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August 15, 2021

VMX brings attendees back in person, also virtually

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The North American Veterinary Community welcomed attendees to a hybrid version of the Veterinary Meeting & Expo from June 5-9 in person in Orlando, Florida, or virtually.

The NAVC, a nonprofit that provides continuing education and other services, renamed its flagship conference as VMX starting in 2018. VMX 2020 took place in January last year before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down much of the United States. In November 2020, the NAVC announced that it would postpone VMX 2021 from January to June because of ongoing travel restrictions.

Dr. Goh performs an orthopedic examination
Dr. Clara Goh performs an orthopedic examination during her talk on how to help dogs stay agile and active as they age. She gave the presentation at the Veterinary Meeting & Expo, June 5-9 in Orlando, Florida. (Courtesy of NAVC)

Nearly 10,500 people from around the world attended VMX 2021, according to the NAVC. The conference drew in nearly 7,700 in-person attendees and over 2,700 virtual attendees.

VMX 2021 featured more than 600 CE sessions at the live event in Orlando and more than 300 virtual sessions, which will be available on demand through Sept. 3. Attendees were able to visit the VMX Expo Hall on-site at the Orange County Convention Center and virtually through an interactive 3D experience.

“People are happy to be back, meeting and learning together,” said Gene O’Neill, NAVC CEO, in a conference summary. “You can see the smiles under their masks! And those who attended virtually were able to connect and engage with colleagues while learning from the world’s most renowned experts in veterinary medicine.”

The Top 5 best-attended in-person sessions were as follows:

  • “Feline CKD: Chronic Management”
  • “Canine Allergy Pharmacotherapy (When to Choose What With Case Examples)”
  • “A New Non-Surgical Approach to Treat Mast Cell Tumors—Stelfonta (Tigilanol Tiglate)”
  • “Otitis Allergies and Client Compliance”
  • “Canine Dermatitis—When You Think It Is Allergy but It Is Not”

The Top 5 most-watched virtual sessions from June 5-9 were as follows:

  • “Canine Osteosarcoma: What Clients Want to Know About New Options”
  • “Updates and Practical Tips for Managing Canine Atopic Dermatitis/Nutritional Management of Canine Atopic Dermatitis”
  • “Just Breathe: A Comprehensive Clinical Approach to Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease”
  • “Chronic Hepatitis in Dogs: Treating the Underlying Causes”
  • “Cats Are Furry Magicians: Unlocking the Invisible Secrets of Feline Infectious Disease”

The 2021-22 NAVC officers are veterinary technician Paige Allen, West Lafayette, Indiana, president; veterinary technician Harold Davis, West Sacramento, California, president-elect; Dr. Bob Lester, Tualatin, Oregon, vice president; Dr. Christine Navarre, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, treasurer; and Dr. Cheryl Good, Dearborn, Michigan, immediate past president.

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