Daniel Heder, DVM
William Blevins, DVM, MS, DACVR
Tomas Baker, BS
Course Open: October 26-November 26, 2020
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Mondays, November 2, 9, and 16, 2020; 9:00-11:00 pm ET (USA)
Course RTS Times in Your Area: World Clock Converter Level and Prerequisites: This basic course will be open to veterinarians actively interested in ultrasound basics - learning how to optimize scans and ultrasound fundamentals.
VIN CE Course: Open to veterinarians. This course is approved by RACE for veterinarians. (RACE 22-44231) Course Information:
Ultrasound plays an invaluable role in case management from the initial assessment of an emergent patient, to further exploration of clinical and laboratory abnormalities, to in some cases providing a definitive diagnosis. This modality can be somewhat intimidating at first and a learning curve does exist. This is especially true during the current pandemic when the availability of radiologists, sonographers, and hands-on training can be limited. We have put together a course we hope will assist and encourage the beginning sonographer over the initial humps of understanding how the machine works, learning common indications for an ultrasound, and performing a basic complete abdominal scan. This basic virtual course will begin with the fundamentals of ultrasound including a discussion on first steps (focused assessment scans). It will continue with an introduction to the complete abdominal scan and then conclude with a focus on the kidney and an introduction to the gastrointestinal tract. This course is ideal for new and beginning sonographers but will also provide a good review for general practitioners with a variety of experience levels. A follow up intermediate level course is tentatively planned for Spring 2021. Week 1 (Real Time Session November 2, 2020): Ultrasound Indications, Mechanics, First Steps, and Case Examples
Presenter: Thomas Hansen DVM, DABVP
Format: Audio
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to
- Understand how an ultrasound works and how to operate common controls
- Learn situations where the beginning sonographer can put the ultrasound to use right away
Presenter: Tomas Baker BS
Format: Audio
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to
- A discussion on performing the basic abdominal exam
- Normal and abnormal examples of specific organs
Presenter: Daniel Heder, DVM
Format: Audio
Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the participant should be able to
- Discuss the normal and abnormal sonographic appearance to the kidneys
- Learn the basics of how the ultrasound is used to assess the gastrointestinal tract
- Review case examples
Required Textbook(s): There is no required textbook for this course. About the Presenters:
Thomas Hansen is a graduate of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Canine and Feline Practice). In addition to serving as a consultant and CE instructor on VIN he is in general and emergency practice in the San Francisco Bay Area. His favorite areas of practice are cats, internal medicine, emergency medicine, and ultrasound. Daniel Heder is a general practitioner with advanced training in diagnostic imaging. I have been fortunate to combine general veterinary medicine and surgery with imaging over most of my career. In the most recent 10 years, my professional activities shifted to part time practice management and an emphasis on imaging that includes CT, ultrasound and echocardiography (i.e. I no longer actually practice general medicine). Outside of veterinary medicine, I enjoy freshwater fishing for multiple species and upland bird hunting. I currently live with my wife, two bird dogs and two cats in northern Wisconsin. William E. Blevins earned his veterinary degree from Purdue University in 1968 and master's degree at Iowa State University in 1970. At that time, there were no residency programs in radiology. An MS degree was required to sit for the American College of Veterinary Radiology certification exam. Blevins became a diplomate of the ACVR in 1973. He is a past president of the ACVR and has served on many of their committees. He also is a past president of the Veterinary Ultrasound Society. Blevins currently is a professor emeritus of diagnostic imaging at Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. Joining the university in 1970, he served as head of the Diagnostic Imaging Section for 37 of his 39 years on the faculty. Blevins joined the Veterinary Information Network in 2000 and has served as an editor and consultant in the Diagnostic Imaging Folder. Tomas Baker, author of “What’s That?! A Beginner’s Guide to Veterinary Abdominal Ultrasound” and “What’s Next? A Guide to Veterinary Ultrasound of the Eye, Neck, and Shoulder and Guided Sampling Techniques” is well known for his entertaining and hugely effective style of teaching ultrasound. He lectures internationally about the topic. Tomas obtained his BA in animal husbandry at California State University, Fresno. Mr. Baker, now retired, was the principal ultrasonographer at the Small Animal Clinic of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of California, School of Veterinary Medicine in Davis, and was the Supervisor of the Department of Small Animal Radiology and Ultrasound. Mr. Baker has been the recipient of numerous awards for outstanding abilities in clinical instruction, including the prestigious Rachel Smith Award for Outstanding Clinical Performance. Additionally, Mr. Baker consults in ultrasound for the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, in Washington D.C. Mr. Baker owns Border collies, Labrador retrievers, horses, sheep and llamas, and his hobbies include fly fishing, photography and travel. Total CE Credit: 6
Tuition: Member $138 ($124 early bird special if enrolled by October 12, 2020)
Non-Member $231 ($208 early bird special if enrolled by October 12, 2020)
Prices are listed in US dollars. *To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close on November 2, 2020 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. To Enroll:
- 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.
- 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.
- Each person is individually responsible for his/her own registration. To ensure that all information received is secure and correct, please do not enroll for a course on behalf of another individual.
- For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext. 797 or email CEonVIN. Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.
VIN Education Director VIN CE Services: CEonVIN
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