The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine will host its 52nd Annual Veterinary Conference and Alumni Weekend on March 27-28 at the UGA Center for Continuing Education. 

College alumni, veterinarians and veterinary technicians interested in receiving continuing education credits are invited to attend. In addition, honors will be awarded to distinguished alumni who have led accomplished careers in veterinary medicine.

This year’s keynote speaker is Hayley Murphy, director of veterinary services for Zoo Atlanta, who will discuss the Great Ape Heart Project, a multi-institutional effort aimed at investigating, diagnosing and treating cardiac disease in apes living in zoological settings. 

Other presentations include:

• “Cushings Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment—What is the Latest?” presented by Cynthia Ward, a professor of internal medicine and the chief medical officer for small animal services at the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital

• “Heartworm Resistance: Fact or Fiction?” presented by Ray Kaplan, a professor of infectious diseases in the college

• Two sessions on diabetes: Treating diabetes in small animals and helping owners care for their pets, presented by Andrew Bugbee, a clinical assistant professor of internal medicine in the college

• Multiple sessions on radiography, including thoracic radiography, abdominal radiography and a session on the value of high-quality foot radiographs in large animals, presented by members of the college’s diagnostic imaging faculty.

• Multiple sessions on backyard chickens, including information about general care, biosecurity and common diseases, presented by Cheryl Greenacre, an associate professor of avian and zoological medicine with the University of Tennessee’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Two sessions will be offered Saturday from 8-9:50 a.m. as continuing education credits toward the Georgia laws, rules and professionalism requirement. The sessions on “Compounding Drugs—Should You or Shouldn’t You?” and “Non-Economic Damages—Be Careful What You Ask For” will be presented by Stan Baker, a 2008 graduate of the college and an attorney on the animal health team at Husch Blackwell. 

Full attendance of the Saturday morning sessions fulfills the Georgia laws, rules and professionalism requirement for continuing education credits. Those who wish to attend only these sessions may do so for a $40 registration fee; those who attend the full conference may attend this session at no extra charge.

The annual conference also provides training specifically for veterinary technicians. The 12th Annual GVTAA Technician Continuing Education Conference will be held March 28 at the Georgia Center. For more information on this portion of the conference, contact Lynn Reece at [email protected], or Melissa Kilpatrick at [email protected]. 

Information about the speakers, hotel, sessions and online registration are available on the conference website at vet.uga.edu/reunion/. 

Registration forms for both conferences must be filled out online, received by fax or postmarked by March 6 at 5 p.m. to avoid a $50 late fee. Cancellations must be made by March 16 at 5 p.m. in order to receive a refund. 

Sponsors of the 52nd Annual Veterinary Conference and Alumni Weekend include Zoetis, Purina Veterinary Diets, Vetinsure, Nutramax Laboratories Inc., Simmons Inc. Veterinary Practice Sales and Appraisals, Elanco, Companion Therapy Laser, Choice Medical Systems Inc., Pharmaceutical Specialties Inc., VPI, MDS Inc. and Blue Ridge X-Ray.