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September 27-29, 2007
More than 190 equine practitioners from Florida met Sept. 27-29 at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island, the
Bahamas, for the 3rd annual Florida Association of Equine Practitioners (FAEP) Promoting Excellence Symposium.
Veterinarians who attended presentations at the event came away with 18 hours of continuing education credit and new knowledge of current topics in equine reproduction and lameness. Many of the presenters encouraged dialogue, with speakers questioning attendees on what steps they would take to diagnose and manage horses presented as case studies.
Despite the proximity of warm Caribbean waters, seminars were well-attended for the duration of the conference.
“They got excellent speakers—probably the best they’ve ever had—and there’s something for everybody,” said attendee Anne Moretta, VMD, of Maroche Equine Clinic. “Reproductive, sports medicine—we’re all happy.”
FAEP Members honored Alfred M. Merritt, DVM, MS, Appleton Professor of Equine Studies and retired Director of the Island Whirl Equine Colic Research Laboratory at the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine with the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Presenter Clark said of Merritt at the awards dinner: “There probably isn’t a person or practitioner at this meeting whose life has not been touched by Dr. Merritt.” She noted that she has called upon her former teacher within the last year for guidance on difficult cases.
“It is absolutely amazing—I’m totally overwhelmed,” Merritt said, upon receiving the award. “When you’re in the thick of things you sometimes wonder what kind of impact you’re going to have—this evening answers that concern for me.”
The FAEP will host the 2008 Promoting Excellence Symposium in Puerto Rico Sept. 25-27. The 2008 Symposium will offer 30 hours of CE credit, with a focus on reproduction, lameness, and medicine (emphasis on ophthalmology). The group will also be adding a second symposium to the 2008 roster, with an event designed to address the needs of the solo practitioner planned for July or August, exact date to be determined.
2008 Symposium Volunteers
FAEP Executive Director Rhicco Rentas
and Volunteer Coordinator Suzy Diaz
2007 Fishing Tournament Winner
The 2007 FAEP Promoting Excellence Symposium was sponsored by Adequan I.M., Bayer Animal Health, Fort Dodge, and Surpass.
Look for coverage of the presentations offered at this meeting on TheHorse.com and in an upcoming issue of The Horse: Your Guide To Equine Health Care.
2007 - 2008 FAEP Board of Directors
Saturday, October 13, 2007
UF Student Appreciation Day
On Saturday, October 13, 2007 the FAEP hosted a Student Appreciation Day for veterinary students with an equine interest currently attending the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. The students were picked up from the UF College of Veterinary Medicine and then divided into three groups for the remainder of the day’s activities. Each group proceeded to one of three Ocala equine veterinary practices that graciously agreed to provide hands-on experience for the veterinary students.
Equine Medical Center of Ocala
With specialists in reproduction, surgery, and internal medicine, Equine Medical Center of Ocala offered a thorough review of diagnostic imaging for the UF veterinary students involved in today’s activities. Both UF graduates (Dr. Patrick Worden and Dr. Lisa Hinder) and former UF residents (Dr. Rob Franklin – medicine and Dr. Aric Adams – surgery), as well as a host of general practitioners complete the veterinary staff at this state-of-the-art equine hospital. Both ultrasound and radiography techniques were reviewed during the students’ visit at this private practice.
At EquiTransfer, a leading equine veterinary reproduction and embryo transfer facility, students were able to enhance their rectal palpation skills. A UF graduate himself, practice-owner Dr. José R. Dávila provided mares on which students were able to review the anatomy of the caudal abdomen by rectal palpation.
Saturday’s Student Appreciation Day, hosted by the FAEP, and graciously supported by
and the Ocala veterinary community, provided students with incredible hands-on opportunities that are invaluable to developing specific skills in rectal palpation, musculoskeletal diagnostics and imaging with ultrasound and radiography. The FAEP is excited to have been able to offer this opportunity to UF students and it is our hope that this will become an annual offering that every student will enjoy.
October 20, 2007
(One Day Lab)
The FAEP was proud to present our most comprehensive, hands-on educational event yet, the 2007 Equine Reproduction Wet Lab. This program featured a small-group setting with leading instructors from equine practices around the states. Each lab was designed for maximum participation resulting in an unsurpassable learning experience.
The FAEP wet lab was held at EquiTransfer, a leading US-based equine embryo transfer facility
Hysteroscopic and Deep Horn Insemination
Juan C. Samper DVM, PhD Diplomate A.C.T.
Breeding Soundness Exam
Michelle M. LeBlanc, DVM, Dipl. ACT
Equine Fetal Sex Determination Between 55 Days and 150 Days of Gestation
Richard Holder DVM
Ultrasounding Foals- Lungs and Umbilical Cords
Rob Franklin, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM
FAEP LUNCH AND COCKTAIL RECEPTION
COCKTAIL RECEPTION
2007 Wet-Lab Sponsors
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2007 FAEP Scholarship Recipient
Erin Sellers Newkirk, DVM
Erin Sellers Newkirk is a Florida native and was raised in rural north Florida before moving south to Jupiter for high school. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Oglethorpe University Atlanta, Georgia in 2003. She then went on to graduate magna cum laude with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Florida in May 2007. During her four years at the University of Florida, she participated in research on equine placentitis, held multiple leadership positions, and presented case studies in competition at the Annual Conference of the Society for Theriogenology in 2005 and 2006. She is currently interning at Byron Reid & Associates in Loxahatchee with interests in theriogenology, equine internal medicine and neonatology. She hopes to pursue a residency in either theriogenology or internal medicine following the completion of her internship.
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