September 6, 2025
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Jackpot Veterinary Center, Tucson, AZ
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7.5hr RACE approved CE
Welcome
Join us for our second AAEVT Anesthesia Society Event of 2025!
Hosted in beautiful Tucson, Arizona at Jackpot Veterinary Center, we have a full day of lectures and hands-on labs covering a range of Anesthesia topics & techniques.
Featured Speakers
Mackenzie Luick
DVM
Jackpot Veterinary Center / Tucson, AZ
Dr. Luick is a 2019 graduate of the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine where she also earned a Masters of Public Health as part of the dual degree DVM/MPH program. She completed a rotating internship at San Luis Rey Equine Hospital from 2019-2020. In 2020 Dr. Luick came to Peterson Smith Equine Hospital + Complete Care as a Hospital Intern and was accepted into the Surgical Residency Program the following year.
Originally from Oregon, she attended Harvard University for undergrad where she majored in Latin American Studies with a minor in Global Health, and was a member of the varsity swim team. Before attending veterinary school, she worked for an Arabian showing and breeding farm, and as a veterinary assistant. Mackenzie has an interest in colic surgery and emergency medicine.
Fernando Amitrano
DVM
Assistant Professor of Practice Faculty / Univerity of Arizona CVM
Born and raice in Cordoba Argentina. Dr. Amitranoobtained his Doctor in Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree at Universidad Catolica de Cordoba in 2008. He practiced as an equine general practitioner, focusing on race track and sports medicine for two years before performing his first equine surgery internship in Lexington, KY. After, he completed two more large animals internship at the University of Illinois and the University of Minnesota. In 2019 he finished a large animal surgery residency at the University of Wisconsin Madison. Before starting an educational career at the University of Arizona School of Veterinary Medicine, he was a member of the surgery department acting as a clinical instructor and lecturer in equine surgery at Charles Sturt University in Australia.
Lindsey Smogor
DVM
Jackpot Veterinary Center / Tucson, AZ
Dr. Lindsey Smogor grew up just west of Las Vegas, Nevada, where she managed her family’s horseback riding stables and arena before pursuing a career in veterinary medicine.
She earned her Bachelor of Science in Pre-Professional Biology with minors in Psychology and Chemistry from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in 2008. She then began her veterinary education at Ross University in the Caribbean before transferring to Oklahoma State University (OSU), where she earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree in 2013.
After graduation, Dr. Lindsey completed an internship at Arizona Equine Medical and Surgical Centre in Gilbert, further honing her expertise in equine care. Her passion for equine podiatry and lameness led her to attend farrier school in 2011 at Oklahoma State Horseshoeing School, where she launched her own horseshoeing business while completing her DVM. Over the years, she has participated in numerous seminars and labs with renowned farriers and equine podiatrists, continually expanding her knowledge in the field. Most recently, she completed 240 hours of animal chiropractic training, earning certification through the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA).
In 2014, Dr. Lindsey partnered to create Jackpot Equine, a 24-hour mobile equine veterinary service in Tucson. The practice has since evolved into Jackpot Veterinary Center, which now includes an equine hospital and small animal clinic in northwest Tucson.
Jess van Oudtshoorn
RVT, LVT, C.E.R.T
Comstock Equine & Great Basin Equine / Reno, NV
Anesthesia Technician
Jessica is a native of Yerington, Nevada. She obtained her associate degree of veterinary technology from Yuba College in Marysville, California and is a Registered Veterinary Technician in the state of California and a Licensed Veterinary Technician in the state of Nevada. She also worked in the equine surgery department at UC Davis where she developed her love of anesthesia. Jessica has had an interesting career, from UC Davis she went to work as an anesthesia technician for an idependent equine surgeon and together they travelled to many different clinics in California as well as to Dubai during the racing season. After 7 years she then took a position at Dubai Equine Hospital for 3 years as an anesthesia technician before moving to South Africa and working at Fourways Equine Hospital where she met her husband Gideon. They moved back to the United States in 2020 where she is currently employed at Comstock Equine Hospital and Great Basin Equine. Her professional interests include anesthesia and emergency and critical care. Jessica is also a Certified Equine Rehabilitation Therapist and is currently working on multiple veterinary forensic courses. In her free time, Jessica competes in cycling and running events with her husband Gideon, hiking with their dog Louie, drawing and traveling.
Kelsey Thoms
CVT
Jackpot Veterinary Center / Tucson, AZ
Kelsey is a licensed veterinary technician from Reno Nevada. She moved out to Tucson, Arizona in May of 2023. She grew up around horses and started riding when she was about 8 years old. Her love for horses inspired her love for veterinary medicine and she decided to go follow that path. Her main interests include neonates, critical care, and anesthesia. She has devoted her time and training to becoming an anesthesia technician and loves learning about the many different aspects of that field. She is most passionate about the patients and making sure they are always cared for to the best level. In her free time she enjoys hiking with her dog Bentley, fishing, and riding her horse Griz. She competes in ranch sorting and is also starting to do some breakaway roping.
Lindsey Schoelen
LVMT
Equine Surgical Center at ThorSport / Murfreesboro, TN
Anesthesia & Surgery Technician
Lindsey has resided in Middle Tennessee for over 30 years but is actually an Oklahoma native. She has spent many years in varying aspects of the equine industry including training, showing, teaching, and reproduction. The last 16 years she has spent in veterinary medicine as a licensed technician for with a focus on surgery and anesthesia, as well as, medicine and triage.
Sharon Schieltz
RVT
Humphrey, Giacopuzzi & Associates / Somis, CA
Anesthetist
Sharon started in the exciting field of Veterinary medicine in 1996. She was hooked when she began to volunteer at Humphrey Giacopuzzi and Associates Equine Hospital. On her first day, there was a septic joint that had to go into surgery and that is when she really knew that she loved this field and enrolled in school to become a registered veterinary technician. After obtaining her RVT license in 2000, she delved into the fascinating world of anesthesia. The more she learned the better she liked it, a typical day involved 1-3 surgeries and found the colic’s were the most fun and challenging. Sharon decided she wanted more education, so in 2005, she attended UC Davis for two weeks in the large animal anesthesia department. Sharon fouond the program wonderful and highly educational. Over the years, Sharon has done anesthesia on many different species, including cattle, sheep, goats, alpacas, pigs, equine from mini to drafts, and skunks, foxes, raccoons, reindeer. Sharon also teaches at a vet tech program in the local community college and the interns at the equine hospital.
In her spare time, Sharon enjoys fishing, gardening, and team roping with her husband.
Kelsey Thoms
CVT
Jackpot Veterinary Center / Tucson, AZ
Kelsey is a licensed veterinary technician from Reno Nevada. She moved out to Tucson, Arizona in May of 2023. She grew up around horses and started riding when she was about 8 years old. Her love for horses inspired her love for veterinary medicine and she decided to go follow that path. Her main interests include neonates, critical care, and anesthesia. She has devoted her time and training to becoming an anesthesia technician and loves learning about the many different aspects of that field. She is most passionate about the patients and making sure they are always cared for to the best level. In her free time she enjoys hiking with her dog Bentley, fishing, and riding her horse Griz. She competes in ranch sorting and is also starting to do some breakaway roping.
Lindsey Schoelen
LVMT
Equine Surgical Center at ThorSport / Murfreesboro, TN
Anesthesia & Surgery Technician
Lindsey has resided in Middle Tennessee for over 30 years but is actually an Oklahoma native. She has spent many years in varying aspects of the equine industry including training, showing, teaching, and reproduction. The last 16 years she has spent in veterinary medicine as a licensed technician for with a focus on surgery and anesthesia, as well as, medicine and triage.
Event Schedule
Friday, Sept 5
:
Hampton Inn & Suites Tucson-Mall
5:30 - 7:30 pm
Welcome Reception
Come and mingle...Network and Collaborate!
Saturday, Sept 6
:
Jackpot Veterinary Center
7:00 am
Registration and Light Breakfast
7:30 am
Tour of Jackpot Veterinary Center
8:00 am
Lecture: From Chaos to Control - Anesthesia Set Up
Jess van Oudtshoorn, RVT, CVT, CERT & Kelsey Thoms, CVT
Lecture: Preparation for Surgery - Prep, Sedation & Anesthesia
Lindsey Schoelen, LVMT & Sharon Schieltz, RVT
Wet Lab: Umbilical Hernia - Mare / Foal - Anesthesia & Surgery
Mackenzie Luick, DVM & Kelsey Thoms, CVT
Noon
Lunch
Sponsored by Zoetis
Lecture: Blood Pressure & Fluids
Mackenzie Luick, DVM
Lecture & Standing Lab: Lung Scans
Fernando Amitrano, DVM
Wet Lab: Umbilical Hernia / Castration - Induction
Mackenzie Luick, DVM & Lindsey Schoelen, LVMT
Wet Lab: Castration - Field Anesthesia (Round Pen)
Lindsey Smogor, DVM & Sharon Schieltz, RVT
5:00 - 5:30 pm
Meeting wrap up and Q&A
Locations & Hotels
Host Clinic: Jackpot Veterinary Center
6745 N La. Cañada Dr.
Tucson, AZ 85704
Host Hotel: Hampton Inn & Suites Tucson-Mall
5950 N Oracle Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85704
We have secured a discounted room block for our attendees at the host hotel, the Hampton Inn & Suites Tucson-Mall! Room rates are just $149 + tax/night. Hotel reservations can be made by individual attendees online with our AAEVT Room Block Link.
This AAEVT discounted room block is available only until August 30th (cancellations must be 48 hours in advance), so reserve early!
- Tucson International Airport (TUS)
~16.5 mi to clinic
Pricing & Discounts
Discounted pricing ends August 30th - Register today!
Thank you to our amazing Sponsors for helping us make this Event possible!
