MVMA Spring Meeting 2026 (7 CEUs)
Friday, May 1, 2026, 9:00am-4:30pm
Maple Hill Farms Inn, Hallowell, ME
9:00am-10:00am Lecture by: Robert Menardi, DVM
The Wonderful World of Hemp Cannabinoids in Small Animal Practice (1 CE)
10am - 12pm Lecture by: Christine D. Calder, DVM, Board-certified Veterinary Behaviorist
Pharmacology for Treating Behavior Cases (1CE)
Canine and/or Feline Aggression (1 CE)
12:00-1:00pm Lunch Lecture by: Eric Garcia
Tips to Supercharge Your Team with Artificial Intelligence (1CE)
1:00-1:30pm Break
1:30pm - 3:30pm Lecture by: Dr Dana Hill
Safeguarding Animal and Human Health in Maine Through Enhanced Disease Surveillance & Diagnostics (2 CE)
3:30pm - 4:30pm Lecture by: Mary D'Ambrosio, DVM, DACVECC
Recover CPR and Adult Learning Tips (1 CE)
Robert Menardi, DVM
Robert Menardi DVM, is Senior Director of Veterinary Education with ElleVet Sciences. He leads the company’s comprehensive veterinary technical education and outreach programs, and serves as the subject matter expert for members of the veterinary profession. Dr. Menardi has worked in the veterinary medical cannabinoid arena since 2019, with key roles in education, commercialization, and research and development. He frequently consults with clinical and academic veterinarians on the applications of cannabinoids in veterinary medicine. Dr. Menardi worked in private clinical practice for 12 years after graduating from Colorado State University in 1990 with his DVM degree. Prior to joining ElleVet, Dr. Menardi served in multiple leadership roles in the animal health industry. Since 2002, his areas of responsibility have included technical marketing, field veterinary services, veterinary operations and professional development, biologics marketing, and pharmacovigilance. Most recently prior to ElleVet, he served as Chief Veterinary Officer for Exubrion Therapeutics.
Christine D. Calder, DVM, Board-certified Veterinary Behaviorist
 Dr. Calder has spent many years practicing veterinary medicine in both New Jersey and Maine. Over the course of her career, she has worked in general practice, served on the behavior service at the San Francisco SPCA, and taught in community practice settings at several veterinary schools. Her deep interest in animal behavior led her to pursue a residency with the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, and she became a Diplomate with the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists in 2017. Today, Dr. Calder runs her own veterinary behavior consultation practice and serves as the Director of Behavior Educational Content at the Veterinary Information Network®, Inc. She is the co-author and editor of Low Stress Handling® and Behavior Modification of Dogs and Cats (second edition) and Low Stress Handling®: A Practical Guide to Cooperative Care, Training, and Behavior Modification. Alongside her clinical and editorial work, Dr. Calder contributes to educational programs at VIN® and is especially passionate about helping veterinary students feel confident and prepared for that behavior case on their first day in practice and beyond.
Eric D. Garcia, IT Expert, Digital Marketer, Industry Thought Leader
When it comes to helping veterinary practices streamline their technology and
attract and retain clients, Eric Garcia has a proven track record of educating
the industry and producing results. Eric is an internationally recognized IT and Digital Strategist working exclusively
within the field of veterinary medicine. Garcia’s work has been recognized
throughout the industry. Eric was voted VMX 2020 Speaker of the Year by conference attendees.
He speaks regularly at conferences all throughout the world.
Dr. Dana Hill, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Dr. Dana Hill joined the University of Maine Cooperative Extension in April, 2023 as Assistant Professor, Veterinarian Specialist, and Director of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (UMVDL) in Orono. UMaine VDL provides diagnostic services to livestock producers, wildlife officials, and pet owners for disease testing and postmortem examination on a wide variety of animal species. UMVDL supports the veterinary and agricultural sectors through interdepartmental collaboration on research and surveillance within the University of Maine system and state/federal public health agencies. Dr. Hill has special interests in infectious disease and veterinary diagnostics. She completed veterinary school at and her Master’s at Colorado State University prior to moving to Iowa for a combined residency and PhD in anatomic pathology, becoming a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 2022. For her graduate research, she studied chronic wasting disease in cervids (i.e. deer, elk, moose) and scrapie in sheep and goats during her Master’s, followed by bovine tuberculosis in U.S. feral swine for her PhD.
Mary D'Ambrosio, DVM, DACVECC
Dr. Mary D’Ambrosio graduated from the University of Missouri, where she obtained both her bachelor’s degree in animal science and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation from veterinary school, she moved to South Florida to complete a small animal medicine and surgery rotating Internship at Coral Springs Animal Hospital. She worked at Coral Springs Animal Hospital for three years in both general practice and emergency services before deciding to pursue a career as an emergency and critical care specialist. Dr. D’Ambrosio moved back to Missouri and completed a residency in emergency and critical care at the University of Missouri, achieving diplomate status in the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. Dr. D’Ambrosio enjoys all aspects of critical care, especially polytrauma, neonatal care, transfusion medicine, and sepsis. She completed ultrasound training at the Sound Academy of Veterinary Imaging and enjoyed incorporating ultrasound into her critical care skill set. Her goal is to ensure that clients can rest easy knowing that their pets are being treated like her own family, especially during the most crucial times. Outside of work, Dr. D’Ambrosio enjoys spending time with her husband, Joe, daughter, Olivia, dogs, Newton, Eleanor Sage and Isaac, cats, Cheddar Chip, Udonis and Barnabas, on their farm in Maine. Her favorite activities include hiking, reading and baking.
Schedule
7:30-8:30am Exhibitor set up
8:30-9:00am Registration
9:00am-10:00am Lecture by: Robert Menardi, DVM
The Wonderful World of Hemp Cannabinoids in Small Animal Practice
10am - 12pm Lecture by: Christine D. Calder, DVM, Board-certified Veterinary Behaviorist
Pharmacology for Treating Behavior Cases
Canine and/or Feline Aggression
12:00-1:00pm Lunch Lecture by: Eric Garcia
Tips to Supercharge Your Team with Artificial Intelligence
1:00-1:30pm Break
1:30pm - 3:30pm Lecture by: Dr Dana Hill
Safeguarding Animal and Human Health in Maine Through Enhanced Disease Surveillance & Diagnostics
3:30pm - 4:30pm Lecture by: Mary D'Ambrosio, DVM, DACVECC
Recover CPR and Adult Learning Tips
Thank You to our Platinum Sponsor:
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