Registration Information
  • Labs and workshops are presented at the live/in-person MVC only. They are not be recorded for the Virtual MVC.
  • Advance registration is required, even if there is no additional fee.
  • To allow for planning and ordering supplies, the registration deadline is Jan. 30, 2026.
  • If a lab sells out before the deadline, you will be able to join a waitlist during online registration. We will contact you if a spot should open up.
  • You may sign up for a lab without registering for the full MVC. Please contact OVMA directly with your request.
Audiences & Skill Levels
  • Due to the interactive nature of hands-on labs and workshops, these programs are designed for specific attendee types, based on the training and education those individuals receive, and therefore may be restricted to specific audiences.
  • Please read the descriptions carefully to determine if the subject matter is appropriate; if so, you may contact OVMA to request an override.
  • Keep in mind, however, that the cancellation and refund policy applies even if you change your mind or find that the material does not meet your level of expertise.
Terms of Participation
  • Some labs involve working with live animals, cadavers, specimens, equipment and other unique learning materials.
  • As such, attendees may be at risk of injury or disease in the same manner as a veterinary professional would be exposed to these risks in carrying out the same or similar procedures in a clinical setting.
  • By registering for a lab, participants release OVMA, instructors, and other participants from any damages and/or injuries that may occur during or as a result of participation in the program.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
  • When personal or professional circumstances prevent a pre-registered individual from attending, OVMA will refund lab/workshop fees less 10%, provided a written refund request is submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on Feb. 12, 2026.
  • No refunds will be given after this date.

A1. RECOVER CPR: Basic and Advanced Life Support Rescuer Certification

Details
  • Date & Time: Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Format: In Person Only
  • Instructor: Molly Ellis, RVT, FFCP, CFVP, PVFR (Instructor), CVHDP
  • Audience: Veterinarians, Technicians, Hospital Staff, Shelter Staff
  • Level: Intermediate, Advanced
  • Max Capacity: 20
  • CE Hours: 7
  • Fee: $250
  • Registration Deadline: Jan. 30, 2026 (or sold out)
Description

This in-person laboratory fulfills the practical skills requirement for certification in both Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) through the RECOVER initiative. It is designed for veterinary professionals seeking to enhance clinical performance and adherence to standardized CPR procedures.

Participants will apply current evidence-based guidelines established by ACVECC and VECCS to manage veterinary cardiopulmonary arrest scenarios. The lab will emphasize the optimization of chest compressions and ventilation, accurate ECG rhythm identification, algorithm-driven pharmacologic and electrical interventions, and closed-loop communication. Attendees will engage in small-group, instructor-guided stations to perform and integrate BLS and ALS protocols in simulated resuscitation cases.

Prerequisites

Participants must complete the following online modules prior to the MVC in order to be eligible for in-person skills verification and final certification:

  • 2024 RECOVER CPR – BLS
  • 2024 RECOVER CPR – ALS

You will need to present the official RECOVER online course completion certificates for both of the above courses at the start of the lab.

Please note, these courses have associated fees that do not apply to the MVC workshop; they can be purchased separately or as a bundle at a reduced rate.

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Discount Code: Workshop20

Additional Information
  • Lunch will be provided. Please indicate if you have any dietary restrictions when registering.
  • Casual attire or scrubs recommended.

B1. Point-of-Care Cardiac Ultrasound to Guide Diagnosis of Congestive Heart Failure

Details
  • Date & Time: Friday, Feb. 27, 2026: 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
  • Format: In Person Only
  • Moderator: Brent Aona, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology)
  • Audience: Veterinarians
  • Level: Beginner, Intermediate
  • Max Capacity: 12
  • CE Hours: 2
  • Fee: $250
  • Registration Deadline: Jan. 30, 2026 (or sold out)
Description

Point-of-care ultrasound can help guide the diagnosis of CHF in patients with respiratory distress. In this session, attendees will get hands-on guidance on how to both obtain and interpret bedside cardiac ultrasound to improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients with respiratory distress. Attendees will practice obtaining the most important cardiac ultrasound images with direct instruction and advice to assure they are comfortable with this imaging modality to improve their clinical skills for diagnosis and management of patients with respiratory clinical signs.

Sponsored By
MedVet

B2. When Disaster Strikes and Decisions Matter: Responding to Foreign Animal Disease Outbreaks

Details
  • Date & Time: Friday, Feb. 27, 2026: 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
  • Format: In Person Only
  • Moderator: Armando Hoet, Ph.D., DVM
  • Audience: Veterinarians, Technicians, Managers & Owners
  • Level: Beginner
  • Max Capacity: 50
  • CE Hours: 3
  • Fee: $0
  • Registration Deadline: Jan. 30, 2026 (or sold out)
Description

Attendees will partake in interactive tabletop training exercises simulating a high-consequence foreign animal disease (FAD) outbreak. The scenarios will test participants’ decision-making skills at different points of an emergency response and from various perspectives of the response team. Exercises will focus on understanding the state’s notification system, response strategies, biosecurity measures, and the roles of key stakeholders involved in the investigation and containment of a FAD outbreak.

Exercises will be led by:
  • Amanda Berrian, DVM, Ph.D., MPH, DACVPM
  • Jamie Davis, DVM
  • Kristy Shaw, DVM
  • Karen Grube, DVM
  • Helen Jones, DVM
  • Jacquelyn Keller-Potvin
  • Dennis Summers, DVM, DACVPM
Additional Information
  • Lunch will be provided. Please indicate if you have any dietary restrictions when registering.
Sponsored By

C1. Mastering the Fundamentals: Dental Charting, Nerve Blocks, and Instrument Sharpening

Details
  • Date & Time: Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  • Format: In Person Only
  • Instructor: Jill Bates, RVT, VTS-Dentistry
  • Audience: Veterinarians, Technicians
  • Level: Beginner, Intermediate
  • Max Capacity: 12
  • CE Hours: 4
  • Fee: $550
  • Registration Deadline: Jan. 30, 2026 (or sold out)
Description

This lab will cover all the basic charting terms and how to chart them. Along with charting both a dog and a cat, participants will work on proper techniques for scaling and polishing. Regional anesthesia nerve blocks on both dogs and cats are very important, and having the knowledge and skill to perform these is crucial in maintaining patients’ comfort and pain levels. Participants will master the major regional nerve blocks in both dogs and cats. Does your doctor seem to be using a lot more force than usual when trying to elevate a tooth? When using dull instruments, we are setting our team up for failure. Learn proper techniques for sharpening your dental instruments.

Additional Information
  • Scrubs are recommended, as participants will be working with cadavers.
  • Attendees should bring their clinic’s dental instruments (dental elevators, luxators, hand scalers, hand curettes, periosteal elevators, and scissors) to the lab to practice sharpening techniques.
Sponsored By

C2. Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Dental Radiographs

Details
  • Date & Time: Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026: 1:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Format: In Person Only
  • Instructor: Jill Bates, RVT, VTS-Dentistry
  • Audience: Veterinarians, Technicians, Hospital Staff, Shelter Staff
  • Level: Beginner, Intermediate
  • Max Capacity: 12
  • CE Hours: 4
  • Fee: $550
  • Registration Deadline: Jan. 30, 2026 (or sold out)
Description

Participating veterinarians, technicians, and veterinary assistants will learn how to position both dog and cat patients in order to obtain dental radiographs in a variety of views. The instructor will offer tips on how to get a diagnostic radiograph that is predictable every single time. Do you struggle with getting the zygomatic arch out of the way in cats? How about maxillary molars and the upper fourth premolar in a dog? Maybe you can get a canine tooth on a small dog, but is a big dog a challenge for you? We will discuss all of these views and more! You will leave this course with so many tools that dental radiographs will no longer be an issue for you!

Additional Information
  • Scrubs are recommended, as participants will be working with cadavers.
  • Attendees should bring their clinic’s dental instruments (dental elevators, luxators, hand scalers, hand curettes, periosteal elevators, and scissors) to the lab to practice sharpening techniques.
Sponsored By

C3 & C4. STAT! Thoughtful Handling When Your Canine Patient Can’t Wait

Details
  • Date & Time: Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026: 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. or 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
  • Format: In Person Only
  • Instructor: Rebecca King, CDBC
  • Audience: Veterinarians, Technicians, Hospital Staff, Shelter Staff, Behaviorists & Trainers, Managers & Owners
  • Level: Intermediate, Advanced
  • Max Capacity: 36 per session
  • CE Hours: 2
  • Fee: $100
  • Registration Deadline: Jan. 30, 2026 (or sold out)
Description

This workshop will teach attendees straightforward handling techniques and how to incorporate environmental management. The first hour of lecture will introduce participants to the techniques; in the second hour, attendees will be able to practice on stuffed dogs.

Additional Information

C3 and C4 are the same lab presented at different times.