Welcome to SFVMA

Upcoming In-Person CE Meeting — Spring 2024

Thursday,
March 21, 2024
6:15pm – 8:30pm

“Best Practices for Pet Euthanasia”

Presented by:

Ken Gorczyca, DVM, VHPC, CPEV
Ari Rozycki, DVM
Brandon Conley, RVT

We are excited to announce that A Gentle Rest and Gateway Services are partnering to sponsor a highly informative event on the topic “Best Practices for Pet Euthanasia.”

Dr. Ken Gorczyca will be leading this informative lecture alongside Dr. Ari Rozycki from A Gentle Rest, and Bardon Conley from Gateway. This lecture will cover a range of topics including the best practices for drug choices, techniques, client communication, and aftercare options. A special focus will be placed on understanding the hidden financial and emotional implications associated with these processes. We will introduce the Companion Animal Death Doula role and touch on creating Advanced Directives for our pets. Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity to expand your knowledge in the field.

We kindly request your participation in a brief survey to tailor the content of the SFVMA Dinner Lecture to address the challenges faced by you and your veterinary practice in San Francisco. Your valuable input will shape the discussions and provide insights for your practice. The survey will only take 5-10 minutes to complete, and we encourage you to invite your entire staff to participate as well. You can access the survey through the QR code provided or by visiting the SFVMA Facebook page. We greatly appreciate your time and contribution and look forward to your attendance at this important event as we strive to make San Francisco a leading example for best practices in pet euthanasia.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out
to Dr. Ken Gorczyca at vetdoula@gmail.com

Agenda

6:15pm – 7:00pm  Check-in and Hors d’oeuvres
7:00pm – 7:30pm SFVMA Announcements / Updates / Dinner Starts
7:30pm – 8:30pm  CE Lecture

Dinner Menu

Hor d’Oeuvres

  • Mini Crab Cakes
  • Vine Ripe Tomato Bruschetta Basil
  • Blackened Chicken Quesadilla

First

  • McKormick’s New England Clam Chowder

Main Course — (choose one)

  • Chef’s Seasonal Grilled Fish, Mashed Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables
  • –or–
  • 6 oz Center Cut Filet Mignon, Roasted Vegetables, Mashed Potatoes
  • –or–
  • Roasted Beet Sirloin  (vegan option)

Dessert

  • Chef’s Seasonal Cheesecake

Coffee and Tea available
Cash bar will be available

Dr. Ken Gorczyca Dr. Ken Gorczyca, born in Philadelphia, PA, completed his DVM at UC Davis in 1983. He is the founding veterinarian for Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) and the Lesbian and Gay Veterinary Medical Association (now the Pride Veterinary Medical Community.) Currently, he teaches at the University of Vermont’s Companion Animal End-of-Life Doula training program and practices IHE at A Gentle Rest. Apart from his veterinary work, Dr. Gorczyca is also a painter, writer, community activist and holds a Veterinary Hospice and Palliative Care certificate.

Dr. Ari Rozycki Dr. Rozycki was born in Providence, RI, grew up in Houston, TX. He completed his bachelor’s degree in biomedical science at Texas A&M University in 1990 and obtained his DVM from UC Davis in 1995. He practiced small animal medicine in and around San Francisco for over 20 years before starting A Gentle Rest in-home pet euthanasia around 2015.

Brandon Conley, RVT


Kira visiting the Presidio Pet Cemetery in San Francisco
Photo credit: Dr. Ken Gorczyca

Ed’s Funeral in Bolinas with Dr. Ken
Photo credit: Dr. Elizabeth Furest

Squirrely Joe on his death bed with his parents
Photo credit: Dr. Ken Gorczyca


All meetings are open to all DVMs

This meeting will be open to Veterinary Technicians and Veterinary Staff at the non-member fee ($125 per guest) — which is subject to change due to capacity limitations at the restaurant.

Non-members pay $125

2024 In-Person Meeting Schedule

  • Thursday, MARCH 21, 2024
  • Thursday, JUNE 20, 2024
  • Thursday, SEPTEMBER 12, 2024
  • Thursday, NOVEMBER 21, 2024
  • More details…

McCormick & Kuleto’s

Meeting at McCormick & Kuleto’s in GHIRADELLI SQUARE

900 North Point St
San Francisco, CA 94109

(415) 929-1730
www.mccormickandschmicks.com

Meeting Sponsors

SFVMA Membership Enrollment for 2024 is Still Open!

Membership Applications Will be Accepted Until April 15, 2024

Dear colleagues,

We hope that your 2024 is starting off well! We are happy to announce that the SFMVA will be continuing in-person meetings this year at McCormick and Kuleto’s in San Francisco’s historic Ghirardelli Square.

Our quarterly meetings are a great way to meet other veterinarians, commiserate, celebrate our wins, and support each other while getting in some CE, and a delicious meal. They are also a good way to bring your ideas and thoughts to board members to take onto the CVMA. Whether you are a potential new member or renewing your membership, please take a moment to update your contact information (especially the email address to which the newsletter should be directed) by completing a membership application. The membership form may be submitted electronically on our website: 

Dues are $300 per year (for 4 quarterly in-person meetings) per member for 2024. Dues payments may be made with either check (PO Box 320365, SF, CA 94132)  or by PayPal through the invoice forms available on the website. If payment is made for more than one application, please clearly indicate which individuals are included in the payment (this option is also available online, or a list of individuals to be covered may be emailed to the treasurer). Each member should complete an application regardless of payment method so that their contact information is updated.

Payment is due by April 15, 2024. After this date, payments will be on a “per meeting” basis at $125 per person.

Please also note that we’ve updated our “Payment for Hospitals & Organizations” form. While payment may still be submitted for up to 10 members at a time — each member must also fill out individual application (or renewal) forms with their respective details.

We hope you will join us in 2024!

Warm regards,

Dr. Brian VanHorn
SFVMA President
sfvmapresident@gmail.com

Dr. Anna DeVincinzi
SFVMA Vice President
sfvmavp@gmail.com

Dr. Jessica Lau
SFMVA Secretary
sfvmasecretary@gmail.com

Dr. Karen Truong
SFVMA Treasurer
sfvmatreasurer@gmail.com

In-Person CE Meetings Schedule for 2024

We are pleased to announce the 2024 schedule for SFVMA’s upcoming In-Person CE Meetings — which will be held at McCormick & Kulettos in the beautiful Ghiradelli Square — on the following dates (always on a Thursday):

March 21, 2024

Dr. Ken Gorczyca, Dr. Ari Rozycki, and Brandon Conley  —
Sponsored by A Gentle Rest and Gateway Services

June 20, 2024

Dr. Carrie Jurney  —  Sponsored by Remedy

September 12, 2024

Dr. Saelinger  —  Sponsored by Cardiac Vet, Inc

November 21, 2024

[ topic T.B.D. ]  —  Sponsored by Blue Pearl

SFVMA News — Spring 2024

Latest Newsletter

PRESIDENT’S Statement  —  March 2024

Hello all our members,

I am hoping that everyone is enjoying a prosperous 2024 so far. With our frequent wind and rain this year, I am told that Giardia associated diarrhea is keeping the Flagyl and Fenbendazole flying off the shelves. Seems like a good time to be in the soft stool treatment business. Please feel free to let me know what types of disease your practices are seeing increases in so that we can keep each other informed. Changes in the ways that reference laboratories share information with public health agencies make it more important for our local community to communicate what we are seeing on the frontlines.

On the topic of public health, I have been asked to invite our members to take part in a short survey. Dr. Kim Conway is the One Health lead veterinarian at the California Department of Public Health, Center for Environmental Health. They are conducting a statewide survey of California companion animal veterinarians on the topic of antimicrobial prescription practices. The data collected is aimed at combating antimicrobial resistance through the development of materials that may benefit California veterinarians and their patients. It is anonymous and only took me 10 to 15 minutes to complete. A link to the survey is here: https://ncv.microsoft.com/Z02ISthvbd. Please note this survey will only be open through the end of March.

Join the SFVMA Facebook Group!

Become a CVMA Member

If you haven’t already done so, please consider becoming a CVMA member.

The CVMA defends your right to practice by actively representing the veterinary profession on proposed federal and state legislation and regulations at the legislature and the Veterinary Medical Board.

https://cvma.net/membership/

New CVMA Delegate Needed!

We need an alternative CVMA delegate to represent San Francisco veterinarians!

Please reach out to
Jessica Lau at sfvmasecretary@gmail.com
if you are interested in helping represent out community!