Shelter Medicine Training and Workshops

In addition to our unique shelter medicine course work, Maddie’s^® Shelter Medicine Program offers and participates in a variety of learning opportunities from conferences to special courses for veterinarians, veterinary students, and shelter practitioners and staff.

Upcoming Training & Workshops

Animal Welfare & TNR Conference

August 10-11, 2019 – Puerto Rico

This free, two-day, dual-track conference will include classroom instruction for veterinary and shelter/rescue personnel. The conference is free to all. Participants must register for and attend all training sessions. Learn more.

Compassion Fatigue Strategies Online Course

Sept. 30-Nov 24, 2019 – online

The Maddie’s^® Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida is once again offering its Compassion Fatigue Strategies online course with certified compassion fatigue educator Jessica Dolce. This course is open to anyone who works with animals. Registration is available now, with the course beginning Sept. 30, 2019. Learn more.

ABVP Symposium

Oct. 10-13, 2019 – Denver, Colo.

The ABVP Symposium is a leading CE event for veterinarians, veterinary residents, veterinary technicians, and students. The ABVP is the parent organization of the shelter medicine specialty. Former Maddie’s^® Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida intern Dr. Meaghan Mielo will be presenting “Spay/Neuter Tattoos: Veterinary Training and Compliance with Practice Guidelines” during the Shelter Medicine track. Learn more and register.

Past Training & Workshops

FeLV: Caring for and Rehoming Vulnerable Cats

July 26, 2019 – Dallas, Tx.

Dr. Julie Levy and Monica Frenden will be presenting about adoption of FeLV cats at the Best Friends Conference. Learn more and register here.

ASPCA Cornell Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Conference

July 12-14, 2019 – Ithaca, N.Y.

Now in its 16th year, this conference provides high-quality education for veterinary, animal shelter, and spay/neuter professionals to improve the quality of care for animals. Learn more and register here.

Making Every Day Count: Population Management for Animal Shelters

June 28, 2019 – Largo, Fla.

Join Dr. Brian DiGangi and Ms.Kate Pullen of the ASPCA for a full-day workshop on how to provide better care for greater numbers of animals without compromising health and welfare. Learn more and register here.

HSUS Animal Care Expo

Apr. 15-18, 2019 – New Orleans, La.

Join Dr. Julie Levy, Dr. Kate Hurley, and the Million Cat Challenge team at our interactive exhibit booth to discover the latest big wins for saving shelter cats. #allthecats Learn more about our speaking sessions here.

Recognizing and Responding to Animal Cruelty

March 30, 2019 – Tallahassee, Fla.

“Recognizing and Responding to Animal Cruelty.” A free seminar in Tallahassee. Email kristina.baucom@aspca.org for more info or to register.

VMX – The World’s Leading Veterinary Conference

Jan. 19-23, 2019 – Orlando, Fla

Dr. Natalie Isaza presenting “One Welfare in Real Life: Experiences from Teaching and Providing Outreach Medicine” for the WSAVA Animal Wellness/Welfare Symposium track. Learn more and register here.

Shelter Medicine Track at the ABVP Symposium

Oct. 11-14, 2018 – Tampa, Fla

Join Dr. Julie Levy, Dr. Cynda Crawford, Dr. Sheilah Robertson, alum Dr. Staci Cannon, UF consultant Dr. Sarah Pizano, and Dr. Elizabeth Berliner, Director of Shelter Medicine at Cornell University, at the annual ABVP Symposium! Learn more.

Diverting Feline Intake

Nov. 16, 2017 – Orlando, Fla

Join Maddie’s^® Professor of Shelter Medicine Dr. Julie Levy, the Florida Animal Welfare Association, and Best Friends for this free seminar, on Nov. 15, 2017, in Sarasota, Fla. (Cat Depot) . Learn more and register here.

What Shelter Cats and Dogs Want You To Know: A Day of Learning with Dr. Julie Levy and Dr. Sarah Kirk

Nov. 15, 2017 – Sarasota, Fla

Join Maddie’s^® Professor of Shelter Medicine Dr. Julie Levy and Dr. Sarah Kirk for this free seminar, on Nov. 15, 2017, in Sarasota, Fla. (Cat Depot) . Click here to learn more or to register.

Veterinarian to Leader: Leadership Skills for Medical Directors

Oct. 27-28, 2017 – Gainesville, Fla.

SOLD OUT! This two-day, in person workshop will zero in on the unique leadership challenges shelter veterinarians face. Attendees will be able to put aside veterinary and technical issues for two days and focus in on what it takes to provide outstanding leadership to a team, including communication skills, collaborative decision making, conflict negotiation, and more. Click here to learn more or to register for this event.

Compassion Fatigue Strategies

Online CE Course, Fall 2017

This online CE course is uniquely designed to offer support for people who work with animals. Transform your experience with compassion fatigue through the instruction of Jessica Dolce, a Certified Compassion Fatigue Educator. Click here for more information or to register.

Surgeons to Leaders CE Workshop

Maddie’s^® Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida was proud to present this two-day CE workshop for veterinarians in collaboration with Emancipet. The Surgeons to Leaders CE workshop is designed for professional veterinarians who are on a management career track.

Maddie’s^® Community Cat Management Course

This week-long intensive program will use a combination of lectures, discussions, and clinical laboratories to cover the controversial topic of managing unowned community cats.

The Community Cat Management Course is not currently being offered.

Maddie’s^® Shelter Medicine Conferences

Maddie’s^® Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida is not currently scheduling future Shelter Medicine Conferences.

Past Conferences

Collaborative Programs

Veterinary Forensic Sciences

Veterinarians play a critical role in animal cruelty investigations.

The University of Florida’s online graduate certificate program in Veterinary Forensic Sciences is comprised of five 3-credit courses and is provided by the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine in partnership with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

Veterinary Forensic Science

Operation Catnip

Leaders in Community Cat Management.

Operation Catnip is a nonprofit organization offering free spay/neuter and vaccines for unowned free-roaming community cats from Alachua County, Florida since 1998. Our clinics are run entirely by volunteers (veterinarians, vet technicians and other trained volunteers) and are capable of sterilizing over 200 cats in a matter of hours.

Operation Catnip

Forensic Toxicology

Focused on advanced and general principles.

The University of Florida’s online graduate certificate* program in Forensic Toxicology is comprised of five 3-credit courses and has been designed to meet the needs of today’s working professionals; providing a strong working background in analytical techniques, pharmacokinetics, drug elimination and toxicology .

Forensic Toxicology