Course Instructors
Dr. Amanda R. Taylor,DVM, DACVIM (Neurology), CVA, CCRP received her DVM from Texas A&M University. She completed an internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at Colorado State University and a residency in Neurology and Neurosurgery at Texas A&M University. Dr. Taylor is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Neurology). Dr. Taylor is certified in Neurosurgery by the ACVIM, acupuncture by the Chi Institute and canine rehabilitation by the University of Tennessee. Her research interests include MRI and neurosurgery. She is currently a neurologist/neurosurgeon and the Director of Education and Wellness at Southeast Veterinary Neurology.
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.
Sponsors
Neurosurgery Workshops: Spring 2026
3D Printing & Polyaxial Screw Placement
April 10-12, 2026
Course Purpose: This course is designed to deliver educational content based on the merits of its clinical value. Specific technologies and products are discussed only through the lens of demonstrated clear medical value and a company’s proven commitment to advancing veterinary medicine. The instructors aim to provide experience-driven guidance designed to elevate surgical quality, patient care, and professional education. Our sole outcome measure is enhancing your confidence and skill in the operating room with these techniques. By the end of the course, you should feel confident on how and when to create your own 3D printed guides and how to place polyaxial screws in the spine.
Course Description:
This intensive three-day, in-person course is designed for 10 board-certified veterinary neurologists and surgeons seeking to enhance their proficiency in spinal stabilization techniques using polyaxial screw and rod systems. The program provides an advanced, evidence-based approach to spinal surgery, emphasizing surgical planning, accurate screw placement, and the design/utility of 3D-printed, patient-specific surgical guides into clinical practice.
Participants will benefit from a balanced combination of expert-led lectures, interactive case discussions, and hands-on cadaveric laboratories. The course will explore the latest developments in veterinary spinal biomechanics, species-specific anatomy, and the use of 3D additive modeling to optimize outcomes and minimize complications.
Course Topics:
Review of veterinary spinal anatomy and key pathologies relevant to stabilization
Biomechanics and construct design of polyaxial screw and rod fixation systems
Preoperative surgical planning, including CT-based trajectory determination
3D design and printing workflows for custom surgical guide fabrication
Hands-on cadaver labs for guided and freehand screw placement
Intraoperative troubleshooting and management of technical challenges
Postoperative evaluation with imaging, complication management, and long-term outcomes
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
Confidently plan and execute spinal fixation procedures using polyaxial screw systems
Develop and utilize 3D print technologies to enhance surgical precision
Apply advanced fixation principles to improve patient outcomes in veterinary neurosurgery
Format:
Location: The Animal Neurology Center (ANC) in St. Louis, MO
Dates: April 10-12, 2026
Duration: 3 days (in-person)
Structure: Didactic lectures, interactive case discussions, and cadaveric wet labs
Audience: Veterinary neurologists and surgeons
Registration Costs:`
Workshop fee is U.S. $2,250.00 per person and includes:
o Course materials and wet labs
o Hotel stay for the nights of April 10th and 11th
o Meals:
April 10th, Lunch, Cocktail Hour with heavy hors d’oeuvres
April 11th, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and St. Louis Cardinals baseball game
April 12th, Breakfast