As Goodnewsforpets.com celebrates its 25th anniversary, I celebrated my 30th anniversary year of attending the 2025 American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Convention in Washington, D.C. This year’s convention showcased the incredible momentum in veterinary medicine, from global collaboration to emerging AI innovations.
I’ve attended many conferences in our nation’s capital—one of my favorite cities since childhood, thanks to its rich tapestry of museums and historic landmarks. And while it was pretty darn “July hot,” the short trip from the airport and easy walk to the convention center made the heat bearable and all but forgotten as I visited with dear friends and met new veterinary colleagues.
A Grand Kickoff: Jazz, Inspiration & Canine Camaraderie
The AVMA 2025 Convention opened with a high-energy celebration, featuring a moving keynote by Megan Leavey, a former Marine Corps corporal and veterinary technician. Her story—immortalized in the film Megan Leavey—highlighted the powerful bond between humans and their canine companions.
From there, the energy continued to grow. Exhibitor booths showcased the latest innovations in veterinary products and technologies. At the same time, informative sessions covered a range of topics, from small animal care to cutting-edge trends in data and diagnostics.
AI in Veterinary Medicine: A Researcher’s Dream
As my doctoral research continues to focus on Responsible AI in public relations and inclusive of veterinary medicine, I was especially interested in sessions exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) is shaping veterinary practice, but I was also looking for potential content and guest experts for Goodnewsforpets.com. As with all things AI, the growth of offerings continues at a rapid pace, and particularly in veterinary medicine, scribe tools to record patient visits are of interest and increasing in adoption. AI is also being incorporated into diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, and other products, but not without some concerns regarding the medical decision-making processes. We are still in the early stages, and companies like Zoetis are taking a considered approach with the human in the loop and addressing concerns with robust studies. I was not disappointed with both the level of discussions, educational seminars and commentary, and I look forward to sharing more on this in upcoming posts and columns.
Strength in Global Collaboration
Another area close to my heart is global cooperation. The convention’s co-hosting with the World Veterinary Association (WVA) made this theme especially visible. Under the leadership of Dr. John De Jong, a former AVMA president and current WVA president (throwback posts here), the congress addressed global issues in animal health and recognized volunteer global leaders. The collegial spirit was a powerful reminder that the veterinary community is not only scientific—it’s deeply human and globally connected.
Diversity and Leadership on Full Display
It was inspiring to witness the continued diversity and representation within today’s AVMA. From the continued growing presence of young women new in veterinary medicine and to the newly elected president-elect Jennifer Quammen to the historic election of Dr. Richard Bailey—the AVMA’s first Black president and a board-certified radiologist with a keen interest in AI—the profession continues to evolve.
A special shout-out goes to Dr. Michael Blackwell, a veterinary trailblazer I interviewed years ago as part of the Mark Morris Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. He was honored with the Frederick Douglass Patterson AVMA Award this year—one of many well-deserved recognitions of his amazing career.
Inspiring the Next Generation: Vet for a Day
One of the most inspiring events was “Vet for a Day,” where local students participated in hands-on sessions with veterinary professionals. Seeing these young learners so engaged—learning about pet nutrition, emergency veterinary care and more, and asking thoughtful questions—was a highlight of the conference. This initiative exemplifies the promise of the future of veterinary medicine.
A Personal Look Back: From 1995 to Now
While we here at Goodnewsforpets are celebrating our 25th anniversary this year, my first AVMA Convention predates even the founding of Goodnewsforpets.com. I attended the AVMA convention in 1995 in Pittsburgh, PA—thirty years ago and the same year “Dogs Need Dental Care, Too!” launched, soon followed by “Pets Need Dental Care, Too!” at NAVC in 1996. You can read about the development of the program here. These award-winning early programs, underwritten by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. in partnership with the AVMA, AVS, and AVDC, marked the establishment of the oral care category for pets and began my own long journey of collaboration with veterinary medicine. I was honored by Dan Richardson’s remarks on the work when I interviewed him for the Germinder Power of Pink 20th anniversary celebration:
“As you know, we put a lot of people and resources into developing Hill’s dental technology. There was great commitment and enthusiasm internally, but it needed your expertise, foresight, and negotiating skills in public relations to create “Pets Need Dental Care, Too!” or we wouldn’t have been successful in launching the technology.
For the public relations campaign, you connected us in the right way. It wasn’t just a commercial launch. It was a professional launch. I think that has to be emphasized because Hill’s did not do it blindly commercial. They did it for the veterinary profession and our pets. And, it has been credited with building the oral care category for pets. I think they’ve been underrated and underappreciated for it.”
– Dan Richardson, DVM, dipl. ACVS, Former Executive Vice President, Hill’s Science Center on the Pets Need Dental Care, Too campaign.
Our parent agency, Germinder & Associates, Inc., went on to create over 125 campaigns in animal health, including the Catlyst Council, Know Heartworms, and many more. Fast-forward to 2025, and the veterinary profession continues to grow, and industry engagement is even stronger. From Hill’s ongoing commitment to leadership, as seen in companies like Idexx, and the emergence of AI startups, it’s clear that this profession is both supported and valued by its community.
A Final Word: Cheers to the Veterinary Profession
Congratulations to the AVMA, the WVA, and all who made the 2025 convention a success. From world-class programming to meaningful awards and cutting-edge sessions, this year’s event was nothing short of inspiring. I’m excited to see how AI in veterinary medicine continues to evolve, ultimately improving the health of our pets and the well-being of the people who love and care for them.
Go vets! The next AVMA convention will take place from July 10 to 14, 2025, in Anaheim, California. See you there? I hope so!
Join the Conversation
If you attended, did you have favorite moments from AVMA 2025? Please share your thoughts with us on social media using #AVMA2025 or drop a note at Goodnewsforpets.com.
Lea-Ann Germinder
AI Disclosure: This post was written by Lea-Ann Germinder and reviewed by AI to enhance SEO with final oversight and editing by the author.
