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Happenings: MVMA People and Events

Happenings... MVMA PEOPLE & EVENTS

MVMA Offers Many Ways to “Stay in the Game” at the 131st Annual Convention

The MVMA Convention Planning Committee is encouraging you to stay in the game by advancing your knowledge and skills while networking with fellow members. This year’s meeting will be held January 26-29, 2023 at the Holiday Inn Executive Center, Columbia, Mo. The convention will offer our members, their families, students and practice staff a weekend of the best in education, friendship and fun. As in past years, you can build your own program. The convention will offer an option to register for any day or days you want to attend, or register for the entire fourday event.You attend the days you want to attend. Thursday seminars include a variety of topics including Ophthalmology; recognition and management of equine malnourishment; various food-animal topics; pathology; feline and canine precision medicine, etc. In addition, there is Missouri Stocker/Feeder Quality Assurance Certification and the MVMA Academy Mini-Topics Seminar packed with short, informative presentations on a variety of subjects. Furthermore, Thursday is packed with committee meetings, and meetings of the MVMA Executive Board and the Foundation Board. Full registration (Thursday-Sunday) encompasses 24 contiguous CE hours across multiple tracks covering companion animal, food animal, equine, soft skills, special interest, practice management and labs. See the schedule of continuing education programs included in the convention registration booklet. Again this year... The registration booklet will be mailed inside the winter issue of the Missouri Veterinary Quarterly Magazine in November. Online convention information and online registration coming soon at www.movmaconvention.com At the convention, don’t forget to drop by the Exhibit Hall where over 60 vendors will show you the latest innovations and programs in veterinary medicine, and a chance of winning one or more of many door prizes. Win or lose, you don’t want to miss the fun and excitement at the Foundation Reception and Drawing. Admission is free to all (no purchase required) but Silent Auction and 50/50 participation is appreciated. Hors d’oeuvres will be served. Be sure to purchase your ticket for a chance to win $10,000 and many other cash prizes. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased through the registration form, on our website or by calling the office at 573-636-8737. You need not be present to win. The drawing will take place during the Reception. Support your Foundation by purchasing a ticket. Purchase a ticket by December 15 to be eligible for the Early Bird Drawing. During the same evening, the Foundation also holds a silent and a live auction. If you have items you wish to donate for this auction, it would be very much appreciated. Please call 573-636-8737 to make arrangements for pick-up or drop-off. Something special: On Saturday, MU-CVM recent graduates are invited to a reception/ forum to network and share experiences with each other. Later on Saturday, DVM students are invited to gather for a mixer to ask questions of early-career veterinarians. The MVMA holds its Annual General Membership Meeting and Breakfast on Saturday morning with additional continuing education workshops throughout the day. For Veterinary Technicians and Practice Staff: Throughout the weekend, veterinary technicians will have the ability to attend the same continuing education sessions as veterinarians. Also, a technician/practice staff reception is planned for Saturday with lots of swag from Hill’s Pet Nutrition. On Friday, you’ll want to attend the Veterinary Business Management Association/MVMA Student-Vet Networking event. CVM students and veterinarians meet and greet to match up for mentorship, preceptorships, and contacts for future post-graduation employment. An opportunity for an all-around win-win. The MVMA welcomes Gary Pinkel as our keynote speaker at the General Membership Session Saturday morning.

Gary Pinkel was born in Akron, Ohio — the same state he’d begin his coaching career two decades later. At Kent State, he played with Alabama head coach Nick Saban. His first head-coaching job was at the University of Toledo in 1991. There, he holds the record with the most wins in school history (73-37-3) and was voted MAC Coach of the Year in ’95. Pinkel’s next — and final stop — would be in Columbia, Missouri, where he took over a program with just one 10-win season in school history and two winning seasons in the previous 17 years. As the head coach at the University of Missouri from 2001-15, Pinkel lead the Tigers to five 10-win or more seasons, ten winning seasons, and earned the most wins in MU history at 118-73. Since retirement, Pinkel heads up the GP M.A.D.E Foundation. The non-profit organization supports children battling leukemia or lymphoma; children facing physical challenges; and children working to overcome socioeconomic challenges.

Many MVMA members come to the MVMA Convention planning to “refill their bucket”. Not only can you expect this to happen during Coach Pinkel’s address but every year the Saturday evening’s events are the highlight of the weekend. Start out with an MVMA members reception where stories and laughter are shared across the room followed by the infamous MVMA Awards Ceremony where presentations are made to highlight some of the unsung heroes in the profession. Stick around after the awards ceremony for fellowship with family, friends, and colleagues. A meal is available with a purchased ticket but not required for the awards presentations. Sunday continues with the MVMA/MU-CVM Breakfast With the College and another half-day of lectures and labs.

Gary Pinkel

MVMA Introduces Itself to Incoming MU-CVM Students

In August the incoming class of 2026 at the College of Veterinary Medicine had several web meetings, one of which was an introduction to the MVMA. Dr. Brittany Kennedy, co-chair to the MVMA Early Career Task Force, encouraged the new class to learn about organized veterinary medicine and take part in being a member of the MVMA. Julie Braun, MVMA executive director, reinforced the importance of organized veterinary medicine with the multitude of efforts made on behalf of the veterinary profession, due to the membership and volunteers of the MVMA. In addition, MU CVM Veterinary Enrichment Training (V.E.T.) is an event for the incoming class to relax and get to know each other as a group that will spend a lot of time together over the next four years. Dr. Shelia Taylor, MVMA secretary/treasurer, and Julie Braun, attended the event to interact with and encourage the new class to ask questions and join the MVMA as a collegiate student. Student membership is complimentary for five years and reduced for an additional three years.

Dr. Shelia Taylor (standing center) speaks to students about the benefits of joining the MVMA during the MU-CVM Enrichment Training event.

In Memory

Theodore J. Mertens, DVM

Brodhead, Wis. Passed Away: July 21, 2022 Survived by his wife, Barbara and son, Jason.

Eugene A. “Doc” Miekley, DVM

Columbia, Mo. Passed Away: June 20, 2022 Survived by his wife Frankie; daughters, Sara and Rebecca, and son, Kevin.

MVMA Holds Annual Summer Equine Seminar

The MVMA held its annual Summer Equine Seminar on Sunday, June 26, 2022 at the University of Missouri-College of Veterinary Medicine, Adams Conference Center in Columbia, Mo. Twenty members attended the conference which was presented by the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association Equine Committee. Speakers included Elizabeth Giuliano, DVM, MS, DACVO and Lynn Martin, DVM, MPH, DACVIM. Dr. Giuliano is a tenured Professor of the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery at the University of Missouri and Section Chief of their comparative ophthalmology service. Dr. Martin is currently an Assistant Teaching Professor of Equine Internal Medicine in the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery at the University of Missouri. The seminar highighted a variety of ophthalmology presentations including: Practical Treatment Pearls in Equine Ophthalmology; Looking Beyond the Eye: Providing and monitoring systemic medical therapy; Equine Acquired Corneal Disease; and Sedation Protocols.

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