Megan Bradley, DVM

Session: 30 Years of the Turtle Rescue Team: Common Presentations and Current Therapeutic Approaches

Dr. Megan Bradley brings her specialized expertise in herpetological medicine to the stage, offering a deep dive into the history and clinical operations of the North Carolina State University Turtle Rescue Team. With a focus on eastern box turtles, native snakes, and amphibians, Dr. Bradley’s session bridges the gap between field rescue and advanced clinical care.

Attendees will explore:

• Diagnostic & Stabilization Tactics: Mastering the initial approach to predator trauma and viral infections.
• Specialized Pharmacology: Navigating the nuances of antimicrobials and analgesics in reptile and amphibian patients.

Triena Brand, BPharm

Session: Beyond the Label: What It Takes to Be a Wildlife Pharmacist

When there is no “standard dose,” the wildlife pharmacist steps in. Triena Brand explores the high-stakes world of wildlife pharmacology, where professionals must operate without the safety net of labeled medications or validated studies. From rugged terrain to remote field conditions, Ms Brand examines how pharmacological principles are applied when the “clinical environment” is the great outdoors.

Key takeaways include:

• Risk Assessment: Navigating the lack of pharmacokinetic data in exotic and free-ranging species.
• Field Dynamics: Managing drug responses influenced by environmental stress and limited monitoring.
• Interdisciplinary Safety: Enhancing outcomes in wildlife immobilization through strategic dosing and reversal planning.

Deborah Clark, RPh, FACVP

Session: The Mane Event: Hoof Health, GI Woes, and the Art of Equine Compounding

Deborah Clark provides a deep dive into the specialized world of equine pharmacy, bridging the gap between clinical needs and compounding solutions. Whether you are working with elite equine athletes or backyard pleasure horses, this session covers:

• Equine Foundations: Essential anatomy and physiology for pharmacists to ensure appropriate dosage forms and therapeutic selections.
• Targeted Disease States: Clinical overviews of metabolism, gastrointestinal systems (GI), and the complexities of hoof health.
• The Art of Compliance: Evaluating appropriate dosage forms and flavor profiles specific to the equine patient.
• Regulatory & Sport Ethics: Navigating the guidelines of sport governing bodies to ensure medication use aligns with therapeutic and competitive standards.

This presentation is a must-attend for veterinary pharmacists looking to refine their approach to large-animal care and therapeutic compounding.

Jonathan Decker, DVM, LATG

Session: Treatment of Veterinary Dermatologic Conditions with Novel Compounded Pharmacotherapy

Dr. Decker brings extensive expertise in managing dermatologic and wound‑care conditions across exotic animals, pocket pets, and laboratory species—areas where treatment gaps are common. His session will explore:

• Advanced wound‑care and dermatologic management strategies
• Novel compounded therapies as primary or adjunctive treatment
• Species-specific physiologic and anatomic considerations
• Interactive case reviews to spark pharmacist–veterinarian collaboration

This presentation is designed for clinicians and compounders seeking to expand therapeutic options for challenging dermatologic cases.

Blaine Groat, PharmD, MS, BCSCP

Session: Ears to the Ground — Advanced Compounding Strategies for Ear‑Route Therapies

This session is sponsored by Cordica Medical.

Dr. Groat’s session addresses one of the most frequent yet under-taught needs in veterinary pharmacy: otic and periotic compounding. Key elements include:

• Appropriate formulation and vehicle selection for ear‑route therapies
• Excipients and their safety/function in otic preparations
• Navigating regulatory expectations for compounded otic medications
• Improving pharmacist–veterinarian communication for better patient outcomes

This high‑yield session supports safer, more effective, evidence‑based ear‑route compounding.

Robert Hunter, MS, PhD

Session: Compounding Itraconazole for Veterinary Species: WTph?

Dr. Robert Hunter explores the complex pharmacology of Itraconazole, a critical broad-spectrum antifungal. This session dives into the science of therapeutic success, focusing on how formulation and quality standards directly impact patient safety and drug efficacy across veterinary species.

• Quality & Solubility: The importance of purity, uniformity, and controlled manufacturing in achieving consistent results.
• Dosing & Scaling: Insights into allometric scaling and how specific formulations influence drug absorption.
• Regulatory Updates: Navigating the implications of GFI 256 for compounded products and non-approved species.

Attendees will gain a technical roadmap for selecting the best dose formulations, ensuring Itraconazole therapy is managed safely and effectively in diverse veterinary patients.

Molly Martony, DVM, Diplomate ACZM

Session: Exploring the Depths of Aquatic Animal Medicine

Dr. Martony offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the clinical care and conservation medicine of aquatic species across an extraordinary range of taxa. Drawing on her work at Mystic Aquarium and in the field, this session highlights:

• Veterinary care considerations for diverse aquatic species, from invertebrates and teleost fish to pinnipeds, sea turtles, and beluga whales
• The role of aquaria in advancing clinical, translational, and conservation-focused research
• Medical response and rescue efforts for free-ranging marine mammals and reptiles along the U.S. East Coast
• How veterinary medicine under human care directly informs protection of wild populations

This engaging session underscores the vital intersection of aquatic animal medicine, research, and hands-on conservation in safeguarding ocean species.

Jay Phipps, PharmD, MBA, FACA, FACVP

Session: Freedom from Fear: Flip Your Fear Narrative

This session is sponsored by the American College of Apothecaries Research and Education Foundation.

Known as the “Pharmacy Gladiator,” Dr. Jay Phipps is on a mission to help leaders dismantle the barriers of uncertainty. In this high-energy keynote, Dr. Phipps addresses the “Fear Pandemic” that silences innovation and creates silos within organizations. He provides a roadmap to bridge the gap between where you are and where you are destined to be.

Highlights of this session:

• The F.E.A.R. Framework: Learn to Face challenges, Empower yourself, Act boldly, and Revolutionize your life.
• Organizational Growth: Strategies for accelerating decision-making and personnel management.
• Leadership Transformation: Identifying and overcoming the internal struggles that hinder professional and personal destiny.

Michelle Schisa, DVM

Session: Beyond the Backbone: Advances in Invertebrate Medicine

Step into the frontier of veterinary science with Dr. Schisa as she explores the rapidly evolving field of invertebrate medicine. Drawing from her groundbreaking work at the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium, this session highlights:

• Clinical Innovation: Moving beyond traditional veterinary approaches to treat species that have historically received little clinical attention.
• Creativity in Care: How adaptability and species-specific strategies are used to manage a diverse collection of insects and invertebrates.
• Conservation & Research: The vital role veterinary intervention plays in maintaining healthy populations and expanding our global scientific understanding.
• Husbandry & Biology: Navigating the unique biological requirements and environmental challenges of supporting “spineless” patients.

This session offers an inspiring look at how creative problem-solving and specialized medicine are essential for the future of conservation and research.

Gregory Rich, BS, DVM

Session: Pharmacology and the Exotic Pet

When it comes to parrots, rabbits, and reptiles, one size definitely does not fit all. Dr. Gregory Rich, founder of the Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital of Louisiana, joins us to bridge the gap between veterinary necessity and pharmaceutical reality. In this essential session, Dr. Rich addresses a common hurdle in exotic medicine: the lack of standard human or veterinary formulations that meet the unique dosing requirements of specialized species.

Attendees will explore the vital partnership between the veterinarian and the compounding pharmacist. Dr. Rich will discuss how custom-tailored solutions—from low-concentration liquids for delicate exotic species to “flex tabs” for avian patients—are often the difference between life and death. This presentation highlights the lifesaving impact of compounded medications and provides a roadmap for selecting the proper strengths and formats for the diverse patients seen in exotic animal practice.

PANEL DISCUSSION — Veterinary Pharmacy Unfiltered: Challenges, Insights, and What’s Next

Moderator: Meagan Garza, PharmD, MPH(c); Pharmacist at Peoples Pharmacy, Education Consultant at Boiron USA

Panelists:

• Danielle Garrison, PharmD, FSVHP;  Staff Pharmacist, Tufts’ Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
• Triena Brand, BPharm; Pharmacist-in-Charge, CORE Veterinary Pharmacy
• TJ Decker, PharmD; Pharmacist, Chewy Pharmacy

A fast‑paced, insight‑driven panel will pull back the curtain on what veterinary pharmacy practice really looks like across community, mail order, and academic hospital models. Panelists will spotlight the realities behind the workflow, the challenges no one warns you about, and the innovations reshaping the field. With specialty recognition on the horizon, the conversation will highlight how the profession may evolve and what opportunities are emerging for pharmacists ready to lead. The session will end with rapid‑fire takeaways designed to spark action, challenge assumptions, and energize the future of veterinary pharmacy.