NAVC shatters attendance records

Orlando-"Big is not the goal," says Dr. Richard DeBowes, North American Veterinary Conference (NAVC) president. "Quality is the goal."

Nonetheless, the conference shattered its attendance record through itsdebut at co-host hotel the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center. About16,200 veterinarians, veterinary technicians, practice managers, exhibitorsand their families attended, and it represent an increase of more than 2,000over last year, say NAVC conference officials.

"Registrants came from 65 different countries. This is also a newrecord and reflects the growing international reputation of the meeting,"says NAVC's Executive Director Dr. Colin Burrows.

NAVC also celebrated its 20th birthday as an occasion to launch a relationshipwith a new co-host hotel allowing for a 40 percent increase in small animalprogram offerings, a doubling of the equine track topics and much more ­including a three-fold expansion of its exhibit hall.

The Marriott served as the conference's single headquarters hotel since1987, and remained busy with expanded exotic animal medicine, practice managementand veterinary technician programs along with additional small animal programsand special events, including Bayer Central Park. And the conference boastedentertainment including rockers Hootie and the Blowfish, sponsored by Bayer,tap dancer and entertainer Gregory Hines, sponsored by Hills Pet Nutrition,and a fireside chat with the dean of American broadcast journalists, WalterCronkite, who appeared thanks to Iams and Veterinary Pet Insurance. "MerialTalent Night" was won by Dr. Phil Robinson of Rockhill, S. C. witha moving rendition of "Wonderful" dedicated to his veterinarianwife Kim. The conference ended with the "Star Trek"-themed Novartisfinale.

"We expected to experience growing pains, and we have," Burrowssays. "We know we haven't gotten all the kinks out yet but overallwe are still able to say this year was our biggest, best conference ever,and our numbers bear that out."

NAVC hosted many topics for veterinarians including sessions on griefmanagement, shelter medicine, or how to design a hospital and run it. Cutting-edgedevelopments in acupuncture and pain management were also addressed.

Conference-goers this year were treated not only to more than 1,200 scientificsessions, 42 wet labs, 32 "Meet the Professor" luncheons and 100masterclasses, they also grew familiar with a new convention center-styleexhibit hall. A record 444 exhibitors were also in attendance.

Also featured this year for the first time was a Nestle Purina-sponsoredQuiz Show that featured student representatives from 23 schools vying fora total of $15,000 in prize money. Students were taped and broadcast liveon Prime Time, the NAVC's in-house TV show, while they pondered the questions.The grand prize-winner was Tya Henderson a senior student at Atlantic VeterinaryCollege. The runner-up was Marc Greenberg, a senior at Cornell.

A relatively new tradition, the North American Veterinary PostgraduateInstitute, offers its third program from June 15-20, 2003 in Orlando. Atthat time, programs in practice management, avian medicine, dermatology,orthopedics, critical care, behavior, feline medicine and neurology willbe offered.

Dr. Ralph Barrett, of Sacramento, CA was installed as the new NAVC president.Other officers include, Richard DeBowes, Pullman, Wash. who becomes immediatepast president; and Dr. Linda Jacobson of Brooklyn, New York who moves intothe president-elect slot.

Next year's conference is slated for Jan. 17-21, 2004. For more information,call (352) 375-5672 or go to www.navconline.com.