October 2-4
2026
St. Louis, MO
The Veterinary Neurosurgical Workshop
MRI protocol design, advanced sequences, and AI-assisted imaging applications
Location: The Animal Neurology Center (ANC) in St. Louis, MO
Dates: October 2-4, 2026
Duration: 3 days (in-person)
Structure: Didactic lectures, round-robin dry labs, and expert-led case interpretation sessions
The course is boutique and all-inclusive.
Plan your travel to and from the St. Louis International Airport and we take care of the rest.
- All course materials, DICOM cases, and digital reference slides
- 2-day hotel stay and all transportation to the ANC and events
- Catered breakfast and lunch both days
- Morning and afternoon coffee breaks with vendor networking
- Cocktail hour on the opening night
- Saturday evening outing with faculty, sponsors, and attendees
- Certificate of completion (16 RACE CE hours)
What to Expect at the Workshop
Built Around Clinical Reality
This course is built around the way MRI actually works in veterinary practice — not simplified demonstrations or passive lectures. Every session connects imaging physics to clinical decisions, so you leave knowing not just what to do, but why it matters.
Through a mix of lectures, dry labs, and a round-robin station format, participants engage directly with equipment, cases, consoles, and the business of MRI.
Course Topics:
- MRI system selection, hardware specifications, and facility planning
- AI-assisted imaging: reconstruction, enhancement, and workflow integration
- Standard and advanced MRI protocol design for veterinary neuroimaging
- Image optimization: parameters, artifacts, and troubleshooting
- Advanced sequences: 3D acquisitions, SWI, DWI, tractography, and fat suppression
- Hands-on dry labs for MRI console operation, coil configuration, and scan planning
- MRI applications beyond neurology: musculoskeletal and abdominal imaging
- Financial strategy and ROI for MRI ownership and equipment investment
Learning Outcomes: By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Design and optimize MRI protocols tailored to a variety of veterinary neuroimaging cases
- Interpret advanced sequences and apply them confidently in clinical practice
- Evaluate MRI system performance, troubleshoot image quality issues, and make informed decisions about imaging technology and investment
Why is this Course Different:
This course is built around the way MRI actually works in veterinary practice — not simplified demonstrations or passive slide decks. Every session is designed to connect imaging physics to clinical decision-making, so you leave knowing not just what to do, but why it matters.
Participants move through the full imaging workflow: from understanding how a magnet works and how to build a protocol, to acquiring and optimizing images in real time at the MRI console. Case interpretation sessions then bridge that technical foundation directly to clinical diagnosis — reinforcing how the decisions made at the scanner affect what you can and can’t see in the exam room.
AI, advanced sequences, and emerging technologies are similarly approached with intention. Rather than surveying what exists, this course focuses on what’s actually useful now — and how to evaluate and integrate new tools as the field continues to evolve.
The result is a course that doesn’t just teach imaging — it teaches how to think like an imager.
Instructors
Dr. Fred Wininger, VMD, MS, DACVIM (Neurology)
Is the owner and lead neurologist/neurosurgeon of The Animal Neurology Center (ANC), a St. Louis–based, single-specialty veterinary hospital. With a vision extending beyond clinical medicine alone, ANC was founded on a mission to deliver compassionate patient care, provide education at every level of the veterinary profession, and foster industry partnerships that advance the field through the innovative adaptation and improvement of human medical technologies.
Dr. Wininger co-leads the ANC/University of Missouri Hybrid Neurology Residency Program, established in 2013, which integrates academic and private-practice training and has graduated 18 board-certified neurologists. Dr. Wininger is also the founder of 3D Veterinary Printing LLC, which utilizes advanced imaging algorithms to create patient-specific surgical tools and implants, improving surgical precision and outcomes. Above all, Dr. Wininger is committed to elevating veterinary care throughout Missouri and the Midwest, establishing the region as a beacon for advanced neurologic therapy and education.
Additional Details
Host:
The Animal Neurology Center
Dates / Duration:
3 days (in-person): October 2-4, 2026
Location:
11652 Studt Ave.
Creve Coeur, MO 63141
Attendees:
Up to 12 total
Airport:
Lambert International
Terminal 2: Southwest Hub
https://www.flystl.com/
Transportation:
Attendees are responsible for their transport to and from the airport. All other transport is inclueed in registration fee. Ride Share apps are recommended.
Hotel Accommodations:
Sheraton Westport
191 W Port Plaza Dr,
St. Louis, MO 63146
314-878-1500
Attendees are responsible for
securing their own room.
Airfare:
Attendees are responsible
for their own flight
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