VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK CITY

Meeting the Behavioral Needs of Dogs and Cats
2025-12-02 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | Secret Garden at Civilian Hotel, 305 West 48th Street, New York, NY, 10036
Speaker: Vanessa Spano, DVM, DACVB
Dr. Vanessa Spano, DVM, DACVB, is New York City’s first board-certified veterinary behaviorist and the Animal Medical Center’s first-ever veterinary behaviorist.
Dr. Spano received her B.A in Biology from Barnard College of Columbia University. She received her DVM degree from the Atlantic Veterinary College of the University of PEI in 2017 and subsequently completed a rotating small animal medicine and surgical internship at the ASPCA. Dr. Spano obtained her board certification in 2023 from the American College of Veterinarian Behaviorists after completing her residency under the mentorship of Dr. E’lise Christensen, DVM, DACVB. She previously served as Medical Director at the ASPCA’s Adoption Center in NYC and worked as a behavior consultant and per diem veterinarian for patients of NYPD’s Humane Law Enforcement. Her special interests include the implication of psychological trauma for patients part of cruelty cases, psychopharmacology, shelter medicine, and companion and farm animal welfare. She actively contributes to multiple scientific articles and received the Fear Free Grant for her research on pre-veterinary visit anxiolytics in shelter cats in 2023.
She and her family share their home with their 1 rescue puppy, Puppia, and 5 rescue cats, Little Prince, Dancer, Princess, Sunny D, and Brodie.
Sponsors:

Holiday Party
2025-12-02 20:00 - 23:00 UTC | Starchild Rooftop Bar & Lounge, 305 West 48th Street, New York, NY, 10036

Executive Board Meeting
2026-01-14 16:30 - 18:30, 2026-02-04 16:30 - 18:30, 2026-03-04 16:30 - 18:30, 2026-03-31 16:30 - 18:30, 2026-05-06 16:30 - 18:30, 2026-06-10 16:30 - 18:30, 2026-07-08 16:30 - 18:30, 2026-09-09 16:30 - 18:30 UTC and 3 more dates

Neuter & Cancer - What does the Data REALLY Say? / Liquid Biopsy & Personalized Cancer Medicine - Real or Meh?
2026-01-14 19:00 - 21:00 UTC
Neuter & Cancer – What does the Data REALLY Say?
In the last few years there has been an explosion of publications investigating spay/neuter and possible connections to increased cancers, osteoarthritis and other diseases. These publications have led to very strong opinions by a variety of veterinary stakeholders. We will review in this lecture the publications, the numbers of patients and what the data are really trying to tell us.
Liquid Biopsy & Personalized Cancer Medicine – Real or Meh?
Despite significant promise, the use of liquid biopsy and personalized medicine in veterinary oncology remains limited and fragmented. While circulating tumor DNA and other molecular markers offer the potential for earlier detection and improved disease monitoring, their clinical application in animals is still largely investigational due to lack of full validation studies. Cost, lack of standardization, and minimal regulatory oversight further constrain widespread adoption. Personalized medicine, though conceptually appealing, currently faces similar barriers—insufficient genomic databases, inconsistent sample quality, and limited access to targeted therapies. As a result, most veterinary cancer care continues to rely on traditional diagnostics and empiric treatment protocols rather than truly individualized, molecularly guided approaches.
Speaker: Philip J. Bergman, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Oncology)
Philip J. Bergman, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Oncology)is the Senior Advisor for the Veterinary and Cancer Immunotherapy Programs at the Focused Ultrasound Foundation and he was the principal veterinary investigator for the fully licensed canine melanoma vaccine (Oncept). Dr. Bergman is an adjunct faculty member of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He was most recently the Global Director of Clinical Studies for Mars Veterinary Health and VCA (2024 and 2011-2023, respectively). He served as the Chief Medical Officer for BrightHeart Veterinary Centers from 2007 to 2011; from 1999 – June 2007 he was the head of the Donaldson-Atwood Cancer Center at AMC. After finishing veterinary school from Colorado State in 1990, he was an intern at Kansas State (90-91) and returned to CSU for his medical oncology residency (91-94) and then completed a PhD Fellowship in human cancer biology from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston (94-99). He was previously Chair of the ACVIM Board of Regents and President of the Veterinary Cancer Society.

Feline Tooth Resorption: From Pathogenesis to Practical Treatment
2026-02-04 19:00 - 21:00 UTC
Feline Tooth Resorption: From Pathogenesis to Practical Treatment
An in-depth overview of feline tooth resorption, including classification, pathophysiology, diagnostic challenges, and evidence-based treatment options. The session covers radiographic interpretation, pain assessment, and surgical considerations, offering clinicians a comprehensive approach to managing one of the most common yet misunderstood feline dental conditions.
Speaker: Michael C. Congiusta, DVM, DAVDC
Michael C. Conguista, DVM, DACDV is a board-certified veterinary dentist and oral surgeon whose clinical work spans the full spectrum of advanced dental and maxillofacial care. He has contributed to the scientific literature across multiple areas of veterinary dentistry and has a strong clinical focus on preserving and restoring traumatized teeth through modern endodontic and prosthodontic techniques, often allowing patients to avoid surgical extraction.
He is deeply dedicated to recognizing and treating the frequently overlooked pain associated with oral disease and is driven to provide the highest level of specialty care to improve both comfort and long-term outcomes. Dr. Congiusta’s skillset is especially valuable for patients with challenging oral or maxillofacial disorders, as well as those managing additional medical conditions. Clients consistently note his thoughtful, compassionate approach and his ability to communicate complex treatment plans with clarity and empathy.

Breaking the “Cruciate Code”: What Every Clinician Should Know
2026-03-04 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Breaking the “Cruciate Code”: What Every Clinician Should Know
This presentation provides a comprehensive review of cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) injury in dogs, including anatomy, biomechanics, diagnosis, meniscal injury, and surgical and nonsurgical treatment options. Participants will learn how to perform and interpret physical exam maneuvers (drawer, tibial thrust), evaluate radiographs and advanced imaging, understand TPLO and conservative management planning principles, review postoperative expectations, and recognize common complications. The session also covers osteoarthritis management and client communication strategies.
Speaker: Renee McDougall, DVM, MPH, DACVS (Small Animal)

Updates in Canine Allergy Therapies: A Case-Based Discussion
2026-03-31 19:00 - 21:00 UTC
Speaker: Mollie Mesman, DVM, DACVD
Mollie Mesman, DVM, DACVD is the dermatology consultant for all Southern Veterinary Partners and Mission Veterinary Partners practices and trains residents through Animal Dermatology Group. She earned her DVM from Louisiana State University and completed a small animal rotating internship at Auburn University and a dermatology residency with the Animal Dermatology Clinic in Marina del Rey, California. Her professional interests include allergies and treatment with immunotherapy, immune-mediated conditions, ear disease, and the many uses of topical therapy. Outside of work, Dr. Mesman stays active with her husband, Dr. Charley Aldridge, and their four children. She loves all things Boston Terrier, her backyard chickens, traveling, and cooking.

CE in the City
2026-04-25 08:00 - 17:00 UTC

Fall Mixer
2026-10-28 18:00 - 21:00 UTC

NYVET Show
2026-10-29 08:00 - 2026-10-30 17:00 UTC | Jacob Javits Convention Center, 429 Eleventh Avenue, New York, NY, 10001

Holiday Party
2026-12-01 18:00 - 21:00 UTC
