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MVMA's annual event of the Summer! 
2023 Great Lakes Veterinary Conference
June 25 - 27, 2023
Up to 12 hours of available CE! 

 

CONFERENCE LOCATION: 
Great Wolf Lodge - Traverse City
3575 N US 31
Traverse City, MI  49684

CONFERENCE PRICING:

MEMBER DVM

  $395

NON-MEMBER DVM

  $499

MEMBER LVT/PRACTICE STAFF

  $265

NON-MEMBER LVT/PRACTICE STAFF   

  $309             

 


MEET THE SPEAKERS: 

 Melody Martinez, CVT
Melody is the founder and principal at Acorde Consulting. She is an experienced consultant, trainer, coach, speaker, and donor organizer. She has over a decade of experience supporting small and   large organizations in the nonprofit, public, and private sectors in making powerful organizational   changes. Melody is a Certified Veterinary Technician with over a decade of experience in small and   large animal veterinary medicine. In addition to working in small animal general practice and   emergency and critical care, she worked as a Senior Animal Caregiver at Farm Sanctuary,   overseeing the ongoing medical care of 800 rescued farmed animal residents at their New York   shelter. Melody continues work in veterinary medicine as a relief technician and as a volunteer at animal sanctuaries and organizations that increase access to veterinary care for communities experiencing poverty. She frequently speaks to classrooms and mentors K-12 students interested in careers working with animals. She proudly serves on the board of the Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association (MCVMA).
 

 

Kathy Engler, DVM, DABVP 
Dr. Engler received her veterinary degree from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 1991. Following graduation she worked as a small animal clinician in a progressive general practice in Washington for 5 years before joining Banfield in 1996. Dr. Engler became a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) in 2001 and recertified in 2011 & 2022. During her 18-year career with Banfield, she was a Chief of Staff;  a Medical Advisor consulting with doctors on ongoing cases and building medical education; Sr. Director of Veterinary Career Development building veterinary on-boarding and development programs; and a Medical Director for 14 – 26 hospitals. Dr. Engler joined Dechra in September 2014 as a field-based Professional Services Veterinarian. She enjoys walking her dog, volunteers as a sled-dog-race vet for the Kuskokwim 300, and volunteers for the Leavenworth County Humane Society.  

 

Rebekah Mack, DVM, DACVIM-SAIM
Dr. Rebekah Mack is a board-certified small-animal internist (DACVIM-SAIM). After completing her residency in 2014, she spent several years in a private referral practice in Greenville, SC. She joined IDEXX in 2017 as an internal medicine consultant and served as the medical affairs specialist for the renal franchise from 2018-2021, with a current role as the Senior Manager of Global Medical Education Development. She is currently a candidate for a master’s in education and is focused on adult learning and leadership.

 


HOTEL INFORMATION:

The MVMA room  block at Great Wolf Lodge is full and the discounted group rate has expired. 

ADDITIONAL NEARBY HOTEL OPTIONS
MVMA does not have a negotiated discount/group rate at the list of properties below

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott
3701 N Country Dr. 
Traverse City, MI  49684
231.922.7900
Website
2.1 miles from conference location
Courtyard by Marriott Traverse City
3615 W South Airport Rd. West
Traverse City, MI  49684
231.929.1800
Website
1.7 miles from conference location

Park Place Hotel & Conference Center
300 E State St. 
Traverse City, MI  49684
231.946.5000
Website
3.0 miles from conference location

CONFERENCE SOCIAL EVENTS:

Sunday, June 25
Annual Welcome Reception
Network with colleagues and friends for an informal evening on Great Wolf's beautiful lawn. Enjoy food and cocktails under the tent or by the firepit. The Welcome Reception is included with your attendee registration fee. Guests are welcome though pre-registration and a fee for each guest is required.

  • Adult Guest: $40 each
  • Child Guest: $29 each


Monday, June 26
Traverse City Pit Spitters vs Wisconsin Rapids Rafters Baseball Game 

 
Game Time: 7:05 pm 

Enjoy a beautiful Northern Michigan Summer evening of baseball at Turtle Creek Stadium. MVMA has reserved the Pit-Spitters Porch (along the first baseline) for GLVC attendees and their guests!
Additional fee and registration for attendees and guests are required

  • Adult: $49 adult
  • Child: $42 per child

Your purchase includes:

  • Game Ticket
  • 90-Minute Buffet
  • Unlimited Pepsi soft drinks and water (available until the 7th inning)
  • Transportation from (and return to) Great Wolf Lodge

Additional details and when/where to load transportation will be provided to registered participants at a later time.


CURRENT AGENDA:
(all times/information subject to change)

Sunday, June 25

                                                                                 Noon - 5 pm     

Registration Opens

1: 15 - 5 pm 

OPENING SEMINAR
Welcome & Introductions
John Tramontana, MS, CAE, MVMA CEO and Larry Letsche, DVM, MVMA President

Culture and Common Dynamics in the Workplace
Melody Martinez, CVT 

  • Conflict as a Catalyst for Change
  • This *Couldn't* Have Been an Email: Facilitating Inclusive & Engaging Team Meetings 
  • Sweetening the Deal: How Strong Benefits Maintain Strong Teams

6 - 7 pm 

Annual Welcome Reception 
(Included for registered attendee; Guests allowed for an additional fee at the time of registration)


Monday, June 26

7 am - 4 pm 

Registration 

7 - 8:15 am 

AVMA Breakfast - Space is limited
Registered MVMA Members Only; No Guests
Pre-registration required

8:30 - 11:30 am 

SEMINAR
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) 
Melody Martinez, CVT

Learning the tools and language needed to shift workplace culture and practices towards equity and inclusion.

  • The Practice Manager's Guide to Hiring for Equity & Inclusion
  • Culturally Responsive Veterinary Medicine 
  • Workplace Culture Under the Microscope: A DEI Case Study

8:30 - 11:30 am 

SEMINAR
Medical Sessions
Kathy Engler, DVM Diplomate ABVP
Sponsored by Dechra

  • 8:30 am - Maximizing Topical Therapy in Companion Animal Practice
  • 9:30 am - Canine Otitis Externa: Dx, Management & Success
  • 10:30 am - Managing Canine Hyperadrenocorticism

 

 8:30 - 11:30 am


SEMINAR
Emergency Medicine
Rebekah Mack-Gertig, DVM, DACVIM-SAIM
Sponsored by IDEXX

  • 8:30 am - Clinical Pathology in the Emergency Patient - CBC
  • 9:30 am - Clinical Pathology in the Emergency Patient - Chemistry 
  • 10:30 am - Clinical Pathology in the Emergent Patient - Common Emergent Urinary Disease 

11:30 am - 1 pm    

LUNCH 
(Registered GLVC attendee only; No guests)

1 - 4 pm 

SEMINAR
Medical Sessions
Kathy Engler, DVM Diplomate ABVP 
Sponsored by Dechra

  • 1 pm - Anesthesia Refresher: Don't Forgot the Basics 
  • 2 pm - Zenovation in Sedation: Rethinking What's Possible 
  • 3 pm - So There's No Confusion: It's About the Perfusion! (Fluid Therapy) 

1 - 4 pm  

SEMINAR
Emergency Medicine 
Rebekah Mack-Gertig, DVM, DACVIM-SAIM
Sponsored by IDEXX

  • 1 pm - Imaging: Thorax & Abdomen Emergent Image Findings 
  • 2 pm - Acute Hematologic Disease: IMHA, ITP, Bone Marrow & White Cell 
  • 3 pm - Acute Liver and Kidney Disease 

6 - 9:30 pm
(actual end time subject to 
completion of game)

Social Event/Outing
Traverse City Pit Spitters vs Wisconsin Rapids Rafters Baseball Game 
(Separate registration and fee required)


Tuesday, June 27

7:30 am 

Registration

8:30 - 11:30 am

SEMINAR
Medical Sessions
Kathy Engler, DVM, Diplomate DACVIM
Sponsored by Dechra

  • 8:30 am - Managing and Treating Canine Hypoadrenocorticism 
  • 9:30 am - Verdinexor: A Novel Oral Therapy for Canine Lymphoma 
  • 10:30 am - Impact of Feline Weight Loss 

 8:30 - 11:30 am

SEMINAR
Emergency Medicine 
Rebekah Mack-Gertig, DVM, DACVIM-SAIM
Sponsored by IDEXX

  • 8:30 - Chronic Diseases in the ER - Heart, GI & Kidney
  • 9:30 am - Adrenal Disease Update
  • 10:30 am - Pancreatitis Update


Interested in becoming a sponsor? Contact the MVMA at [email protected] or call (517) 347-4710 for more information