WVC marks 90th, program in infectious disease launched

Published on
information-circle This article is more than 3 years old

Since 1928, WVC has provided continuing education to veterinary professionals. It was founded in Logan, Utah, as Intermountain Livestock Sanitary Association and was renamed Western Veterinary Conference in 1965. In 2014, the name was officially changed from Western Veterinary Conference to WVC.

Nearly 14,000 veterinary professionals gathered March 4-8 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas for the WVC 90th Annual Conference. Participants at the 2018 conference had the opportunity to attend more than 1,000 hours of CE, interact with more than 518 exhibiting companies, and network with colleagues from 27 countries and all 50 states.

"WVC hosted veterinary professionals from around the world for an inspirational week of education and networking designed to help them grow their skills and clinical offering," said Dr. W. Mark Hilton, WVC president, in a conference summary. "This year's event gave us an opportunity to celebrate 90 years of tradition and excellence in education, but also provided a vibrant platform to share experiences with colleagues, discover the latest products and services, and reignite our collective passion for serving the health and welfare of animals."

The WVC 90th Annual Conference, March 4-8 in Las Vegas, featured lectures, hands-on labs, and workshops for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and practice managers. (Courtesy of Las Vegas Photo and Video)

The Dr. W. Bruce Wren Food Animal Incentive Award was given to five postgraduates, and the Dr. Jack Walther Leadership Award to 36 veterinary students.

The 2018-19 WVC officers are Dr. Darwin R. Yoder, Filer, Idaho, president; Dr. Dennis M. McCurnin, Henderson, Nevada, president-elect; Dr. Robert Smith, Stillwater, Oklahoma, vice president; veterinary technician E. David Stearns, Fall Creek, Wisconsin, secretary-treasurer; and Dr. W. Mark Hilton, West Lafayette, Indiana, immediate past president.

At the conference, Clorox Healthcare and Merck Animal Health launched the Heroes for Healthy Pets Infectious Disease Management Certification Program at heroes4healthypets.com in coordination with the International Boarding and Pet Services Association, the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, Pet Sitters International, VETgirl, and Barkleigh Productions.

The Heroes for Healthy Pets program educates veterinary and pet professionals on the risks of infectious diseases and provides best practices for preventive care, including strategic vaccination alongside cleaning and disinfection protocols to help maintain disease-free facilities. The program consists of two educational modules: "Understanding Infectious Diseases" and "Effective Infectious Disease Control."

Certification is free via the VetFolio platform and open to all veterinary and pet professionals. To become certified, participants must complete both educational modules and pass the certification exam. The certification provides two hours of CE credits for veterinary professionals. Individual pet professionals and veterinary and pet care facilities can also apply for certification.

Heroes for Healthy Pets supplies certificate holders with a collection of podcasts on infectious diseases, a handbook on infectious diseases with information on viral and bacterial pathogens and best practices for infection prevention, and promotional materials including a virtual marketing toolkit and educational tools for pet owners.

Related JAVMA content:

WVC conference concludes with eye on expansion (May 15, 2017)