Veterinary professionals ascend to The Mile High City

AVMA welcomes thousands to Denver convention
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Thousands of attendees gathered July 25-29 in Denver for several days of education, exhibits, and events during the 151st AVMA Annual Convention.

“The 2014 AVMA convention was a wonderful success,” said Dr. Ron Banks, chair of the AVMA Convention Management and Program Committee. The total number of convention registrants was 8,529—close to half veterinarians—and veterinary technician registrations continued to rise, from 307 in 2012 to 465 in 2014.

Convention exhibit hall
(Photo by Matt Alexandre/Robb Cohen Photography)

Additionally, the AVMA welcomed more than 500 first-time attendees to its annual meeting, this year held at the Colorado Convention Center. “First-timers reported a deep appreciation that the Association was working to demystify the complexity of the convention and provide avenues of networking and communication with Association leaders,” Dr. Banks noted.

The 4 1/2-day meeting commenced with the opening session, sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition. Dr. Lance Fox offered highlights from his climb of Mount Everest in 2009, and John Jacobs, co-founder of the Life is good company, talked about the advantages of being a chronic optimist (see article).

“Selection of Lance Fox and John Jacobs as our co–keynote speakers was a directed effort to encourage and inspire all of the profession, but especially the junior colleagues early in their career who are meeting substantial mountains as they progress in vocation, life, and mission,” Dr. Banks explained.

Afterward, the American Veterinary Medical Foundation hosted a fundraising event at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

More than 1,100 continuing education sessions included 20 interactive laboratories and featured over 600 presenters. Among the many notable speakers were veterinary technician Mary Berg (dentistry), Temple Grandin, PhD (reducing animal stress), and Dr. Tony Knight (toxicology and small ruminants).

“The most common complaint I heard was ‘I can’t figure out if I want to go to this session or that one. I don’t want to miss either but can’t be at two places at once.’ Honestly, that was the goal of the CMPC: to build a program that created challenges for attendees in determining which program to attend, because several were excellent,” Dr. Banks said.

Veterinary products of more than 300 companies were on display in the convention center’s exhibit hall. The Eli Young Band headlined the eighth annual Merial Concert Series at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and Elitch Gardens Theme Park was the site of the AVMA Family Night.

The 2015 AVMA Annual Convention will be July 10-14 in Boston.