Find out more about our Fetch Coastal keynotes

If you previously attended our veterinary conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey, you may remember it as the Atlantic Coast Veterinary Conference, or ACVC for short. However, we recently rebranded to Fetch Coastal. In addition to the new name, we also will have an extra keynote at this conference. With 4 keynotes to attend, you can get even more out of your CE experience. Our keynote speakers include Brandy Duhon, DVM; Critter Fixers Terrence Ferguson, DVM, and Vernard Hodges, DVM; Tasha McNerney, BS, CVT, CVPP, VTS; and a joint talk with Marty Becker, DVM, and Temple Grandin, PhD, MS. This conference is October 9-11, 2023, and attendees can take advantage of 20 hours of CE with more than 40 specialty tracks to choose from, so register now if you haven't already done so!

Brandy Duhon, DVM

Brandy Duhon, DVM

Brandy Duhon, DVM, kicks off the keynotes, speaking on day 1 of the conference at 8 AM. She is the director of campus relations at Heartland Veterinary Partners in Chicago, Illinois, where she helps match students with externships and jobs within general practices throughout the US. Duhon received her DVM degree in 2013 from the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine.

“Beyond Able: Breaking Barriers of Disabilities & Accessibility in Veterinary Medicine” will focus on Duhon’s resilience and tenacity in overcoming physical disabilities to pursue her passion in veterinary medicine and shelter medicine.

Terrence Ferguson, DVM, and Vernard Hodges, DVM

Terrence Ferguson, DVM

Vernard Hodges, DVM

Terrence Ferguson, DVM, spent his childhood rescuing neighborhood animals in rural Georgia and eventually started volunteering with local veterinary clinics. He received his DVM in 1998 from Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine. Vernard Hodges, DVM, also graduated from Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine. Together, they star in the National Geographic Wild television show Critter Fixers: Country Vets, which follows the pair as they treat patients at their practice in Bonaire, Georgia.

Ferguson and Hodges will present on day 2 of the conference at 8 AM. The topic is still to be determined, but to read more about the Critter Fixers, see the article above.

Tasha McNerney, BS, CVT, CVPP, VTS

Tasha McNerney, BS, CVT, CVPP, VTS

Tasha McNerney, BS, CVT, CVPP, VTS, is the founder of the Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds and board member of the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management. She became a veterinary technician specialist in anesthesia in 2015.

McNerney will present on day 2 of the conference at 2:45 PM. “The 5th Vital Sign: Pain Management as the Key to Purpose, Profit, and Possibility” will focus on new research and options in pain management to create a better patient experience.

Marty Becker, DVM, and Temple Grandin, PhD, MS

Marty Becker, DVM

Temple Grandin, PhD, MS

Marty Becker, DVM, is the founder of Fear Free LLC, which works to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets by inspiring and educating those who care for them. Temple Grandin, PhD, MS, is a designer of livestock-handling facilities, a professor of animal science at Colorado State University, and the author of multiple books. She has designed facilities all over the world, from United States to Canada, Europe, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and more.

At 8 AM on day 3 of the conference, Becker and Grandin will present, “If You’re Not Looking After The Emotional Well-being of Animals, You’re Not Practicing Best Medicine,” which will focus on being in tune with a patient’s behavior and stress level.