Conference Circuit: Veterinary Association Veers Toward the Offbeat

More than 16,000 veterinary professionals will gather in Orlando January 17-21 for the North American Veterinary Community  (opens in a new tab)’s [NAVC] 2015 conference  (opens in a new tab). But there will be a number of intimate, candid sessions to ensure that the massive event feels more personal.

During Masterclasses  (opens in a new tab), some of the most respected leaders in veterinary medicine will discuss how they have handled their most unusual and challenging patients. Attendees can also earn continuing education credit hours by learning about offbeat topics  (opens in a new tab) such as “Oddball Small Animal Toxicology Cases That I’ve Known and Loved” and “Cough! Cough! Cough! Tips for Controlling Chronic Canine Cough.”

“Meet the Professor” luncheons  (opens in a new tab), a conference favorite, will bring attendees and leading clinicians together to break bread over insights from the field of veterinary medicine. For something faster-paced, rapid-fire IGNITE!  (opens in a new tab) talks have been designed to spark conversation and promote new ideas in a five-minute time span.

And NAVC should be applauded for its We Lead  (opens in a new tab) initiative, celebrating the role of women in the veterinary profession. During the conference, women navigating veterinary medicine can learn how to enhance their leadership, communication, and mentorship skills and then recap those lessons at a cocktail reception hosted by the Women’s Veterinary Leadership Development Initiative  (opens in a new tab). Also, general session speaker Laila Ali  (opens in a new tab) will urge women veterinary professionals to “follow their dreams and make a difference.”

The Week Ahead

January 20-22: The National Multifamily Housing Council  (opens in a new tab) is aiming to inspire with tales of big business during its annual meeting  (opens in a new tab) in Palm Springs, California. The lineup of keynote speakers includes Alan Mulally, former president and CEO of Ford Motor Company, and Richard Parsons, former chairman of Citigroup and former chairman and CEO of Time Warner.

January 22-24: The National Association of EMS Physicians  (opens in a new tab)’ annual meeting  (opens in a new tab) in New Orleans will offer a global perspective, with discussions  (opens in a new tab) on the U.S. emergency response to the Ebola crisis in West Africa and the dangers of infectious disease at mass gatherings, such as yearly pilgrimages to Mecca.

Down the Line

January 24-28: The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers  (opens in a new tab) is amping up the offerings at its winter conference  (opens in a new tab) in Chicago. Programming tracks that focus on industrial facilities and energy- and water-efficient system design are among the conference’s new features. Attendees can come for the technical discussions and stay for the keynote speaker, Aron Ralston, whose autobiography Between a Rock and a Hard Place inspired the film 127 Hours.

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