VMX lectures to watch: Part 1

From January 17-21, 2026, veterinary professionals from all over the world will flock to Orlando, Florida, for the 2026 Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX). The conference, which offers more than 1000 continuing education credits, can be an amazing place to learn, but it can also be overwhelming if it is your first time or you’re unsure of what lectures are happening when and which to attend. To help, we have compiled a list of lectures to look out for, which will assist VMX attendees in navigating the beginning of the event and identifying lectures to watch for the rest of the conference.

Saturday, January 17

In the News...A Review of Newsworthy Poisonings and the Animals Who Lived to Tell the Tail (ER, Tale)

• Speaker: Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT
• Topic: Toxicology
• Time: 8:00 AM-8:50 AM
• Why we are excited: Coming off the holiday season, toxicology might be at the top of the brain for veterinary professionals. In this case review lecture, Schmid and attendees will go over stories that made national news and discuss the toxin, the history around exposure, and a treatment success story for each.

Avoiding the Digital Doghouse: Social Media Safety in Veterinary Medicine

• Speaker: Rhonda Bell, CVPM, CCFP, PCM-Digital, CDMP
• Topic: Practice management
• Time: 8:00 AM-8:50 AM
• Why we are excited: Social media is a major topic in the veterinary industry, so being able to use it to your advantage will help attendees separate themselves and their clinic from competitors. Social media, although a benefit, can also be harmful to veterinary professionals, so learning safety from an expert like Bell can make it an easier space to navigate for professionals.

Physical Rehabilitation's Role in Pain Management

• Speaker: Carrie Britt, DVM, DACVSMR
• Topic: Sports medicine
• Time: 9:05 AM-9:55 AM
• Why we are excited: Physical rehabilitation is a way for veterinary professionals to relieve their clients’ pain when analgesics are not tolerated or an option at all due to comorbidities. Britt will explain to attendees how to target rehabilitation techniques to improve the lives of patients.

Current Vaccine Recommendations for Dogs and Cats

• Speaker: Becky Smith,CVT, VTS (Clinical Practice)
• Topic: Technician
• Time: 10:15 AM-11:05 AM
• Why we are excited: Vaccines have been a very hot topic in both human and animal medicine, meaning clients are most likely going to be coming into clinics with questions for veterinary teams. By attending a lecture like Smith’s, you can equip yourself and then your team with the latest recommendations for both feline and canine patients.

VMX Opening Ceremony With Patrick Dempsey

• Speaker: Patrick Dempsey
• Entertainment
• Time: 11:15 AM-12:30 PM
• Why we are excited: Dempsey will be sharing with the crowd more on his career, his love of animals, and his devotion to the Dempsey Center, which provides personalized counseling and care for those with cancer and their families. Plus, it’s McDreamy.

Oh No, Another Frenchie

• Speaker: Elizabeth Rozanski, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), DACVECC
• Topic: Respiratory medicine

• Time: 2:00 PM-2:50 PM
• Why we are excited: French bulldogs have been named the top dog in America, and clients are going to be bringing them into clinics for care. Learning all you can about them can help ensure that the Frenchies making their way into your client are getting the latest care out there.

Curvy Cats in the Kitchen: The Overweight, the Obese, and the Diabetic

• Speaker: Kelly St. Denis
• Topic: Feline medicine
• Time: 2:00 PM-2:50 PM
• Why we are excited: There are clients out there who think that having a large cat is cute and fluffy, but an obese cat is one that is also at risk of developing diabetes mellitus. This lecture will explore the role of nutrition for feline obesity to help professionals share common truths and myths about these patients.

Be Our Guest: The Magic of Great Customer Service

• Speaker: Adam Christman, DVM, MBA
• Topic: Feline medicine
• Time: 4:05 PM-4:55 PM
• Why we are excited: With Disney World being so close to the conference, why not learn more about their customer service and how it can be brought into the veterinary clinic? Hear more from dvm360’s chief veterinary officer, who wrote his MBA thesis on Disney’s 4 keys to quality service.

From Beak to Flipper: An Introduction to Penguin Health and Medicine

• Speaker: Molly Martony, DVM, DACZM
• Topic: Zoo medicine
• Time: 4:45 PM-5:10 PM
• Why we are excited: How often do veterinary professionals get an introduction to penguin health? This lecture offers an opportunity to explore and gain a deeper understanding of these animals—and perhaps spark a new interest!

Sunday, January 18

AI and Veterinary Medicine: Updates, How to, and Why

• Speaker: Shawn Wilkie
• Topic: Practice management
• Time: 8:00 AM-8:50 AM
• Why we are excited: Artificial intelligence (AI) has been one of the biggest topics in veterinary medicine—and every other industry—for the past few years. Exploring what’s new, how to use it, and its benefits can help you stay ahead of the AI curve.

Clinical Approach to Diagnosing Muscle Disorders

• Speaker: Stephanie Valberg, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (LAIM), ACVSMR
• Topic: Equine medicine
• Time: 8:00 AM-8:50 AM
• Why we are excited: These disorders can often be confused with other medical conditions or lameness in these patients. Valberg will review a systematic approach to help veterinary professionals better differentiate between muscle disorders and create a comprehensive diagnostic plan.

From Tradition to Innovation: Enhancing Outcomes in Dog and Cat Sterilization

• Speaker: Robert J. McCarthy, DVM, MS, DACVS?
• Topic: Surgery
• Time: 9:00 AM-9:50 AM
• Why we are excited: One of the most common surgical procedures veterinary professionals perform is sterilization. Through this lecture, McCarthy will educate attendees on refinements and advances in surgical methods to help teams increase simplicity, decrease complications, and reduce surgery times.

Your New Favorite Analgesic: Using Alpha 2s to Your Advantage

• Speaker: Tasha McNerney, BS, CVT, CVPP, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia)
• Topic: Anesthesia
• Time: 9:55 AM-10:45 AM
• Why we are excited: This lecture is a good one to attend because a-2 agonists (like dexmedetomidine) are essential, high-utility drugs used daily for achieving reliable sedation, analgesia, and muscle relaxation in practice. The core value lies in the focus on patient safety, as these agents have unique and profound cardiovascular and respiratory effects that require careful monitoring and management.

Sometimes It’s Not OA: Other Reasons for Lameness and Reduced Mobility

• Speaker: Kristin Kirkby Shaw, DVM, PhD, MS, DACVS-SA, DACVSMR
• Topic: Surgery
• Time: 10:50 AM-11:40 AM
• Why we are excited: Attendees will get an inside look at overlooked and common causes of lameness, as well as reduced mobility that could mimic or coexist with osteoarthritis (OA). This lecture will help attendees gain a better understanding of how to recognize OA to create an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan for their patients.

Stop the Stigma: How You Can Contribute to the Culture of Growth and Inclusion Where Veterinary Professionals Thrive

• Speaker: Sonja Olson, DVM
• Topic: Well-being/personal growth
• Time: 12:35 PM-1:35 PM
• Why we are excited: With all the amazing medicine topics available, it can be nice to take a break and attend a lecture focused on you and bettering yourself and your team members.

Gaining Confidence With an Orthopedic Examination

• Speaker: Kate Barnes, DVM, MS, DACVS-SA
• Topic: Orthopedics
• Time: 1:40 PM-2:30 PM
• Why we are excited: According to Barnes, the orthopedic exam is a cornerstone of lameness evaluations in patients. It can feel overwhelming in practice, but it doesn’t have to. Her lecture will help attendees streamline their approach, gain a deeper understanding of pattern recognition, and learn how to make the most of everyday tools to confidently tackle tough cases.

Cyber Threats: Is Your Practice Protected?

• Speaker: William Lindus
• Topic: Practice management
• Time: 1:40 PM-2:30 PM
• Why we are excited: With social media, the rise of artificial intelligence, and programs using the internet to make practices run more smoothly, cyber threats can be a massive concern for veterinary practices. According to Lindus, these incidents are also happening more frequently, becoming more sophisticated, and their financial impact is growing. Therefore, being prepared will help your clinic staff stay safe from cyber threats.

Unmasking the Mystery: Why COPAT Is Essential for Oral Health (Sponsored by Dechra)

• Speaker: Jan Bellows, DVM, DAVDC, DABVP, FAVD
• Topic: Dentistry
• Time: 4:45 PM-5:10 PM
• Why we are excited: Comprehensive oral prevention, assessment, and treatment (COPAT) has a critical role in maintaining optimal oral health for feline and canine patients. Understanding what COPAT is and how to bring it into your practice can help improve the quality of life for your patients through early detection and treatment of these diseases.