Category: 2026

Assistant Professor

Michelle Borsdorf earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Saskatchewan Western College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed specialty training, including a residency at North Carolina State University, and became board certified by the American College of Zoological Medicine in 2020 with a specialty in zoological companion animals. Dr. Borsdorf joined the University of Illinois in October 2022 as a Clinical Assistant Professor. She currently serves as head of the Zoological Medicine Service, providing veterinary care for zoological species with a particular focus on client-owned zoological companion animals.

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Rabbit GI Stasis Syndrome

This session aims to strengthen clinicians’ ability to diagnose rabbit GI stasis syndrome, identify underlying causes and prognostic indicators, and determine when diagnostic testing or hospitalization is warranted. It also reviews appropriate treatment strategies, including fluid therapy, assisted feeding, and analgesia, incorporating pertinent literature to support evidence-based management.

Spaying Exotic Companion Mammals

This session will review the reproductive anatomy of common exotic companion mammals and discuss indications and surgical approaches for elective and medically indicated spay procedures. The session will cover ovariohysterectomy (OVH) and ovariectomy (OVE), with emphasis on key anatomical considerations, surgical planning, and practical techniques for female exotic companion mammals.

Assistant Professor

Dr. Katie Gane graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2017. After several years working in first-opinion and emergency practice, she completed an Emergency & Critical Care Internship at University College Dublin in 2022, followed by an Emergency & Critical Care residency at Dick White Referrals in Cambridge. She became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in 2025. Dr. Gane joined the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 2025, where she
is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor of Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care. Her clinical interests include transfusion medicine, respiratory emergencies, and the education of veterinary professionals, students, and pet owners. She is passionate about delivering practical, evidence-based teaching and improving communication around complex emergency and critical care decisions.

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Red, White but Never Blue – the Colors of the Bleeding Patient

This session will provide a practical approach to managing the bleeding patient, focusing on assessing when transfusion is indicated, selecting the most appropriate blood product for each patient, and understanding the principles of compatibility testing. The session will also cover practical aspects of blood product administration, including component therapy, massive transfusion protocols, and provide evidence-based guidance on recognizing and managing transfusion reactions in veterinary patients.

Assistant Professor

Dr. Sosa-Higareda graduated veterinary school from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, followed by a specialized training in zoological and wildlife medicine. She then completed an avian internship at the University of Minnesota’s Raptor Center, a small animal rotating internship in New York City, and a residency in zoological companion animal medicine followed by a post-doctoral research fellowship at UC Davis performing clinical research on bearded dragons and axolotls. She became a diplomat of the American college of zoological medicine in 2025, She is currently an assistant professor in zoological medicine at University of Illinois, where her research focus is in herpetological and avian medicine.

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Liver Lobe Torsion in Rabbits

Liver lobe torsion is a relatively common emergency in rabbits that can be difficult to recognize and treat. This presentation reviews the clinical presentation, diagnostic approach, and current treatment options to provide practitioners with guidance for managing these cases.

Lecturer

Clara Moran, DVM, MS, DACVS-SA, grew up in Savannah, Georgia, and attended UGA for undergraduate studies and veterinary school. After graduating she moved to Urbana, Illinois to begin a rotating internship at the University of Illinois, then stayed on for a surgical residency. After completing her residency and achieving board certification in 2018, she took a position at U of I as a surgical instructor, and remains at the university as a lecturer today.

Dr. Moran has a passion for soft tissue surgery in particular, and loves teaching people of all skill levels how to take their abilities further. In her free time she loves hiking, hunting for wild mushrooms, reading, and hanging out with her three cats.  

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Pardon Our French

This session provides an overview of some of the most common health problems affecting the USA’s current most popular breed- the French bulldog! Presented in tandem by a surgeon and a neurologist, each specialist provides an overview of the problems they perceive as most important to the breed, discussing their management and prognosis.