About COVE
Dr. Kenneth A. Bruecker, DVM, MS, DACVS, DACVSMR
- Dr. Bruecker graduated from the University of California at Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine in 1983. After one year of general small animal practice in Los Angeles, Dr. Bruecker completed an additional year of clinical internship at the West Los Angeles Veterinary Medical Group. He received his master of science degree at the completion of a three year surgical residency at Colorado State University and moved back to Ventura County in 1988 to establish specialty veterinary care. Dr. Bruecker is Founder of the Veterinary Medical and Surgical Group in Ventura, California. Dr. Bruecker provided regular surgical support for practices in the state of Hawaii from 1996 through 2011.
- In 2017, Dr. Bruecker founded COVE (Continuing Orthopedic Veterinary Education) and is an invited speaker through out the global veterinary community. He is an active participate in working groups on elbow dysplasia, shoulder injuries, advanced techniques in small animal arthroscopy and cranial cruciate ligament repair. He has been an innovator in the development of many new surgical techniques and orthopedic implants. He shares a patent for the first locking Triple Pelvic Osteotomy plate used to treat hip dysplasia.
- The first Board Certified Surgeon in California to also become Board Certified in Sports Medicine/Rehabilitation, Dr. Bruecker's primary clinical interests are spinal surgery, sports medicine, minimally invasive orthopedics and advanced orthopedics. He is well respected for his expertise in arthroscopy, limb deformity, disorders of the knee, fracture management and disorders of the spine. He has authored numerous articles and book chapters on Wobbler syndrome, treatment of intervertebral disk degeneration, spinal fracture management and orthopedics.
- Dr. Bruecker is a past program chair of Neurosurgery for The Annual Surgical Summit for the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and a past program chair for The Annual Surgical Summit for the technician program for the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. He served as the orthopedics program director for The Annual Surgical Summit of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2004 and 2005. He was also program director for orthopedics, pain management and anesthesia for the 2006 American Veterinary Medical Association annual symposium. He is the Co-Chair for the AOVet North America Sports Medicine and Traumatology course in 2019 and 2021. He was the Co-Chair for the AO Vet North America Spinal Surgery Masters Course in 2020. He is the past program chair for the Association for Veterinary Orthopedic Research and Education (AVORE) from 2005 through 2018. He is Small Animal Orthopedics Program Chair for the Western Veterinary Conference from 2016 through 2022. He is a past Executive Board Member (2004-2007) and is Past-President (2014-2015) of the Veterinary Orthopedic Society.
- He is was a member of the AOVet North America Education Committee from 2017 to 2023 and a mentor/coach for new AOVet faculty.
- Due largely to his commitment to education and training, Dr. Bruecker was chosen as the Veterinarian of the Year by the California Veterinary Medical Association in 2004.
- He is the recipient of the Hands-On Educator of the Year award for Western Veterinary Conference/Viticus Group 2022.