Yosemite National Park – California 2025May 7 - 9, 2025
Original price was: $995.00.$895.00Current price is: $895.00.
Hotel: Rush Creek Lodge at Yosemite
Topics:
Geriatrics and End of Life – Dr. Mary Gardner
Pain Management - Dr. Sheilah Robertson
Learn from two experts in Veterinary Medicine and expand your knowledge on Geriatrics and End of Life and Pain Management. Enjoy hiking, lounging at the pool, a spa experience, or a flight over Yosemite at the newest lodge in Yosemite National Park. Our half day seminars give you plenty of time to enjoy the location.
Standing as one of the tallest waterfalls in North America, Yosemite Falls is a striking feature of Yosemite National Park. This waterfall drops a total of 2,425 feet in three tiers and is most powerful in late spring, when the winter snows are melting. The falls are accessible via a number of hiking trails, offering various views from both the base and the top. The Yosemite Falls Trail provides a challenging hike that is rewarded with up-close views of the upper fall.
Another gem within Yosemite, Bridalveil Fall is often the first waterfall seen by visitors entering the park. Plunging 617 feet, Bridalveil Fall is beautiful throughout the year but is particularly impressive during the spring runoff. The mist from the waterfall coats the surrounding rocks, creating slippery conditions but also a mystical atmosphere that gives the fall its name.
Here is a suggested hike.
Yosemite Falls Trail, California
Leading you to the tallest waterfall in the country, not only is this is one of the best hikes in America, but this beautiful trail is the best way to see Yosemite Valley. This trail is strenuous, and a good level of physical fitness and endurance are needed. Something to note is that it isn’t necessary to hike the final ascent to the top of the Upper Falls as there is no view of the cascades, and you can see both falls along your route. Permits are not needed to hike this trail and the best time to visit is spring and summer. When you reach the falls, you will be in awe of its size and beauty. Its drop is a massive 2,425ft whereby contrast Niagara Falls only drops 156ft. Be sure to bring a rain jacket if you are visiting in spring as the falls will be roaring.
Trail Information
- Duration: 3.5 – 4.5 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Distance: 9.6km
- Elevation Gain: 580m
- Best Months: June-October
May 7, 2025 | May 8, 2025 | May 9, 2025 |
Your Destination
Rush Creek Lodge at Yosemite
Referring Code/Group Name: Promo code VET
Room Rate: Run of House hotel room $340+ 12.2% tax, + $1 Yosemite Conservancy fee, No resort fee and free parking
The Evergreen Lodge is close by and the sister property for the Rush Creek Lodge, try booking rooms with this link.
https://shared.outlook.inky.com/link?domain=www.evergreenlodge.com&t=h.eJxdzkEOgyAQheGrGNaNOKIirrwKDlO1ohikkrTp3Rvsruv35c97s6e3rMvYFMJ-dJzHGHM6yY-eaLPOjJSjWzm7ZWxJbqPg_HgPpWxE0db84cj2J4VTow6z2_DnwQgETYRaDYoMYgUKCyiLUoDUBjg0SlRtXSuVS5nqlOp2txonCq9l7iey6zH4-UB3NRMy19X_4fMF30A_fQ.MEUCIQDyzwr6_jgOZ9yScw-o3nWHrv2iAYDiGzAQLXsrMcCptAIgUAGIN6jkR3TTMY0xY3RQTB0eUz-8JWWoffeNeQpFwec
Accommodations are limited at this special rate. Please book and register early!
Arrangements have been made so you can extend your vacation before and/or after your destination seminar at the same rate if rooms are available at the property based on availability. You will need to call in to book room if you are extending beyond the basic conference nights. Book or Call early to secure your choice of rooms.
As Yosemite’s first new lodge in over 25 years, we’ve got a lot to celebrate, especially all the family, friends and partners who helped make our June 24th 2022. Grand Opening possible.
The rooms are gorgeous, the pool and hot tubs are open, and our Recreation team is up and running with guided trips, free trip planning advice, and tons of fun activities every day around the property.
We’re also thrilled to announce that both the Restaurant and Tavern are now open 7 days a week. Our friendly staff is serving delicious breakfast, lunch, Happy Hour, and dinner, with seating options indoors or on our covered terrace overlooking the pool area. Lots of great to-go items are also available daily in our General Store.
Rush Creek guests are also welcome to enjoy all the play areas and other amenities at our sister property, the Evergreen Lodge, located just 7 miles down the road from Rush Creek.
• Cancellations/Reduction in length of stay must be made 14 days or more prior to arrival to receive a full refund
• Cancellations/Reduction in length of stay made 13 days or less prior to check-in will result in being charged the original length of stay.
• All early departures, no shows and late arrivals will be charged fully for each night the reserved room is not occupied by the individual.
• Any reservations received after the cut-off date will be accepted at the group rate on a space available basis only.
• The check-in time is 4:00 PM and the check-out time is 11:00 AM. Early Check-in and Late Check-out requests cannot be guaranteed and must be made prior to arrival.
Getting There
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) 170 miles west 3.5-hour drive
Oakland International Airport (OAK) 155 miles west 3-hour drive
San Jose International Airport (SJC)160 miles west 3.5-hour drive
Sacramento International Airport (SMF) 160 miles north 3-hour drive
Merced Regional Airport (MCE) 95 miles southwest 2-hour drive
Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH) 100 miles southeast 2.5-hour drive
Fresno-Yosemite International Airport (FAT) 135 miles south 3-hour drive
Geriatrics and End of Life
Mary Gardner DVM, DABVP
A dynamic and engaging speaker, Dr. Mary Gardner is able to draw on a wide range of career experiences and life lessons to educate and motivate diverse audiences. Her presentations cover a variety of topics, and encourage both professional and personal growth within the veterinary industry and beyond. Ironically, veterinary medicine was not her first career choice.
After graduating from the University of Miami, she began working as a Technical Business Architect for an order and supply chain management software company. Her innate talent for understanding logistics in a client-centric organization developed a unique skill set for a veterinarian. After 10 years in software she found herself longing for something different and more meaningful – the path she selected was to become a veterinarian. She completed her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2008 from the University of Florida.
After spending two years in general practice, her friend and fellow UF graduate, Dr. Dani McVety, reached out to her about partnering in Lap of Love, which offered end of life services for pets and had been flourishing in the year that she began its service. Together they took the company from one veterinarian in Tampa to over 130 veterinarians around the country.
Dr. Mary leads development for Lap of Love's proprietary web-based practice management software called Sunshine. The program is specifically designed for veterinary hospice and euthanasia services and also dynamically ties to the Lap of Love website to allow families the ability to locate the veterinarian closest to them. Throughout the years, she has also developed The Pet Hospice Journal, an online Quality of Life Assessment program, as well as the first Quality of Life App (Grey Muzzle), both of which are free to the public. She received the Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Florida in 2016 and was voted the veterinarian to watch in 2018 by Fetch/DVM360.
Geriatric medicine, the aging process in animals and teaching family’s practical ways to care and manage their elder pets is Dr. Mary’s passion. Dr. Mary is on the advisory board of The Grey Muzzle Organization as well as Prized Pals.
Presentation Synopsis
1. Senior vs Geriatric – Where Are All the Grey Muzzles?
2. Practical Care for the Geriatric Patient
3. Guiding Families and Pets From Long Term Extensive Care to Death
4. Caregiver’s Dilemma - Assessing QOL
5. Mapping the Euthanasia Appointment I
6. Mapping the Euthanasia Appointment II
7. When Caregiving Hurts- Caregiver’s Dilemma
8. When Loving Hurts – Caregiver Burden
9. Home Hacks and Practical Care for the Geriatric Dog
10. Home Hacks and Practical Care for the Geriatric Cat
11. Helping Families with Assessing Quality of Life and End of Life Decisons
Pain Management
Sheilah Robertson BVMS, PhD, DACVAA, DECVAA, DACAW, DECAWBM (WSEL), CVA, MRCVS
Dr. Sheilah A Robertson BVMS (Hons), PhD, DACVAA, DECVAA, DACAW, DECAWBM (WSEL), CVA, MRCVS.
Dr. Robertson graduated from the University of Glasgow in Scotland. She spent time as a surgery intern followed by specialized training in anesthesia and analgesia including a PhD at Bristol University (United Kingdom). She is board certified in anesthesia and in animal welfare in the USA and Europe and holds a certificate in small animal acupuncture. She has been a faculty member at the University of Saskatchewan, Michigan State University, and the University of Florida. She spent 2 years as an assistant director in the division of Animal Welfare at the American Veterinary Medical Association. In 2014 she completed her graduate certificate in Shelter Medicine at the University of Florida. In 2019 she received her certification as a Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine Palliative and End-of-Life practitioner by the Chi Institute of Chinese Medicine. She has published widely on the recognition and alleviation of acute pain in cats. Currently she is the senior medical director of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, a large network of veterinarians dedicated to end-of-life care and in-home euthanasia throughout the USA. Dr Robertson is also a courtesy Professor in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. She continues to volunteer at community cat clinics and High-Volume High Quality Spay and Neuter Programs.
Presentation Synopsis
1. Old and Older – Here They Come!
2. Purrfecting Your Acute Pain Assessment Skills
3. Is Your Anesthetized Patient in Trouble?
4. Fatalities, Adverse Events and Accidents in Small Animal Anesthesia: Can We Do Better?
5. The Central Role of Ketamine in Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia
6. Unravelling the Challenges of Assessing and Managing Osteoarthritis in Cats