McLennan Community College in Waco is offering two educational workshops that will give you what you need to learn exactly what you need to teach your students to become Certified Veterinary Assistants. These workshops also provide an opportunity to earn CPEs/CEUs in this area of study.
This is your chance to receive practical experience in a professional setting by experts in the veterinary field. After completing these workshops, you'll have the knowledge to incorporate and to improve a Veterinary Assistant Program into your high school.
What You'll Learn:
Certified Veterinary Assistant Level I Educational Workshop
VTHT 1008.01
June 15-17, 2009 (Monday to Wednesday)
8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
This workshop is intended to give the participant a basic introductory look into veterinary technology. Areas of instruction include but are not limited to:
- Basic veterinary exam procedures
- Basic laboratory procedures
- Safety protocols
- Attachment and grief processes
- Basic animal restraint procedures
- Basic surgical preperation
- Office pharmacy procedures
- Networking and round-table discussions
Certified Veterinary Assistant Level II Educational Workshop* (VTHT 1011.01)
*Must have completed Level I Workshop or an equivalent program to enroll
June 18-20, 2009 (Thursday to Saturday)
8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (only until noon on June 20)
This workshop is intended to be the next step after completing Certified Veterinary Assistant Level I. Areas of instruction in Level II include but are not limited to:
- Advanced veterinary exam procedures
- Veterinary medical imaging
- Kennel/cage/stall area protocols
- Exotic animal nursing
- Advanced surgical preparation
- Veterinary animal nursing
- Lab and exotic handling and husbandry
Participants must attend all sessions of chosen workshops to obtain CPE/CEU credit certificates
Location:
McLennan Community College's Highlander Ranch, Waco, Texas, in the Veterinary Technology Building. Located six miles from the McLennan Community College main campus, Highlander Ranch is at 223 Cobb Lane, Waco, Texas, 76708.
Meet The Instructors:
At these workshops, you'll learn from highly qualified professionals who will provide valuable insight that will be essential in properly preparing your students to be veterinary assistants. You'll benefit from firsthand experiences and hands-on training that can't be replicated by online or book instruction.
Guest Presenter: Charles Casada returns this year for an undivided question and answer session for the end of Level I and the beginning of Level II workshops. His practical experience of implementing a veterinary assistant program in the Plano area gives him a perspective and knowledge about the realities of a high school program that you won’t want to miss.
Guest Presenter: Andrea (“Andy”) Walker, Training and Certification Specialist with the Texas Veterinary Medical Association, will be on hand Wednesday and Thursday to answer questions about certification and registration requirements for your students to be Veterinary Technicians and Assistants.
Jennifer Garretson, D.V.M. Dr. Garretson is the Director of Veterinary Technician Program at McLennan Community College, where she also teaches. She brings a marvelous wealth of experience to the classroom, having worked as a full-time associate veterinarian for more than nine years. Dr. Garretson also has experience as a veterinary assistant and a veterinary extern. A graduate of Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in Baton Rouge in May 2000, she brings a variety of interests to her work, including zoonotic animal diseases and education on the control and prevention of these diseases. Additionally, Dr. Garretson is interested in exotic animal medicine and surgery, canine and feline surgeries, and public health and safety issues. With numerous professional affiliations coupled and her supervision of MCC's Veterinary Technology program, Dr. Garretson brings a practical approach to the workshop that will benefit those planning to use what they learn to teach their own students in the classroom and/or clinical setting.
Sue Allen, R.V.T. Sue Allen's clinical and teaching experiences are perfectly blended in her workshop presentations. In fact, Sue's experience as a Registered Veterinary Technician for more than 25 years drove her to develop a practical, hands-on workshop that provides both classroom and clinical experiences for participants. Sue has served as an instructor in the Veterinary Technology Program at MCC for more than three years, and she has been a registered R.V. T. since 1981. She currently holds the office of Texas Association of Registered Veterinary Technicians (TARVY) Secretary. Sue was a primary force in the initial 2006 Level I Workshop, and the lead instructor at the workshops held last year at MCC, and She remains enthusiastic about the students' feedback from these workshops. The balance of classroom and clinical application for this year's workshops are a reflection of past participants' interests.
Frances Turner, R.V.T.: Frances is an instructor in the Veterinary Technology Program at McLennan Community College and returns to instruct workshops this summer. She has more than 25 years of experience as a veterinary technician and brings practicality and details to her presentations.
Cost:
$199 per workshop and includes instruction, supplies, handouts, CPE/CEU certificate, lunch and refreshments for each day of the workshop.
Registration:
The registration deadline is Friday, May 29, 2009. To register, or for more information, call the McLennan Community College Continuing Education Office at 254-299-8888. Each workshop is limited to 30 participants.
School Districts paying the registration fee on behalf of their employee(s) may send payment by check, or fax a purchase order (P.O.) to 254-299-8052. P.O. will hold registration; however, payment in full must be received prior to the first day of each workshop.
Please mail payments to:
McLennan Community College
Attention: Karen Hix, Coordinator of Community Programs
CSC, A-20
1400 College Drive
Waco, TX 76708
Hotel Accommodations:
A block of hotel rooms is available through May 29 to participants at a choice of Waco Hotels: Fairfield Inn & Suites, North IH-35 (254-412-2535 - $85 per night). The La Quinta Inn & Suites Woodway (254-772-0200 - $85 per night; or The Hilton Downtown Waco (254-754-8484 - $99 per night). Call hotel directly to reserve rooms; ask for MCC Vet Tech rate.
Appropriate Attire:
Participants should wear non-slip, closed-toe shoes, long pants and comfortable clothes. A lab coat or scrub attire is advised but not required.
Special Needs:
If you are a person with a disability and desire any special assistive devices, services or accommodations to participate in the workshops, please contact Sue Allen at 254-299-88742 or sallen@mclennan.edu between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday.