NOVEMBER 2026 | NEWS & UPDATES | | In this issue ... Fall Virtual CE Event recording, board member nominations, Vet Rehab Summit, membership survey, grant deadlines, collaboration, and more! | | |
President's Message
A Heartfelt Thank-You to Our Continuing Education Speakers, Sponsors, and AARV Board Members!
Dear Colleagues,
It is hard to believe that November is already upon us! In the Northern Hemisphere, this is a time of preparing for winter, settling in for colder evenings, and embracing a season of reflection and thankfulness.
I would personally like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our wonderful speakers who participated in our Fall Virtual Continuing Education Event. It was a tremendous success, and I am grateful to everyone who attended and to those who helped with planning and organizing.
A special thank you goes to our event sponsor, PetVivo, whose support made this event possible. I would also like to extend a sincere appreciation to Paw Prosper, our John Sherman Award Sponsor.
If you were unable to attend the live event, do not worry! The recording is now available on the AARV website under the 2026 Fall CE Event Recording page. Please note that an active AARV membership is required to access the recording.
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I would also like to take a moment to recognize and express my appreciation for our incredible AARV Board of Directors. This dedicated group has worked diligently throughout the year on several important initiatives, including updates to the new AARV website and revisions to our Models of Practice. Their time, commitment, and passion for advancing veterinary rehabilitation are truly appreciated.
As we look ahead, I would also like to recognize and thank our departing Board member, Britt Carr Benson, DVM for her outstanding service to AARV.
Dr. Britt Carr Benson has served as the AARV Board of Directors Education Liaison, building and maintaining connections between universities and AARV while helping establish a strong foundation for our research and educational grant opportunities.
I am excited to announce Dr. Bruce Henderson as the AARV 2027 President! I can think of no better person for this role. Dr. Henderson has been an integral member of the Board, serving as Secretary since 2023. Throughout his time on the Board, he has consistently demonstrated his dedication and willingness to step in, help, and support the organization whenever needed. I look forward to seeing AARV continue to grow under his leadership.
Finally, we are looking for new AARV members who are interested in joining our Board of Directors! Serving on the Board is a wonderful opportunity to become more involved, contribute your ideas, and help shape the future of veterinary physical rehabilitation.
We currently have opportunities for members interested in serving as Secretary and Education Liaison. If you have been looking for a way to become more involved with AARV and make a difference in our profession, I encourage you to scroll down and learn more about these opportunities.
With many thanks,
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AARV Board Member Nominations Are Open Until Nov. 20th | |
AARV is looking for new board members! This is a great way to connect with other veterinary rehab specialists and contribute your amazing leadership skills to AARV. The two positions available are: Secretary and Education Liaison. Please see additional information below about each position.
The deadline for nominations is: November 20, 2026. If you are interested in one of the available positions, please contact Dr. Julie Servaites at president@rehabvets.org.
AARV Secretary
Purpose: To organize Board of Directors (BOD) meeting agendas, manage classified ad requests and maintain searchable articles of interest database.
General Roles:
- Assimilate talking points from other BOD members into an agenda in advance of the conference call.
- Send monthly conference call meeting agenda to BOD in advance of meeting.
- Record the proceedings of each meeting.
- Email the minutes of each meeting to the BOD for approval over email or at the following month's meeting.
- Receive classified ad requests and refine ads as needed. Cross-check those placing classified ads in the membership database and determine whether the ad is being placed by a member (gratis) or non-member for a fee.
- Perform all other duties that may be prescribed from time to time by the BOD.
- Maintain articles of interest searchable database with aid of the Communication Consultant. Update a spreadsheet for the articles of interest monthly for the Communication Consultant for incorporation into the database.
AARV Education Liaison
Purpose: To serve as a liaison between the AARV and veterinary and veterinary technician students.
General Roles:
- Support rehabilitation focused educational opportunities for veterinary/veterinary technician students.
- Promote the development of student chapters of AARV or similar rehab/sports medicine clubs.
- Recruit membership within University faculty, veterinary students, and veterinary technician students.
- Help update/maintain the student section of the website as well as recruit AARV members to offer student job shadowing or externships.
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Attend the Vet Rehab Summit for Free on Nov. 14th!
AARV members are invited to attend the 10th annual Vet Rehab Summit for FREE!
This year's theme, THE BRAIN: Rethinking Rehabilitation Through the Lens of the Central Nervous System, explores how the brain influences movement, pain, learning, adaptation and recovery in our canine and equine patients. Onlinepethealth is inviting our community to join them for this incredible day of learning, completely free of charge! Simply sign up for a Free Onlinepethealth Membership (no credit card required) to access every lecture live on the day. Paid Members also enjoy access to recordings and CE/CPD certificates. Join us on 14 November 2026, starting at 11:00 GMT+2.
Explore the full programme and register for free at www.vetrehabsummit.com.
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Feedback Requested! What Benefits Would Add Value to Your AARV Membership?
AARV members and colleagues: To serve you better, the AARV Board of Directors is looking for your opinion. We are hoping to find out what benefits would add value to your current membership.
Please take our two-question survey to provide your feedback. This survey will be open from November 6 through December 21, 2026. Thank you for providing your input!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AARVmembersurveyFall2026
| Thank You from Sarah Ostrin, AARV's 2026 John Sherman Award Winner | |
Receiving AARV’s John Sherman Award is an honor that means more than I can put into words. To be recognized alongside leaders whose contributions have helped shape veterinary rehabilitation is both humbling and deeply meaningful.
As AARV’s first veterinary technician president and the first veterinary technician to receive this award, I see these milestones as something much bigger than personal achievements. I believe every leader’s job is not only to open the door, but to wedge it open so others can follow. Being the first matters most when we help ensure we are not the last. It means helping create opportunities for others to contribute, lead, and shape the future of our field.
This recognition belongs to every veterinary technician in rehabilitation working to have their contributions recognized, every VTS expanding what technicians can achieve, and every credentialed veterinary technician advocating for a stronger future. It honors those who paved the way, those pushing for progress today, and those who will carry this work forward.
Receiving this award on October 17, just before National Veterinary Technician Week, made the moment especially meaningful. To the mentors, colleagues, and friends who have supported, challenged, and encouraged me: thank you. Your investment in me has shaped the technician and leader I am today.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to AARV, the John Sherman Award committee, and Paw Prosper for this incredible honor. My name may be on the award, but this recognition reflects the work of so many.
Sarah Ostrin
MSCR BS CVT VTS (Phys. Rehabilitation) CCRP FFCP OCMC CAPMC
AARV Past President
APRVT CE Chair
| | Veterinary Technicians: Apply for the CRI Rehabilitation Certification Grant by December 4th! | | |
The American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians would like to make available a Rehabilitation Certification Grant for Licensed Veterinary Technicians from Canine Rehabilitation Institute covering 50% of the cost of rehabilitation certification in 2027 through CRI (value of $4,280) to be applied toward Module 2 of certification.
For more information regarding certification, visit the Canine Rehabilitation Institute website at www.caninerehabinstitute.com.
Consideration Requirements
- Be an AARV member in good standing.
- Be a Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT, CVT, RVT, AHT).
- Submit an essay (1,000 words max) describing why you feel rehabilitation certification will help your practice and patients.
- Deadline for submission: December 4, 2026.
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Application and submission must be submitted to education@rehabvets.org.
- Submissions will be evaluated by the AARV Board and CRI Administration.
- All submissions will be rendered anonymous prior to voting.
For complete details and instructions about how to apply, please log in to the AARV website and visit the Grant Opportunities web page in the Members Area.
| | Please note: Applicants must be AARV members in good standing to submit grant applications. If you are not a member, we encourage you to join AARV and apply for a grant. If you have any questions, please contact us at education@rehabvets.org. | |
Submit Your Grant Applications Before the Deadlines!
by Britt Carr Benson, DVM, CCRT, DACVSMR
Education Liaison
The American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians (AARV) strives to improve animal physical rehabilitation through clinical research and collaboration within and outside the Association. Thus, the AARV has established a competitive annual awards program. The purpose of this program is to add to the evidence base for veterinary rehabilitation by providing grant funds to highly meritorious applications. We encourage individuals to submit grant proposals that advance the science of canine and/or equine rehabilitation.
To learn more about grant opportunities, members may log in to the AARV website and visit the Grant Opportunities web page in the Members Area, or click on the links below to find out more information about the different types of grants currently offered:
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Please note: Applicants must be AARV members in good standing to submit grant applications. If you are not a member, we encourage you to join AARV and apply for a grant.
Grant submissions must follow grant guidelines and deadlines as outlined. Grant submissions will be voted upon by the AARV Board of Directors. A grant may not be awarded during an award cycle, if the AARV Board of Directors deems the applications are insufficient. Members who have won a grant cannot apply for another grant in the same year. Research grant winners must be available to present their findings at conferences and/or online events as stipulated in the grant guidelines. AARV reserves the right to publicize the awarding of the grant and the research results on our website and other media platforms.
If you have any questions, please contact us at education@rehabvets.org.
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TECHNICIAN CORNER
AARV and APRVT: Strengthening Rehabilitation Through Continuing Education and Collaboration
by Nancy Couillard, RVT, CCRTech, VTS (Phys. Rehab), COCM, CCMT
Technician Liaison
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The American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians (AARV) and the Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians (APRVT) continue to demonstrate the value of collaboration in advancing veterinary rehabilitation education.
The recent AARV Fall Virtual CE Event, held on October 17, was another example of this partnership in action. Offering four hours of RACE-approved continuing education, the event brought together a range of rehabilitation topics relevant to the entire veterinary rehabilitation team.
The program included presentations on neurologic rehabilitation, kinesiology taping following TPLO surgery, kinetics in agility dogs, intra-articular therapies, and a case-based roundtable discussion on multimodal management of osteoarthritis. The variety of topics reflected the interdisciplinary nature of rehabilitation and the importance of ongoing education for everyone involved in patient care.
The involvement of rehabilitation veterinary technicians in these educational opportunities is particularly important. Technicians bring valuable clinical experience and practical perspectives to rehabilitation, and their participation in continuing education helps strengthen communication, collaboration, and consistency across the rehabilitation team.
The relationship between AARV and APRVT extends beyond individual CE events. Through continued communication, shared educational initiatives, and opportunities for technician involvement, the two organizations are working together to support professional development and strengthen the role of veterinary technicians within the field.
This collaboration benefits more than the organizations themselves. It helps build a connected rehabilitation community where veterinarians and technicians can learn from one another, share clinical knowledge, and continue raising the standard of care for the patients we serve.
As both organizations look ahead, the commitment to accessible, relevant, and collaborative continuing education remains an important part of moving veterinary rehabilitation forward.
Stronger together, AARV and APRVT look forward to continuing to create opportunities for learning, professional growth, and advancement across our rehabilitation community.
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Learn More About APRVT
The technicians of the APRVT would love to speak at your clinic or local conference! Contact us at vetrehabtechs@gmail.com to find someone in your area!
Please visit the APRVT website and social media sites to learn more about us and don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter!
| | AARV Members: Review Your Profile in Our Rehabilitation Professional Directory | | |
Professional AARV members have the opportunity to be included in our Find a Rehabilitation Professional directory. The directory is searchable and available to the public.
AARV Members: Please take a few minutes to log in to the new website, review your profile in the member directory, and check out the member-only pages on the website.
To become an AARV member, go to the Join AARV page, choose your membership level, complete your member profile, and join online.
If you have questions about logging in or renewing your membership, please contact us at aarv@rehabvets.org.
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Student Members:
Check Out the Student Section of Our Website!
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by Britt Carr Benson, DVM, CCRT, DACVSMR
Education Liaison
Please see the student section of our website to view the benefits for student members. Membership is free to students enrolled in accredited veterinary, veterinary technician/nurse, and physical therapy programs.
To see a complete list of our current externship opportunities, visit our website, log in as a member, and go to the member-only Student Job Shadowing/Externships page.
Do you have a student club at your university that is interested in learning more about rehabilitation and sports medicine? See the Student Information page for instructions about how to register your club. We can help arrange a rehab lecture in your school for registered student clubs. Contact education@rehabvets.org for more information.
| | Check Out Our Sponsors Page for Discounts! | | |
Did you know …
Many of our sponsors offer discounts on products as well as reductions on future course tuition and continuing education classes.
Visit the AARV Sponsors page for more information.
| | Join Our Speaker Registry! | |
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The AARV wants you to be a speaker! We are developing a speaker registry and are requesting that interested members apply. This is an opportunity to engage in rehab education in your area of expertise! Consideration will be given to AARV members with accredited veterinary sports medicine/rehabilitation certification or ACVSMR diplomate or resident status. Venues may include, but are not restricted to, state, national and sports medicine/rehab specialty CE conferences, meetings and/or student club events. Speakers will be eligible for reimbursement for some travel expenses, which can be discussed upon application.
If you are interested in being a part of our speaker registry, please email president@rehabvets.org with the following information:
- Full name and college degrees
- Other certificates of attendance or certifications
- AARV membership (must be current)
- Area(s) of interest
- Home state and radius willing to travel
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Venues of interest, including virtual lectures, in-person lectures, professional CE events, student group lectures
Thanks so much for your willingness to share your knowledge!
| | Thank You to Our Mentors! | | |
The AARV would like to thank all of the rehabilitation professionals who have volunteered to mentor and offer job shadowing/externships to veterinary and veterinary technician students who are interested in rehabilitation. To see a complete list of our current externship opportunities, visit our website, log in as a member, and go to the member-only Student Job Shadowing/Externships page.
If you would like to join our mentor list, please email Dr. Britt Carr Benson, Education Liaison, at education@rehabvets.org.
| | Check Out AARV's Articles of Interest! | | |
AARV's searchable Articles of Interest database is on hold due to our website transition. While we are working on developing a new searchable tool, please be sure to see our Articles of Interest PDFs in the Member Area of the website.
Each month, AARV posts Articles of Interest on its website that have been selected by AARV founder Dr. Julia Tomlinson because of their relevance to the field of veterinary rehabilitation.
To view the Articles of Interest PDFs, visit our website, log in as a member, and go to the member-only Articles of Interest PDFs page.
Our thanks to Dr. Julia Tomlinson for selecting relevant journal articles each month and Dr. Bruce Henderson, AARV Secretary, for preparing the searchable articles.
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Check the AARV Calendar for Upcoming Events
Want to learn which courses are coming up at Academy of Animal Sport Science (AASS), Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI), Chi University, CuraCore® VET, Healing Oasis Wellness Center, Northeast Seminars/NC State Veterinary Medicine, and University of Tennessee/Veterinary Academy of Higher Learning? Check the AARV Calendar of Events on our website, which contains upcoming rehabilitation classes and other continuing education events. You can also visit AARV's Training in Animal Rehabilitation page to learn more about these educational programs and find links to their websites.
Do you have an event to add to the AARV calendar? All calendar posts are now free for AARV members. Please send your calendar event to info@rehabvets.org and be sure to include the name of the event, speaker, topic, date, time, location and URL. Rehabilitation related events/classes only, please.
| | Connect with the AARV on LinkedIn! | | |
Employment postings can be found in the Members Area of our website, available to current AARV members.
Current postings include:
- Integrative Veterinarian, New Hampshire
- Veterinary Physical Therapist, Oregon
- Part-Time Rehabilitation Veterinarian, North Carolina
Members: For complete details of job postings, log in to the AARV website using your username and password, then go to the member-only Employment Opportunities page to learn more about each job and how to apply.
To submit an employment ad, visit the Purchase an Ad or Sponsorship page.
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Please take a moment to visit our sponsors!
We've learned that some email programs may cut off the end of our newsletter. If you don't see the AARV mailing address at the end of the newsletter, click on "View Entire Message" to see our complete newsletter including special offers from our sponsors.
| | TIER 1 - PLATINUM: SPONSORS PROVIDING GRANTS & AWARDS | | |
Healing Oasis: 10% discount for AARV members on continuing education seminars.
To redeem the Healing Oasis discount: Contact Healing Oasis for details.
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Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI): 10% discount for AARV members on any certification or continuing education course.
To redeem the CRI discount: Use the discount code "AARV10CRI" during registration.
| | TIER 2 - GOLD: SPONSORS PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES | | |
Spryng: 15% off Spryng purchases directly though the Spryng website.
To redeem the Spryng discount: Use the discount code "AARV".
| | TIER 3 - SILVER: SPONSORS PROVIDING MEMBER DISCOUNTS | | |
My Pet's Brace: 10%-15% discount.
To redeem My Pet's Brace discount: Contact My Pet's Brace for details.
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Chi University: $500 off canine and equine rehabilitation courses.
To redeem the tuition discount, contact info@chiu.edu or mention the AARV discount during registration.
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H2O For Fitness: Free custom paint job and one extra year of warranty for parts only.
To redeem H2O For Fitness offer, contact H2O at h2oforfitness.com and mention the AARV ad.
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Northeast Seminars/NC State Veterinary Medicine: 10% off any course or program.
To redeem the discount: Use the discount code "AARV" at checkout.
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GingerLead: 50% discount off MSRP for any size order.
To redeem GingerLead discount: Contact GingerLead for details.
| | TIER 4 - BRONZE: ADDITIONAL SPONSORS | | Partner with us! We offer three opportunities for you to choose from. Find out more by clicking here. | | | | |
