Current 3 | Fall Conference

Sarah Gray — BS, DVM, DACVS-LAIM

Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. Sarah Gray is a 2015 graduate of Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Following graduation, she completed an internship at the Retama Equine Hospital in Selma Texas and a surgical and sports medicine internship at Tufts University. Dr. Gray went on to complete an equine surgery residency at the University of Illinois in 2020. During her residency, she focused her research on conditions and surgical procedures of the equine airway including standing arytenoidectomy and a novel tie-back procedure.

After completion of her residency, Dr. Gray worked as a clinical instructor at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. During this time, Dr. Gray passed her boards and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Following her time in Virginia, Dr. Gray served as a Clinical Instructor in Large Animal Emergency and Large Animal Surgery at Purdue University. In 2022, Dr. Gray re-joined the University of Illinois as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Equine Surgery.

Performing and utilizing venograms in equine practice

In this session you will learn how to perform venograms of the equine digit, including supplies, radiographic views, and practicalities. We will discuss which cases might benefit from venograms and go through case examples.

Return to Speakers

Stephanie Sharping — DVM, DVSc, DACVAA

Clinical Associate Professor

Dr. Stephanie Sharping is a board-certified specialist in veterinary anesthesia and pain management. She received her veterinary degree from the Ontario Veterinary College and worked in small animal primary care practice in the Toronto area before returning to the OVC, where she completed her residency and Doctor of Veterinary Science graduate degree in anesthesiology and analgesia.

Dr. Sharping also has an interest in the well-being of laboratory animals and received certification in laboratory animal medicine from the University of Guelph. She spent a few years as an anesthesiologist in private referral practice before joining the anesthesia team at the University of Illinois in 2015.

The Highs and Lows of Opioids

This session is all about opioids! We will discuss the desired and undesired effects of this class of drugs, the range different opioids to choose from, mixing opioids, how and when to reverse opioids, as well as outpatient opioid prescription. This session will fulfill one hour of the Illinois opioid training requirements for veterinary license renewal.

Rethinking Relief: Exploring Non-Opioid Alternatives

In this session, we will explore pharmacologic therapies outside of opioid administration for inpatient and outpatient pain management. This session will fulfill one hour of the Illinois opioid training requirements for veterinary license renewal.

CBD for pain – What’s the latest evidence?

In this session, we will review the latest research evaluating the use of CBD for treating pain in veterinary patients, safety in veterinary medicine and legal implications for veterinarians. This session will fulfill one hour of the Illinois opioids training requirements for veterinary license renewal.

Return to Speakers

Kari Foss — DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology)

Associate Professor

Kari Foss, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology) is an Associate Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Foss earned her veterinary degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Blue Pearl Irvine in Irvine, California. She then moved on to a residency in neurology and neurosurgery at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, while simultaneously earning her master’s degree in veterinary clinical sciences. Dr. Foss is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in the specialty of Neurology.

Dr. Foss has an interest in neuroimaging and how advances in magnetic resonance imaging may improve diagnostic capabilities for diseases such as cancer and epilepsy. She also has an interest in anticonvulsant therapy and has published several pharmacokinetic studies investigating newer anticonvulsants and alternative delivery methods.

When Seizures Escalate: ACVIM Updates on Status Epilepticus and Cluster Seizures

Status epilepticus and cluster seizures represent true neurologic emergencies requiring rapid, evidence-based intervention. This lecture provides a practical, case-oriented update on the management of canine seizure emergencies, highlighting key recommendations from the ACVIM consensus statement.

Emphasis will be placed on treatment algorithms, drug selection and sequencing, and strategies for patients with refractory seizure activity. Attendees will leave with a clear, stepwise approach to stabilizing patients and optimizing both short- and long-term seizure control in clinical practice.

Making the Right Moves: ACVIM Updates on Acute Canine Thoracolumbar IVDD

Type I intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) remains one of the most common neurologic conditions encountered in small animal practice, yet management strategies continue to evolve. This lecture reviews key updates from the ACVIM consensus statement, with a focus on clinical decision-making in real-world practice. Practical guidance will be provided to help clinicians navigate treatment options and optimize outcomes across the spectrum of disease severity.

Pardon our French (Bulldog)

French bulldogs are rapidly becoming a common breed seen in practice. However, these cute little critters have more unique issues regarding respiratory and neurologic conditions. This lecture will focus on more “Frenchie-specific” conditions that may be encountered, in particular in an emergency setting. | Presented with Dr. Clara Moran.

Return to Speakers

Joanna Schmit — DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology)

Medical Oncologist, University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital

Dr. Joanna Schmit is a veterinary medical oncologist at the University of Illinois, where she works within the clinical trials program advancing innovative cancer therapies for animal patients. Dr. Schmit earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota, followed by a residency in medical oncology and a Master of Science degree at the University of Illinois.

Prior to returning to academia, Dr. Schmit spent 10 years in clinical practice, where she developed extensive experience in diagnosing and managing a wide range of oncologic conditions in companion animals. She now plays a key role in the growth of the University of Illinois clinical trials program, helping to expand access to cutting-edge treatments while contributing to the advancement of comparative oncology.

Dr. Schmit’s professional interests include translational cancer research, novel therapeutics, and improving outcomes and quality of life for veterinary cancer patients.

Making sense of cancer screening tests

Understanding what biomarkers are and the information they provide is imperative to a clinician’s understanding of new cancer screening tests hitting the market. Critical evaluation of the tests’ function is dependent on the prevalence of a disease and how rigorous the science is. These shape the usefulness of a biomarker test. When marketing sounds a little too good to be true, it’s time to look at the details.

In this lecture, we will discuss what biomarkers are and how they may be of benefit to cancer detection. We will learn to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity in relation to the prevalence of specific tumor types and discuss current tests on the market. We will also discuss the downsides of these diagnostic tests.

Learning objectives include: Practitioners can list at least three biomarkers, practitioners can critique a diagnostic test based on the disease prevalence, practitioners can describe the value of a screening test and state when it may be of benefit for a case, and practitioners can list three or more pitfalls of biomarkers.

Cytology Workshop with Dr. Matthew Berry (2 Hours)

This interactive workshop, led by Drs. Berry and Schmit, is designed to help general practitioners confidently use cytology to guide real-time clinical decision-making.

The first hour will focus on slide preparation and specimen adequacy, where participants will practice the U of I oncology approach to creating multiple slides from a single aspirate while minimizing cellular damage. Emphasis will be placed on recognizing diagnostic versus non-diagnostic samples and how initial cytologic screening can influence immediate clinical decisions.
The second hour will consist of case-based discussion using digital slides, allowing participants to differentiate inflammatory versus neoplastic processes, recognize key cytologic features, and apply a structured framework to determine when to treat, pursue additional diagnostics, or stage and submit for interpretation. Group discussion will reinforce a practical, repeatable approach that can be immediately applied in everyday practice.

Note: If you are interested in this session, we encourage you to bring a laptop or tablet to allow easy viewing of slide images.

Return to Speakers

Mark Ernst — DVM

State Veterinarian

Born and raised in central Illinois, Dr. Mark Ernst completed his undergraduate coursework at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and earned a D.V.M. from the U. of I. College of Veterinary Medicine in 1984. After spending five years in mixed animal practice in central Illinois, he accepted a position with the Illinois Department of Agriculture as a field veterinarian and foreign animal disease diagnostician.

In 2005, he was appointed state veterinarian and bureau chief of the Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare. He currently serves as the state veterinarian and division manager of food safety and animal protection, which includes the Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare, the Bureau of Meat and Poultry Inspection, and the Egg Inspection Program.

Return to Speakers

Gene Pavlovsky — DVM, DABVP (Canine & Feline Practice)

Chief of Staff, Dr. John A. Coyne South Clinic

Lecturer

Dr. Gene Pavlovsky is a 2003 graduate of Ontario Veterinary College of the University of Guelph (Ontario, Canada). He spent about 17 years in general practice before joining the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine faculty in 2020.

Dr. Pavlovsky serves as the chief of staff for the Dr. John A. Coyne South Clinic, which is part of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, and as head of the Small Animal Primary Care Service. In 2023, he achieved board certification by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in canine and feline practice. His clinical interests lie in behavior, anesthesia/analgesia, management of chronic diseases, and nutrition.

His wife is also a veterinarian who teaches first- and second-year students at the College of Veterinary Medicine. They have three children, two cats, and two dogs.

Psychogenic Polydipsia in Dogs

Polyuria and polydipsia (PU/PD) represent a common clinical presentation in dogs and may result from numerous disorders affecting different body systems. While psychogenic polydipsia (PPD) is relatively common and well described in people, little published information on its pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment exists in dogs.

In veterinary medicine, cases of primary polydipsia for which no other explanation has been found may be labelled as psychogenic, even in the absence of behavioral abnormalities. As such, the terms psychogenic and primary polydipsia are often used interchangeably when diagnostic testing fails to confirm a specific cause.

However, confirmation of primary polydipsia in a dog with PU/PD does not necessarily equate with the PPD diagnosis, and like in humans, PPD in dogs may be a specific category of primary polydipsia disorders. This presentation outlines currently published information on PPD in dogs, diagnostic approach, and treatment recommendations.

Return to Speakers

Canaan Shores — DVM

Instructor

Dr. Canaan Shores graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 2011 and has spent the past 15 years practicing in a variety of clinical settings, including standalone emergency hospitals, large multispecialty referral centers, and primary care. This diverse experience has shaped a pragmatic, efficiency-driven approach to managing acute and urgent presentations.

His time as a primary care clinician has provided a valuable perspective on how urgent care and emergency medicine fit into the broader continuum of patient care, and the critical role primary care veterinarians play in long-term management and continuity of care.

Dr. Shores currently leads the urgent and convenient care service at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital, where he works closely with students and colleagues to deliver high-quality, evidence-based care. His clinical interests include antimicrobial stewardship, comprehensive pain management, effective client communication, and reducing over-treatment by focusing on accurate diagnosis and addressing underlying disease processes. Dr. Shores has a particular interest in common urgent presentations, including conditions such as feline lower urinary tract disease, where thoughtful, evidence-based decision-making is critical.

Pee Is Not the Problem: Rethinking Feline Idiopathic Cystitis

Feline lower urinary tract disease is one of the most common, and frustrating, conditions encountered in small animal practice. This lecture will provide a practical, evidence-based approach to diagnosing and managing cats presenting with lower urinary tract signs, with a primary focus on feline idiopathic cystitis.We’ll navigate the alphabet soup of feline urinary diseases (FLUTD, FIC, UTI, etc.) and, through a concise review of current literature, critically evaluate the wide range of therapeutic approaches used over time. The goal is to translate emerging evidence into practical clinical decision-making, improving case management, enhancing client communication, and reducing over-treatment. Traditional therapies will be assessed alongside newer and emerging options, with an emphasis on addressing underlying disease mechanisms rather than simply managing clinical signs.

Return to Speakers

Stephanie Bruner — DVM, DACVD

Clinical Assistant Professor

Dr. Stephanie Bruner graduated from Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1991 and practiced general small animal medicine for four years before returning to Purdue University to complete one year as a visiting scholar and a three-year residency in comparative dermatology. She has been a board-certified diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology since 1999.

Dr. Bruner practiced for 25 years in private specialty facilities in the midwestern United States, including more than 20 years as the co-owner of a multispecialty hospital. She joined the faculty at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 2024 as a clinical assistant professor of dermatology, focusing on teaching future veterinarians to be compassionate, critical thinkers.

An enthusiastic clinician who loves talking about the body’s largest and most impressive organ, Dr. Bruner’s favorite conversations are with pet owners and their veterinarians as they collaborate to create customized treatment programs for their very special patients.

Building a Better Sundae: A Multimodal Approach to Canine Atopic Dermatitis

As our understanding of Canine Atopic Dermatitis deepens and more treatment options enter the veterinary market, our confusion regarding what to use and when to use it increases. This conversation will include how to utilize multimodal therapeutic plans to personalize our patients’ care and improve their quality of life in both acute flare and long-term management situations.

Participants will share how to “build a better sundae” that addresses the individualized needs of CAD patients, including new developments in topical therapies, nutritional management, and systemic immunomodulation. Sadly, no ice cream will be served.

From Ear to Eternity: Battling Pseudomonas Otitis Externa in Dogs

Pseudomonas otitis is the enemy you can smell before it enters the room. It is a worthy foe with a full armory of weapons: antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation, structural damage to the ear, and progression to otitis media/interna, just to name a few. Participants in this presentation will discuss the “how” and “why” of chronic otitis as well as current and creative strategies to defeat this malodorous opponent using both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic munitions.

To Feed or Not to Feed: That is the Question

With the advent of more knowledge about the etiology and pathogenesis of food allergies and the promotion of more options for testing and diet trials comes more confusion. Join us as we wade through the ocean of information to determine how, why, and when to diagnose food allergies in dogs and cats in this changing environment.

From clinical signs through food trials and tests available in the near future, this will be a practical guide to identifying and managing food allergic patients with dermatologic changes.

Return to Speakers

Santiago Gutierrez-Nibeyro — DVM, MS, DACVS-LA, DACVSMR-EQ

Clinical Professor

Dr. Santiago Gutierrez-Nibeyro’s clinical interests center on arthroscopic surgery, advanced intra-articular therapies, early detection and prevention of equine sports-related injuries, and the integration of physical and rehabilitative therapies. His research and scholarly work focus on the development and application of sensitive diagnostic techniques for key musculoskeletal disorders, with particular emphasis on conditions affecting the equine foot.

What’s New in Equine Osteoarthritis?

I will provide an overview of recent advances in the understanding, diagnosis, and management of osteoarthritis in horses. The talk will highlight emerging therapeutics, updates in biologic treatments, and current perspectives on disease-modifying strategies aimed at improving long-term outcomes and performance.

Return to Speakers

Ben Sykes — DVM, MS, DACVIM-LAIM

Director, BW Sykes Consultancy

Dr. Ben Sykes is a leading equine clinical researcher, ranked by Stanford University in the top 2% of veterinary scientists for the past three years. He is the lead author of the 2015 EGUS Consensus Statement and its planned 2026 update.

When not doing nerdy stuff, he likes hiking in weird and wonderful places like Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, and California.

Can all behavioral problems be blamed on EGUS?

Ulcers are commonly blamed for horses’ “bad” behavior, but this is not supported by the current body of evidence. This talk discusses a range of other differentials and a diagnostic approach to the horse with a behavioral problem.

An update on EGUS treatment options

New treatment options for EGUS have recently hit the market. But with new treatment options come new challenges. This talk will take an evidence-based approach to the topic of drug selection for the treatment of EGUS.

EGUS prevention beyond free choice hay and no carbs:

Free choice hay and no carbs have been standard recommendations for EGUS management for 20 years. Yet, the prevalence of disease appears to have changed little. This talk discusses the nuances of GUS prevention in a practical “tool-kit” approach.

Managing refractory EGGD

Refractory EGGD is a common clinical challenge, with treatment success rates only around 60%. This talk will discuss management of the refractory EGGD case, moving beyond a “treatment” approach to a long-term “management” approach.

Return to Speakers