IVAPM to host 2026 Pain Management Forum in Dallas

The International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM) will host its 2026 Pain Management Forum in Dallas, Texas, from April 18-20, 2026, bringing together veterinarians, technicians, and rehabilitation professionals for continuing education and discussion focused on advances in veterinary pain management.

The meeting will feature up to 15 hours of continuing education and multiple educational tracks covering companion animal–, equine-, and rehabilitation-focused pain management topics. Programming will include lectures, panel discussions, and networking opportunities designed to support both clinical learning and professional collaboration.

The forum’s keynote session will be delivered by Aaron Shaw, OTR/L, CHT, CSCS, who will present “The Veterinary Athlete: A Blueprint for Career Durability,” a talk focused on physical longevity and injury prevention for veterinary professionals.

Educational sessions will address a range of topics, including chronic pain management strategies, diagnostic approaches to identifying pain, emerging therapeutic options, and communication strategies for advocating pain control in clinical practice. Presentations will also explore evolving views of chronic pain as a disease process rather than solely a symptom, as well as updates in pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic pain therapies.

Among scheduled speakers are:

• Melina Zimmerman, DVM, DACVAA, CVPP, CVMA, CCRP;
• Lauren Retallack, DVM, MBA, DACVS-SA, CVPP;
• Lindsey Fry, DVM, DACVSMR, CCRP, CVPP, CVMA;
• Tammy Grubb, DVM, PhD, CVPP, DACVAA; and
• Jean Joaquim, DVM, MS, PhD, LAC.

Sessions in the clinician track will include diagnostic strategies for uncovering sources of pain, the role of nerve growth factor in osteoarthritis, and practical guidance on the evidence-based use of ketamine in multimodal analgesic plans. A parallel technician and nurse track will focus on clinical analgesia, including pain management in emergency settings, local anesthetic block techniques, and analgesia for exotic species; other sessions will address obesity as a contributor to patient pain and reduced quality of life.

A second day of programming will include an IVAPM-focused track highlighting equine pain management and integrative therapies, with presentations on thermography, ozone therapy, and practical approaches to joint injections for chronic osteoarthritis. An additional track in collaboration with the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians will examine musculoskeletal injuries in canine athletes and rehabilitation strategies for return to work and sport.

In addition to educational sessions, attendees will have access to an exhibit hall showcasing products and technologies related to veterinary pain management, as well as networking events designed to facilitate collaboration among clinicians, technicians, and industry professionals. See the Pain Management Forum agenda for session details and updates.

Learn more and register here: https://www.ivapm.org/2026-pain-management-forum

Reference

International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management. 2026 IVAPM Pain Management Forum. Accessed March 16, 2026. https://www.ivapm.org/2026-pain-management-forum