Viticus Group conference, training center coming to Nashville
The WVC Annual Conference, one of the longest running veterinary conferences in the country, is expanding from its Las Vegas home to Nashville, Tennessee, potentially by next summer.
Plans for WVC Nashville were announced during the 2025 WVC Annual Conference, held March 2–5. The decision to host a second annual WVC meeting and open a training center in a more Eastern location is a “pivotal moment in the organization’s nearly 100-year history,” according to the Viticus Group, the organization that hosts the WVC conference, which issued a March 2 statement.
Viticus Group CEO Andrea Davis said in the statement: “For nearly a century, we’ve been at the forefront of hands-on training and education from our home base in Las Vegas. Now, with this new location, we’re broadening our reach, creating even more opportunities for professionals to advance their skills, build their confidence and shape the future of their practice.”
The new WVC Nashville training center is tentatively expected to be fully operational in the summer 2026. Viticus Group says it will be a cutting-edge bioskills training center designed to provide advanced hands-on education for veterinary and human health professionals.
The latest WVC Annual Conference drew a record high of nearly 21,000 attendees and offered more than 900 hours of continuing education, 600-plus exhibitors, and a concert by Atlanta-based rapper Ludacris.
“This record-breaking turnout emphasizes the commitment of veterinary professionals to driving innovation and excellence in the industry,” Davis said in a statement. “I’m incredibly proud of the Viticus Group team for delivering such a transformative experience and grateful to all participants for contributing to this success.”
The AVMA hosted sessions on the current economic landscape affecting veterinary practices, the future of the veterinary workforce, tips on staff retention and self-care, and identifying common sources of acquiring a pet dog and the associated costs.
The 2025-26 Viticus Group officers are Dr. Travis McDermott, Las Vegas, president; Dr. Brian Darrow, Anamosa, Iowa, president-elect; Dr. Megan Skeffington, Ballston Lake, New York, vice president; registered veterinary technician E. David Stearns, Houston, Texas, secretary-treasurer; and registered veterinary technician Heather Prendergast, Las Cruces, New Mexico, assistant secretary-treasurer.
The 2026 WVC Annual Conference in Las Vegas will be held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center from February 15-18, 2026. The inaugural WVC Nashville meeting is at the Music City Center from August 16-18, 2026.