Packed with practical topics for both large and small animal practitioners, the four-day conference's theme is "Your Conference, Your Way" which aptly reflects how the 2012 conference program came together, says small animal practitioner Dr. Teresa Chu, chair of the SVMA conference committee.
"After we conducted an online survey, we got a lot of great suggestions that we used as a guide for developing the conference's lineup," explains Chu, who sits on the committee with six other veterinarians and Sharon Murray, manager of communications and member services for the SVMA.
"This year's conference is tailored to what general practitioners want: based on their feedback in the online survey, we've focused on very practical topics so people can take away ‘little gems' and immediately use them in their practice."
The committee also ensured that the conference contained enough sessions so participants could meet their annual continuing education requirements. The SVMA conference offers 19.5 scientific hours, three non-scientific hours and three hours of wet labs to participants.
Chu says this year's conference covers a range of veterinary disciplines including ophthalmology, medical imaging, bovine medicine, dentistry, anesthesia, nutrition, pharmacology and dermatology.
In most cases, the speaker list features experts who will deliver two, three and even four presentations on certain topics. For example, Dr. Matt Miesner of Kansas State University will give four presentations on down cows and calving.
"We had members asking for more practical information in dairy medicine: specifically, it's very difficult to perform a neurological exam on a down cow when you're trying to diagnose metabolic and neurologic diseases," explains Chu.
"Dr. Miesner will give some very practical, everyday advice for practitioners — he's very tuned in to what works in everyday practice."
A perennial conference favourite, veterinary dentist Dr. Loïc Legendre from West Coast Veterinary Dental Services, also returns to Saskatoon to give four dentistry presentations to SVMA members. Other presenters include Dr. Daniel Pang from the University of Calgary's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM), Dr. Cailin Heinze from Tufts University, Dr. Lynn Tait from OS Flock Management and Dr. Lynne Sandmeyer from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM)
Chu says the conference committee also made an effort to delve in to topics that are making news in the veterinary profession and society. For example, Dr. Craig Stephen of the UCVM will talk about One Health in the Thursday morning plenary session while Dr. Robert Reisman of the American SPCA will discuss the controversial subjects of forensic veterinary medicine and the serious issue of animal abuse.
Another feature is a three-hour evening workshop with communication specialist Dr. Cindy Adams of UCVM that's offered as a bonus to any SVMA member who registers for the full conference.
Conference participants can also attend their choice of two hands-on wet labs, both located at the WCVM. Chu says veterinary pathologist Dr. Ryan Dickinson of Prairie Diagnostic Services will deliver a intriguing wet lab called "Hands on microscopy: mystery case investigation," while the other is an ophthalmology-focused lab that will be conducted by Sandmeyer.
Other than the wet labs, all of the conference's sessions and social events will take place at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Saskatoon. A conference must is the Gala Award dinner on September 21 where the SVMA Veterinarian of the Year Award announcement will be the evening's highlight.
"There's a real push for veterinarians to earn CE credits through web-based seminars or other online options. But as an association, we stress the importance of actually coming in person to the annual conference, catching up with your colleagues and networking with the speakers and other participants, face to face," stresses Chu.
"That personal touch is something precious that we can definitely offer in a provincial conference like ours."
Visit www.svma.sk.ca to register for the 2012 SVMA Annual Conference. Register before September 5 and qualify for the early bird rate — a $55 savings.
"After we conducted an online survey, we got a lot of great suggestions that we used as a guide for developing the conference's lineup," explains Chu, who sits on the committee with six other veterinarians and Sharon Murray, manager of communications and member services for the SVMA.
"This year's conference is tailored to what general practitioners want: based on their feedback in the online survey, we've focused on very practical topics so people can take away ‘little gems' and immediately use them in their practice."
The committee also ensured that the conference contained enough sessions so participants could meet their annual continuing education requirements. The SVMA conference offers 19.5 scientific hours, three non-scientific hours and three hours of wet labs to participants.
Chu says this year's conference covers a range of veterinary disciplines including ophthalmology, medical imaging, bovine medicine, dentistry, anesthesia, nutrition, pharmacology and dermatology.
In most cases, the speaker list features experts who will deliver two, three and even four presentations on certain topics. For example, Dr. Matt Miesner of Kansas State University will give four presentations on down cows and calving.
"We had members asking for more practical information in dairy medicine: specifically, it's very difficult to perform a neurological exam on a down cow when you're trying to diagnose metabolic and neurologic diseases," explains Chu.
"Dr. Miesner will give some very practical, everyday advice for practitioners — he's very tuned in to what works in everyday practice."
A perennial conference favourite, veterinary dentist Dr. Loïc Legendre from West Coast Veterinary Dental Services, also returns to Saskatoon to give four dentistry presentations to SVMA members. Other presenters include Dr. Daniel Pang from the University of Calgary's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM), Dr. Cailin Heinze from Tufts University, Dr. Lynn Tait from OS Flock Management and Dr. Lynne Sandmeyer from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM)
Chu says the conference committee also made an effort to delve in to topics that are making news in the veterinary profession and society. For example, Dr. Craig Stephen of the UCVM will talk about One Health in the Thursday morning plenary session while Dr. Robert Reisman of the American SPCA will discuss the controversial subjects of forensic veterinary medicine and the serious issue of animal abuse.
Another feature is a three-hour evening workshop with communication specialist Dr. Cindy Adams of UCVM that's offered as a bonus to any SVMA member who registers for the full conference.
Conference participants can also attend their choice of two hands-on wet labs, both located at the WCVM. Chu says veterinary pathologist Dr. Ryan Dickinson of Prairie Diagnostic Services will deliver a intriguing wet lab called "Hands on microscopy: mystery case investigation," while the other is an ophthalmology-focused lab that will be conducted by Sandmeyer.
Other than the wet labs, all of the conference's sessions and social events will take place at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Saskatoon. A conference must is the Gala Award dinner on September 21 where the SVMA Veterinarian of the Year Award announcement will be the evening's highlight.
"There's a real push for veterinarians to earn CE credits through web-based seminars or other online options. But as an association, we stress the importance of actually coming in person to the annual conference, catching up with your colleagues and networking with the speakers and other participants, face to face," stresses Chu.
"That personal touch is something precious that we can definitely offer in a provincial conference like ours."
Visit www.svma.sk.ca to register for the 2012 SVMA Annual Conference. Register before September 5 and qualify for the early bird rate — a $55 savings.
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