2026 Annual Conference Saturday Agenda

Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday
Conference Home

*The exhibit hall will be open from 7:00 AM - 3:45 PM

 Saturday, August 1st
6:15 AM Yoga
7:00 AM Breakfast | Visit Exhibitors 
8:00 AM

Welcome

Flash Mentoring by MentorVet supported by Chewy
Mariel Hendricks, MVEd, RVTg, FVTE, MentorVet

Business Meeting and AVTE Awards 
8:45 AM

VTNE Results - Panel

Fireside Chat with Andy MacCabe, Global Vice President for Healthcare Education, Mars Veterinary Health
10:30 AM  Break | Visit Exhibitors
10:45 AM - Breakout Sessions 
 Room 1
 Integrating Simulation and Technology for Real-World Readiness

Nick Raimondi, MPH, CVT, New England Institute of Technology
Room 2
 Writing for JAVTE - Learning How and Getting Started
Oreta Samples, BS, MPH, DHSc, FVTE, SUNY Delhi (Retired)
Amanda Hackerott, MS, RVT, Wichita State University 
Room 3
 Academic Integrity in the AI Era: Beyond Turnitin
Dr. Kimberly Focht, DVM, Mesa Community College
11:45 AM

Lunch | SCNAVTA Awards sponsored by NAVTA 

AI in Veterinary Care
Beth Venit, VMD, MPH, DACVPM, Chief Veterinary Officer, American Association of Veterinary State Boards
1:00 PM - Breakout Sessions
 Room 1
 Preparing students to cope within our profession - How to balance their own mental health & wellness
Jamie Rauscher, LVT, National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA)
 Room 2
 Preparing Veterinary Technicians for Ethical Decision-Making: Lessons from Lived Experiences in Practice

Ori Gradeles-Scislowicz, LVT, CPTD, PMP, MHRM, University of North Texas and Patterson Companies
Room 3
 Multimodal Minds in Clinical Learning
Mariel Hendricks, RVTg, MVEd, FVTE, MentorVet

Elizabeth Stark, CVT, BA, FVTE, VetRaft Solutions LLC
2:15 PM Break | Visit Exhibitors
2:30 PM - Breakout Sessions
 Room 1
 Radical Ideas for Improving student engagement: Changing up testing and leveraging student input on course policies

Dennis K. Lopez, M.Ed., LVT, FVTE
Room 2
 Building the Bridge: How Competency-Based Education Creates a Shared Path from Classroom to Clinic

Yvonne Brandenburg, CVT, RVT, VTS (IM-SA), Ethos Veterinary Health
Room 3

Hands-Free Radiology: Teaching Safety, Sustainability, and Real-World Practice in Veterinary Technology Programs
Carolyn Spivock, RVT, VCA 
Mandy Zachgo, LVT, MVEd, FVTE, VCA 
3:30 PM  Break | Visit Exhibitors 
3:45 PM - Breakout Sessions 

Room 1:
FELLOWS ONLY

Pet Food Decoded: Making Sense of Pet Food Labels
Vicky Ograin, MBA, RVT, FVTE, VTS (Nutrition), Hill's Pet Nutrition
Room 2
 Inclusive by Design: Supporting Neurodivergent Learners Through Thoughtful Content

Kim Adams, BS, RVT, LVT, FFCP Elite, LSHC-S, RECOVER-Certified Instructor, QPR-Certified, Ethos Veterinary Health
Room 3

Helping Students Score Higher Under Pressure: Reducing Mistakes and Fighting Anxiety
Claire Jeong, RDH, MS, CleverOrca

6:30 PM - Reception sponsored by PetDesk
Keynote Presentation




*Agenda Subject to Change

Please note:
*All times listed in local time.