Rehabilitation expert to deliver first DIVM keynote session

Matthew Brunke, DVM, DACVSMR, CCRP, CVPP, CVA, presenting a keynote session at a previous conference

Matthew Brunke, DVM, DACVSMR, CCRP, CVPP, CVA, the medical director for rehabilitation and sports medicine at Veterinary Surgical Centers in Virginia, is one of the keynote speakers at the forthcoming DIVM conference, June 24 to 25 in Indianapolis, Indiana. His June 24 lecture, “Laser Therapy in Veterinary Rehabilitation,” is sponsored by Multi Radiance Medical.

“I am really looking forward to being in [Indianapolis]. It’s an inaugural meeting, which is really tremendous to be a part of, and to be the keynote for it is downright humbling,” Brunke said.

“The crew and the team of people that are coming together to speak is just a blast. I’m looking forward to sitting in on other people’s lectures [and] hearing different perspectives,” he added.

Brunke received his bachelor’s degree in animal science from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, in 2000 and his veterinary medicine degree from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis, 4 years later. In 2008, he was certified in rehabilitation through the University of Tennessee Certificate Program in Canine Physical Rehabilitation.

Matthew Brunke, DVM, DACVSMR, CCRP, CVPP, CVA, presenting a keynote session at a previous conference

“When I started with [laser therapy], we weren’t sure what lasers were safe and which ones weren’t. When I got into rehab training, only certain [lasers were] safe and they definitely needed to be [used] in the office. Now, not only do we have some really powerful, safe, and effective lasers—with a lot of research to back [them]—we…even have lasers that I can trust to work effectively at home in the hands of [pet] owners,” Brunke said.

“That, to me, is a whole other level of ways to help our patients,” he added.

In addition to his keynote presentation, Brunke is scheduled to co-lecture with Kirsty Oliver, VN, DipAVN (surgical), CVT, CCRP, CVPP, VTS (physical rehabilitation), on “Injectable Therapy for Canine Elbow Osteoarthritis,” on June 25. “Kirsty and I are really looking forward to our co-lecture on elbow arthritis and how she works on treating it and I work on finding it and injecting it,” he said.

This conference is taking place in collaboration with the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM). Although a smaller conference compared to our Fetch dvm360® conference held in Charlotte, North Carolina, in April 2022, DIVM will not be short of a variety of clinical topics and lectures over the duration of the weekend.

“I’m thankful it’s a small gathering. I think there will be a lot of attendees, but I like the fact that it’s a single track,” said Brunke.

“Sometimes when you go to the bigger meetings, you [think], ‘I wanted to be in so and so’s lecture, but there’s only so many spots and how do you get into every room or learn all that?’ So by having a nice, focused group, where it’s just one powerhouse presenter after another…I’m not missing out because I’m not in somebody else’s lecture room,” he continued.

Matthew Brunke, DVM, DACVSMR, CCRP, CVPP, CVA, presenting a keynote session at a previous conference

Brunke also explained that he is glad to meet everyone at the conference and get the chance to network with other attendees. He noted that it is often difficult to have the time to network and sit in on lectures during the work week while at the clinic, but DIVM will give all attendees the opportunity to do so.

“We come in as speakers and our slides are prepared in advance. And [the dvm360® team] does a tremendous job of putting it all together behind the scenes for us. I fully thank you guys and respect all the work you put in,” he said.

Catch Brunke and all our other speakers at Directions in Veterinary Medicine. For full details and to register, visit dvm360.com/divm-indianapolis.