| Course Duration: 3 Days (per session) User Level: Beginner to Intermediate Location: Guelph or Cambridge, Ontario |
Dates: |
June 9-11, 2023 |
Our Bootcamps are fast paced, hands-on and extremely effective. Bootcamps are divided into Bootcamp Part 1 (intro) and Bootcamp Part 2 (advanced). By combining didactic and hands-on wet labs, the entire Bootcamp program is designed to cater to all skill levels. You will enhance the skills you already have, or learn something entirely new for your practice!
Part 1: Introduction to Companion Animal Abdominal Ultrasound
In this course participants will learn how to perform a full abdominal ultrasound including liver, spleen, urogenital system, gastrointestinal tract, adrenal glands and lymph nodes. Participants will also be given the guiding principles and techniques for ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration and biopsies and an opportunity to practice these techniques in the lab using a phantom. The objectives of the course are:
- To provide the participants with a foundation in how to perform a complete ultrasound examination and how to appropriately document the study for submission to a radiologist.
- Understand the indications for and limitations of abdominal ultrasonography
- Be able to perform ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration and biopsy
The course is designed for both the beginner and those who may have scanned before but would like a refresher.
Part 2: Interpretation of Abdominal Ultrasonography in Veterinary Medicine
In this course the participants will learn the ultrasonographic appearances of common diseases of all the organ systems. The emphasis will be how to differentiate non-specific ultrasonographic findings from those that are more specific for a given disease and determining the next appropriate diagnostic or treatment steps. The objectives of the course are:
- To understand the ultrasonographic manifestations of disease in the major abdominal systems
- To improve on ultrasound scanning skills through supervised practice
The course is designed for those who have either taken a previous introductory course where the basics of scanning have been covered, or have a considerable amount of previous scanning experience as the mechanics of how to conduct an ultrasound examination will not be specifically reviewed.
Course Instructors:
Dr. Stephanie Nykamp (DVM, Dip ACVR) is a graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph and has been a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiologists since 2003, following completion of a residency at Cornell University. While on faculty at the Ontario Veterinary College she was involved in training and mentoring DVM students and numerous diagnostic imaging residents as well as residents on other specialties. Dr. Nykamp is currently a teleradiology consultant.
Dr. Shawn Mackenzie (DVM, Dip ACVR) is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiology who is currently working at the Toronto Veterinary Emergency Hospital and is an adjunct professor at the Ontario Veterinary College. Dr. Mackenzie obtained his DVM in 2010 from the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) in PEI. Following graduation he completed a one year rotating internship followed by a four year combination residency and Doctorate of Veterinary Sciences in diagnostic imaging at the Ontario Veterinary College.
Carolyn Bennett graduated from the 2-year Veterinary Technician program at Centralia College in 1982. After graduating, she worked at various veterinary hospitals in Ontario. In 2002 she began working in the Diagnostic Imaging department at the Ontario Veterinary College. In her role as a DI technician, she performed small animal ultrasound, small and large animal radiographs as well as small and large animal CT. She perfected her ultrasound skills with the guidance of board-certified radiologists. She took numerous courses to perfect her imaging skills including travelling to Milwaukee to become proficient at CT. Carolyn became the lead hand of the DI department, assuming other administrative and supervisory roles while continuing in her technician duties.
During her time at OVC she did some part-time weekend work going into clinics to teach ultrasound and hands-free radiology. She has lectured at the OAVT conference and McMaster University.
For the past 12 years she has worked for MiEducation. Originally the work was as an ultrasound instructor at bootcamps. After leaving OVC in 2021, she became more involved with MiEducation and now travels across Canada teaching ultrasound, created the Beginners Guide to Ultrasound lecture which is now part of the MiEducation curriculum, assists with FAST and hands-free radiology as well as being the Education Coordinator for MiEducation.
In her spare time Carolyn enjoys tennis, golf, and gardening. She is an avid birder and is actively involved with bird conservation groups. Her happy place is in a forest with a pair of binoculars in hand.