CE YOU IN SCOTTSDALE

VETgirl U 2023
Thurs 8.10 – Sun 8.13

Fairmont Princess | Scottsdale, AZ

Registration

#1 Boutique Veterinary Conference

VETgirl, the #1 online veterinary continuing education (CE) platform, is excited to announce the VETgirl U 2023 conference. Couple fun and relaxation at one of Scottsdale’s premier resorts with an educational experience like no other featuring TED-talk-like, case-based tracks presented by the profession’s best and brightest.

We promise it’ll be the most clinically relevant CE you get live (well, besides our online webinars).

1,000 of the profession’s best and brightest are gathering for THREE action-packed days of SUN, FUN, & CE, August 10-13, 2023.

This unique, boutique event will be held in Scottsdale, AZ at the beautiful Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.

Palm trees sway in a soft desert breeze, set against brilliant blue skies. Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, an iconic Scottsdale luxury hotel, welcomes you home to 333 days of sunshine every year.

Explore the lushly landscaped grounds of the Sonoran Desert filled with lagoons, blooms, and wildlife. Celebrating almost three decades as a AAA Five Diamond hotel, this luxury resort offers adventures worth repeating with sparkling pools and world-class golf. Reserve your room early at the official partner hotel for VETgirl U.

The conference was awesome! Great speakers, topics, food, location, and swag! My favorite conference ever!

- VETgirl U 2022 Attendee

What you get… wined and dined and taken care of in true VETgirl fashion. Awesome speakers, evening events to network and relax, FREE daycare, and amazing VETgirl swag!

  • TED-talk like CE sessions
  • Meals (breakfast and lunch) and events included
  • Coffee & refreshment breaks
  • Printed Proceedings
  • FREE Daycare*
  • Networking reception

*Daycare registration is provided on a first-come, first-served basis allocated based on the registration date.

When registering for this conference, you’re agreeing to the VETgirl Conference Attendee Policy and Guidelines.

65+

Exhibiting Companies

20+

Continuing Education Hours

2

Education Tracks

30+

Presenting Speakers

Education

2 Education Tracks in 2023!

VETgirl U 2023 will return again with a veterinarian track and a veterinary technician track, covering a huge variety of topics from surgery to anesthesia to emergency to derm to neuro!


Preliminary Agenda

8/9 Registration Open 2 - 9 PM East Foyer
8/10 Registration Open 6 AM - 6 PM East Foyer
8/10 Dentistry Wet Lab 7 AM - 4 PM (Salon H-I) SOLD OUT
8/11 Morning Yoga 6 - 6:30 AM Canyon Lawn (Sponsored by Blue Buffalo)
8/11 Registration Open 6 AM - 8 PM East Foyer
8/11 Lectures 7 AM - 5 PM Salon Ballrooms
8/11 Exhibits 8 AM - 5 PM
8/11 Welcome Reception (After Pawty at the Patio) 7 - 9 PM (Sponsored by Hill's Pet Nutrition)
8/12 Morning Yoga 6 - 6:30 AM Canyon Lawn (Sponsored by Blue Buffalo)
8/12 Registration Open 6 AM - 6 PM East Foyer
8/12 Lectures 7 AM - 5 PM Salon Ballrooms
8/12 Exhibits 8 AM - 6 PM
8/12 Yappy Hour Fiesta 5 - 6 PM Exhibits Open (Sponsored by Blue Buffalo & United Pet Care)
8/13 Morning Yoga 6 - 6:30 AM Canyon Lawn (Sponsored by Blue Buffalo)
8/13 Registration Open 6 AM - 1 PM East Foyer
8/13 Lectures 7 AM - 12 PM Salon Ballrooms
8/13 Exhibits 8 AM - 12 PM
Download Veterinarian Track Agenda
Download Veterinary Technician Track Agenda
Download Venue Maps

A Hands-on Lab Veterinary Professionals Can Really Sink Their TEETH Into!

Dental Procedure Lab

Join us for the VETgirl U 2023 pre-conference dental procedures laboratory and get 7 hours of RACE-approved* CE! Held on August 10, 2023, at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, you’ll get hands-on experience from the best! Join us as Drs. Gary Goldstein and Curt Coffman present 3 hours of a didactic lecture followed by 3.5 hours of a hands-on lab.

Date: Thursday, August 10, 7 am – 4 pm 

Location: Salon I-H, Princess Plaza

Cost: $1,299 (breakfast/lunch included) SOLD OUT

CE Credit Hours: 7 

Instructors

  • Gary Goldstein, DVM, FAVD, DAVDC 
  • Curt Coffman, DVM, FAVD, DAVDC 
  • Markay Nyquist, DVM
  • Paulina Khananisho, DVM 
  • Mary Berg, BS, RVT, LATG, VTS(Dentistry)
  • Stefanie Perry, CVT, VTS (Dentistry) 

Key Takeaways

  • Creating various mucoperiosteal gingival flaps 
  • Extractions of single and canine teeth 
  • Extractions of multi-rooted teeth 
  • Proper procedures for administering dental blocks 
  • Dental radiographs for pre, intro-op, and post-op extractions

Download Dental Lab Agenda →

Sponsored by
.


Speakers

Speakers are being added regularly – check back for updates!

Emergency and Critical Care, Toxicology

Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC, DABT

VETgirl was the brainchild of Dr. Justine Lee. Years ago, while frantically studying for her board examination(s), she decided to take some time out to relieve some stress (aka “panic) by running. While pounding the pavement, she thought, “Why can’t I listen to this stuff on my Walkman while I exercise?” (She is old, and this was pre-iPod days). Since sleeping on top of her textbooks didn’t appear to osmotically work, she decided that this “listen and learn” modality would truly be the best way to “take it all” in while frantically multi-tasking. And that’s when she teamed up with techno-savvy Dr. Pachtinger to create VETgirl…

Read More

Emergency and Critical Care

Garret Pachtinger, VMD, DACVECC

Dr. Garret Pachtinger, DACVECC is the Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of VETgirl and is committed to veterinary education through technology. Dr. Pachtinger is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Following veterinary school, he completed a one-year internship in small animal medicine and surgery, a one-year internship in emergency and critical care, and a three-year residency in emergency and critical care at the University of Pennsylvania, becoming a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in 2010. After completion of his residency, Dr. Pachtinger joined the Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center in Levittown, Pa.

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Dentistry

Mary Berg, BS, RVT, LATG, VTS (Dentistry)

Receiving her VTS (Dentistry) in June 2006. She has 30 years of experience, including research, practice manager, dental technician specialist, and educator. Mary is a textbook author, speaker, and dental wet lab instructor at numerous state and national conferences.

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Oncology

Craig Clifford, MS, DACVIM (Oncology)

Dentistry

Curt Coffman, FACVD, DAVDC

Dr. Curt Coffman, FAVD, DAVDC received his B.S. in agriculture from Kansas State University in 1990 and his DVM from the University of Missouri in 1993.

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Harry Cridge, MVB, MS, PG CERT VET ED, DACVIM-SAIM, DECVIM-CA, FHEA, MRCVS

Dr. Cridge is an ACVIM and ECVIM board-certified internal medicine specialist with clinical and research interests in disorders of the exocrine pancreas. He is one of three RCVS-recognized specialists in Small Animal Medicine (Gastroenterology) worldwide.

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Oncology

Andi Flory, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)

Dr. Andi Flory is a board-certified specialist in Medical Oncology. Dr. Flory graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and completed additional training at Florida Veterinary Specialists and Cornell University. Dr. Flory previously worked as an oncologist in the US and Australia - until a little dog named Poppy changed the path of her career and led her to a passion for cancer genomics.

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Katrina Frost, DVM, DACVD

Dr. Frost earned her DVM from the University of Calgary in 2017 and was the recipient of the AAVD Dermatology Senior Veterinary Student Award.

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Tiffany Gendron, CVT, VTS (ECC)

Tiffany grew up in a small mill town in the White Mountains of northern New Hampshire. She attended Becker College in central Massachusetts and while there she had the opportunity to work at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine where she recognized her desire to specialize in emergency and critical care medicine.

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Dentistry

Gary Goldstein, FACVD, DACVD

Dr. Goldstein graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Veterinary Medicine in 1984. In 1987 he became a Charter Fellow in the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry and in 1992 he became Board Certified in Veterinary Dentistry and Oral Surgery. He was a Professor and section head of the Veterinary Dentistry and Oral Surgery service for thirteen years at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center.

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Internal Medicine

Laura Greene, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM)

Dr. Laura Greene graduated from NC State's College of Veterinary Medicine, completed a rotating small animal internship at the University of Georgia, completed her residency in internal medicine at NCSU, and is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

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Susanne Heartsill, DVM, DABVP

Susanne Heartsill is a 1999 graduate of Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine and is the founder of Downtown Animal Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.  Dr. Heartsill currently serves as the Director of US Companion Animal Veterinary Services at Ceva Animal Health.

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Internal Medicine

Jared Jaffey, DVM, MS, DACVIM

Dr. Jared Jaffey is a board-certified small animal internist and Assistant Professor at the Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine. He is from South Florida and attended the University of Florida for his undergraduate studies. He enjoyed Gainesville so much (Go Gators!) that he stayed in town to attend veterinary school, where he graduated in 2012.

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Amy Johnson, BS, LVT, RLATG, CVJ

Amy graduated from Bel-Rea Institute’s Veterinary Technician Program in 2000 after receiving her BS in biology from the University of Nebraska in 1996. Amy worked as a veterinary assistant and receptionist while going through school and after graduation, she worked in small animal emergency and general practices and in university research labs.

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Paulina Khananisho, DVM

Dr. Paulina Khananisho received her Bachelor of Science degree in Life Sciences from Arizona State University in 2013. She graduated with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Midwestern University (MWU) in 2020.

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Surgery

Jolle Kirpensteijn, DVM, PhD, DACVS, DECVS

Jolle Kirpensteijn graduated from the Utrecht University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Holland in 1988 and finished an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the University of Georgia in the United States of America in 1989.

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Michael Lappin, DVM, PhD, DACVIM

Mike earned his DVM degree at Oklahoma State University and his Ph.D. in Parasitology as well as his ACVIM board certification at the University of Georgia.

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Dermatology

Samantha Lockwood, DVM, DACVD

Cardiology

Kristin MacDonald, PhD, DACVIM (Cardiology)

Dr. Kristin MacDonald earned her doctorate of veterinary medicine in 1998 from Auburn University, and then completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Michigan State University in 1999. She finished a residency in veterinary cardiology at the University of California, Davis in 2001 and became a board-certified veterinary cardiologist at the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2002. She continued her education by earning a Ph.D. at UC Davis Comparative Pathology graduate group in September 2005 on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Maine Coon cats, and the effects of ACE inhibitors.

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Natalie Marks, DVM, CVJ

Dr. Natalie Marks obtained her bachelor’s degree with high honors in Animal Science from the University of Illinois in 1998 and then proceeded to obtain a Masters in Veterinary Medicine and Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree with high honors from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. She became a certified veterinary journalist in 2018.

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Dentistry

Markay Nyquist, DVM

Dr. Markay Nyquist is completing a 3-year residency training program in veterinary dentistry and oral surgery at Arizona Veterinary Dental Specialists in Phoenix. She obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Microbiology from the University of Texas at Austin followed by her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014.

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Dentistry

Stefanie Perry, CVT, VTS (Dentistry)

Stefanie has 18 years of experience in the veterinary field. Stefanie moved from Illinois to the valley in 2006 where she began work at a general practice in Scottsdale, AZ, eventually becoming the practice manager. She obtained her license as a Certified Veterinary Technician in 2010 and completed an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Small Business Management in 2017.

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Behavior

Lisa Radosta, DVM, DACVB

Dr. Radosta graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000. After completing an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at Coral Springs Animal Hospital, she worked as a primary care veterinarian for 2 1/2 years. She completed a 3-year residency in Behavioral Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in 2006 and passed the board examination later that year. During her residency, she was awarded the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists Resident research award two years in a row.

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Ophthalmology

Shelby Reinstein, DVM, MS, DACVO

Dr. Shelby Reinstein, MS, DACVO is a board-certified ophthalmologist residing in the beautiful area of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Dr. Reinstein obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Master of Science degrees from Kansas State University and completed her fellowship and residency in Ophthalmology at The Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

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Nutrition

Catherine Ruggiero, MS, DVM, DACVIM (NUTRITION)

Dr. Catherine Ruggiero is a board certified veterinary nutritionist® and manager of Scientific Communications at Hill's US. She completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine training at the University of Missouri in 2014.

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Anesthesia/Analgesia

Donna Sisak, CVT, LVT, VTS (Anesthesia/Analgesia)

Donna has 37 years in the Veterinary profession. Her first five years were spent gaining hands-on experience in small animal hospitals in Pennsylvania. From there, her love for the veterinary profession and passion for teaching led her to academia and the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital - University of Pennsylvania upon graduating from Harcum College, Bryn Mawr, PA in 1991. At Penn, she satisfied her “drive” to perform top medical care to patients AND her “desire” to educate which led her to obtain a VTS (Anesthesia/Analgesia) in 2006.

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Jeff Thoren, DVM, PCC, BCC

Jeff Thoren, DVM, PCC, BCC is the founder of Gifted Leaders, LLC, an established executive and team coaching company based in Phoenix, AZ, serving clients nationwide. He’s also the Clinical Assistant Professor of Veterinary Communication at Midwestern University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and a founding member of both the Extraordinary Teams Partnership (www.extraordinaryteams.us) and the Enlightened Rebel Alliance (www.enlightenedrebels.vet).

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Emergency & Critical Care

Raegan J. Wells, DVM, MS, DACVECC

Raegan J. Wells, DVM, MS, Diplomate, ACVECC is a board-certified Veterinary Criticalist and the Medical Director at MedVet Silicon Valley where she has been a part of the team since October 2020.

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Sasha Willis, CVT, AS, BA, MSML

Sasha Willis is a Certified Veterinary Technician and has worked in the veterinary field since 1998. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University in 1998 in Liberal Arts and Sciences and took a job as a veterinary office assistant after moving to the east coast. She immediately fell in love with veterinary medicine and went back to school at Northwestern Connecticut College and received her degree in veterinary science. Sasha moved back to Arizona in 2002 and obtained her CVT.

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Emergency & Critical Care

Kristin Zersen, DVM, DACVECC

Dr. Kristin Zersen is an Assistant Professor of Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care at the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

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Proceedings

Included with your registration, VETgirl provides you with a printed copy of all the proceedings which will be distributed during conference check-in. We will have additional proceedings available for sale at the swag shop.

Not able to attend this year? Get your copy of the veterinarian track or veterinary technician track proceedings.

The format is fantastic and the pearls that we can take away and use in practice immediately are priceless.

- VETgirl U 2022 Attendee

Hotel + Area

Enjoy Luxury Accommodations in the Desert Southwest

Talks were extremely practical. I like the tips and tricks format, very useful for general practice. Speakers were engaging/funny and easy to listen to. Good food.

- VETgirl U 2022 Attendee

Events & Services

All the Extras to Make Your Experience Awesome!

9 out of 10

Attendees plan to attend another VGU event in the future

Exhibits & Sponsors

Connect With Industry Partners

Friday 8/11 8AM - 5PM
Saturday 8/12 8AM - 6PM
Sunday 8/13 8AM - 12PM

Thank you to our exhibitors

Connect with 60+ industry partners between sessions. Shop and explore exhibits in your downtime during breaks. Click here to view a map of the exhibit area.

Booth #

Exhibitor

30

1st Pet Veterinary Centers

67

AmeriVet Veterinary Partners

19

Arizona Veterinary Technician Association

23

AZPetVet

66

Banfield Pet Hospital

28

BCP Veterinary Pharmacy

9

Bionote

61

Blue Buffalo

59

BluePearl Pet Hospital

26

Boehringer Ingleheim

17

Cambridge Innovation

21

CARE Surgery Center

70

Ceva Animal Health

68

Chewy Health

52

CityVet

8

Companion Pet Partners

51

CUBEX

48

Dan Scott & Associates

2

Dechra Veterinary Products

62

Elanco

50

Elite Payment Group

1

Epicur Pharma

37

Erchonia Corporation

44

Ethicon (Johnson & Johnson)

6

GerVetUSA Inc

63

Hill's Pet Nutrition

39

HotDog Patient Warming

55

IDEXX

27

IndeVets

49

Innovative Pet Lab

69

Innovetive Petcare

10

JustFoodForDogs

12

Lakefield Veterinary Group

42

Lap of Love

Booth #

Exhibitor

7

Luminos Pro

20

MediLoupes

64

Merck Animal Health

47

Midwest Veterinary Supply

43

National Veterinary Associates

54

Neogen

24

Nutramax Laboratories Veterinary Sciences, Inc.

13

O'Brien Veterinary Group

60

PetDx

16

Petfolk

34

PetIQ / VIP PetCare

56

PetSmart Veterinary Services

65

Purina® Pro Plan® Veterinary Diets

36

Pute

53

Royal Canin

32

SARSTEDT

15

Schultz Technology

31

Scribenote

45

SignalPET

4

Sky Writer DVM

25

Talkatoo

29

The Hock Group | Baird

46

Thrive Pet Healthcare Specialists

58

United Pet Care

41

VCA Animal Hospitals

14

Veterinarian Doula

38

Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG)

3

VETgirl

18

Vetpocket

33

VetSpecs, Inc.

40

Weave Communications

57

Wedgewood Pharmacy

35

WellHaven Pet Health

22

Xoran Technologies

Booth #

Exhibitor

30

1st Pet Veterinary Centers

67

AmeriVet Veterinary Partners

19

Arizona Veterinary Technician Association

23

AZPetVet

66

Banfield Pet Hospital

28

BCP Veterinary Pharmacy

9

Bionote

61

Blue Buffalo

59

BluePearl Pet Hospital

26

Boehringer Ingleheim

17

Cambridge Innovation

21

CARE Surgery Center

70

Ceva Animal Health

68

Chewy Health

52

CityVet

8

Companion Pet Partners

51

CUBEX

48

Dan Scott & Associates

2

Dechra Veterinary Products

62

Elanco

50

Elite Payment Group

1

Epicur Pharma

37

Erchonia Corporation

44

Ethicon (Johnson & Johnson)

6

GerVetUSA Inc

63

Hill's Pet Nutrition

39

HotDog Patient Warming

55

IDEXX

27

IndeVets

49

Innovative Pet Lab

69

Innovetive Petcare

10

JustFoodForDogs

12

Lakefield Veterinary Group

42

Lap of Love

7

Luminos Pro

20

MediLoupes

64

Merck Animal Health

47

Midwest Veterinary Supply

43

National Veterinary Associates

54

Neogen

24

Nutramax Laboratories Veterinary Sciences, Inc.

13

O'Brien Veterinary Group

60

PetDx

16

Petfolk

34

PetIQ / VIP PetCare

56

PetSmart Veterinary Services

65

Purina® Pro Plan® Veterinary Diets

36

Pute

53

Royal Canin

32

SARSTEDT

15

Schultz Technology

31

Scribenote

45

SignalPET

4

Sky Writer DVM

25

Talkatoo

29

The Hock Group | Baird

46

Thrive Pet Healthcare Specialists

58

United Pet Care

41

VCA Animal Hospitals

14

Veterinarian Doula

38

Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG)

3

VETgirl

18

Vetpocket

33

VetSpecs, Inc.

40

Weave Communications

57

Wedgewood Pharmacy

35

WellHaven Pet Health

22

Xoran Technologies

Interested in becoming an EXHIBITOR or SPONSOR?  Get all the details here including the 2023 VETgirl U Exhibitor Application (we’ve gone completely digital)!

What’s included?

Each booth will include:

  • 1 standard table (80” x 24”)
  • 2 chairs
  • 2 exhibitor passes (unless additional were purchased) (Additional fee applies for CE credit)
  • 1 lead retrieval tool (app license download or device)
  • 1 waste bin

Cost $3,000/Booth

RESERVE YOUR BOOTH

* NOTE: There will NOT be a physical booth structure, but the area can fit your banners, signs, etc. behind the table provided. It will not include a table cover or electricity (optional: available for purchase directly through the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess).

Thank you to our 2023 sponsors

Gold Level Sponsors


Silver Level Sponsors


General Level Sponsors


On Demand Content

Say NO to FOMO

VGU

Missed previous VETgirl U conferences, but don’t want to miss the clinically relevant TED-talk lectures? All of the practical VETgirl U lectures from 2018, 2021, and 2022 live events are available on demand. Whether you are a member or a non-member, you can get them now and earn yourself 20 hrs of RACE-approved CE.

Safety Guidelines

Your health and safety are our utmost priority

Please know that both the VETgirl team and the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess will:

  • Adhere to the health and safety protocols set by the CDC
  • Follow all city and state mandates
  • Provide enhanced onsite hygiene and cleanliness
  • Ensure easily accessible hand sanitizing stations
  • Request all participants wear masks and adhere to the Events Industry Council’s Meeting and Events Code of Conduct

Prior to the show, we request the following:

  • Please review the guidelines provided by the CDC and the World Health Organization.
  • Please abide by all government-issued travel restrictions and guidance when traveling.
  • If you, your guest, or any members of your party are feeling sick, have had any exposure to COVID-19, or are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, please stay home. Contact us and we will work with you regarding the transfer of your registration.
  • Please bring hand sanitizer, although we will have this available in multiple locations.
  • Bring your own PPE – we request an approved face covering to be worn by all attendees at all times with the exception of eating, drinking, and lecturing. Please make sure these securely cover your nose and mouth and are in compliance with CDC guidance. Masks with exhaust valves, bandanas, balaclavas, ski masks, scarves, single-layer neck gaiters, or masks with holes, slits, punctures, or mesh are not accepted. Face shields and goggles alone are not permitted but can be worn in addition to a mask.
  • Please bring proof of vaccination status, if you have been vaccinated.

Onsite at VETgirl U and the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess:

  • Please follow everyday preventative actions to help mitigate any spread of respiratory viruses including:
    • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds!
    • Please hand sanitize with an alcohol-based sanitizer & 60% alcohol.
  • Please wear your mask at all events, if required.
  • Please seek medical attention immediately at any time if you feel unwell or are experiencing flu-like or COVID-like symptoms.
  • As we may have touchless temperature screening, please allow for extra time as needed.
  • Please note that by attending VETgirl U, you are agreeing to this.

Post-conference:
To allow for appropriate contact tracing and advice from medical professionals, if you test positive for COVID-19 up to 14 days after returning home, please contact us.