Feline Veterinary Medical Association – September 26-29, 2024
Event
The Feline Veterinary Medical Association (FelineVMA), formerly the American Association of Feline Practitioners, held its annual conference from September 26-29 in Minneapolis.
Program
The conference drew more than 1,000 veterinary professionals. The theme of the conference was “Feline Dermatology, Cardiology, and Diagnostic Methodology.” Continuing education sessions and presentations focused on a variety of topics, including feline allergies, autoimmune skin disease in the feline patient, topical therapy in feline dermatology, infectious skin diseases, diagnosis and management of feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, why saddle thrombus is no longer a death sentence, pulmonary pattern paradigms and left-sided congestive heart failure in cats, a diagnostic imaging approach to noncardiac respiratory distress, unlocking the power of genetic testing for feline diseases, cytologic diagnosis of inflammatory and infectious diseases in cats, improving skills in diagnosing obstructive gastrointestinal disease in cats with radiography, and recognizing airway disease in cats. Ancillary sessions covered osteoarthritis pain, diabetes treatments, new feline products and developments, and nutrition. Also on offer were educational topics for veterinary technicians. Attendees can register and gain access to some of the content from December 2 until May 31, 2025, via the virtual conference platform.
Immediate past president of the FelineVMA, Dr. Tammy Sadek, reflected on the association’s 50-year history and recognized the contributions of past and current volunteers over five decades of leadership and dedication. She also announced the association’s new name and logo.
Business
The FelineVMA’s fifth annual Spring into Feline Medicine e-conference will be held on April 27, May 7, and May 17, 2025. The 2025 annual conference will be held from September 18-21 in Portland, Oregon. The theme of the conference will be “Feline Nephrology, Urology, & Dentistry.” Further details on the e-conference and annual conference will be made available in the near future via the FelineVMA education platform.
Officials
Drs. Ashlie Saffire, Columbus, Ohio, president; Hazel Carney, Emmett, Idaho, president-elect; Michelle Meyer, Sterling Heights, Michigan, treasurer; Tammy Sadek, Grand Rapids, Michigan, immediate past president; Colleen Currigan, Chicago, AVMA delegate; Cathy Lund, Providence, Rhode Island, AVMA alternate delegate and director; and directors—Drs. Lacie Lee, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Ross Mahowald, Lincolnwood, Illinois; Kira Ramdas, The Woodlands, Texas; Dale Rubenstein, Germantown, Maryland; Angie Smith, Austin, Texas; and Autumn Vetter, Athens, Georgia
A version of this story appears in the January 2025 print issue of JAVMA