LAS VEGAS, March 12, 2012 — Registrants for the 84th Annual WesternVeterinary Conference (WVC) held February 19-23 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casinoenjoyed an educational and entertainment experience like no other in the global veterinarycommunity. Close to 15,000 attendees took advantage of the vibrant learning opportunities,super-friendly new perks, and extraordinary assembly of exhibitors. As the world’s premierveterinary meeting, WVC registered almost 6,500 Veterinarians, about 2,000 VeterinaryTechnicians and Practice Managers, and thousands of additional attendees with various relevantconnections to the realm of animal health.
The 2012 Conference continued WVC’s trendsetting leadership in meetingtechnology and attendee-friendly advances, all of which heighten its positive educationalimpact, convenience for registrants, and global influence. WVC 2012 offered an agendafeaturing 334 hours of Small Animal, 52 hours of Food Animal, 48 hours of Equine, and 32hours of Avian and Exotics programming as well as 66 hours of Practice Management sessionsdirected toward the business and organizational sides of practice. A separate agenda dedicated toVeterinary Technicians and Practice Managers listed 64 hours of CE programming. Thirtysponsored symposia, more than 30 Hands-on Labs, as well as multiple Workshops and Lunch &Learn Sessions united presenters and attendees for highly personal instruction.
As WVC 2012 concluded, Manolita Moore, Conference Director, observed, “This year’sAnnual Conference was by far the best year yet for WVC. We are very proud of breaking ourhistorical overall attendance record. Our DVM attendance showed a growth in the last 3 years,despite the still somewhat volatile economy. WVC is committed to making our attendees feelempowered, equipped, and educated after attending our Conference. On behalf of the Board ofDirectors and staff, we thank all those who continue to believe in and support WVC.”
The 2011 Continuing Educators of the Year, as selected by Conference attendees, werehonored at the meeting: Dr. Teresa Lightfoot, Avian & Exotics; Dr. James T. Blackford, Equine;Dr. Geoffrey W. Smith, Food Animal; Dr. Karen E. Felsted, Practice Management; Dr. David S.Biller, Small Animal; and Kim Spelts, CVT, VTS, CCMT, CCRP, Technician. In addition,WVC Special Recognition Awards were presented to Dr. Dick Shawley, Vicki Olsen, and PattiDavis for their leadership, service, and assistance to the Conference over many years.
Western Veterinary Conference (WVC) proudly awarded 33 DVM StudentScholarships this year, selecting a student from each of the accredited North Americanveterinary schools and granting one additional scholarship to a deserving veterinary technicianstudent.
Additionally, five veterinary postgraduates received Food Animal Incentive Awardsfor their dedication to food animal practice: Dr. David Amrine, Kansas State University; Dr.Amanda Hartnack, The Ohio State University; Dr. Bradley Heins, University of Georgia; Dr.Jessica L. Gordon, University of Guelph; and Dr. Sarah Giebel, Washington State University.
WVC attracted more than 500 exhibitors in 2012, all of which were available in asingle impressive and well-thought-out exhibit space designed with the onsite needs of attendeesin mind. Joel Altman, WVC Exhibits Manager, commented, “I was especially proud of theoverall feel of this year’s show. Everyone, from designers to decorators, put tremendous effortinto a clean and classy look that was inviting and professional.”
“The new WVC Plaza was a terrific success,” Altman continued. “Its open settingcontained a number of crowd pleasers, such as the Silent Auction, Cyber Café, New ProductShowcase, and Massage Zone, yet never felt cramped. Continual traffic illustrated that theattendees appreciated the park theme. Our 10-foot Clock Tower was the focal point, however,and brought all of the elements together. It was a beautiful piece.”
Attendees visiting the 2012 Exhibit Hall were able to learn about products andservices, order and purchase onsite, use the high-tech WVC-Connect app to navigate, and pickup lunch and snacks as well as enjoy an array of other extras that included the WVC GrandPavilion information center, classifieds job board, expanded food service, and nicely placed restareas.
Happily, it’s never all work and no fun at WVC! Conference amenities in 2012surpassed the highest expectations, with such new activities as an orientation program for firsttimersand 6:00a yoga, Jazzercise®, and Zumba®, fitness programs. Other events and activitiescovered the good-time gamut. From the 5K Fun Run on Sunday to the ever-popular AlumniReceptions on Monday the pleasures just kept rolling. Many participated in the annual WVCGolf Tournament, cooking classes, wine and beer tastings, shopping excursions, internationaland student receptions, and this year’s energizing WVC Guest Program. Headliner entertainmentincluded a hilarious take on life from Billy Gardell, star of the CBS hit TV show “Mike &Molly,” the “maximum 70s funkage” delivered by Kool & the Gang, and intriguing tales fromadventurer and celebrity speaker Bear Grylls.
Online registration for the 85th Annual Western Veterinary Conference —February 17-21, 2013 — opens April 16, 2012, at wvc.org. For additional information onWVC or the Oquendo Center, which offers year-round specialty courses, please call:866.800.7326 (toll-free) or 702.739.6698 or visit wvc.org and oquendocenter.org.
About Western Veterinary Conference
WVC provides total continuing education for veterinary professionals and related groups in a world-classdestination — Las Vegas, The Entertainment Capital of the World. Global authorities and the brightestemerging speakers present sophisticated practical sessions as well as Hands-on Labs in the magnificentstate-of-the-art Oquendo Center for Clinical Education. WVC is an annual interactive CE opportunity forthe progressive veterinary community, with optimum possibilities for networking and superior exposureto commercial products and services via its associated trade show. For information about the Conference,go to wvc.org. To learn more about Oquendo Center programs, go to oquendocenter.org.