New Sessions at #WVC2024

It's Time To Vet Differently

It's not just our theme for #WVC2024 - it's our focus as we move toward the future of veterinary medicine.

We're proud to offer you and your team ground-breaking new additions to WVC's education program, and we strongly encourage you to dive in. Games built for your veterinary team? Yep. Interactive art sessions? Yep. 3D Printing? We're just getting started. You've never seen this at any veterinary conference before, and that's why it's #OnlyatWVC.

Content is subject to change; some are available now, and more will be made available via Viticus Group 'My Account' at a later date.

#ONLYATWVC The Art of Veterinary Medicine 🖌️

Join us for an innovative journey at the intersection of art and veterinary science, exclusively at WVC2024. Our unique sessions blend creative painting sessions alongside anatomy, offering a fresh perspective on education.

Ticks: There’s a Lot to DRAW Out

Location: Exhibit Hall "The Joint" Learning Lounge
When: Monday, Feb. 19: 10:30a - 12:25p
Instructor: Ryan De Voe, Veterinarian at The Walt Disney Company

This unique session will combine education on ticks with an illustrative activity. The instructors will use newly published research to update the attendees on the current risk of ticks to dogs and cats. The presentation will detail the areas of greatest risk, the time of greatest risk, and the preferred attachment sites of ticks on pets.

With this information, the attendee will be equipped to communicate the need for ectoparasite exams and tick control to pet owners. Throughout the presentation, the attendees will apply this knowledge as they create one-of-a-kind tick-inspired illustrations.

Sponsor:

Merck_AH_KOlogo

Blood Films: What Clinical Picture do they Paint?

Location: Exhibit Hall "The Joint" Learning Lounge
When: Tuesday, Feb. 20: 10:30a - 12:55p
Instructor: C. Guillermo Couto, DVM, DACVIM (ONCOLOGY & SAIM) President, Couto Veterinary Consultants and Casey Etter, LVT – Managing Director, IDEXX

This educational activity will discuss the value of blood film morphology and cytograms in arriving at a clinical diagnosis. We will discuss normal blood cell morphology (red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets) and specific morphologic changes that assist in the process of generating a working diagnosis. In the red cell serie, we will cover ploychromasia, spherocytes, acanthocytes, schistocytes, Heinz bodies and hemoparasites. In the white blood cell series we will discuss toxic neutrophils, left shift, "activated" monocytes and neoplastic cells. Platelet clumps and macroplatelets will also be discussed. Additionally, we will discuss the general diagnostic approach to patients with numerical changes in the 3 blood cell lines (e.g.; anemia, erythrocytosis, neutropenia, neutrophilip, etc.).

Sponsor:

#ONLYATWVC This Clinic's On Fire - An Interactive Game-Based Practice Management Workshop

This Clinic's On Fire will be an interactive game-based workshop diving into the various personnel challenges that arise in veterinary clinics. This high-energy workshop uses scenarios managers face every day. Discuss common situations and leave with ideas to address staffing in your practice.

SOLD OUT Mandalay Bay, Surf D, Date: Monday, Feb. 19 10:35 AM to 12:25 PM

NEW SECTION OPEN: Tuesday, Feb. 20 10:35 - 12:25, Surf F, Level 2

PLAYING THE GAME

This Clinic’s on Fire is a game for the whole veterinary team. In this fast-paced card game for 2 – 6 players, you’ll compete against opponents to retain the staff in your clinic and fire theirs. You’ll interact with memorable employees such as The Gossip Tornado, The Meeting Magnate, The Attention Seeker, even the rare Unicorn Employee, and work through a variety of staff performance issues based on real-life clinic scenarios. Take turns applying toxic performance issues to your opponent’s employees, and protect your own through coaching, mentorship, and Continuing Education.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

In these interactive workshop* or lecture sessions you’ll learn from experienced instructors Robin Brogdon, MA, Rhonda Bell, CVPM, CCRP, PCM-Digital, CDMP and Andrea Crabtree Wood, CVPM, PHR, BS, SPHR, CCFP, FFCP.

• Relate game-play situations to your personal experiences in your clinic
• Justify types of interventions or responses to employee actions
• Analyze difficult and complex personnel situations and propose solutions
• Address challenging employee personalities
• Propose ways to navigate interpersonal relationships
• Evaluate the human resource needs within the clinic
• Discuss ways to approach difficult conversations with employees
• Identify situations when intervention is required for toxic performance

*Additional purchase required

WHAT IS GAME-BASED LEARNING?

Game-based learning is an active learning technique that uses game play to improve learning. Game-based learning promotes critical thinking and problem-solving skills, while improving retention of information, boosting creativity, and promote engagement with peers.

Join Viticus Group’s Conference Education Team these interactive workshop* or lecture sessions that features a purpose-built resource game developed by Jamie Perkins, DVM, Kimberly Keating, MA, and Anthony Pease, DVM, DACVR.

*Additional purchase required

#ONLYATWVC 3-D Printing Sessions

Veterinary medicine has always thrived on creative and innovative approaches to improving animal health. Embrace the future with our two-part "3-D Printing in Veterinary Medicine" sessions, where we delve into 3D printing and its applications in the field of animal care.

Mandalay Bay, Surf D, Level 2
2:00 PM – 4:50 PM

3-D Printing in Veterinary Medicine

Part 1: Customized Care for Animals

Veterinary medicine has always demanded creative and innovative means of treating our diverse species. 3D printing has opened a world of opportunities to develop specialized tools for a variety of needs. In this lecture we discuss current applications of 3D printing in veterinary medicine. Technology basics including printer types and model manipulation are explored.

Part 2: The Sticky Nuts and Bolts of It

3D Printing can create anatomic models, customized surgical tools or just about any doohickey needed in your clinic. In this session, we review basic techniques in 3D modelling. Attendees will spend a portion of this session in a workshop atmosphere, applying principles of 3D modelling to create their own .STL file to create their 3D print for their clinic.

Attractive red-haired scientist looking through a microscope in a lab

Ticks: Know Your Enemy

This interactive session will pair lecture material with hands-on learning. As the common ticks of North America are presented by the speaker, the attendee will work to identify the tick specimens as well as determine their geographic distribution and vector abilities. The session will conclude with an exploration of tick prevention and control options.

Exhibit Hall – Learning Lounge – The Joint

Wednesday, Feb. 21
9:30 – 10:25 AM

Sponsor:

MERCK_ANIMAL_HEALTH

Behind the Floppy Ear: Explore Common Findings of Ear Cytology

This interactive session will pair lecture material with hands-on learning. The speaker will review the common agents found in the ears of dogs and cats, and the attendees will work to identify these agents and learn to differentiate between normal, abnormal, and artifact findings. The session will also include an exploration of agents that are commonly mistaken as bacteria on cytology.

Exhibit Hall – Learning Lounge – The Joint

Wednesday, Feb. 21
10:30 – 11:25 AM

Sponsor:

MERCK_ANIMAL_HEALTH

Vaccine Mastery: Tips & Tricks for Veterinary Technicians

In this session, participants will learn the importance of maintaining the vaccine cold chain, proper vaccine storage and handling, and appropriate upkeep of the fridge. Attendees will be shown various vaccine- related scenarios that commonly occur in clinics, and administration tips and techniques. We will explore how these variables impact your patient, and attendees will be able to practice the new skills learned as well as demo an innovative new way to administer an oral vaccine.

Exhibit Hall – Learning Lounge – The Joint

Wednesday, Feb. 21
11:30 AM – 12:25 PM

Sponsor:

MERCK_ANIMAL_HEALTH

What’s in This Fecal: Parasites, Pollen, or Particulates

This interactive session will pair lecture material with hands-on learning. As the common intestinal parasites of dogs are introduced and explained by the speaker, the attendee will practice identifying these parasites. Additionally, this session will provide information on the most up-to-date diagnostic, treatment, and control options for each parasite.

Exhibit Hall – Learning Lounge – The Joint

Wednesday, Feb. 21
12:30 – 1:25 PM

Sponsor:

MERCK_ANIMAL_HEALTH

#ONLYATWVC Glass-blowing Your Mind: Integrating Tick Prevention into Practice

Join the experts from Boehringer-Ingelheim to explore the intricacies of parasite biology, diagnostic methods, and the diverse range of treatment options available for effective control. This series of talks will empower veterinarians with knowledge and skills necessary to provide top-tier parasite management in their practice. Participants may also be provided an opportunity to create or receive a limited custom-made keepsake from a live artisan glassblower related to the session.

Exhibit Hall - WVC Central: Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024 9:30 AM to 12:55 PM

Sponsor:

Boehringer_Ingelheim_Logo_CMYK_Coated_Accent_Green

Artist's website:

#ONLYATWVC Lap of Love Memorial Pieces

Paws, Prints, & Precious Memories Workshop: Unleash Your Creativity!

Join us for a paw-sitively delightful workshop where we'll dive into the art of creating heartwarming memorials for our beloved furry friends and patients.

Exhibit Hall – Learning Lounge – Western
Monday, Feb. 19 & Tuesday, Feb. 20 3:30-4:25PM

Wednesday, Feb. 21 12:30 – 1:25PM

Sponsor:

LEARNING LOUNGE: The Diner

LEARNING LOUNGE: The Frontier

LEARNING LOUNGE: The Pharmacy

The Bridge Club Give Back Benefit Denim & Diamonds👖💎

Feb 17, 2024, 4:00 PM PST – 6:30 PM PST
Mandalay Bay Convention Center Palm Foyer, Level 3

Dress code: We encourage you to wear denim! It's not just a theme, it's a vibe.

Join us for an incredible opportunity to connect, engage, and support a great cause. The Give Back Benefit supports the Veterinary Industry Giving Tree, helping those in the industry facing financial hardships. Your contribution can make a significant impact.

This year's event, with the theme of Denim and Diamonds, will take place from 4-6:30 pm and feature fantastic sponsors like The Bridge Club, Chewy Health, Viticus Group, Vetcetera, and Virbac. It's guaranteed to be a great time. Don't miss out on an evening of networking, fun activities, and giving back. We look forward to seeing you there.

#ONLYATWVC Keep your Gard Up: The Quest is on!

The Quest is On! In partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim, we invite you to search for ticks!

Local glass artist Greg LeFrancis has created 96 collectible glass-blown ticks, commemorating our 96th WVC Annual Conference. These limited-edition art pieces will be hidden in various locations throughout the conference, along with a commemorative box and certificate of authenticity.

To find the ticks, you must monitor our social media channels.

Follow us now!