
Bradley Harris, Tampa, Florida
Jiwoong Her, Columbus, Ohio
Kathleen Temple Kicera, Penfield, New York
Mark Kim    , Riverwood, Australia
Jamie Kopper, Ames, Iowa
Mara Kraenzlin, Greenwich, Connecticut
Jasmine Lee, Philadelphia
Madeline Libin, Saratoga Springs, New York
Rachel Liebelt, Grafton, Wisconsin
Brittany Lucchetti,    San Antonio
Austin Luskin, Exeter, New Hampshire
Jennifer Martinez, Gainesville, Florida
Alicia Mastrocco, New York City
Victoria Miller, Greenfield, Wisconsin
Shaina Mooshian, Pittsburgh
Rachel Morgan, Wayne, Pennsylvania
Erica O’Donnell, San Diego
Jennifer Ortolani, North Potomac, Maryland
Amaris Pao Franco, Irvine, California
Stavros Pavlides, Tamarac, Florida
Mary Pfeifer, New York City
Kaila Rizzo, San Diego
Sarah Robbins, Groton, New York
Tommaso Rosati, Florence, Italy
Elizabeth Ross, Greenville, South Carolina
Danielle Sawyer, Redondo Beach, California
Katrina Schmitz, Paso Robles, California
Karin Spiller, Yonkers, New York
Daria Starybrat, Edinburgh, Scotland
Tereza Stastny, Calgary, Alberta
Britt Thevelein, Athens, Georgia
Lauren Toleson, East Wareham, Massachusetts
Heather Trenholme, Athens, Georgia
Katrina Tumielewicz, Freehold, New Jersey
Molly Racette Veber, Oregon, Wisconsin
Michael Verschoor-Kirss, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts
Johanna Wolf, Regensburg, Germany
Eileen Wong, Chino, California
Anda Young, Columbus, Ohio
Chiahsin Young, Frisco, Texas
Rebecca Zaremba,    Linden, Indiana

Business

ACVECC standing committees provided updates for 2020. Several new committees are being developed, including a Diversity and Inclusion Committee and an Education Committee.

Officials

Drs. Ken Drobatz, Philadelphia, president; Beth Davidow, Seattle, president-elect; Lenore Bacek, Tampa, Florida, vice president; Scott Shaw, Woodstock, Connecticut, treasurer; Dan Fletcher, Ithaca, New York, immediate past president; Armelle de Laforcade, North Grafton, Massachusetts, executive secretary; and regents—Drs. Deb Silverstein, Philadelphia; Lisa Powell, Golden Valley, Minnesota; Greg Lisciandro Spicewood, Texas; Erica Reineke, Philadelphia; Maureen Luschini, East Syracuse, New York; and Kira Epstein, Athens, Georgia

Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technicians

Program

The academy conducted its 23rd certification examination and held a virtual pinning ceremony and reception for the class of 2019. Leslie Carter, Fort Collins, Colorado, was honored as Technician of the Year.

Business

Committee reports were presented and ratified.

Officials

Megan Brashear, Portland, Oregon, president; Erin Spencer, Derry, New Hampshire, president-elect; Kenichiro Yagi, Ithaca, New York, treasurer; Andrea Steele, Guelph, Ontario, executive secretary; Amy Newfield, Tewksbury, Massachusetts, immediate past president; and members-at-large—Justin Chandler, Matawan, New Jersey; Leslie Wereszczak, Knoxville, Tennessee; and Courtney Waxman, West Lafayette, Indiana

American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia

Program

Twenty-nine abstracts were presented. On offer were two days of special-focus lectures, with Drs. Derek Cissell, Invicro Inc., and Greg Lisciandro, Hill Country Veterinary Specialists, lecturing on imaging subjects; Dr. Linda Barter, University of California-Davis, presenting “Modern approaches to education in veterinary anesthesia” and “Anesthesia in rabbits–Scientific studies”; Dr. Klaus Hopster, University of Pennsylvania, lecturing on equine analgesia and total intravenous anesthesia versus inhalant anesthesia in horses; Dr. Dianne Ansari-Winn, Physician Vitality Institute, speaking about burnout in anesthesiologists; and Dr. Bill Muir, Lincoln Memorial University, introducing the new small-molecule inotropes. Dr. Peter Pascoe, Davis, California, reported on the details of a survey with respect to the pandemic in the veterinary profession. Lectures were available to registrants for a minimum of two months after the conference, adding to their professional continuing education credits.

Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Anesthesia and Analgesia

Business

A business and financial update was provided. Jennifer Sager, the president of the academy, outlined short- and long-term goals for the AVTAA. The certification examination has been postponed until 2021.

Officials

Jennifer Sager, Gainesville, Florida, president; Jody Nugent-Deal, Davis, California, president-elect; Lindsey Howard, Louisville, Kentucky, treasurer; Darci Palmer, Auburn, Alabama, executive secretary; Katy Waddell, College Station, Texas, immediate past president; and members-at- large—Brynn Hogan, Los Angeles; Amanda Shelby, Avon, Indiana; and Sharon Kaiser-Klingler, Whitesboro, Texas

Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Foundation

Program

The foundation raised more than $26,000 through donations, a virtual raffle, and proceeds from a virtual 5K race. Of the money raised, $5,000 will be directed to the Bi-State Pet Pantry in St. Louis, and donations toward disaster relief will be made to nonprofit animal care organizations in California, Colorado, Oregon, and Louisiana. In addition, funds will be set aside to support ongoing disaster relief, training for working dogs, animal welfare projects, and the 2021 
VECCF Research Grant.

Officials

Deanne Pawlisch, Schaumburg, Illinois, president; Dr. Deborah Silverstein, Philadelphia, secretary; Dr. Robert Messenger, Charlotte, North Carolina, treasurer; Alyce D’Amato, Appleton, Wisconsin, immediate past president; and board members—Dr. Bill Smith, Seale, Alabama; Dr. Susan Barnes, Leesburg, Virginia; Dr. Cole Taylor, Leesburg, Virginia; Chris Kotnaur, Crystal Lake, Illinois; Dr. Lorna Lanman, Sun City West, Arizona; Julie Black, Island Lake, Illinois; and Dr. Diana Hassel, Fort Collins, Colorado