Annual Membership Meeting
Sunday, August 16 - Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center
3200 W Maple St.
Sioux Falls, SD
Make your hotel reservation today through this link or by calling 605-336-0650. The SDVMA block rate is $110/ night plus tax. Hotel block closes July 17th!
2026 Speaker Sessions
Using Artificial Intelligence to Your Advantage in Veterinary Practice
Presenter: William Tancredi, DVM
Dr. Tancredi is a veterinarian, writer and reluctant futurist who believes the future of veterinary medicine should be shaped by the people who actually practice it. When he’s not elbows-deep in patient care at Old Ridge Veterinary Hospital in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, he’s busy translating the world of emerging technology into something useful for clinicians who don’t have time for TED Talks. He serves on the AVMA’s Task Force for Emerging Technology and writes Doc’s FIRE, a Substack newsletter about AI, medicine, ethics and innovation.
Beef Cattle Internal Parasites, Interacting with the legal community and Cow-calf practice
- No More Easy Button: Sustainable Parasite Control Strategies
- From Clinic to Courtroom: The Power of Good Documentation and Communication.
- The Next Generation of Cow-Calf Practice
This session:
Explains the growing problem of dewormer resistance and the need to shift from routine deworming to sustainable parasite control strategies. It emphasizes using diagnostics, targeted treatment, and refugia-based programs to slow resistance, while considering cattle management, nutrition, and environmental factors. The presentation also covers parasite biology, impacts on production, and liver flukes, stressing that long-term success depends on balancing herd health, economics, and selection for more parasite‑resilient cattle.
Explains how thorough, accurate veterinary records are essential for legal protection, maintaining standard of care, and supporting quality patient care. Using a real legal case, it highlights how poor documentation, lack of diagnostics, and incomplete communication can expose veterinarians to lawsuits or subpoenas. The presentation outlines best practices for recordkeeping, ethical responsibilities, and responding to complaints, emphasizing that proper documentation and evidence‑based decision-making are critical safeguards for both veterinarians and their clients; and
Explores trends shaping food animal veterinary practice, including workforce challenges, industry consolidation, and changing client expectations. It emphasizes the need for veterinarians to demonstrate value through data-driven, preventive, and systems-based services rather than emergency care alone. The presentation highlights opportunities in areas like nutrition, genetics, records, and sustainability, and suggests that future practices will rely on collaboration, technology, and business adaptability to remain relevant in a changing cattle industry.
Presenter: Christine B. Navarre, DVM, MS, DACVIM
Dr. Navarre received her DVM from Louisiana State University in 1990. Following graduation, she worked in a private mixed animal practice in Sulphur Springs, TX before going to Texas A & M for a large animal internal medicine residency and master’s degree. Dr. Navarre joined the Food Animal Section at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital where she spent 11 years providing clinical service and teaching of food animal medicine and surgery. Dr. Navarre is currently Extension Veterinarian with the Louisiana State University
Equine Gut Health
- Acute Colic: an interactive presentation on when to refer and prognosis Indicators
- Abdominal ultrasound in horses with acute colic
- Equine gastric ulcer syndrome, Update Part 1
- Equine gastric ulcer syndrome, Update Part 2
This presentation will examine and evaluate the clinical and laboratory parameters for colic that are most important for surgery referral and survival. The presentation includes an Excel Spread Sheet that can help you in the field to determine when to refer a horse with acute colic and the probability the horse will survive. It will provide a comprehensive presentation of the equipment, indications and procedures involved in preforming an abdominal ultrasound in horses with acute and chronic colic, including techniques that can be helpful in horses with other abdominal conditions, such as disease of other abdominal organs. Includes a comprehensive review of Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome and old and new terminology, diagnostic techniques, management, treatment and preventative measures.
Presenter: Frank M. Andrews, DVM, MS, DACVIM (LAIM)
Dr. Andrews received his DVM degree from Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. After a year in private practice in Walla Walla, WA, he completed an Equine Internal Medicine Residency at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Andrews is a Diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Dr. Andrews was a faculty member at the University of Tennessee for 20 years, before moving to Baton Rouge, LA. For the last 18 years, he has been the LVMA Equine Committee Professor and Director of the Equine Health and Sports Performance Program (EHSP) at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine (LSU). His clinical and research interests include colic and parameters for surgery and survival, abdominal ultrasound, and equine gastric ulcer disease among other interests. Dr. Andrews participates in clinic duty, teaches professional veterinary students on clinics and in the classroom, and mentors’ graduate students.
Large Animal Zoonotic Diseases
Zoonoses relevant to South Dakota veterinarians
A multi-faceted presentation with topics including preventing veterinary clinic exposures to tularemia in felines, the reported enteric disease burden among persons reporting exposure to livestock, ongoing spillover of campylobacteriosis from puppies to humans, and clarifying common misconceptions that arise when considering animals for rabies symptom monitoring after a potential human exposure.
Presenter: Nathan Wilen, DVM
State Public Health Veterinarians, South Dakota Department of Health
Dr. Wilen is a South Dakota native who attended South Dakota State University, followed by veterinary school at Iowa State University. After graduation with his DVM in 2018, he returned home to western South Dakota where he practiced large and small animal medicine for approximately five years. Currently, in addition to working in his current role for the South Dakota Department of Health, Dr. Wilen continues to enjoy practicing mixed animal medicine part-time.
Preventing Chronic Injuries from Large Animal Practice
Injury Prevention and Physical Longevity in Equine and Large Animal Practice Veterinary Longevity Method
Helping equine and large animal veterinarians reduce injury risk, improve movement efficiency, and extend career longevity through practical ergonomics, body mechanics, strength training principles, and occupational durability strategies designed for real world practice demands.
Presenter: Kevin Balcirak, BS, M.Ed
Kevin Balcirak, BS, M.Ed., is the founder of Body Structure Medical Fitness in Lexington, Kentucky. Since 1993, he has worked in exercise physiology, rehabilitation, and strength development, helping individuals, professionals, and equine hospitals improve movement quality, reduce injury risk, and support long term physical performance and health. His work focuses on practical movement application, occupational durability, and strategies that help physically demanding professionals remain stronger, healthier, and more capable throughout their careers.
Small Animal Gut Health
Presenter: Albert E. Jergens, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (LAIM)
Albert E. Jergens received his DVM from Texas A&M University in 1983 and his M.S. and PH.D. from Iowa State University in 1994 and 2005, respectively. He is currently a professor at Iowa State University. Dr. Jergens' clinical and research areas of interest include gastroenterology, GI endoscopy, performance of clinical trials, inflammatory bowel disease in dogs and cats, and the investigation of host–microbiota interactions mediating GI health and disease.
Small Animal Endocrinology
- Diagnosing Cushing’s syndrome: which test is best?
- Canine hypoadrenocorticism: unmasking and treating the great pretender
- Diagnosing and treating canine hypothyroidism
- Feline hyperthyroidism: finding it and helping your patients live longer
- SGLT2 inhibitors: beyond the label
- Update on insulin choices
This presentation will review the tests available for diagnosing canine typical and atypical hyperadrenocorticism, their indications, advantages, disadvantages and interpretation and review the latest developments in canine Addison’s disease and give recommendations on when and how to test as well as how to treat.
Strategies for diagnosing hypothyroidism will be provided as well as treatment recommendations. How best to diagnose hyperthyroidism will be covered along with treatment strategies and recognition of iatrogenic hypothyroidism, a silent killer. SGLT2 inhibitors as a treatment for treating feline diabetes and the available insulin products will be discussed along with dosing recommendations.
Presenter: Ellen N. Behrend, VMD, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM)
Ellen N. Behrend is the Joezy Griffin Professor emerita in the Department of Clinical Sciences, Auburn University. She currently is a consultant for Veterinary Information Network. Dr. Behrend received her VMD degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1988 and her PhD from Auburn University in 2001. Dr. Behrend has received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and has won the Zoetis Distinguished Teaching Award three times. In 2021, she was named Clinician of the Year for the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Behrend has authored over 200 scientific publications, including journal articles, book chapters and abstracts, served as Endocrine section editor for editions of Consultations in Feline Internal Medicine, Kirk’s Current Veterinary Therapy and Coté’s Clinical Veterinary Advisor, and was the editor for the canine chapters of Clinical Endocrinology of Companion Animals. In addition, she has provided 100’s of continuing education lectures at national and international conferences. Dr. Behrend was previously the Director of the Auburn Endocrine Diagnostic Laboratory.
Small Animal Zoonotic Diseases
Zoonoses relevant to South Dakota veterinarians
This is a multi-faceted presentation with topics including preventing veterinary clinic exposures to tularemia in felines, the reported enteric disease burden among persons reporting exposure to livestock, ongoing spillover of campylobacteriosis from puppies to humans, and clarifying common misconceptions that arise when considering animals for rabies symptom monitoring after a potential human exposure.
Presenter: Nathan Wilen, DVM
State Public Health Veterinarians, South Dakota Department of Health
Dr. Wilen is a South Dakota native who attended South Dakota State University, followed by veterinary school at Iowa State University. After graduation with his DVM in 2018, he returned home to western South Dakota where he practiced large and small animal medicine for approximately five years. Currently, in addition to working in his current role for the South Dakota Department of Health, Dr. Wilen continues to enjoy practicing mixed animal medicine part-time.
Small Animal Autoimmune Disease
- Diagnosis of Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA)
- Treatment of Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA)
- Thrombocytopenia: Is It Immune-Mediated?
- Therapeutic Advancements in Immune-Mediated Thrombocytopenia
This session provides an overview of:
The diagnostic approach to IMHA, with an emphasis on differentiating primary (non-associative) from secondary (associative) IMHA, and on distinguishing immune-mediated from infectious causes of hemolysis, including illustrative case examples;
Recent research advances and strategies for applying immunosuppressive therapy to our IMHA patients, using case discussions to help highlight immunosuppressive therapy in the individual clinical patient;
The diagnostic approach for dogs and cats with thrombocytopenia, with an emphasis on differentiating primary immune-mediated thrombocytopenia from infectious or non-immune causes of thrombocytopenia; and
Recent research advances and strategies for using immunosuppressive and other supportive therapies for dogs with immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, using case discussions to help highlight immunosuppressive therapy in individual patients.
Presenter: John Thomason, DVM, MS, DACVIM(SAIM)
John Thomason is an associate professor of small animal internal medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University (MSU). He received his DVM in 2006 from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and earned his M.S. in Veterinary Medicine in 2012 from Mississippi State University. He completed his residency in small animal internal medicine at Mississippi State University prior to joining the faculty in 2011. Dr. Thomason’s research interests are in the field of hematology, hemostasis and immune mediated disorders.
SDSU Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory and PPVM presentations and Animal Industry Board Update
H5N1 avian influenza investigation in a dairy, Becky Dorn, PPVM student
BVD investigation in calves, Bobby Feiock, PPVM student
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Cases in Domestic Cats from Eastern South Dakota, Hilary Ward, DVM. MPH, SDSU Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory
Electronic lab submissions, Jon Greseth, SDSU Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory
Hereditary spinal ataxia in a juvenile quarter horse, David Knudsen, DVM, SDSU Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory
Animal Industry Board Update, Mendel Miller, DVM, South Dakota State Veterinarian
Special Annual Convention Opportunities
Beef Quality Assurance Training – Sunday, August 16th 2 pm – 5 pm
Ramkota Hotel & Conference Center – Crystal Room
The Beef Quality Assurance program provides educational opportunities for beef and dairy farmers and ranchers throughout the state and works to improve the quality of beef produced by connecting producers with the newest research and animal care techniques. By becoming BQA certified, producers can uphold consumer confidence in beef, enhance herd profitability through better management, safeguard the public image of the beef industry, and improve the sale of marketed beef cattle. In South Dakota, many veterinarians become trainers so that they can provide this training to their clients.
Pre-Registration is appreciated. Please RSVP to [email protected] or register as part of your Annual Meeting Registration Form.
Christian Veterinary Fellowship Breakfast – Tuesday, August 18th 7:00 am – 8:00 am
Ramkota Hotel & Conference Center – Conference Room #2
Join Christian Veterinary Mission friends for a special time of fellowship and hear how God is making an impact through veterinary medicine around the globe. All are welcome to join! Dr. Ashley Propst will share on CVM’s annual theme of “Onward: Encourage. Love. Do.” from Hebrews 10:24.
Pre-registration is not required, but appreciated to help with meal counts.
University of Minnesota Alumni Reception – Tuesday, August 18th 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Ramkota Hotel & Conference Center – Conference Room #2
Alumni are invited to join representatives from the University of Minnesota to reminisce and learn about veterinary education programs at the University. Light hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be provided.
Pre-registration is not required, but appreciated to help food and drink counts. Please contact Kris Hayden at [email protected] or sign up on the annual meeting registration form.
SDVMA President’s Reception – Tuesday, August 18th 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Ramkota Hotel & Conference Center – Washington Room
Join us in congratulating Dr. Jake Gies as the incoming SDVMA president at this come and go reception. We will also thank Dr. Broc Mauch for his services as SDVMA president over the past year with the presentation of the President’s Plaque. Heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be provided.
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