IAAHPC 2026 VIRTUAL CONFERENCE PROGRAM GUIDE
September 25-27, 2026 Live Online with 30 Days of On-Demand Access
#IAAHPC2026 1
WELCOME LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT Welcome to the 2026 IAAHPC Virtual Conference. It is my honour to welcome you to this global gathering of veterinary professionals, technicians, caregivers, educators, advocates, and industry partners who share a commitment to advancing animal hospice and palliative care. This year's conference, Innovate with Intention, reflects where our profession stands today. We are embracing new ideas, new technologies, and new opportunities while remaining grounded in what matters most: compassionate, patient-centered care for animals and the people who love them. Over three days, we will explore topics ranging from pain management, palliative care techniques, and geriatrics to communication, ethics, exotics, emerging technologies, and end-oflife care. Together, we will learn from experts, celebrate certification achievements, honour those who have advanced our field, and strengthen the connections that make this community so special. The growth of animal hospice and palliative care is a testament to the dedication of professionals around the world who strive every day to improve quality of life, support families through difficult decisions, and bring comfort when it is needed most. Thank you for being part of this journey. We are delighted you will join us and look forward to learning, growing, and innovating together.
Dr. Maja Redfern President, IAAHPC
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CONFERENCE SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 TIME
END OF LIFE AND EUTHANASIA
COMMUNICATION AND CLIENT SUPPORT
COMPLEX CASES
8:00-8:15 AM E
Welcome and Opening Remarks
8: 15 AM9:15 AM EST
KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Dr. ANDY ROARK Creating the Practice You Want in an Uncertain World
9:15 AM10:15 AM EST
Opening Plenary: International Animal Hospice and Palliative Care in Practice: An Overview of the 2026 IAAHPC Guidelines (Carmack)
10:15-10:30 AM EST
Breakfast with Our Sponsors
10:30-11:30 AM EST
The Latest in Companion Animal Euthanasia Research: A Review to Keep You Current in 2026 (Cooney)
Pet Owner Experiences of Companion Animal End of Life Care: Implications for Veterinary Communication and Practice (Kogan)
Palliative Pivot: Rethinking Common Endocrinopathy Management in End of Life Care (Durocher-Babek)
11:30 AM12:30 PM EST
Euthanasia Decision Criteria: A Proposed New Model for Vet/Client Conversations (Cooney)
Current Grief Theory: Updating How We Help (Frank, R.)
Conquering Complex Cases and Comorbidities (Senestraro)
LUNCH BREAK
1:00-2:00 PM EST
2:00-3:00 PM EST
Types of Diseases and Which Sedatives to Use for the Most Peaceful Euthanasia (Anschultz)
"Tell Me What You Would Do, Doctor": Intentional Communication in End-of-Life Decision-Making with Taiwanese Pet Owners (Kim)
Retrospective Study of Oncology Treatments versus Palliative Care in Cats with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (Laganga)
Death During a Dire Emergency (Rudloff)
Understanding Attachment, Past Loss, and Grief: Supporting Pet Guardians Through the End-ofLife Journey (Mäkinen)
The Science Behind the Hype: Practical, Evidence-Informed Use of Cannabinoids in Veterinary Medicine (Chamberlain)
BREAK TIME WITH SPONSORS
3:15-4:15 PM EST
Comfort Care Consults: Why Are They So Time-Consuming? (Rudloff)
Prioritizing the Mental Health of the People Who Serve in Animal Rescues and Shelters (Trevathan-Minnis)
Palliative Care Nutrition for Cats and Dogs with GI Disease (Kowalski)
4:15-5:15 PM EST
Euthanasia Is Not Failure: Reframing End-of-Life Decisions as Good Medicine (Matli)
The Best Time is Now: Companion Animal Advance Care Planning (Shook)
Palliative Care Nutrition for Cats and Dogs with Kidney Disease (Kowalski)
5:15 PM EST
CERTIFICATION GRADUATION CELEBRATION
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CONFERENCE SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 TIME
PAIN MANAGEMENT
EXOTICS AND NONTRADITIONAL SPECIES
BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS
Breathwork and Meditation Session for the Palliative Care and Animal Hospice Community Morning Announcements OPENING KEYNOTE: DR. KEMBA MARSHALL: The Magic of the Mundane 9:1510:15 AM EST
Rational Use of NSAIDs in Hospice and Palliative Care (Braithwaite)
Exotic Animal Hospice and Palliative Care: Practical Approaches for a Unique Population (Gentile)
Technology and Telehealth in Hospice and Palliative Care (Senestraro)
BREAK 10:4511:45 AM EST
Practical Applications of TCVM in Top Conditions of Hospice and Palliative Care (Coveyou)
Physical Rehab for the NonTypical Patient (Goats, Rabbits, and Others) (Gregory)
Starting a Crematory is So Yesterday (Ellis)
11:45 AM-12:45 PM EST
The Multimodal Toolkit: Ketamine, Amantadine, and Acetaminophen in End-of-Life Pain Management (Carmack)
Raising the Bar for Unconventional Species Care: Introducing Exotic Companion and Wildlife Animals to the IAAHPC (Freeman)
From Contact to Closure: A Simple, Seamless Jotform Workflow for End-of-Life Veterinary Care (Sanchez)
LUNCH
1:15-2:15 PM EST
Crisis-Proofing Comfort Care: Flare Kits, ER Kits, and the Art of Anticipatory Medicine (Carmack)
What's Up Doc? Best Bunny Practices for IHE and Senior Hare Care (Muhovich)
2:15-3:15 PM EST
Vitamin D Deficiency: A Missing Piece in Chronic Disease and Pain Management (Fry)
Analgesia in Birds (Kubiak) BREAK
Investing in the Next Generation: How End-of-Life Care Rotations Build Better Veterinarians (McGivney) Financial Foundations for Veterinary Practice Owners: Building Business Equity Through B tt A ti
3:30-4:30 PM EST
Fascia and Aging: Implications in Pain and Mobility Management in Dogs (Fry)
Analgesia in Small Mammals (Kubiak)
Branding, Anthem, Value Offerings: Who Are You? (Ellis)
4:30-5:30 PM EST
Pain Management Expert Panel
Venous Access in Exotics: Top Tips! (Kubiak)
AI with Intention (DeWilde)
HONORING CEREMONY
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CONFERENCE SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 TIME
REHAB & MOBILITY
POTPOURRI
TECHNICIANS
Morning Announcements
8:15-9:15 AM EST
Silver Sneakers: Therapeutic Exercise for Senior & Geriatric Dogs: Preserving Mobility, Mind, and Meaning (Fry)
Animal Welfare in Hospice Care: Be Aware (Montgomerie)
Partners in Comfort: Empowering CrVTs in In-Clinic Hospice and Palliated Death Care (Radford)
9:1510:15 AM EST
Motion is the Lotion, but Muscles are the Motor! Nutrition and Exercise for Minimizing Geriatric Frailty (Loewenstein)
Ethics Potpourri: Learning from Cases in the Field (Frank)
An Alternative Path for the Veterinary Technician: Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (Gurock)
BREAK
10:3011:30 AM EST
11:30 AM12:30 PM EST
Go GREEN: Geriatrics, Ramps, Environment, Energy, Nursing Care (Gregory)
Respecting Faith: Supporting Diverse Beliefs in Veterinary End-of-Life Care (Taal)
How can we all breath better: managing respiratory issues in a palliative care setting (Frank)
Sleep: The Role of Rest (Davis)
Pathway to a Good Death (Wood)
Technicians and the Management of Degenerative Myelopathy: An Underutilized Resource (Fairfield)
LUNCH
1:00-2:00 PM EST
Standing Tall Improves the Quality of Life (Gregory)
Hospicing Dementia, 'Down in Back' Dog, and Common End of Life Ailments (Anschultz)
The Art of Goodbye: Patient Advocacy, Client Support and Team Wellbeing: The Nurse's Role (Holliday)
CLOSING KEYNOTE: "STATE OF THE IAAHPC"
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 WELCOME AND OPENING REMARKS
KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Creating the Practice You Want in an Uncertain World 8:15-9:15 AM EST This virtual keynote is designed to help hospice care veterinarians move away from fear-based business decisions and toward intentional, value-based empowerment. We'll explore overcoming scarcity, finding your "Moose" (your core passion), and defining your practice's unique value through the eyes of pet owners. Finally, we will cover sustainable economics, including "resentment pricing" and the "permission to profit," to ensure you can charge appropriately and remain fully present for your patients.
Andy Roark, DVM Dr. Andy Roark is a practicing veterinarian, international speaker, author, and media personality, and the founder of the Uncharted Veterinary Conference and DrAndyRoark.com. He has been an award-winning columnist for DVM360, and his Facebook page, website, podcast, and YouTube show reach millions of people every month. He has received the NAVC Practice Management Speaker of the Year Award three times and the WVC Practice Management Educator of the Year Award.
Opening Plenary: International Animal Hospice and Palliative Care in Practice: An Overview of the 2026 IAAHPC Guidelines An overview of the 2026 IAAHPC Guidelines covering the core principles of animal hospice and palliative care, including pain and suffering management, quality-of-life assessment, ethical considerations around euthanasia, interdisciplinary team roles, and caregiver and provider mental health. The session reviews the distinctions between palliative and hospice care and best practices for the dying patient, with an emphasis on practical application across veterinary settings.
Tyler Carmack | DVM, CVA, CVFT, CHPV, CTPEP, CVPP Dr. Tyler Carmack is Director of Hospice and Palliative Care for Caring Pathways and founder of Hampton Roads Veterinary Hospice, an AAHA-accredited end-of-life practice, having practiced hospice and palliative care exclusively since 2011. She has served on the IAAHPC Board of Directors since 2016, including as President in 2020 and 2025, and holds certifications in hospice and palliative care, veterinary pain management, peaceful euthanasia, veterinary acupuncture, and TCVM food therapy and end-of-life care.
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 BREAKFAST WITH OUR SPONSORS
10:30-11:30 AM EST
The Latest in Companion Animal Euthanasia Research: A Review to Keep You Current in 2026 A review of euthanasia-related literature from the past 18 months, covering what's new in techniques, communication, and areas for future research, so attendees can stay current without reading the papers themselves.
Kathleen Cooney | DVM, CHPV, CPEV, DACAW Dr. Kathleen Cooney has practiced advanced end-of-life care since 2006 and serves as Senior Director of Medical Education for the Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy (CAETA). She has authored three books on companion animal euthanasia along with numerous articles and book chapters, and has collaborated on end-of-life training with the AVMA, AAHA, NAVC, IAAHPC, and the Fear Free Program. She is board certified in animal welfare through the American College of Animal Welfare and teaches in the DVM program at Colorado State University.
Pet Owner Experiences of Companion Animal End of Life Care: Implications for Veterinary Communication and Practice A survey of more than 800 U.S. dog and cat owners who navigated end-of-life decisions found that higherquality veterinary communication, especially conversations initiated earlier in the disease trajectory, was strongly associated with greater caregiver satisfaction and lower decisional regret. This session shares the study's findings and makes the case for treating end-of-life communication as a core clinical competency.
Lori Kogan | PhD Lori Kogan, PhD, is a Professor of Clinical Sciences for the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University. She chairs the Human-Animal Interaction section of the American Psychological Association and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Human-Animal Interaction journal, published by CABI. She has supported veterinary professionals for over 25 years and presents regularly on the intersection of psychology, human-animal interaction, and veterinary medicine.
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 10:30-11:30 AM EST
Palliative Pivot: Rethinking Common Endocrinopathy Management in End of Life Care As patients approach the end of life, treatment strategies for chronic conditions need to adapt. This session covers adjusting management for common endocrinopathies, including diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, Cushing's disease, and Addison's disease, with a focus on testing and treatment modifications that prioritize quality of life and balance comorbidities.
Lawren Durocher-Babek | DVM, MS, DACVIM, CHPV Dr. Lawren Durocher-Babek graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and completed a residency in small animal internal medicine at The Ohio State University, where she received the ACVIM National Research Award for her work on diabetic ketoacidosis in dogs. A Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian, she moved to Hong Kong in 2018 and now owns her own practice, Veterinary Specialty and Imaging, focusing on internal medicine and palliative care.
11:30-12:30 PM EST
Euthanasia Decision Criteria: A proposed new model for vet/client conversations Because euthanasia is so common in veterinary medicine, it stands to reason there will be times when it is elected even when not in everyone’s best interest. The client may want it more than the veterinarian. The veterinarian may advocate for it while the client resists. The pet patient is left awaiting its fate. In this session, the presenters explore ethical issues related to euthanasia decision-making, review how Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) works with terminal human patients, and propose a novel communication tool for better outcomes.
Kathleen Cooney | DVM, CHPV, CPEV, DACAW Full speaker bio appears earlier in this guide.
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 11:30 AM-12:30 PM EST
Current Grief Theory: Updating How We Help Many veterinary professionals learned Kubler-Ross's stages of grief without realizing the research studied the dying, not those left bereaved. This session introduces more current grief models, including the Dual Process Model and the Two Track Model, and offers small, practical ways veterinarians can support families through one of the hardest days of their lives.
Rebecca Frank | DVM, CVHEP, CT Dr. Becky Frank has been an associate veterinarian at Lap of Love since 2017, chairing the company's voluntary ethics committee and serving on its veterinary advisory board. In 2024, she was among the first to receive Lap of Love's in-house hospice and euthanasia certification and achieved certification in thanatology through the Association for Death Education and Counseling. She has completed over 6,000 euthanasia appointments, co-authored two chapters in an upcoming Elsevier textbook on end-of-life veterinary care, and leads a free Christian pet loss support group at her church.
Conquering Complex Cases and Comorbidities Hospice and palliative care patients frequently present with multiple comorbidities and complicating factors, from unclear diagnoses to limited caregiver capacity. This session presents an individualized, whole-patient, quality-of-life-focused approach that combines pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions to manage these cases effectively.
Aja Senestraro | DVM, CHPV, CVPP, CCRP Dr. Aja Senestraro is a Seattle-based veterinarian and owner of Sea to Sky Holistic Vet, an integrative house call practice. She holds advanced training and certifications in hospice and palliative care, pain management, rehabilitation, and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, with a practice focus on hospice, palliative care, and geriatric medicine.
LUNCH BREAK •12:30-1:00 PM EST
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
1:00-2:00 PM EST
Types of Diseases and Which Sedatives to Use for the Most Peaceful Euthanasia A breakdown of sedation drug options for in-home euthanasia, including their pros, cons, and dosing considerations across different disease processes and stages, based on the presenter's own clinical experience with what works best.
Marlene Anschultz | DVM, CVA Dr. Marlene Anschultz has provided in-home euthanasia, hospice, and specialized geriatric pet healthcare for 15 years, along with acupuncture and physical therapy modalities for the past 7 years. Her focus is the aging pet of any species, using the safest and least invasive modalities possible, with quality of life and senior potential as her most consistent area of patient care.
"Tell Me What You Would Do, Doctor": Intentional Communication in End-of-Life Decision-Making with Taiwanese Pet Owners In Taiwanese veterinary practice, cultural expectations often place veterinarians in the role of moral as well as clinical guide during end-of-life decisions, creating significant emotional burden. Drawing on more than two decades of clinical experience, this session offers intentional communication strategies that support shared decision-making while maintaining ethical boundaries, with insights that extend to clinicians working across diverse cultural contexts.
Shinguen Kim | DVM, CHPV Shin-Guen Kim, DVM, is a small animal clinician in Taipei with over 25 years of veterinary practice experience focused on senior and palliative care. Currently pursuing a Master's in Spiritual Counseling, he integrates clinical excellence with culturally informed communication strategies and caregiver support, bridging evidence-based medicine with purposeful, compassionate end-of-life care.
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 1:00-2:00 PM EST
Retrospective Study of Oncology Treatments versus Palliative Care in Cats with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma A retrospective study of 64 cats with oral squamous cell carcinoma compared outcomes between oncologic treatment and palliative care, finding that tumor site significantly affected prognosis. The session discusses how a patient's individual circumstances, not just treatment type, should guide the choice between active treatment and palliative care.
Paola Laganga | DVM, MS, CHPV Dr. Paola Laganga graduated in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Bologna in 2003 and founded the Centro Oncologico Veterinario in Sasso Marconi, Italy, in 2009, where she specializes in anesthesia, radiotherapy, and end-of-life palliative care. She holds a Master's in Oncology from the University of Pisa and completed advanced training in pain therapy and palliative care for companion animals at the University of Perugia, earning her Certificate in Hospice and Palliative Care in 2025.
2:00-3:00 PM EST
Death During a Dire Emergency With as little as ten minutes to provide a peaceful euthanasia experience, this session shows that a fast euthanasia can still be a good one when the essential components and the right technique are in place. Since clients report lower satisfaction with emergency euthanasias compared to those in general practice, this session outlines what must be included, and what can be left out, to give every patient and family the experience they deserve.
Elke Rudloff | DVM, CPEV, CVMA, DACVECC Dr. Elke Rudloff has practiced veterinary medicine for over 30 years and is board certified in emergency and critical care, now dedicating her time to protecting the end-of-life experience for companion animals. Certified in veterinary medical acupuncture, she is a published author and regular speaker on pain management and quality of life, and serves as a Certified Peaceful Euthanasia Veterinarian and CAETA instructor.
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 2:00-3:00 PM EST
Understanding Attachment, Past Loss, and Grief: Supporting Pet Guardians Through the End-of-Life Journey Some pet guardians experience grief that feels overwhelming or destabilizing, shaped by attachment patterns and unresolved earlier losses rather than the current situation alone. This session offers an attachmentinformed, trauma-aware framework for understanding these reactions as expressions of love rather than a failure to cope, with practical guidance on supporting guardians before loss occurs.
Hana Mäkinen | BA Hana Mäkinen is a Professional Animal Communicator and End-of-Life Grief Specialist with a background in psychology, grief education, trauma biology, and attachment. She trained with Carol Gurney at the Gurney Institute of Animal Communication and completed the Grief Educator Certification with David Kessler, and in 2022 presented a RACE-approved webinar for IAAHPC on deepening the human-animal bond during the end-of-life journey.
The Science Behind the Hype: Practical, Evidence-Informed Use of Cannabinoids in Veterinary Medicine A clinically grounded overview of cannabinoid therapy in companion animals, covering the endocannabinoid system, key cannabinoids, product quality evaluation, and clinical applications for pain, anxiety, seizures, and palliative care. The session addresses contraindications and current legal considerations, giving veterinary professionals practical tools for informed, ethical conversations with clients.
Shalisa Chamberlain | RVT Shalisa Chamberlain is a veterinary cannabinoid consultant with over 25 years of experience as a veterinary technician across holistic, general, emergency, and specialty practices. She holds a master's certificate in clinical cannabinoid medicine and is founder and CEO of Furry Faces CBD, an award-winning pet CBD brand, and the first cannabinoid wellness center of its kind in Campbell, California.
BREAK TIME WITH SPONSORS •3:00-3:15 PM EST
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
3:15-4:15 PM EST
Comfort Care Consults: Why Are They So Time-Consuming? Because there is so much to cover! Often the family looking for support for their pet during their end of life are focusing on the diagnosis, and not the bigger picture. This discussion focuses on what this provider considers to be the essentials to cover during an end of life care consult and how to work through those essentials in a timely manner.
Elke Rudloff | DVM, CPEV, CVMA, DACVECC Full speaker bio appears earlier in this guide.
Prioritizing the Mental Health of the People Who Serve in Animal Rescues and Shelters People who work or volunteer in animal shelters and rescues face trauma similar to first responders, yet their mental health needs are often overlooked. This session covers the specific challenges this group faces, from compassion fatigue to disenfranchised grief, and shares research-based strategies including community-based group support.
Melissa Trevathan-Minnis | PhD Dr. Melissa Trevathan-Minnis is a therapist, professor, researcher, and animal advocate serving as full-time faculty at National University while leading a research team studying the mental health of people who work and volunteer in animal welfare organizations. She is the founder of the Animal Advocates Wellness Project, which facilitates support groups for shelter and rescue workers and volunteers, and previously founded the Human-Animal Interaction Concentration at Goddard College.
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 3:15-4:15 PM EST
Palliative Care Nutrition for Cats and Dogs with GI Disease For cats and dogs with chronic gastrointestinal disease, palliative nutrition prioritizes comfort and enjoyment of food over strict disease control. This session covers practical strategies, including highly digestible diets, adjusting texture and feeding frequency, and keeping feeding plans flexible and individualized to reduce stress for both pet and caregiver.
Samantha Kowalski | BA, CVT, VTS (E/CC, SAIM, Nutrition)
4:15-5:15 PM EST
Samantha began her emergency medicine career in 2005 after years in feline specialty practice, spending the next 17 years as an overnight ICU/CC technician and earning VTS certifications in Emergency & Critical Care (2011) and Small Animal Internal Medicine (2016). She also worked as a pet home care technician for New England Pet Hospice and Home Care until its 2014 closure. She "retired" from overnight E/CC in 2021 to join BluePearl Charlestown's Internal Medicine Service, earned a third VTS in nutrition and RECOVER CPR instructor certification in 2022, and completed a bachelor's in advanced mathematics in 2025.
Euthanasia Is Not Failure: Reframing End-of-Life Decisions as Good Medicine Euthanasia is still often viewed as a failure or last resort by families and veterinary professionals alike. This session reframes euthanasia as a compassionate, intentional medical option rooted in comfort and dignity, offering technician-appropriate language and mindset shifts to support families while protecting the technician's own emotional wellbeing.
Kara Matli | RVT Kara Matli is a Registered Veterinary Technician and people leader with over 15 years of experience in veterinary medicine, including more than five years focused on hospice and end-of-life care. She works in a remote veterinary hospice support center, leading teams and supporting families navigating complex end-of-life decisions and euthanasia scheduling, and is passionate about reframing euthanasia as a meaningful medical option and promoting sustainable wellbeing for veterinary hospice teams.
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 4:15-5:15 PM EST
The Best Time is Now: Companion Animal Advance Care Planning Too often, end-of-life decisions for pets are made under stress or in crisis. This session shares best practices for creating Companion Animal Advance Care Directives, plans that bring comfort, reduce uncertainty, and help pet parents be more fully present when the time comes.
Angela Shook | CHPA Angela Shook is an end-of-life doula, companion animal doula, and Past President of the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance. She teaches in the doula programs at the University of Vermont, holds the Animal Hospice Advocate Certificate from IAAHPC and certification as a Pet Loss Grief Specialist, and owns Dragonfly End-of-Life Services. Her work has been featured in Time Magazine, The New York Times, and Well + Good, and she is co-author of The Doula Tool Kit: The Complete Practical Guide for End-of-Life Doulas and Caregivers.
Palliative Care Nutrition for Cats and Dogs with Kidney Disease Palliative nutrition for cats and dogs with chronic kidney disease prioritizes comfort and quality of life over disease modification alone, tailoring strategies to each patient's stage of illness and preferences. This session covers flexible use of renal and non-renal diets, symptom management, and communicating with caregivers navigating shifting nutritional goals.
Samantha Kowalski | BA, CVT, VTS (E/CC, SAIM, Nutrition) Full speaker bio appears earlier in this guide.
CERTIFICATION GRADUATION CELEBRATION • 5:15 PM EST
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 Breathwork and Meditation Session for the Palliative Care and Animal Hospice Community A guided breathwork and meditation session built for hospice and palliative care professionals. Learn practical tools for managing stress and grief, so you can keep showing up for your patients and clients with steadiness and presence. No experience necessary.
Kimberly Blair | Certified Hypnotherapist Kimberly Blair is a certified hypnotherapist and holistic healer based in San Diego, with an in-person practice in La Jolla and Pacific Beach. She holds a background in psychology, an MBA, and credentials in Clinical Hypnotherapy, Conscious Connected Breathwork, Grief Counseling, Sound Therapy, and Reiki, and provides specialized pet loss counseling for grieving pet parents. She is the preferred grief counseling partner for Paws Into Grace, San Diego's at-home pet euthanasia and aquamation provider, and serves as primary wellness practitioner for Urban Street Angels.
MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS
KEYNOTE ADDRESS 8:15-9:15 AM EST Magic of the Mundane is an uplifting session where veterinary professionals will be reminded of why they love the profession. Through a series of videos and audience participation exercises we will reimagine vet med everyday tasks. At the end of this presentation attendees will see the magic of their everyday contributions to the profession we all hold so dear.
Kemba Marshall DVM, MPH Dr. Kemba Marshall earned her DVM from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and completed a residency in Avian and Exotic Animal Medicine at the University of Tennessee, followed by a Master's in Public Health from the University of Iowa. After several years in private, emergency, and lab animal medicine, she held leadership roles including Director of Pet Quality and Education at PetSmart's Corporate Office and Director of Veterinary Services at the Land O'Lakes Purina Animal Nutrition Center. She has authored peerreviewed journal articles, served as guest editor for publications including the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, and is editor of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, available from Wiley Publishing.
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 9:15-10:15 AM EST
Rational Use of NSAIDs in Hospice and Palliative Care NSAIDs are often feared, but used rationally they can meaningfully reduce suffering in hospice and palliative care patients. This session reviews current literature on safety and practical use of NSAIDs in dogs, cats, and small mammals, including when to choose a steroid instead, which patients need bloodwork first, and what side effects to monitor.
Miranda Braithwaite | DVM, MPH, MA, CHPV, CFFP, CPEV Dr. Miranda Braithwaite earned her DVM and Master of Public Health from the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine and completed an internship in primary care at UW Veterinary Care and WisCARES. She is founder and owner of SagePet Home Veterinary Care, providing in-home care and euthanasia for senior and special needs pets in south central Wisconsin, with a focus on behavior, chronic disease management, and quality of life.
Exotic Animal Hospice and Palliative Care: Practical Approaches for a Unique Population Exotic companion animals present unique challenges in hospice and palliative care, especially when subtle signs of decline lead to caregiver uncertainty or denial. This session offers practical strategies for supporting small mammals, birds, and reptiles through comfort-focused husbandry, realistic analgesia options, and speciesspecific quality of life assessment, along with communication approaches for guiding caregivers through emotionally complex decisions.
Marie Gentile | LVT, FFCP, CFVP Marie Gentile has worked in the veterinary field since 2010 and became a Licensed Veterinary Technician in 2020, earning Fear Free and Cat Friendly certification along with RECOVER Instructor certification in 2023. She volunteers with the Detroit Zoological Society and joined Ark Veterinary Hospital in 2025, with professional interests spanning exotic animal care, clinical pathology, emergency medicine, and technician education.
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 9:15-10:15 AM EST
Technology and Telehealth in Hospice and Palliative Care Technology offers both opportunities and challenges in hospice and palliative care, from telehealth's ability to increase access to new diagnostic tools and caregiver apps. This session covers what's currently available and how to use it safely, legally, and effectively within the regulations and limitations of remote care.
Aja Senestraro | DVM, CHPV, CVPP, CCRP Full speaker bio appears earlier in this guide.
BREAK• 10:15-10:45 AM EST
10:45-11:45 AM EST
Practical Applications of TCVM in Top Conditions of Hospice and Palliative Care This session explores the most common conditions seen in veterinary hospice patients and how Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, including acupuncture points, herbal therapies, and tui na, can be integrated to support comfort. Topics include arthritis, cognitive dysfunction, pain management, and select cancers, with an emphasis on compassionate, patient-centered end-of-life care.
Megan Coveyou | DVM, CVA, CHPV, CTPEP Dr. Megan Coveyou is the Colorado Lead Veterinarian and a Medical Board member at Caring Pathways, where she trains newly onboarded veterinarians and develops medical protocols. A 2007 graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, she practiced equine sport horse medicine before joining Caring Pathways in 2015 to focus on end-of-life care, earning her CHPV and CTPEP certifications along the way.
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 10:45-11:45 AM EST
Physical Rehab for the Non-Typical Patient (Goats, Rabbits, and Others) Much of what works in canine physical rehabilitation can be adapted for other species. This session shares practical ways to use everyday items from home or the office to help goats, rabbits, and other non-canine patients manage pain, improve mobility, and build confidence.
Sandy Gregory | M Ed, RVT, VTS (Physical Rehabilitation), CCRA Sandy Gregory is a licensed veterinary technician since 2001 and Physical Rehabilitation Director, recognized as the Linda Markland Outstanding Veterinary Technician of the Year (2021) and California Veterinary Technician of the Year (2014). An Associate Professor in veterinary technology since 2007, she has taught physical rehabilitation modules internationally, including at Yamazaki Professional College in Tokyo, and serves as Secretary and Past President of the Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians.
Starting a Crematory is So Yesterday For years, launching a crematory was the go-to next step for practices and entrepreneurs looking to grow within animal aftercare. But the landscape has shifted, and so have the opportunities. Is aquamation the next frontier? Maybe. Or maybe the real opportunity lies somewhere else entirely. In this session, pet loss pioneer Coleen Ellis draws on decades of industry leadership to explore what's replacing the crematory-first mindset: new service models, evolving client expectations, and the spaces where forward-thinking practices and providers can carve out meaningful, sustainable growth. Attendees will leave with a clearer picture of where the animal aftercare field is heading and practical ideas for positioning their own work within it.
Coleen Ellis | CT, CPLP Coleen Ellis is the founder of Pet Angel Memorial Center, the nation's first standalone pet funeral home, and the founder of Two Hearts Pet Loss Center, established in 2009 to provide pet loss education and support meaningful pet death care services in communities across the country. She holds a Death and Grief Studies Certification specializing in Pet Loss Companioning from Dr. Alan Wolfelt's Center for Loss, is Certified in Thanatology, and is a Certified Pet Loss Professional. She is the author of several books on pet loss and grief, including Pet Parents: A Journey Through Unconditional Love and Grief and the children's title Forever Friend, and has spoken internationally on supporting pet parents through loss. Ellis is the founder and past co-chair of the Pet Loss Professionals Alliance and past president of the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care, where she currently serves as Executive Director.
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
11:45 AM-12:45 PM EST
The Multimodal Toolkit: Ketamine, Amantadine, and Acetaminophen in End-of-Life Pain Management As companion animals near the end of life, pain frequently becomes complex and refractory, driven by central sensitization and neuroplastic changes that conventional analgesics alone cannot adequately address. This lecture explores the evidence-based use of ketamine, amantadine, and acetaminophen as adjuvant analgesics within a multimodal framework tailored to the hospice and palliative patient. Attendees will gain a practical understanding of NMDA receptor antagonism, patient selection, dosing, safety profiles, and caregiver administration, leaving them equipped to approach refractory pain with greater confidence and offer patients a more complete path to comfort.
Tyler Carmack | DVM, CVA, CVFT, CHPV, CTPEP, CVPP Full speaker bio appears earlier in this guide.
Raising the Bar for Unconventional Species Care: Introducing Exotic Companion and Wildlife Animals to the IAAHPC Despite growing numbers of exotic companion pets, gaps remain in palliative and end-of-life education and research for these species. This session reviews pain recognition across herptiles, small mammals, and avian patients, examines disenfranchised grief experienced by exotic pet owners and veterinarians alike, and discusses appropriate memorialization practices for exotic companions.
Julia Ruth Freeman | VMD, Class of 2026 Julia Ruth Freeman, a 2026 VMD, is completing a Small Animal Rotating Internship at Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital in Ohio following her clinical years at PennVet. She is pursuing exotic companion and wildlife animal medicine with a focus on herptiles and exotic animal ophthalmology, alongside a passion for senior and endof-life care across both unconventional and companion species.
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 11:45 AM-12:45 PM EST
From Contact to Closure: A Simple, Seamless Jotform Workflow for End-of-Life Veterinary Care A beginner-friendly Jotform workflow that connects every stage of the client journey, from first contact through scheduling, consent, payment, and follow-up, into one reliable system. The session highlights features like conditional logic and automated emails that reduce administrative stress and eliminate duplicate data entry for mobile end-of-life teams.
Karin Sanchez Karin Sanchez is an independent IT systems designer specializing in digital workflows for small, mobile, and end-of-life veterinary practices, building streamlined form systems, scheduling tools, and documentation processes tailored to in-home euthanasia and hospice providers. She focuses on reducing administrative burden and creating legally defensible consent and documentation processes for both solo veterinarians and multi-vet teams.
LUNCH• 12:45-1:15 PM EST
1:15-2:15 PM EST
Crisis-Proofing Comfort Care: Flare Kits, ER Kits, and the Art of Anticipatory Medicine One of the most meaningful things a hospice team can offer a family is the confidence to act when crisis strikes. This lecture examines the clinical and philosophical foundations of anticipatory medicine, with a practical focus on designing, dispensing, and teaching flare kits and emergency kits for companion animals receiving end-of-life care at home. From medication selection and caregiver coaching to recognizing clinical deterioration, attendees will leave with a ready-to-implement framework that reduces emergency visits, supports peaceful death at home, and transforms caregivers into empowered partners in their animal's final chapter.
Tyler Carmack | DVM, CVA, CVFT, CHPV, CTPEP, CVPP Full speaker bio appears earlier in this guide.
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 1:15-2:15 PM EST
What's Up Doc? Best Bunny Practices for IHE and Senior Hare Care House rabbits are a popular but often overlooked patient population. This session covers best methods for quality-of-life consults and in-home euthanasia for rabbits, building confidence for practices not currently offering these services, with wildlife considerations also covered.
Kerry Muhovich | DVM, MPH, CCRP, CAMVP Dr. Kerry Muhovich, a 2001 graduate of Colorado State University's college of veterinary medicine, has worked across behavior, shelter medicine, veterinary technician instruction, private practice, and urgent care. She has focused on end-oflife care for 10 years, with a particular interest in training other veterinarians and leading quality-of-life discussions.
Investing in the Next Generation: How End-of-Life Care Rotations Build Better Veterinarians Most veterinary graduates enter practice with limited formal exposure to hospice and end-of-life care despite these being essential day-one skills. This session shares how end-of-life practices can design structured internship and externship programs that build clinical and emotional competence in learners without overwhelming staff or disrupting operations.
Chelsea McGivney | DVM, MBA Dr. Chelsea McGivney served as an officer in the United States Air Force before earning her DVM from Colorado State University, followed by experience in small animal internships, emergency and general practice, in-home end-of-life care, and pet food industry consulting. She now serves as General Manager at Caring Pathways, leading a team of at-home end-of-life specialists, and recently completed her MBA at Colorado State University.
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
2:15-3:15 PM EST
Vitamin D Deficiency: A Missing Piece in Chronic Disease and Pain Management Vitamin D plays an essential role in bone health, immune function, and inflammatory modulation, and dogs rely heavily on dietary intake to meet their needs. This session examines how deficiency may influence pain and disease in canine patients, with clinical case examples on when to test and how to supplement safely.
Lindsey Fry | DVM, DACVSMR, CCRP, CVPP, cVMA Dr. Lindsey Fry became certified in veterinary medical acupuncture as a student at Colorado State University, later completing rehabilitation certification through the University of Tennessee and pain practitioner certification through the International Veterinary Academy for Pain Management, where she went on to serve on the board and as treasurer. She practices in Colorado with a focus on integrative pain and mobility management, and earned board certification through the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2023.
Analgesia in Birds Clinical analgesia research in avian species remains limited, and pain relief data often doesn't transfer cleanly between bird species. This session reviews the classes of pain relief available for avian patients, focusing on recent evidence-based studies and practical tips for administering medication at home.
Marie Kubiak | BVSc, CertAVP(ZM), CertAqV, DZooMed, MRCVS Marie Kubiak has worked with exotic and zoo species for the last 20 years and in 2024 opened her own zoo and referral exotics clinic in Shropshire, UK. She holds the RCVS Diploma in Zoological Medicine with Specialist-level examination in reptile, bird, small mammal, zoo, and wildlife medicine, and is recognized as an RCVS Specialist in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine and a certified Aquatic Veterinarian.
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 2:15-3:15 PM EST
Financial Foundations for Veterinary Practice Owners: Building Business Equity Through Better Accounting This session, led by Dr. Diane Eigner, introduces core financial management concepts for veterinary practice owners and highlights the shift from simply delivering patient care to building a saleable business asset. Topics include the fundamentals of accounting, essential financial reports, expense benchmarking, key performance indicators, and strategies for increasing practice valuation. The discussion also touches on unique considerations for mobile and hospice/palliative care practices, where standardized benchmarks are still developing.
Diane Eigner | VMD, MBA, CVPM, CHPV Diane Eigner, VMD, MBA, CVPM, CHPV, is a 1980 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and earned her MBA from Temple University's Fox School of Business in 2015. She received her Veterinary Practice Manager Certification in 2015 and was certified as a hospice and palliative veterinarian by IAAHPC in 2017. She founded The Cat Doctor in 1983, leading the practice as CEO, CFO, and COO until selling it in 2016, and today provides end-oflife care to Jersey Shore cats while serving as adjunct faculty at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine, where she organizes the practice management elective.
BREAK• 3:15-3:30 PM EST
3:30-4:30 PM EST
Fascia and Aging: Implications in Pain and Mobility Management in Dogs Age-related changes in fascia, including stiffness and reduced glide, limit mobility and can contribute to central sensitization, where the nervous system amplifies chronic pain in older dogs. This session explores fascia's anatomy and role as its own pain source, and how interventions that restore fascial function can improve comfort and quality of life.
Lindsey Fry| DVM, DACVSMR, CCRP, CVPP, cVMA Full speaker bio appears earlier in this guide.
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 3:30-4:30 PM EST
Analgesia in Small Mammals Pain in small mammals like hamsters, guinea pigs, and rats is often overlooked because these prey species mask signs of discomfort well. This session covers the range of analgesic options available for these species and the evidence supporting each.
Marie Kubiak| BVSc, CertAVP(ZM), CertAqV, DZooMed, MRCVS Full speaker bio appears earlier in this guide.
Branding, Anthem, Value Offerings: Who Are You? In this session, we’ll break down the foundations of building a distinctive brand and telling your story in the veterinary end-of-life and pet loss space. She walks through the differences between mind share, market share, and heart share, and explains how brand identity, from logo design to mission, vision, and values, shapes how a business is perceived in its community. The presentation also covers practical differentiation strategies (including pricing with confidence), ways to create memorable client experiences at low or no cost, and community-based marketing tactics such as co-branding, partnerships, and memorial events.
Coleen Ellis| CT, CPLP Full speaker bio appears earlier in this guide.
4:30-5:30 PM EST
Pain Management Expert Panel Pain management in animal hospice and palliative care raises questions that don't always have clean answers. This interactive panel puts your toughest, most practical cases in front of a panel of Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioners (CVPP) for real-time discussion. Come with your questions on multimodal protocols, breakthrough pain, quality-of-life tradeoffs, or anything else you're navigating in practice, and leave with insights you can apply the next day.
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 4:30-5:30 PM EST
Venous Access in Exotics: Top Tips! Exotic patient anatomy differs from domestic species, making knowledge of the best intravenous injection sites invaluable for treatment, sedation, and euthanasia. This session covers the common access sites and techniques for using them effectively.
Marie Kubiak | BVSc, CertAVP(ZM), CertAqV, DZooMed, MRCVS Full speaker bio appears earlier in this guide.
AI with Intention AI is already in your veterinary-world organization, your team and your clients are using it, often without a plan. This session skips the hype to focus on what matters now: where AI genuinely helps across marketing, communication, and operations, where it shouldn't touch the deeply emotional, sensitive moments this work is built on, and the safeguards every organization needs. You'll leave with one clear rule and a one-page policy for Monday morning.
Caitlin DeWilde | DVM AI is already in your veterinary-world organization, your team and your clients are using it, often without a plan. This session skips the hype to focus on what matters now: where AI genuinely helps across marketing, communication, and operations, where it shouldn't touch the deeply emotional, sensitive moments this work is built on, and the safeguards every organization needs. You'll leave with one clear rule and a one-page policy for Monday morning. Dr. Caitlin DeWilde is the founder of The Social DVM, a consulting firm helping veterinary professionals manage and grow their social media, online reputation, and marketing strategies. She earned her DVM from the University of Illinois, where she received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award, and previously served as medical director for a large hospital in St. Louis before stepping back to focus on her marketing work. She is the author of the Social Media and Marketing for Veterinary Professionals textbook and a columnist for Today's Veterinary Business.
HONORING CEREMONY • 5:30 PM EST
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS
8:15-9:15 AM EST
Silver Sneakers: Therapeutic Exercise for Senior & Geriatric Dogs: Preserving Mobility, Mind, and Meaning Maintaining mobility in older dogs supports cognitive function, emotional wellbeing, and the dignity of participating in daily life. This session covers the science behind exercise-based interventions for geriatric dogs and how to design individualized, age-appropriate programs that account for comorbidities and fatigue while promoting comfort and independence.
Lindsey Fry | DVM, DACVSMR, CCRP, CVPP, cVMA Full speaker bio appears earlier in this guide.
Animal Welfare in Hospice Care: Be Aware Hospice and palliative care medicine centers on animal wellbeing, but practitioners sometimes encounter welfare concerns about a patient or other animals in the home. Using case examples, this session covers how to identify welfare concerns during hospice visits, communication techniques for addressing them, and when reporting is legally required.
Stacy Montgomerie | DVM, CHPV Dr. Stacy Montgomerie joined DoveLewis in 2016 and has practiced as an ER and ICU veterinarian since graduating in 2012, also serving as a clinical communications instructor for DVMs and students. She earned her hospice and palliative care certification through IAAHPC in 2022 and has served as Director of Hospice Services at DoveLewis since then.
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 8:15-9:15 AM EST
Partners in Comfort: Empowering CrVTs in In-Clinic Hospice and Palliated Death Care Credentialed veterinary technicians are essential to delivering hands-on hospice care, especially in clinics without home-based services. This session covers how technicians can manage comfort care, support clients through a palliated death, and take part in euthanasia where the law allows, drawing on the presenter's experience as both a CrVT and a foster parent.
Gabrielle Radford | CVT, CHPT Gabrielle Radford is a Certified Veterinary Technician and Practice Manager with advanced training in animal hospice and palliative care, combining clinical expertise with leadership experience to address the medical, emotional, and operational realities of end-of-life care. As a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Technician, she is known for a tech-forward approach to workflow design and team support that helps practices integrate hospice and palliative care sustainably.
9:15-10:15 AM EST
Motion is the Lotion, but Muscles are the Motor! Nutrition and Exercise for Minimizing Geriatric Frailty This session updates practitioners on current science in nutrition and supplements for maintaining muscle mass and mobility in senior cats and dogs, including updated protein intake guidelines and clinical frailty scoring strategies. Attendees will learn how to use frailty testing to build activity and exercise recommendations that improve resiliency and longevity.
Brooke Loewenstein | DVM, CCRT, CVAT, CVPP Dr. Brooke Loewenstein earned her DVM from the University of Wisconsin in 2004 and practiced mixed animal medicine and surgery for a decade before earning her certification in canine rehabilitation in 2011, which drew her into exclusive small animal practice. She went on to earn certification as a Veterinary Acupuncture Therapist and Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner through the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management.
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
9:15-10:15 AM EST
Ethics Potpourri: Learning from Cases in the Field From the inappropriately urinating cat to the client calling to euthanize a healthy pet because she herself is dying, this session walks through a series of morally gray cases that create real stress for veterinary teams. Attendees will come away with practical tools for navigating these situations and lowering their own stress in the process.
Rebecca Frank | DVM, CVHEP, CT Full speaker bio appears earlier in this guide.
An Alternative Path for the Veterinary Technician: Animal Hospice and Palliative Care This session shares the presenter's journey from general veterinary medicine into animal hospice and palliative care, including how he brings his skills into the home setting. It covers key legal considerations and case studies illustrating how effective hospice and palliative care can be delivered at home.
Yonah Gurock | LVT, CHPT Yonah Gurock, LVT, CHPT, graduated from Gwinnett Technical College in 2016 and founded Creature Comfort ATL in 2018 after several years in exotic and small animal practice, specializing in in-home nursing and palliative care for companion animals. He earned his IAAHPC hospice and palliative care certification in 2020 and is dedicated to advancing the role of veterinary technicians in end-of-life care.
BREAK • 10:15-10:30 AM EST
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
10:30-11:30 AM EST
Go GREEN: Geriatrics, Ramps, Environment, Energy, Nursing Care Amazingly, small changes can make the biggest difference in mobility or quality of life for our pets. First, it is important to identify what geriatric means for our pets. Second, looking around, there are a number of things that you can adjust to accommodate for the needs of that animal. We forget there are more things that can expend energy such as poor posture. It is important to make changes so we give every healthy advantage to our pets.
Sandy Gregory | M Ed, RVT, VTS (Physical Rehabilitation), CCRA Full speaker bio appears earlier in this guide.
Respecting Faith: Supporting Diverse Beliefs in Veterinary End-of-Life Care Using a case study of a Hindu family who refused euthanasia for their cat, this session addresses the real-world challenges veterinary professionals face when faith-based beliefs conflict with clinical recommendations. It introduces the ABCDE framework, attitudes, beliefs, contexts, decision-making, and environment, as a practical tool for faith-sensitive conversations with clients.
Merel Taal | DVM, MRCVS, CHPV Merel Taal, DVM, MRCVS, CHPV, is the Principal Director of Dignipets, a pioneering veterinary hospice service in the UK she founded in 2015 that has grown into a nationwide network operating in 10 regions with a dedicated online hospice consulting team. She supports families and their pets directly while mentoring fellow veterinary professionals in establishing their own hospice services.
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 10:30-11:30 AM EST
How Can We All Breath Better: Managing Respiratory Issues in a Palliative Care Setting Managing a condition that can lead to potential respiratory crisis in the palliative care setting is not only difficult but can be intimidating. None of us want our patients to experience any sort of respiratory distress, therefore we do not want to be ill-prepared when these situations arise. This lecture will discuss the common respiratory issues and challenges we face in a palliative care setting and how we can help manage them. Also, how we can teach clients to appropriately manage them at home and be prepared for potential crisis.
Michelle Frank | RVT, CHPT Michelle grew up in Denver, Colorado. She attended Fairhaven College in Bellingham, Washington where she received a degree in Recreational Therapy for Incarcerated Youth. She spent years outside of the United States and Colorado doing various jobs until she found veterinary medicine. After volunteering for a mobile spay and neuter clinic in Quito, Ecuador and acquiring her goofy street dog Rico she decided to return to Colorado. She attended Bel-Rea in Aurora and became a Certified Veterinary Technician.
11:30 AM-12:30 PM EST
Sleep: The Role of Rest Sleep is a cornerstone of care for hospice patients, yet most pet healthcare providers are never taught about it. This session explores what sleep actually is, why animals need it, and why it deserves a place in palliative care conversations.
Lauren Davis | BVSc, MRCVS Dr. Lauren Davis is a veterinarian and sleep expert who lectures widely on the science of sleep, from the London Vet Show to the Emergency and Critical Care Congress, on how sleep affects patient wellbeing and what veterinary teams can do to improve it. She founded VetRelieve, a UK company bringing vet-designed sleep products to market.
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 10:30-11:30 AM EST
Pathway to a Good Death Palliative and hospice care can relieve pet parents who might otherwise carry the full burden of caregiving alone. This session defines a Good Death as providing the appropriate care at the appropriate time, and covers how support services, from nursing to bereavement care, and delivering euthanasia at home when practical, can make the experience less isolating for both pet and caregiver.
Lesley Wood | Certified/Ordained Interfaith Minister Rev. Lesley Wood is a chaplain for Compassus Hospice in Pennsylvania and serves as an executive board director and pet chaplain for the nonprofit animal rescue Fur N Feathers of NJ, directing the organization's Pennsylvania hub. A trained veterinary technician with extensive experience as an equine massage therapist and instructor, she completed her Clinical Pastoral Education training at Frederick Memorial Hospital and has worked in rescue for more than 20 years.
Technicians and the Management of Degenerative Myelopathy: An Underutilized Resource Managing degenerative myelopathy can be daunting for pet owners, and technicians are an invaluable but often underutilized resource during the hospice period. This session covers the pathophysiology of degenerative myelopathy and proposes practical opportunities for technician involvement in managing these cases.
Ashleigh Fairfield | LVT, CCRP, VTS (Physical Rehabilitation) Ashleigh Fairfield has mentored countless veterinary technicians, assistants, and veterinarians over her career and has lectured nationally and written for DVM360 and Firstline. She is a licensed veterinary technician in Virginia holding Veterinary Technician Specialist status in Physical Rehabilitation and Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner certification.
LUNCH • 12:30-1:00 PM EST
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SPEAKER & SESSION DETAIL
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 1:00-2:00 PM EST
Standing Tall Improves the Quality of Life Posture affects far more than gait: it influences confidence, mood, and overall quality of life. This session covers the fundamentals of good posture, how to set up a home environment that builds standing confidence, and practical techniques for encouraging muscle memory throughout the day.
Sandy Gregory | M Ed, RVT, VTS (Physical Rehabilitation), CCRA Full speaker bio appears earlier in this guide.
Hospicing Dementia, 'Down in Back' Dog, and Common End of Life Ailments This session walks through the different types of hospice cases and how to navigate managing, treating, and recognizing the appropriate time for a quality-of-life conversation. It also covers when hospice care is no longer appropriate and how to guide clients toward planning for final moments.
Marlene Anschultz | DVM, CVA Full speaker bio appears earlier in this guide.
The Art of Goodbye: Patient Advocacy, Client Support and Team Wellbeing: The Nurse's Role Veterinary nurses and technicians play a key role in palliative care, end-of-life care, and the euthanasia process, serving as patient advocates, client support, and stewards of team wellbeing. This session covers practical ways nurses build relationships with patients and families, bridge communication with veterinarians, and support their own team's mental health during emotionally demanding work.
Sarah Ann Holliday | RVN, VTS (Oncology) Sarah Ann Holliday qualified as a registered veterinary nurse in the UK in 2008 and has worked since 2016 on the senior nursing team at AURA Veterinary, the UK's only dedicated veterinary oncology hospital, where she helped establish the medical oncology department. She earned her Veterinary Technician Specialist status in oncology in 2023, has lectured internationally, and focuses on contextualized cancer care and dignified end-of-life support for patients and families.
CLOSING KEYNOTE: "STATE OF THE IAAHPC" • 2:00 PM EST
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2026 SPONSORS
With gratitude to the organizations supporting Innovate with Intention
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COLLABORATOR LEVEL
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IAAHPC RESOURCES
IAAHPC ANIMAL HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE GUIDELINES Developed by leading experts in the field, these guidelines are the essential resource for veterinary professionals integrating hospice and palliative care principles into practice, covering ethical and practical frameworks, pain and quality of life assessments, caregiver support, integrative care approaches, and legal and professional responsibilities.
ACCESS THE GUIDELINES AT IAAHPC.ORG/VETERINARYGUIDELINES/GENERAL-PRACTICE-GUIDELINES
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IAAHPC RESOURCES
CHPV / CHPT CERTIFICATION ®
®
The IAAHPC Certification Program is the first of its kind, launched in 2016, to certify veterinary professionals in animal hospice and palliative care. Veterinarians earn the Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian (CHPV®) credential, and veterinary technicians earn the Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Technician (CHPT®) credential, through a RACE-approved curriculum of approximately 100 hours taught by experts in neurology, cardiology, end-of-life care, and pain management. Program completion includes five on-demand course modules, 20 additional hours of continuing education, a live communication workshop, an independently graded case report, and a final exam. Credentials are renewed every five years. To date, nearly 400 professionals across more than 15 countries have graduated from the program. Learn more and enroll at iaahpc.org/veterinary-certification
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JOIN IAAHPC Membership gives veterinary professionals a role in shaping the field, from developing care guidelines to educating pet owners on comfort-oriented, end-of-life care. Benefits include webinar events, on-demand CE, a marketing toolkit, business development groups, certification programs, networking opportunities, member discounts, the annual conference, pet loss resources, and animal hospice advocacy. MEMBERSHIP TYPE
RATE
Veterinarian
$125/yr
Veterinary Technician/Nurse
$69/yr
Affiliate (client care, grief support, aftercare, volunteer, or other support roles)
$69/yr
Full-Time Student (veterinary, veterinary technician, or social work students)
Free
Practice/Group Membership (up to 10 team members; contact IAAHPC for larger teams)
Starting at $199/yr
JOIN AT IAAHPC.ORG/JOIN-IAAHPC
CONFERENCE ATTENDEE DISCOUNT SAVE 10% ON IAAHPC MEMBERSHIP WITH CODE INNOVATE
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