9 a.m. | Fall Conference

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.

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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.

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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.

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Judilee Marrow – DVM, DACZM

Clinical Assistant Professor

Judilee Marrow, DVM, DACZM, is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Zoological Medicine at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Illinois, followed by a small animal rotating internship and specialized internships and residency training in exotics, wildlife, and zoo animal medicine, including a zoological medicine residency at Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park. Dr. Marrow is a board-certified diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine and has held staff veterinarian positions at major accredited zoos prior to joining academia. She is an internationally invited speaker and educator, with clinical, teaching, and research interests spanning zoological companion animals, dentistry, anesthesia, radiology, and evidence-based veterinary care across diverse taxa.

Backyard Poultry Basics

Backyard Poultry Basics provides a practical, case-based approach to the evaluation and management of common health problems encountered in backyard poultry. This lecture emphasizes effective history-taking, hands-on physical examination, diagnostic decision-making, and treatment considerations unique to chickens as food-producing animals. Attendees will review common presentations—including reproductive disease, trauma, parasitism, pododermatitis, diarrhea, ocular disease, and Marek’s disease—while gaining guidance on regulatory considerations, client education, and flock-level health management.

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