WVC breaks attendance record

Las Vegas

-- The Western Veterinary Conference (WVC) broke attendance records this year.

In fact, according to the conference’s organizers, attendance topped 14,600 for the Feb. 20-24 meeting. There were 6,220 veterinarians, 1,513 veterinary technicians, 330 practice managers and 3,719 exhibitors. The four-day veterinary conference featured 875 hours of AAVSB/RACE-approved continuing education instruction in small animal, large animal, exotics, and other species areas as well as practice management. More than 30 hands-on labs were conducted at WVC’s Oquendo Center for Clinical Education. More than 30 focused symposia and 18 Industry Seminars also contributed to the conference programming, conference organizers say.

“I am thrilled with our attendees’ reactions to this year’s conference,” says Manolita Moore, WVC’s annual conference director. In 2011, lecture rooms were concentrated on Mandalay Bay’s Convention Center Levels 2 and 3, which was intended to streamline access to sessions and simplify visits to the Exhibit Hall on Level 2. WVC added about 100 more exhibitors in 2011 (totaling 550).

Five veterinary postgraduates received Food Animal Incentive Awards for their dedication to food-animal practice: Dr. Leslie N. Charles, University of Florida; Dr. Brandon C. Fraser, Kansas State University; Dr. Amanda M. Kowalski, University of Illinois; Dr. Rachel Record, University of Prince Edward Island; and Dr. Aaron S. Lucas, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.WVC Special Recognition Awards were presented to Dr. Kathy Gloyd, Dr. Jerry Vestweber and Dr. Rochen Heers for their unique leadership, service and assistance to the conference.

The 2010 Continuing Educators of the Year, selected by conference attendees, include Dr. James Carpenter, avian and exotics; Dr. Debra Taylor, equine; Dr. Kevin Washburn, food animal; Katherine Dobbs, RVT, CVPM, PHR, practice management; Dr. Tony Johnson, small animal; and Brenda Feller, RVT, VTS, VCA, technician.