Session Titles

Title Guidelines
  • Session titles should be brief but specific. If you will be covering a broad topic, add a few words to your title to narrow down the scope.
  • Please use title case (capitalize important and longer words; lowercase short words and prepositions).
  • Session titles should be no more than 80 characters (including spaces and punctuation) per one-hour session. Half-hour sessions should be no more than 40 characters.

Please note, OVMA reserves the right to edit your titles for length, clarity, and/or style.

Examples

✖ Service Animals
✔ Service Animals: What is the Veterinarian’s Role? (49 characters)

✖ Backyard Poultry
✔ Backyard Poultry: Individual Medicine and Surgery (49 characters)

✖ Tracheal Collapse Syndrome
✔ Treatment Strategies for Tracheal Collapse Syndrome (51 characters)

Session Descriptions

Description Guidelines
  • Summarize your presentation in 3-5 sentences consisting of up to 125 words total.
  • Descriptions should be succinct but detailed enough to give attendees an accurate idea of what will be covered in your session(s).
  • Tell attendees exactly what they can expect to learn, while keeping background information to a minimum.
  • Third person, future tense preferred. (e.g., In this session, the speaker will cover… )
  • Spell out acronyms on first reference unless widely known to intended audience.
Audience & Level

For each session, please designate which audience(s) and skill/knowledge level(s) the presentation is geared toward. This helps attendees choose sessions that best fit their education and experience.

  • V = Veterinarians
  • T = Technicians
  • MO = Managers & Owners
  • HS = Hospital Staff
  • SS = Shelter Staff
  • BT = Behaviorists & Trainers
  • 1 = Beginner
  • 2 = Intermediate
  • 3 = Advanced
Examples

A recent study found that 98 percent of people have trouble bonding with their pet fish. Despite attempts to snuggle or take them on walks, most fish refuse to love their owners—some even playing dead to avoid together time. In this lecture, participants will discover how to overcome brain chemistry that prevents fish from reciprocating owners’ love and practice conversing with fish in a way that helps them bond. Attendees will also hear arguments for and against popular bonding activities (e.g., going to the park, taking a train ride, etc.) and learn when not to attempt bonding with pet fish. (Spoiler alert: Pirhanas!)
(104 words)

The Institute of Veterinary Medical Devices (IVMD) approved widgets in 1950, but it wasn’t until 2000 that veterinarians began using them. In this session, attendees will learn what widgets are, how widgets can help them in their day-to-day practice, and why IVMD prefers widgets over thingies and whosits.
(48 words)

Please note, OVMA reserves the right to edit your descriptions for length, clarity, and/or style.

Speaker Bios & Headshots

Biographies
  • Your bio will be included alongside your photo (if submitted) on the MVC website and mobile app. Your session moderator will also use your submitted bio to introduce you.
  • Please limit the information included in your biography to professional details, such as:
    • Post-secondary education, internships, and residencies
    • Relevant employment
    • Organization memberships
    • Awards & recognitions
  • Biographies should be written in third person.
  • The maximum length is 150 words. When filling out the form, please re-read your entry before submitting to ensure nothing is cut off.
Photographs
  • Speaker photographs are encouraged but not required.
  • Your photo will be included in the speaker list on both the MVC website and in the mobile app.
  • Please submit a high-quality image of at least 200 dpi resolution.
  • Professional headshots are preferred. If you do not have one, you may submit a personal photo with other people/extraneous details cropped out.

Please note, OVMA reserves the right to edit your biography for length, clarity, and/or style and your headshot for color, size, and/or other aesthetics.

Presentations

  • Use a common font, such as Times New Roman, Arial, Georgia, Verdana or Trebuchet MS, to ensure your presentation displays correctly. Make sure the font you select is easy to read.
  • Please do not insert company logos or otherwise promote specific companies, products, and/or services, unless doing so has an educational value.
    • If your sessions are sponsored and you would like to recognize the sponsoring company on a slide in your presentation, please contact us for a logo.
  • Keep in mind that OVMA staff may have edited your submitted titles, so please refer to the Registration Program when composing your presentation title slide to ensure consistency.
  • Using a light background with dark/bold text will improve readability and ensure your presentation is legible on all formats and sizes (mobile phone, printed, etc.).
  • Save your presentation as a .ppt or .pptx file before uploading. Doing so allows OVMA to convert your presentation to several different versions for the conference proceedings.
  • Follow this format for naming your files: SessionNumber-Slides.ppt/pptx (eg: 100-Slides.ppt)
  • The maximum file size is 250 MB. If your PowerPoint is too large to upload, you may submit BOTH of the following in lieu of a .ppt or .pptx:
    • Full-color, full-size slides in PDF format, AND
    • Black-and-white, three-up with notes section in PDF format
Presentation Templates

We encourage you to use the official MVC slide template to simplify the process of building your presentation. Click below to download your preferred version.

Scientific Notes & Other Documents

Document Setup
  • Margins: No less than 1 inch on all sides.
  • Number of Pages: We recommend no more than 10 pages per hour of lecture.
  • Session Title: Insert at the top of the first page in all caps, bold, and centered on the first line.
    • Keep in mind that OVMA staff may have edited your submitted titles, so please refer to the Registration Program when composing your notes to ensure consistency.
  • File Extension: Save your file as a Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx), rich text (.rtf), or PDF (.pdf) document.
  • Document Naming Convention: Follow this format for naming your files: SessionNumber-Notes (eg: 100-Notes.doc)
Formatting
  • Font: Use a common, easy-to-read font. These fonts are standard on most computers.
  • Font sizes: Use the guidelines below when setting the point size of your text.
  • Session Title: 14-point font or higher*
  • Byline: Skip a line after the title and insert your byline in 12-point*, title case, italic text.
  • Body Text: Use 10- or 11-point font*, single spacing for paragraphs.
  • Graphics: Please do not insert logos or otherwise promote specific companies, products, and/or services, unless doing so has an educational value.

*Readability can vary by font family, so 12-pt. text in one typeface may be readable whereas 12 pt. in another may not. Please use the above general guidelines and your best judgment when setting type sizes.

Other Supplemental Documents

If your presentation does not warrant scientific notes, you are welcome to include other documents, provided they are not commercial in nature. Please combine all supplemental materials into one file prior to uploading.