Dr. Emily McCobb is a professor of clinical accessible veterinary care, and the PetSmart Charities endowed chair in accessible veterinary care at UC Davis. Prior to joining the faculty at UC Davis, Dr. McCobb was an associate clinical professor of anesthesiology and community medicine at Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, where she directed the shelter medicine program and on-campus spay/neuter clinic and assisted in opening a low-cost student training clinic, Tufts at Tech. She is a past chair of the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Animal Welfare Committee and is a founding member of the editorial board for the Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health.
8:00 AM–9:15 AM
Shelter and Community Medicine Conversations: Convergence and Divergence of Practice, Place, and Purpose in Support of Accessible Veterinary Care (with Drs. Cynthia Karsten and Jena Valdez)
Shelter and community medicine have long shared a commitment to improving the wellbeing of animals and the people who care for them, yet the relationship between these two disciplines has not been defined. As the field of accessible veterinary care grows, shelters redefine their roles, and communities seek more integrated support systems, the boundaries between “shelter” and “community” medicine need to be better understood. Moreover, organizations need to consider which models of care best fit their mission.
This panel will explore the dynamic conversation unfolding across these fields: How do these disciplines complement each other? Where do their missions and methods diverge? And what innovations are shaping the shared future of animal welfare and veterinary accessibility? Through discussion with leaders in both areas, we will examine emerging service models, ethical considerations, workforce challenges, and opportunities for more collaborative, community-driven systems of care.
1:30 PM–2:30 PM
Is Some Care Better Than No Care? SOC Approaches to Common Conditions for Small Animal Community Practice (Part 1)
In part one of this two-part session, we will review the term “spectrum of care” (SOC) and what this approach to case management can mean for busy practitioners. We will review basic concepts and principles associated with a spectrum of care approach to practice and how SOC is a tool to increase access to care. We will also review resources that can help practices become more financially friendly and guidelines to use in practice, including the American Animal Hospital Association’s guidelines for community care. We will discuss standard of care concepts and how spectrum of care can help us meet the needs of the client in front of us.
2:40 PM–3:40 PM
Is Some Care Better Than No Care? SOC Approaches to Common Conditions for Small Animal Community Practice (Part 2)
In part two of this lecture series, we will discuss the spectrum of care (SOC) approach to common conditions, such as dystocia, pyometra, GI foreign bodies, fractures, and dental disease. Understanding the evidence base underlying low-cost solutions can help practitioners feel more comfortable when offering flexible treatment plans. At the end of this two-part series, attendees will be able to identify resources to help them practice along a spectrum of care, list three in-house diagnostic tests for common conditions, describe multiple treatment approaches for common conditions, and consider options for making practice more efficient.
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