The 2026 ABVP Symposium

Christine Klippen, Libby Ramirez
Date/Time: Thursday, April 9, 1:00 – 6:00 PM
Location: Marina I
Price: $550
Registration Type(s): ABVP Member Diplomate, ABVP Non-Member Diplomate, ABVP Applicant or Candidate, General Veterinarian, ABVS-Recognized Internship or Residency Specialty Program, Technician, Veterinary Student (DVM or Technician), New DVM Graduate
Description: This newly revised hands-on certification workshop is designed to sharpen your CPR skills in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) so you’ll be ready when seconds matter most. In small-group settings, you’ll train with canine CPR mannequins and veterinary-specific simulation software, practicing lifesaving techniques in realistic arrest scenarios under the guidance of experienced instructors. Developed by more than 100 veterinary specialists, the RECOVER initiative ensures your training follows the most current, evidence-based CPR guidelines. Workshop Highlights 6 hours of hands-on training with simulation-based assessment. Certification: Digital certificate and RECOVER BLS & ALS Rescuer badges. Professional benefits: Access to RECOVER resources and eligibility to pursue RECOVER Instructor certification. Extras included: Small-group training and a box lunch (because even the best rescuers can’t run on caffeine alone). Prerequisite learning: Paid access to RECOVER online BLS/ALS modules is included if you need to take or renew them (must hold current BLS/ALS certificates to attend the workshop).

Stacey Leonatti Wilkinson & Dan Johnson
Date/Time: Thursday, April 9, 1:00 – 4:50 PM
Location: Marina II
Price: $550
Registration Type(s): ABVP Member Diplomate, ABVP Non-Member Diplomate, ABVP Applicant or Candidate, General Veterinarian, ABVS-Recognized Internship or Residency Specialty Program, Technician, New DVM Graduate
Description: Endotracheal intubation provides airway control and improves patient safety. However, small exotic mammals – especially rabbits and rodents – can seem nearly impossible to intubate. Lab participants will learn how to overcome these obstacles to intubation. Didactic lecture will be followed by on-screen demonstration of rabbit/rodent glottal anatomy and various blind and visual intubation techniques including blind intubation with and without a tracheal guide (catheter or wire), direct visual intubation using laryngoscope or otoscope, side-by-side intubation with the aid of an endoscope, and over-the-endoscope intubation. Participants will then practice these on rabbit cadavers and a variety of other small exotic mammal cadavers.

Vanessa Aberman
Date/Time: Thursday, April 9, 1:00 – 4:50 PM
Location: Marina II
Price: $450
Registration Type(s): ABVP Member Diplomate, ABVP Non-Member Diplomate, ABVP Applicant or Candidate, General Veterinarian, ABVS-Recognized Internship or Residency Specialty Program, New DVM Graduate
Description: TBA

Gregory Lisciandro
Date/Time: Thursday, April 9, 1:00 – 4:50 PM
Location: Marina IV
Price: $295
Registration Type(s): ABVP Member Diplomate, ABVP Non-Member Diplomate, ABVP Applicant or Candidate, General Veterinarian, ABVS-Recognized Internship or Residency Specialty Program, New DVM Graduate
Description: This hands-on workshop (HOW) will teach the US-guided skills of centering the region of interest, proper probe and needle orientation for US-guided procedures, in- and out-of-plane techniques and the following procedures: fine needle aspiration biopsy; understanding the modified Seldinger technique for vascular access, low profile thoracostomy stubes; autotransfusion; and the “3” centesis procedures – abdominocentesis, thoracocentesis, and pericardiocentesis.

Brittany Stevens
Date/Time: Thursday, April 9, 1:00 – 4:50 PM
Location: Offsite; Transportation provided
Price: $425
Registration Type(s): ABVP Member Diplomate, ABVP Non-Member Diplomate, ABVP Applicant or Candidate, General Veterinarian, ABVS-Recognized Internship or Residency Specialty Program, Technician, New DVM Graduate
Description: The laboratory will be arranged in four main stations through which participants will rotate. At Station 1 participants will learn how to perform complete fish physical examinations including gill biopsies and mucous scrapings on cadaver fish to investigate for parasites. At Station 2 participants will have the opportunity to practice phlebotomy techniques on cadaver fish. Station 3 will consist of small group demonstrations on how to perform ultrasonography on cadaver fish. Finally, participants will also have the opportunity to become familiar with fish anatomy by performing necropsies on cadaver fish.

Duncan Midgley
Date/Time: Saturday, April 11, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Location: Offsite; Transportation provided
Price: $1,595
Registration Type(s): ABVP Member Diplomate, ABVP Non-Member Diplomate, ABVP Applicant or Candidate, General Veterinarian, ABVS-Recognized Internship or Residency Specialty Program, New DVM Graduate

Pre-requisite: You must attend the two (2) hours in the TPLO track on Friday afternoon

Course Objectives:

To understand the biomechanics of the cruciate ligament deficient stifle and tibial plateau levelling osteotomy
To understand patient assessment and the selection of candidates for TPLO
To understand pre-operative surgical planning and implant selection
To develop familiarization with and appropriate use of instrumentation
To understand the post-operative management of patients
To identify potential complications and how to avoid and deal with them
To learn and practice the surgical technique taught in a dry lab and wet lab

Start time off-site is 9:30 AM. Buses will depart the hotel no later than 8:15 AM to arrive at the off-site facility. The workshop will end at 4:30 PM, and buses will return to the Westin Boston Seaport District.

Gregory Lisciandrdo
Date/Time: Sunday, April 12, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Webster
Price: $895
Registration Type(s): ABVP Member Diplomate, ABVP Non-Member Diplomate, ABVP Applicant or Candidate, General Veterinarian, ABVS-Recognized Internship or Residency Specialty Program, New DVM Graduate
Description: This hands-on workshop (HOW) will teach the image acquisition of Global FAST® Point-of-care Ultrasound. Global FAST® is a standardized ultrasound examination that includes AFAST® (abdomen), TFAST® (thorax), and Vet BLUE® (lung) combined as a single point-of-care ultrasound format used as an extension of the physical exam. This low impact (no shaving, right lateral and standing position), first-line imaging, exceeds the information acquired on plain radiography, and serves as the initial imaging test of choice for most patients. The scanning workshop also includes imaging pearls, use of calipers and color flow Doppler, fundamental TFAST® echocardiography including the EPIC Guideline cardiac measurements. Clinical applications of each of these formats are presented on Friday in the POCUS Track including AFAST® and its target-organ approach, its abdominal fluid scoring system, the focused spleen and the characterization of the caudal vena cava and hepatic veins; TFAST and its rules for accurately detecting pericardial and pleural effusion, pneumothorax, and fundamental echocardiography (including EPIC Guideline Measurements); and Vet BLUE® and its unique regional, pattern-based approach, its B-line scoring system, its inherent severity scoring system, and its visual lung language including its signs of consolidation of Shred, Tissue, Nodule, and Wedge Signs.

This year’s celebration of new Diplomates will take place Saturday, April 11, 2026, onsite at the hotel. Tickets to this annual event are $125.