Lunch N Learn

Lunch 'n Learn sessions were developed in 2013 as a way to help busy MVMA members obtain CE credits without having to leave work. Lunch 'n Learns are open to all veterinary professionals! The one-hour sessions are held on the second Tuesday of each month from 12:00 pm-1:00 pm (central). Attendees receive 1 interactive CE credit.

Pricing: 
MVMA Members-FREE
Non-Member MN Licensed Veterinarian-$45/per session
CVTs, VTs, VAs-$20/per session
Non-MN Licensed Veterinarian-$20/per session

WebEx software is used to conduct the online Lunch n Learn series. Join a test meeting now to ensure your device is set-up properly. 

2022 LUNCH N LEARN SCHEDULEClick here to register for Cyber Threats

Tuesday, July 12-Be a Rockstar: Fine Tuning the Nutritional Approach to Urolithiasis

Stephanie Warren, DVM, Scientific Services Veterinarian, Royal Canin

Dr. Stephanie Warren is a Scientific Services Veterinarian for Royal Canin US, serving as a scientific liaison between the veterinary community and Royal Canin throughout the Midwest US. After graduating from the University of Illinois in 2016, Stephanie worked in small animal general practice in Chicago, IL, where she further cultivated her love of nutrition that began early on in her college career. Stephanie is passionate about the key role nutrition plays in preventing and managing disease in companion animals, so it was a dream come true for her to join Royal Canin and share nutrition knowledge with her colleagues.

Click here to register for Be a Rockstar: Fine tuning the nutritional approach to urolithiasis

Tuesday, August 9-Managing Your Money Buckets

Garret Colao, CFP, CSLP, Independent Financial Consultant, The Vitality Group powered by North Star Financial
Join us to discuss tax-advantage strategies for creating and managing wealth during accumulation as well as during retirement distributions. This pertains to your personal investments and finances as well as strategies those that are available as a practice owner.

Garret Colao focuses on helping his clients develop and maintain a sound financial strategy, while also integrating the appropriate risk management and investing strategies. Working primarily with individuals in Minnesota and Florida, Garret works with young professionals across a variety of industries, including physicians, veterinarians, and lawyers. He values mutual trust and transparency in his client relationships as he works towards being able to provide his clients with that sense of comfort. Garret’s clients have strong family values and want to provide the best lives possible for their family members. To help them achieve this, his strategy involves educating his clients on being efficient and effective with their finances while developing a comprehensive strategy based on their current financial situation and future goals.

Click here to register for Managing Your Money Buckets

Tuesday, September 13-Nutritional Management of Canine Allergic Skin Disease

Catherine Ruggiero, DVM, DACVN, Scientific Communications Specialist, Hill's Pet Nutrition
Canine allergies can be challenging for pet owners and veterinarians alike.  This session will review how dietary intervention can support recovery and improve outcomes. 

Dr. Catherine Ruggiero is a board certified veterinary nutritionist® and Scientific Communications Specialist for Hill's. She completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine training at the University of Missouri in 2014. Prior to that, she received a Bachelor of Science at St. Lawrence University and a Master of Science in Biological Sciences at Fordham University. She was an associate veterinarian at a small animal veterinary practice in Upstate New York for just over three years before returning to the University of Missouri to pursue residency training in small animal clinical nutrition. Upon completion of an ACVN residency program in 2019, Dr. Ruggiero joined Hill's Pet Nutrition as a Consulting Clinician in VCS, and is currently working in Scientific Affairs.

Click here to register for Nutritional Management of Canine Allergic Skin Disease

Tuesday, October 11-Are You the Rock or the Hard Place? Why You Should Re-evaluate the Role of Insurance in Your Practice

Scott Huggins, DVM, MBA, Blue Heron Consulting
Discuss how pet medical insurance benefits the pet, the owner, and the veterinarian by describing the difficult, yet common economic situation faced by many pet owners when faced with unexpected illnesses and accidents. Pet medical insurance benefits the pet by decreasing economic euthanasia; the owner by eliminating the need to make decisions based on finances; and veterinarians by allowing them to practice high quality veterinary medicine. Also discussed are the AVMA position on pet insurance, the AVMA's criteria for selecting insurance options, and common reasons veterinarians have historically been reluctant to discuss insurance with clients. In addition, also provided are suggestions on how to easily incorporate and discuss pet insurance with owners.

Scott Huggins, DVM, MBA earned a BS degree in Biology from the University of North Carolina, a DVM degree from the N.C. State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and an MBA from the Bryan School of Business and Economics at UNC-Greensboro. He has nearly 30 years of experience in multiple areas of veterinary medicine including private practice in NC, UT, and NV; animal health industry experience with Novartis Animal Health and Nutramax Laboratories; academia; and consulting.  Dr. Huggins is currently a veterinary industry consultant with Blue Heron Consulting, and has given over 250 RACE-certified presentations, providing over 500 hours of continuing education to veterinarians and veterinary technicians.

Click here to register for Are You the Rock or the Hard Place?

Tuesday, November 8-The History and Future of Veterinary Medicine: A DEI Discussion

Elizabeth Martinez-Podolsky, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota
In this session, attendees will learn about some highlighted pieces of American and Minnesota Veterinary history: legislation and policy, relationship to agriculture, and noteworthy turning points. The presentation will also make the connection to current events and how to plan for including diversity and equity into our Veterinary future. 

Elizabeth Martinez-Podolsky (she/her/hers) serves as the Inaugural Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Elizabeth calls South Texas, Iowa, and now Minnesota her home. As an educator and scholar, Elizabeth uses history and critical scholarship to drive her work. At Minnesota, Elizabeth is in charge of advising the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, the Administrative Council for DEI, and the newly formed DEI Faculty Collective. Most recently, she is proud to have helped the MVMA DEI Action Team with the wording of the first ever MVMA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion statement. 

Tuesday, December 13-Leases/Commercial Real Estate/Expansion

Donnie Colvin, Vice President, Senior Business Lending Development Consultant, Wells Fargo Health Care Industries Group-Practice Finance