Veterinary Nursing Symposium to Feature PVM Alumna Alicea Howell

Alicea pictured treating a dog in an exam room
PVM alumna Alicea Howell, RVT, VTS (Behavior), KPA CTP, will present the keynote lecture on Fear Free Handling for Veterinary Nursing symposium attendees.

Fear Free Handling will be among the topics addressed at the fifth annual Purdue Veterinary Nursing Symposium, to be held in Lynn Hall on Sunday, March 24.  The symposium provides an opportunity for veterinary assistants, veterinary nursing (technology) students, and veterinary nurses (technicians and technologists) to obtain up to 7.5 continuing education (CE) credits.  Both small and large animal topics will be offered, and attendees will learn practical information to use in clinical practice.

Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumna Alicea Howell, RVT, VTS (Behavior), KPA CTP, will present the keynote lecture for symposium attendees, entitled, “Fear Free Handling – Veterinary Care for Every Patient.”  Alicea is the owner/director of Barks and Rec., a Fear Free training center in Traverse City, Mich.  Previously she worked as a behavior technician in a small animal and exotic practice in Franklin, Ind., where she taught puppy classes, clicker-training classes, behavior modification, and cooperative care.  Alicea earned her Bachelor of Science degree in veterinary technology at Purdue in 2003.  She received her animal training certification through the Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior in 2008. In addition to being a nationally recognized speaker, she is a past president of the Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians and the Academy of Veterinary Behavior Technicians.  She was honored as a recipient of Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Distinguished Veterinary Technology Alumna Award in 2016.

Symposium attendees also will be able to hear presentations on such small animal topics as hospice, dentistry, emergency and critical care, anesthesiology, and cardiology.  Large animal topics to be covered include theriogenology, anesthesiology, equine asthma, and internal medicine.  The symposium also includes an optional afternoon Communications Workshop presented by Dr. Bianca Zenor, director of Purdue Veterinary Nursing Programs.

The Vet Shoppe will be open from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. during the symposium, and will be accepting pre-orders for pick-up at the event.  Pre-orders need to be placed by noon on March 22 in order to be available for pick-up at the symposium.

Click here for more information about the Veterinary Nursing Symposium. Click here to register.  This symposium is sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Elanco, and Vetamac.

Writer(s): Andrea Brown | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

“Paws Up” brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

Today we share appreciation for Dr. Madeleine Swindell, who is a Purdue Veterinary Hospital Small Animal Rotating Intern.

Enthusiasm Pervades Purdue Veterinary Medicine Graduation Celebration

Applause, cheers, and waving gold pom-poms greeted members of Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Class of 2025 as they processed through the Purdue Memorial Union Ballrooms for the start of the College of Veterinary Medicine’s May Graduation Celebration. The event on Saturday, May 17, which followed the university commencement ceremony in the Elliot Hall of Music, attracted a capacity crowd of family, friends and loved ones.

Awards Ceremony Honors Outstanding Purdue Veterinary Medicine Staff

Applause and periodic shouts of “Bravo” punctuated the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s annual spring Outstanding Staff and Bravo Awards Ceremony. The program held in Lynn Hall on May 13 honored some two dozen staff members for meritorious accomplishments.