UPCOMING EVENTS
Nutrition
Dr.Jenna Manacki
Dr. Jenna Manacki completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Guelph. She attended Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine on the beautiful island of St. Kitts and completed her clinical training at the University of Saskatchewan. After four years in private practice, Dr. Manacki pursued a clinical nutrition residency at the University of Missouri, finishing in 2022. Her clinical interests include enteral nutrition (feeding tubes) and formulating diets for patients with food sensitivities.
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October 9, 2024
End of Life Care
Dr. Chris Hickman
Dr. Chris Hickman graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1988. She has worked steadily as a veterinary locum in various practice settings including several emergency clinics, small animal clinics (both rural and urban settings) and feline specialty practices. Dr. Hickman has interests in emergency medicine and surgery, feline medicine, and end-of-life care. She has earned the designation of Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian, being one of the first to earn the distinction. Dr. Hickman runs a mobile veterinary hospice service in Ontario, where she focuses on palliative care and end-of-life issues in the pet's home environment. She has been part of the CAETA team since 2023.
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This lecture is brought to you by:
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September 11, 2024
November 13, 2024
Neurology
Dr. Stephanie Lovell
Dr. Stephanie Lovell is a neurologist with Animal Health Partners in Toronto. She completed her DVM at the OVC in 2017 where she then went on to do a rotating internship in small animal Medicine at the VEC. In 2018 she started her journey towards a neurology specialty at TAHP and then finished her residency in neurology at Texas A&M. Dr. Lovell has a special interest in IVDD and acute spinal cord injury, syringohydromyelia, tumours affecting the nervous system, and neuroradiology.
She is an avid runner and has two cats named Ralph and Cricket.
February 12, 2025
Surgical Oncology
Dr. Sarah Boston
Dr Sarah Boston is a veterinary surgical oncologist who is an ACVS board certified small animal surgeon and an ACVS Founding Fellow of both Surgical Oncology and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. She spent the first half of her career in academia as a tenured faculty member at both the University of Guelph and the University of Florida. She is currently in private practice in the Toronto area. She lectures nationally and internationally on veterinary surgical oncology. She has published numerous scientific articles and textbook chapters, some of them good.
Dr Boston is also a best-selling author of the book, LUCKY DOG: HOW BEING A VETERINARIAN SAVED MY LIFE and the creators of The Cageliner, a satirical online newspaper for veterinary professionals. Her newest passion is stand up comedy. She completed the Humber College Comedy Performance and Writing Program in 2023, where she won the Award for Academic Excellence in her program and the Tim Sims Encouragement Award for emerging comedic performers. What I am saying here is Sarah is a bit of a nerd, regardless of what she is doing. She performs stand up around the GTA and is a regular performer at YukYuks in Toronto on the Rising Stars show. She has an acting agent and is a member of ACTRA (Apprentice) and honestly things have been a bit quiet on that front. Sarah just started a podcast called Comedicine, where she talks to healthcare professionals (human and animal) who are also comedians. She is trying to bring comedy to her profession because she believes veterinarians need to laugh more. (Actually, everyone needs to laugh more, she is starting with veterinarians.)
Sarah’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsarahboston/
Sarah’s Website: www.drsarahboston.com
Comedicine Instagram: @comedicine_comedy
Comedicine Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ComedicinePodcast
Reproduction
Dr. Rasa Levstein
Dr. Rasa Levstein decided to become a veterinarian at the age of five. Born in Lithuania, she graduated from the Lithuanian Veterinary Academy in 1994. During her student years she was breeding and showing Bloodhounds, and was the head of the Hound Group of Lithuanian Kennel Club.
Dr. Rasa’s main focus is small animal reproduction. She completed a residency and obtained a Doctor of Veterinary Science (DVSc) degree in this field at the University of Guelph, working together with Dr. Cathy Gartley at the Ontario Veterinary College. In 2009, she became a Diplomate with the American College of Theriogenologists (veterinarians specialized in animal reproduction). Dr. Rasa continued working at the OVC Theriogenology Service until August of 2011, when she joined the team at Graham Animal Hospital.
Dr. Rasa lives with her husband, also a veterinarian, her teenage daughter, a Bull Terrier named Ice Breaker, a white Shepherd named Violet, and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Ginger, and two cats named Freddie and Patrick. Dr. Rasa spends her free time with her family and friends, horseback riding, hiking and exploring the great outdoors with her dogs.
April 9, 2025
Work-Life Balance
Senani Ratnayake
Globally renowned consultant and speaker, Senani has received multiple awards for her contributions to veterinary medicine, including the 2021 RVTTC Canadian RVT of the Year, and the Founder Award from Dr. Andy Roark's Uncharted Veterinary Community.
She has gained a unique perspective by working in practice, industry, and with a corporate group. Combining her experiences with her natural way with words, she became a catalyst for change within the industry and founded Motivatum Consulting. In 2020, she joined the team at Vet Alliance and most recently has become the National Director of Engagement and Practice Services.
She believes that success in patient care, client experience, and business practices, comes from focusing on strong leadership, full team utilization, communication skills and culture development. She is best known for challenging perspectives, problem solving, and her authentic and honest approach. Passionate about the longevity of our industry, she uses her voice to be an advocate at any, and every, opportunity. She is a Past President of the Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians, and was the first non-DVM President of the Toronto Academy of Veterinary Medicine.
March 12, 2025
Rehab
Dr. Jennifer Dodd
Bio Coming Soon ...
All lectures run from 1 pm to 7 pm at the Best Western Mariposa Inn and Conference Centre in Orillia. Dinner, coffee, tea and dessert are included (see membership page for more details).
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Interested in hearing a specific topic or speaker? Feel free to contact us at georgianbayveterinaryassoc@gmail.com with your ideas!