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VIN MULT209-0421: Systems A: Organ System Pathophysiology and ABVP Core Examination Review 2021

The lectures for this course will be presented in an audio format using a webinar platform.

Presenters: Mark Rishniw, BVSc, DACVIM (Internal Medicine and Cardiology)
Debbie Calnon, BSc, BVMS, MANZCVSc(Animal Behaviour), DipVET-P, Dipp TAA CertIVTC
Kersti Seksel, BVSc (Hons), MRCVS, MA (Hons), FANZCVS, DACVB, DECAWVBM-FAVA
Anne Katherman, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology)
William Thomas, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology)

Course Open: April 29-July 5, 2021
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Thursdays, May 6, 13, 20, 27, June 3, 10, 17 and 24, 2021; 9:00-11:00 pm ET (USA) World Clock Converter
Total CE Credit: 14
RACE Category: 14 hours Medical

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Course Information:
The third of seven modules in the Organ System Pathophysiology and ABVP Core Examination review series, this course is designed to cover the pathophysiological basis of disease in small animals based on pathophysiological and discipline-specific concepts. Clinical examples will be used to illustrate these concepts.

The Organ System Pathophysiology and ABVP Core Examination Review series of courses may be used as a comprehensive review for the ABVP examination for small animals. This series of courses repeats every other year. Individual instructors may change some of their material year-to-year, but much of the core content is repeated. It should be noted that these courses are not designed specifically as a preparation for test taking. The instructors do not have access to information on the question types. Furthermore, the questions used on the examination may be a few years behind the current knowledge and practice, whereas the course will strive to be more current. We recommend using the course to
  • keep progressing through the topics so all topics will have been studied prior to the exam and
  • provide participants with feedback on their strongest and weakest topics to guide their individual exam specific preparations.

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of the course, the participant should be able to
  • better understand the pathophysiological basis of diseases of the cardiac body system.
  • understand the physiology of heart disease.
  • understand how to deal with cardiac patients – selected cases demonstrating how to evaluate and treat them.
  • apply the pathophysiological basis of disease to generate better and complete differentials for problems.
  • apply the pathophysiological basis of disease to improve case management.
  • understand underlying principles of normal dog and cat behavior.
  • apply intelligence, trainability, and learning theory.
  • understand developmental periods of dogs and cats.
  • apply socialization & Stress and Anxiety Responses.
  • understand Behavioral Medication .
  • better understand the pathophysiological basis of diseases of the neurologic system.
  • better understand brain lesions.
  • better understand disease of spinal cord.
  • apply the pathophysiological basis of disease to generate better and complete differentials for problems.
  • apply the pathophysiological basis of disease to improve case management.

Level and Prerequisites: This intermediate VIN CE course is open for enrollment to veterinarians actively interested in an overview of neurology, cardiology and behavior information. This course is the third of seven modules in the Organ System Pathophysiology and ABVP Core Examination review series. The MULT207-1020: Pathologic Basis of Disease and the MULT208-0221: Principles of Medicine courses are recommended prerequisites.
Accreditation: This course is approved for 14 hours of continuing education credit by RACE for veterinarians. (RACE 20-793673)

Course Agenda:

Week 1-4 (Real Time Session May 6, 13, and 20, 2021): Cardiology
Presenter: Mark Rishniw, BVSc, DACVIM (Internal Medicine and Cardiology)

**** BREAK - May 27, 2021 ****

Week 4 (Real Time Session June 3, 2021): Behavior
Presenters: Debbie Calnon, BSc BVMS MANZCVSc(Animal Behaviour) CMAVA DipVET-P CertIVTC
Kersti Seksel, BVSc (Hons), MRCVS, MA (Hons), FACVSc (Animal Behavior), Dipl. ACVB, DECVBM-CA CMAVA

Week 5-7 (Real Time Session June 10, 17, and 24, 2021): Neurology
Presenters: Anne Katherman, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology)
William Thomas, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Neurology)

Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course. To learn more about the requirements for earning a CE certificate, please refer to Receiving Your CE Credit and Course Completion Certificate.

Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.
Required Textbook(s): There is no required textbook for this course.


Enrollment is closed.


Tuition: Member $322 ($290 early bird special if enrolled by April 15, 2021)
Non-Member $468 ($421 early bird special if enrolled by April 15, 2021)
Prices are listed in US dollars.

*To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close on May 6, 2021 at 5 pm ET (USA) or when the maximum number of participants is reached.

*For more information on how online CE works, see the Participant Resource Center.

  1. Enrollment qualifications: VIN CE courses are open to VIN member and non-member veterinarians. Veterinarians enrolling in a VSPN CE course must be a VIN member. Veterinary support staff must be a VSPN member to enroll in a VSPN CE or a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
  2. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. Email is our major form of communication with participants; personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
  3. For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext. 797 or email . Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.

Course withdrawal and refund policy: A complete refund of the paid course price will be issued when your withdrawal request is received prior to the listed start date of the course. If you wish to withdraw after the start date please contact the VIN office 800-846-0028 ext. 797 to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.

*For more information on VIN's upcoming CE courses, check the VIN Course Catalog.

Katherine James, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM)
VIN Education Director

VIN CE Services:
800-846-0028 or 530-756-4881; ext. 797
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01 45 222 6154
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from Australia: 02 6145 2357