The annual NAVC Institute in Orlando, Florida, is now open for registration. Scheduled for July 26 to 31, this multiday, hands-on educational opportunity will offer 8 sessions that will immerse veterinary professionals in intense training. Today’s Veterinary Practice talked with David F. Senior, BVSc, Diplomate ACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine) & ECVIM (Companion Animal), about what the NAVC Institute will bring to the table in 2015.
What makes the NAVC Institute a unique experience and sets it apart from other continuing education opportunities for veterinarians seeking to expand their education and improve their skills?
Often, continuing education is obtained piecemeal with an hour here and an hour there, giving participants less chance for a more in-depth understanding of a field. By presenting topics in a 4-day format, the NAVC Institute allows veterinarians to gain more comprehensive knowledge of a discipline. The combined “Lecture/Hands-on Lab” format brings registrants to the mastery level, allowing them to immediately incorporate their new skills into practice.
How did you become involved with the NAVC Institute?
My role at the NAVC is to organize and coordinate NAVC Hands-on Labs, which are such a large component of the Institute. Even though the Institute only features 8 courses, the density of practical learning is such that there are almost as many labs staged at the Institute as at the annual NAVC Conference.
Regarding the NAVC Institute 2015, what educational experiences and approaches will be offered that are new or different from what the Institute has presented in previous years?
In addition to the ever popular Ultrasound, Soft Tissue Surgery, and Behavior courses, the NAVC Institute 2015 introduces courses in the following:
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Hematology, Oncology, and Cytology
- Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Therapy
- Feline Medicine
Also, for the first time, the NAVC has partnered with the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners to present a Board Examination Review in the focused Institute setting.
For both new and returning attendees, what is the best way to make the most out of attending the NAVC Institute?
Although it is a great idea to take advantage of the wealth of destinations for tourism and leisure in the Central Florida/Orlando region, we recommend that between July 26 and 30, attendees avoid scheduling side trips, outside meetings, and theme park visits to better focus on the unique NAVC Institute learning environment. Registrants should prepare themselves for a total immersion experience, and recreational activities can easily be scheduled for either before or after course dates.
Jeremy Bachtel, DVM, a past NAVC Institute lab instructor and dermatology resident at Colorado State University, summed it up like this: “The NAVC Institute provides hands-on training in the latest techniques that you can bring straight back to your clinic. The labs are a great way to work side by side with veterinary specialists in a variety of fields, whose years of specialty experience enable them to share with you strategies and techniques that are not necessarily found in a textbook.”
List of NAVC Institute 2015 Courses
- ABVP Specialty and Recertification Examination
Preparation - Canine Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation
- Clinical Behavior: Getting Answers to Your Cases
- Feline Medicine: Finessing the Feline
- Oncology, Cytology & Hematology in Your
Practice - Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
- Practical Techniques in Soft-Tissue Surgery
- Small Animal Ultrasound
For more information, visit navc.com/institute/navc-institute-2015.
Can’t attend the NAVC Institute 2015?
Stay tuned for the return of our column, Practical Techniques from the NAVC Institute, in which the excellent education provided at the Institute is brought to the readers of Today’s Veterinary Practice.