CVMA is excited to offer this new Online Course Program which provides participants the opportunity to take accredited 6-hour RACE courses from anywhere with a high-speed internet connection and a computer. The courses are divided into three, two-hour virtual sessions scheduled to take place on Wednesdays from 12:30pm-2:30pm CT.
CVMA U Online Course
Internal Medicine in Real Life: Practical Strategies for Your Toughest Chronic Cases
Course takes place during three, two-hour, real-time sessions for a total of 6 CE RACE credit hours.
Sessions are from 12:30pm-2:30pm on October 7th, 14th, 21st, 2026.
Please call 630.325.1231 for any questions.
Internal Medicine in Real Life: Practical Strategies for Your Toughest Chronic Cases
This three-part CE series is designed for general practitioners who want practical, confidence-building approaches to liver disease, hyperadrenocorticism, and chronic kidney disease. Across three interactive 2-hour sessions, you’ll learn how to diagnose these conditions efficiently, avoid common mistakes, and implement treatment strategies that actually move the needle for your patients. Each session blends evidence-based guidelines with real-world tips, case examples, and communication strategies you can put to use the next day in practice.
Session 1 — Demystifying Liver Disease in Dogs and Cats
Confused about feline cholangiohepatitis? Unsure how aggressively to pursue diagnostics in the icteric cat? Curious how to apply ACVIM guidelines to canine chronic hepatitis? This session breaks down the most common hepatopathies you see in practice—clearly, simply, and practically. Learn streamlined diagnostic pathways, treatment strategies that make a difference, and case-based pearls that demystify these often frustrating conditions.
Session 2 — Is This Cushing’s and Do I Care?
Cushing’s is one of the most confusing and sometimes frustrating diseases in veterinary medicine. This session gives you a practical, evidence-based roadmap for when to test, how to test, and—most importantly—when to treat. We’ll tackle the gray areas, the unexpected complications, the borderline test results, and the realistic conversations you need to have with clients to keep expectations aligned with outcomes.
Session 3 — Chronic Kidney Disease: Moving the Needle
CKD is one of the most common—and manageable—conditions in older cats and dogs. This session focuses on early recognition, IRIS-guided treatment, and practical strategies that improve longevity and quality of life. Learn how to identify progression earlier, manage complications proactively, and use nutritional therapy as a powerful tool in slowing disease progression.
Speaker: Kelly Cairns, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine)
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Kelly Cairns is a board-certified small animal internal medicine specialist and veterinary medical operations leader. After years in specialty practice as an internist and medical director, she joined Thrive Pet Healthcare in 2018 as a senior medical operations leader and later served five years as Vice President of Medical Excellence & Education, where she created and led the department supporting nearly 400 hospitals.
Dr. Cairns is an adjunct faculty member at Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine, a dvm360 Editorial Board member, a Wedgewood Advisory Board member, and serves on the Executive Board of the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association, where she will begin her presidency in December 2025. She lectures internationally on internal medicine, veterinary education, leadership development, and well-being.
CVMA U Pricing List
