Eleven procedures. Six hours. One veterinarian who walked in ready to learn and walked out with a whole lot more surgical confidence.
That was a real day at Encore’s Spay and Neuter Surgical Practicum, and it’s one of the best-kept secrets in our company. You’ve probably spotted it in our emails and social media: scrubs, surgical caps, big smiles over a surgical drape. What you may not know is how much is behind those photos. Let’s pull back the curtain!
So, What is The Spay and Neuter Practicum?
The Spay and Neuter Surgical Practicum is a hands-on surgical training day for Encore veterinarians, led by Dr. Tim Loonam at CSRA Veterinary Services in Aiken, SC.
The idea is simple: reps build confidence. Participants spend a full day on high-volume canine and feline spays and neuters, with an experienced surgeon right beside them. Sometimes a more complex case comes through the door, like the dog fight patient one visiting vet helped treat.
It’s learning time, not relief work. The day is RACE-approved for 8 hours of in-person CE, there’s no cost to attend, and return visits are available on request.
Who’s Been in the Scrubs
The spay and neuter clinic stays busy with veterinarians from all over the Encore community, including many future veterinarians, and the guest list keeps growing!
Dr. Melissa Penasse-Dumas of Rutland Veterinary Clinic and Surgical Center logged 11 procedures in 6 hours. Dr. Mason Ferrar and Dr. Rachel Hubbert of Pet Care Veterinary Hospital have been in the scrubs too, and Dr. Harris Jordan of Grace Animal Hospital spent his time perfecting his large dog spay techniques. Dr. Mindy Chen, Dr. Samantha Diaz, Dr. Lee Prudhomme, and Dr. Kayla Tubbs have recently made the trip from their own hospitals, too!
Externs and students are regulars, too. Makayla Puccio, a rising 3rd-year student at Long Island University, completed a cat spay using only one pack of suture. Grace Gaynor and Corey Adams are veterinary students who recently gowned up at the spay and neuter clinic to perform an FHO procedure on a cat with a fractured hip. And they are just a few of the tons of future vets who have rotated through!
And that’s still just a snapshot. If you want to be on the next list, you know where to find us! 
Why They Keep Coming Back
Dr. Karp of Grace Animal Hospital says vet school just doesn’t give you enough surgery experience. He’s grateful he went multiple times, and he got to do 8 to 10 surgeries in a single day.
“Opportunities like this really allow you to flourish and grow as a practitioner and become comfortable in your own skin.”
~ Dr. Karp, Grace Animal Hospital
Dr. Loonam sees it from the other side of the table: spay and neuter practice is a huge confidence builder, and young veterinarians who build it are ready to take on more procedures down the road.
Ready for Your Turn?
At Encore, getting better at your craft is built in. If you’re curious what growing as a practitioner looks like here, this is a good place to start!
