We are thrilled to host our first meeting in Montana amidst the one and only Glacier National Park!

The Location

Glacier National Park stands out as a gem, even amongst all of our treasured Parks. It is as untamed and rugged as it is gorgeous. The wildlife is abundant, the trees are large, and the water is pristine. This is Big Sky country, and the overhanging firmament is as vast and majestic as the landscape itself. This is heaven for hikers, photographers, paddlers, lovers of beauty, cyclists, dreamers, flyfisherfolk and adventurous veterinarians of all sorts.

Our conference hotel, The Hilton Garden Inn, is conveniently located in Kalispell, MT just 9 miles from the Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) that many of you will fly into. This little airport has direct flights from 17(!) US airports. See photo with map of direct flight cities above. The next closest airport is in Missoula, which is about a three hour drive. Kalispell is 14 miles south of Whitefish, MT and these two valley towns serve as the gateway to the West Glacier entrance of Glacier National Park. It is also just a 10-minute drive from beautiful Flathead Lake (pictured above).

We have reserved a block of discounted rooms in the conference hotel for our attendees at $199/night. Following your registration we will share a link allowing you to make your booking if you would like to stay on site.

We will have three hours of education each day to allow you ample time for all sorts of adventure. Our morning lectures on Friday and Sunday will include a breakfast, so that you can be ready to get out and go when we finish. Likewise, our Saturday evening lecture will include a catered dinner so that you can enjoy the entirety of your day.

If you are romantics like us, you have always dreamt of taking a beautiful trip by train in a sleeper car. Well, it turns out that the Amtrak Empire Builder has a Glacier stop in Whitefish, MT - just 14 miles from our conference hotel. This famously scenic train travels from Chicago through Minneapolis and then through the American West to Glacier. It travels on to Spokane and Seattle and Portland so it is easily accessible as an overnighter from Pacific NW also.

Your Vacation

Our lecture schedule is designed to give you plenty of time each day to unwind and enjoy your vacation in Glacier and the surrounding area. We believe that the relaxed mind is a more focused mind, and that the more focused mind is more apt to learn and retain. With this in mind, the conference will begin at 3pm on Thursday September 24th and the final hour of CE will be done by noon on Sunday the 27th. In order to maximize your free time during the meeting, two additional hours of live interactive CE will be given live online prior to the conference. These will be recorded such that if you cannot make the live online CE, you will be able to view a recording and earn CE credit.

Early fall is our favorite time of year here. There are less people in the park, temperatures are generally mild and the fall foliage is bursting with color. There are over 700 miles of trail in Glacier National Park. You will have time to explore Glacier NP each day if you like, but don't sleep on the beautiful and wild Montana trails and lakes outside the park also - especially if you are bringing a canine friend.

The Education

14 hours of world-class approved CE will be available in Small Animal Dermatology and Dentistry. Our esteemed speakers are Dr. Ashley Bourgeois Diplomate ACVD and Dr. Kevin Stepaniuk Diplomate AVDC, FAVD. They have each spoken at our meetings before and have been among the most requested speakers for us to bring back. Each are not only outstanding teachers, but also active clinicians in practice. They use this experience to deliver practical talks that you can put into use when you return home.

Etc

This is a wonderful place to meet up with a colleague or friend from vet school, bring your family, or just come on your own to get away. Our job is to leave you smarter and more relaxed than we found you. We're pretty good at our job.

Registration includes 14 hours of approved CE, 3 square meals, course notes and the best time you will ever have at work.