Annual Purdue Veterinary Technician Symposium Remains Popular in 12th Year

A woman wearing a brown blazer is standing at a podium giving a welcoming presentation — Assistant Dean for Veterinary Technology Programs Mindy Anderson welcomed attendees to the 2026 Purdue Veterinary Technician Symposium in Lynn Hall.

The enduring popularity of the annual Purdue Veterinary Technician Symposium was evident again this spring as more than 125 participants turned out for the day-long continuing education program in Lynn Hall. The 12^th annual symposium on Sunday, March 8, attracted attendees from Indiana and seven other states, including Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Alabama and Ohio.

Participants could choose between Small Animal and Large Animal tracks. Sessions covered topics ranging from “Exotic Species Anesthesia” to “Physical Rehabilitation for the Critical Care Patient” in the small animal track, and, in the large animal track, “Major Threats to Animal Health in Indiana,” and “Seeing is Believing: the Use of Ultrasonography in Equine Sports Medicine.” Dr. Mindy Anderson, assistant dean for veterinary technology programs and clinical associate professor of Basic Medical Sciences, began the symposium with a welcome and opening remarks that included an update on Purdue’s on-campus and distance learning veterinary technology programs.

A man wearing black medical scrubs is standing at a podium and gesturing as he is in the middle of a presentation — Dr. Tomohito Inoue, lecturer in anesthesiology, shared insights during his talk on Exotic Species Anesthesia.

Other symposium speakers included nine Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty and staff members and three presenters from outside the college. Two PVM staff members served as moderators. Danielle Buchanan, BS, RVT, VTS (SAIM), Clinical Skills Laboratory manager, was the moderator for the Small Animal Track, and Molly Cripe Birt, BS, RVT, VTS (EVN), instructional technologist, was the moderator as well as one of the speakers for the large animal track. Her presentation was entitled, “Assessing and Addressing Pain in the Equine Patient.”

The Veterinary Technician Symposium is designed to provide valuable continuing education for veterinary assistants, veterinary technology students, and veterinary technicians and technologists in practice. Special thanks to the following PVM faculty, staff, alumni and former Purdue staff who gave symposium presentations:

Lauren Bacon, RVT, (PU BS-VT 2020), director of traceability for the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH)
Katie Beard, RVT, VTS(IM), (PU BS-VT 2009), MedVet Indianapolis
Molly Cripe Birt, RVT, VTS (EVN), (PU BS-VT 2007), Purdue instructional technologist
Estee DeVries, RVT, (PU BS-VT 2022), Purdue veterinary technician, Cardiology
Tomohito Inoue, DVM, Purdue lecturer, Anesthesiology
Camilla Jamieson, BVMedSci, BVM&BVS, Purdue clinical assistant professor, Large Animal Emergency and Critical Care
Heidi Lescun, BS, RVT, Vetamac director of Technical Services Operations and former Purdue anesthesia technologist supervisor
Tami L. Lind, BS, RVT, VTS (ECC), (PU BS-VT 2010), Purdue clinical services coordinator, Small Animal
Lara Luke, RVT, (PU AS-VT ’98), Purdue veterinary technologist, Internal Medicine
Jurica Tršan, DVM, DACVIM (LAIM), Purdue visiting assistant professor, Large Animal Medicine & ECC
Sarah Waxman, DVM, (PU MS 2014), DACVS-LA, clinical assistant professor, Equine Field Services
Rachel Yoquelet, RVT, (PU BS-VT 2017) VTS(ECC), CVMRT, veterinary technician, Physical Rehabilitation

Another Purdue Veterinary Technician Symposium is planned for next year but the date is still being finalized.

A female is standing in front of a projector screen that discusses content related to the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. The female is wearing a black and white striped sweater. — Purdue graduate Laura Bacon, RVT, director of traceability for the Indiana State Board of Animal Health, gave talks on Animal Disease Traceability and Major Threats to Animal Health in Indiana.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

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