NAVC grows its brand

NAVTA, Vetlearn now under NAVC umbrella
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The North American Veterinary Community—the nonprofit that includes the annual conference, other continuing education offerings, a journal, and partner conferences abroad—has expanded its scope with some new resources and partnerships.

During the 2014 NAVC Conference, held Jan. 18-22 in Orlando, Fla., the NAVC debuted VetFolio, which seeks to bring the conference experience online. An NAVC press release touts VetFolio as a mobile-friendly website that supports professional development for all members of the veterinary health care team.

VetFolio provides access to more than 500 hours of veterinary CE through the Registry of Approved Continuing Education, 2,500 NAVC conference proceedings, “Clinical Views” written by veterinary faculty, moderated discussion forums, how-to articles for practice success, and industry and animal health research news.

Veterinary students take a quiz for fun during some downtime at the 2014 North American Veterinary Community Conference. (Photos courtesy of NAVC)

Monthly subscriptions cost $45 for practices of up to 15 members and $25 for individuals. Students, faculty, and professional staff at veterinary colleges have free access to VetFolio.

Also in January, the NAVC began retaining shared rights to publish all content from the information resource Vetlearn. That covers about 4,600 articles, 100-plus CE components, and more than 100 slideshows and videos, not to mention new material from the Vetlearn team.

In addition, NAVC will begin to manage and publish Vetlearn’s publications and websites, such as Compendium, Veterinary Technician, and Standards of Care; however, both organizations will co-own the material produced. Vetlearn and NAVC had partnered for more than 30 years prior to this announcement.

According to an NAVC press release, the new arrangement is intended to keep intact the Vetlearn editorial teams. In addition to using current Vetlearn content in VetFolio, the NAVC will add new content monthly.

Late last year, the NAVC announced another formal partnership, with the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America.

A young conference attendee gets up close with an alligator.

The NAVC is now helping manage NAVTA’s day-to-day operations. The two nonprofit associations will work together to develop products and services for veterinary technicians, including webinars, articles, conference lectures, and online courses.

Julie Legred was named NAVTA executive director Jan. 7; she had filled the position on an interim basis since Nov. 1, 2012.

Legred is also the senior manager of veterinary technician programs for NAVC and has been involved with NAVTA in other roles for many years, including serving as its president twice.

Legred said in an NAVC press release that NAVTA will remain its own entity and operate under its existing constitution and bylaws.

“This partnership will now enable NAVTA to offer and provide input into many additional benefits and opportunities for veterinary technicians, while polishing and enhancing the communications and services provided to its members,” she said.

About 1,512 veterinary technicians attended this year’s NAVC conference in addition to 6,296 veterinarians, 583 practice managers, 377 support staff members, and 870 students.

The conference introduced a new learning opportunity, Ignite!, which consisted of a full day of 15-minute talks and breakout sessions Jan. 21. The sessions were meant to explore new ideas and perspectives in veterinary education, practice, professionalism, and community. Ignite! is modeled after the popular TED talks, which are filmed presentations owned by the private nonprofit Sapling Foundation that have the slogan “Ideas Worth Spreading.”

Presenters at Ignite! touched on personal wellness and mental health, the future of drug dispensing by veterinarians, and how to overcome hurdles in data sharing among clinics. Rep. Kurt Schrader of Oregon gave the talk “Effecting change as a volunteer on the national level through political service.”

Another new session at the conference was “Hospital Design for the 21st Century.” It featured panel discussions with architects, builders, and financing professionals. In all, more than 1,200 hours of CE were offered.

Finally, the NAVC hosted its first Wellness Screening and Assessment Center during the conference, co-sponsored by the AVMA Group Health and Life Insurance Trust and Zoetis’ Pet Wellness Report. Attendees were offered blood chemistry profile and lipid panel analyses along with prostate-specific antigen testing and rabies titer testing.

The 2014-2015 NAVC officers are Dr. Charlotte Lacroix, Whitehouse Station, N.J., president; Dr. Christine Navarre, Baton Rouge, La., president-elect; Dr. Melinda D. Merck, Gainesville, Fla., vice president; Dr. Laurel Kaddatz, Pound Ridge, N.Y., secretary-treasurer; and Lynne E. Johnson-Harris, Hinckley, Ohio, immediate past president.

Related JAVMA content:

Leadership from within (Dec. 15, 2012)

NAVC broadening reach (April 1, 2013)