NC State CVM Companion Animal Behavior Symposium
September 19, 2026
The NC State Behavioral Medicine Service invites veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and other professionals to attend the 2026 Companion Animal Behavior Symposium.
The NC State CVM Companion Animal Behavior Symposium will cover a variety of topics for the primary care veterinary practitioner, veterinary technicians, other professionals, and owners. The program will address a variety of behavioral problems that may be seen in a veterinary setting, some of which may be best served by quickly addressing them or beginning a safety/management protocol while pursuing further intervention with a board-certified veterinary behaviorist.
The Veterinary Professional track will be submitted to AAVSB RACE for 7 hours of continuing education credit
Registration
Participation in the 2026 Companion Animal Behavior Symposium is in-person ONLY.
Veterinarian Track: $100 includes breakfast and lunch
Owner Track: $25 includes breakfast
Veterinarian Schedule
| Time | Topic | Presenter |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 – 8:00 AM | Check-in and Breakfast | |
| 8:00 – 8:50 AM | Stranger Danger | Maggie O’Brian DVM, MS, DACVB |
| 9:00 – 9:50 AM | Bite Risk Assessment | Sara L. Bennett, DVM, MS, DACVB |
| 10:00 – 10:20 AM | Break | |
| 10:20 – 11:10 AM | Take 5!: Behavior Treatment Plans in Five Steps | Gahee Kim, DVM |
| 11:10 AM – 12:10 PM | Socialization for Puppies & Kittens | Melissa North, DVM, DACVPM |
| 12:10 – 1:30 PM | Lunch | |
| 1:30 – 2:20 PM | Cognition | Margaret E. Gruen DVM, MVPH, PhD, DACVB, Fear Free Certified |
| 2:30 – 3:20 PM | When Behavior Isn’t Just Behavior: Linking the Gut-Brain Axis, Pain, and Underlying Physiology in the Everyday Behavior Patient | Adele Hilliard, DVM |
| 3:30 – 4:20 PM | TBD | TBD |
Owner Schedule
| Time | Topic | Presenter |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 – 8:30 AM | Check-in and Breakfast | |
| 8:30 – 9:20 AM | Opting In: Teaching Our Pets to Cooperate in Their Veterinary Care | Monica Henderson, RVT, KPA-CTP, CBCC-KA, FFCP (Veterinary), CCUI |
| 9:30 – 10:20 AM | From Tail Wags to Warnings: A Guide to Keeping Kids & Dogs Safe | Sherrie Yuschak, RVT, VTS (Behavior), KPA-CTP, Elite FFCP |
| 10:30 AM – 11:20 AM | Fear Free Grooming | Jesi Kirk, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA |
| 11:00 AM – 11:50 AM | TBD | TBD |