E-Blasts
Over the course of the past few weeks, we have sent several updates to registered attendees via email blast. For those who recently joined the party, here are the e-blasts our team has sent out so far:
Friday, February 3rd
With SAVMA Symposium right around the corner, we wanted to share some exciting new updates to our website, savmasymposium.com!
Monday, February 27th
We are so excited for SAVMA Symposium in just over two short weeks! Now is a great time to sign up for any of our social events or competitions. Although we welcome everyone at all events, signing up below will help us better prepare for all of the activities at Symposium.
Please note that sign-ups for everything except Bovine Palpation (deadline March 10th) will be accepted on a rolling basis until the event is full. If you're able to fill out the sign-up form, it means that there are still spots available!
Friday 3/17
12-1pm: Vets Against Insanity Card Game Session
12-1pm: Let's Talk About Death Over Lunch
12:30-1:30pm: Stress Free Paint Session
Saturday 3/18
7am-12pm: Bovine Palpation Competition
7:30-9am: American Kennel Club 5K Run/Walk
7:30-9am: Hill's and VOICE Diversity Breakfast
8-9am & 9-10am: Blue Pearl Strike a Pose with Kitties Yoga
10-11am: Tug of War Competition
11am-1pm: VBMA Speed Networking
1-3pm: Reassessing Veterinary Culture: Action Plan Development Session
12-12:50pm: Triage Competition by Hippo Vet
2-4pm: MedVet Cornhole Tournament
3-5pm: Western Veterinary Partners Trivia and Axe Throwing
5-7pm: Zuku Review NAVLE Trivia
7-9pm: Veterinary Emergency Group ER Case Night Happy Hour
Sunday, 3/19
All day: Equine Teeth Aging Competition
10am-12pm: Poisonous Plant Discoveries Competition
12-12:50pm: Mindfulness in Veterinary Medicine Workshop
Other
Travel Grant Application
Please note that there are many other events not requiring sign-up at SAVMA Symposium. You can view all of our offerings online at savmasymposium.com.
We look forward to meeting you soon!
Tuesday, March 14th
SAVMA Symposium is upon us! We want to make sure everyone has plenty to do during their travels to Champaign-Urbana, so here are some new opportunities for student attendees to check out:
Coffee and Connect
Starting on Friday, 3/17, we will be offering "Coffee and Connect" sessions at SAVMA Symposium. These are casual, 30-minute conversations with our amazing faculty to discuss everything and anything! Want to become a zoo pathologist or an expert in translational medicine? Our faculty want to meet you! Sign up here.
Bring Your Own Cup
If you never leave home without your trusty reusable water bottle, this promo is for you! Stop by the Help Desk at Symposium, show our volunteers your reusable cup, and be entered in a raffle to win a pair of Cloves shoes, a set of Figs scrubs, or a medical textbook of your choice! It's that easy.
Panel Discussions
Pick our panelists' brains on everything from parenthood to parakeets: submit your panel questions ahead of time by clicking here.
We are so excited to meet everyone in just a few short days. Please let us know how we can help you prepare for SAVMA Symposium!
Keep reading below for a quick reminder of other fun opportunities at SAVMA Symposium ...
*****
Competitions
Did we mention there are PRIZES for every competition? Although we'd love to see a 1-on-1 tug of war match, we want our winners to earn their title, bragging rights, and of course prizes - have we mentioned the prizes yet? Sign up below:
Social Events
VBMA Speed Networking
Do you want a great opportunity to kick back with practice owners, students from all over the country, and UIUC faculty members? Stop by the VBMA Speed Networking Event on Saturday (3/18) from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM for complimentary drinks and appetizers! This is not a VBMA-exclusive event, so Sign up Here!
Drag Show and Karaoke - *Entry ticket required*
Ain't no party like a SAVMA party, 'cause a SAVMA party don't stop! Join fellow Symposium attendees at the City Center to cap off your Saturday night. The first 95 student attendees will get free tickets at the door. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door. Click here to purchase a ticket. Performances by local drag queens will be followed by an after-party and karaoke through the wee hours of the night.
Other
Travel Grant Application. We will be accepting applications on a rolling basis until March 20th. If selected, applicants will be reimbursed up to $150 for travel expenses including airway, hotel, and transportation used to attend SAVMA Symposium.
Please note that there are many other events not requiring sign-up at SAVMA Symposium. You can view all of our offerings online at savmasymposium.com.
Thursday, March 16th
With less than 24 hours to go until the start of SAVMA Symposium, we wanted to share some basic information for our attendees.
The first two days of our conference, March 17-18th , will be held at I Hotel and Conference Center (1900 S. 1st St, Champaign 61820).
The third day of our conference, March 19th, will be held just over a mile away at Veterinary Basic Sciences Building (2001 S. Lincoln Ave, Urbana 61802).
WEATHER
In true Midwestern fashion, this weekend involves a 20-degree temperature drop, snow, rain, wind, and hopefully sunshine to cap off our conference. We recommend dressing in layers to try and accommodate for the weather. Please note that all attendees will be receiving an umbrella in their swag bag.
CHECK-IN
Your first stop at SAVMA Symposium will be to check in and receive your name badge. Please stop by the registration kiosks in front of Heritage Hall at I Hotel to receive your badge.
SCHEDULE DETAILS
For the most up-to-date information on our schedule, download the "AVMA Events" app and select the SAVMA Symposium 2023 event. You may use the event mobile app to view conference sessions, keep up to date with the latest event notifications, and more!
PARKING
I Hotel and Conference Center is surrounded by parking lots, which are all free to use. If needed, overflow parking will be across the street at State Farm Center.
On Sunday at Veterinary Basic Sciences Building, you may park in the F27 lot or along Lincoln Ave (F30). Overflow parking will be across Lincoln Ave in F32. Parking is free on weekends. If you are parking at BSB on Friday, please make sure to use one of the metered spots in F27 to avoid a parking ticket.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We will be serving boxed lunches at noon on 3/17-3/18. On Sunday, 3/19, we will have snacks available throughout the day but will not be serving a formal lunch. However, there is an Einstein's Bagels in the building that will be open from 8:00am-3:00pm. Coffee, snacks, and other refreshments will be served intermittently through the conference at sponsored refreshment stations.
We are using Kululu to share photos and videos from SAVMA Symposium! You can add media to our digital album by scanning the QR code below:
From one Fighting Illini to our honored guests, I-L-L! We will see you soon!
Friday, February 3rd
With SAVMA Symposium right around the corner, we wanted to share some exciting new updates to our website, savmasymposium.com!
- Sign-ups for competitions such as the timeless fan-favorite Bovine Palpation are now available under the "Competitions" tab. Try your luck at identifying poisonous plants or accurately aging equine teeth.
- *Most* lecture descriptions and lecturer info can be viewed under the "Schedule" tab. Take a moment to investigate all of our incredible speakers - and try not to fangirl too hard!
- Do you have burning questions for our panelists that just can't wait until Symposium? Submit a question under the "Panel Discussions" tab!
- If you're a VBMA member, check out our "VBMA" page to scope out all of our many options for business certificate credit, and sign up for our VBMA Speed Networking social event.
- For those who are interested in expanding their worldview at Symposium, our "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" page contains sign-up links to events like "Let's Talk About Death Over Lunch" and our action plan development sessions. The possibilities of what we can achieve together are endless!
- Take a sneak peek of our "Travel Grant" page to learn how you can apply starting February 17th!
Monday, February 27th
We are so excited for SAVMA Symposium in just over two short weeks! Now is a great time to sign up for any of our social events or competitions. Although we welcome everyone at all events, signing up below will help us better prepare for all of the activities at Symposium.
Please note that sign-ups for everything except Bovine Palpation (deadline March 10th) will be accepted on a rolling basis until the event is full. If you're able to fill out the sign-up form, it means that there are still spots available!
Friday 3/17
12-1pm: Vets Against Insanity Card Game Session
12-1pm: Let's Talk About Death Over Lunch
12:30-1:30pm: Stress Free Paint Session
Saturday 3/18
7am-12pm: Bovine Palpation Competition
7:30-9am: American Kennel Club 5K Run/Walk
7:30-9am: Hill's and VOICE Diversity Breakfast
8-9am & 9-10am: Blue Pearl Strike a Pose with Kitties Yoga
10-11am: Tug of War Competition
11am-1pm: VBMA Speed Networking
1-3pm: Reassessing Veterinary Culture: Action Plan Development Session
12-12:50pm: Triage Competition by Hippo Vet
2-4pm: MedVet Cornhole Tournament
3-5pm: Western Veterinary Partners Trivia and Axe Throwing
5-7pm: Zuku Review NAVLE Trivia
7-9pm: Veterinary Emergency Group ER Case Night Happy Hour
Sunday, 3/19
All day: Equine Teeth Aging Competition
10am-12pm: Poisonous Plant Discoveries Competition
12-12:50pm: Mindfulness in Veterinary Medicine Workshop
Other
Travel Grant Application
Please note that there are many other events not requiring sign-up at SAVMA Symposium. You can view all of our offerings online at savmasymposium.com.
We look forward to meeting you soon!
Tuesday, March 14th
SAVMA Symposium is upon us! We want to make sure everyone has plenty to do during their travels to Champaign-Urbana, so here are some new opportunities for student attendees to check out:
Coffee and Connect
Starting on Friday, 3/17, we will be offering "Coffee and Connect" sessions at SAVMA Symposium. These are casual, 30-minute conversations with our amazing faculty to discuss everything and anything! Want to become a zoo pathologist or an expert in translational medicine? Our faculty want to meet you! Sign up here.
Bring Your Own Cup
If you never leave home without your trusty reusable water bottle, this promo is for you! Stop by the Help Desk at Symposium, show our volunteers your reusable cup, and be entered in a raffle to win a pair of Cloves shoes, a set of Figs scrubs, or a medical textbook of your choice! It's that easy.
Panel Discussions
Pick our panelists' brains on everything from parenthood to parakeets: submit your panel questions ahead of time by clicking here.
We are so excited to meet everyone in just a few short days. Please let us know how we can help you prepare for SAVMA Symposium!
Keep reading below for a quick reminder of other fun opportunities at SAVMA Symposium ...
*****
Competitions
Did we mention there are PRIZES for every competition? Although we'd love to see a 1-on-1 tug of war match, we want our winners to earn their title, bragging rights, and of course prizes - have we mentioned the prizes yet? Sign up below:
- American Kennel Club 5K Run/Walk
- Tug of War Competition
- Triage Competition by Hippo Vet
- MedVet Cornhole Tournament
- Equine Teeth Aging Competition
- Poisonous Plant Discoveries Competition
DEI Events
National conferences present a valuable opportunity to expand your worldview. Do your part to change the profession by attending one of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion-related events:
- Let's Talk About Death Over Lunch
- Hill's and VOICE Diversity Breakfast
- Reassessing Veterinary Culture: Action Plan Development Session
- Mindfulness in Veterinary Medicine Workshop
Social Events
VBMA Speed Networking
Do you want a great opportunity to kick back with practice owners, students from all over the country, and UIUC faculty members? Stop by the VBMA Speed Networking Event on Saturday (3/18) from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM for complimentary drinks and appetizers! This is not a VBMA-exclusive event, so Sign up Here!
Zuku Review's Veterinary Trivia Game
Bring: Your sense of humor, brain, and loudest Hawaiian shirt! This event will feature trivia questions on veterinary medicine and animal-related popular culture (Monty Python anyone? Simpsons?). We pick topics that a first year can enjoy and also some that will challenge a 4th year! Fabulous prizes for top scoring teams overall, and top scoring teams of 1st and 2nd year players. Sign up here!
Western Veterinary Partners Trivia and Axe Throwing
What goes together better than trivia and axe-throwing? Join Western Veterinary Partners at the Axe Bar in downtown Champaign to show off your brains AND your brawn! Sign up Here!
Veterinary Emergency Group ER Case Night & Happy Hour
Calling all future emergency vets! Work through trivia-style ER cases with incredible visiting doctors from the Veterinary Emergency Group. Sign up Here!
Drag Show and Karaoke - *Entry ticket required*
Ain't no party like a SAVMA party, 'cause a SAVMA party don't stop! Join fellow Symposium attendees at the City Center to cap off your Saturday night. The first 95 student attendees will get free tickets at the door. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door. Click here to purchase a ticket. Performances by local drag queens will be followed by an after-party and karaoke through the wee hours of the night.
Meet the Wildlife Ambassador Animals
Raptors, owls, and possums - oh my! Come and meet the Ambassador Animals of our Wildlife Medical Clinic and learn more about the work our students do to rehabilitate injured wildlife in the Champaign-Urbana community. Sign up Here!
Meet the University of Illinois Police Department Service Dogs
We know what you’re wondering: ‘I’m at a veterinary student conference - when will I be able to pet a dog?’ Wonder no longer! The Dogs of UIPD will be present in the Veterinary Basic Sciences Building Atrium from 12-1 pm on Sunday, 3/19, and they desperately need your pets. Learn more about the Dogs of UIPD (including some paws-itively adorable Valentine’s Day cards) on their Facebook page by CLICKING HERE.
Other
Travel Grant Application. We will be accepting applications on a rolling basis until March 20th. If selected, applicants will be reimbursed up to $150 for travel expenses including airway, hotel, and transportation used to attend SAVMA Symposium.
Please note that there are many other events not requiring sign-up at SAVMA Symposium. You can view all of our offerings online at savmasymposium.com.
Thursday, March 16th
With less than 24 hours to go until the start of SAVMA Symposium, we wanted to share some basic information for our attendees.
The first two days of our conference, March 17-18th , will be held at I Hotel and Conference Center (1900 S. 1st St, Champaign 61820).
The third day of our conference, March 19th, will be held just over a mile away at Veterinary Basic Sciences Building (2001 S. Lincoln Ave, Urbana 61802).
WEATHER
In true Midwestern fashion, this weekend involves a 20-degree temperature drop, snow, rain, wind, and hopefully sunshine to cap off our conference. We recommend dressing in layers to try and accommodate for the weather. Please note that all attendees will be receiving an umbrella in their swag bag.
CHECK-IN
Your first stop at SAVMA Symposium will be to check in and receive your name badge. Please stop by the registration kiosks in front of Heritage Hall at I Hotel to receive your badge.
SCHEDULE DETAILS
For the most up-to-date information on our schedule, download the "AVMA Events" app and select the SAVMA Symposium 2023 event. You may use the event mobile app to view conference sessions, keep up to date with the latest event notifications, and more!
PARKING
I Hotel and Conference Center is surrounded by parking lots, which are all free to use. If needed, overflow parking will be across the street at State Farm Center.
On Sunday at Veterinary Basic Sciences Building, you may park in the F27 lot or along Lincoln Ave (F30). Overflow parking will be across Lincoln Ave in F32. Parking is free on weekends. If you are parking at BSB on Friday, please make sure to use one of the metered spots in F27 to avoid a parking ticket.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We will be serving boxed lunches at noon on 3/17-3/18. On Sunday, 3/19, we will have snacks available throughout the day but will not be serving a formal lunch. However, there is an Einstein's Bagels in the building that will be open from 8:00am-3:00pm. Coffee, snacks, and other refreshments will be served intermittently through the conference at sponsored refreshment stations.
We are using Kululu to share photos and videos from SAVMA Symposium! You can add media to our digital album by scanning the QR code below:
From one Fighting Illini to our honored guests, I-L-L! We will see you soon!
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