WVC celebrates 95th year, convention surpasses previous attendance records
By Mary Guiden and Alex Koffler
WVC 2023, led by the Viticus Group, not only celebrated a big anniversary in 2023, but it also delivered a bit of Las Vegas to veterinary medicine and animal health industry attendees. The conference offered the opportunity to attend shows like KÀ by Cirque du Soleil or listen to country music singer Ashley McBryde. Even the Jonas Brothers were in town, if you were lucky to snag a ticket in advance.
According to Dr. Tony Pease, DVM and chief veterinary medical officer of the Viticus Group, attendance at this year’s conference at Mandalay Bay Convention Center was close to pre-pandemic levels. Final numbers have not yet been released but Pease said the turnout was “amazing” in an interview at the conference with Veterinary33.
Estimates are that WVC surpassed its all-time attendance records, with veterinarians and other attendees from the U.S., South Korea, Japan, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
Most attendees choose WVC for the educational opportunities. Pease said the conference featured 30 rooms of educational sessions on a variety of topics, including honeybees, horses and small animals. Clinicians and experts talked about diabetes, heart disease, nutrition and practice management. They also shared the latest and greatest techniques to take on challenging cases.
“There have been so many innovations over the last three years” in health and wellbeing and managing veterinary practices, Pease said.
WVC provides a space to share best practices and ensure that veterinarians, vet techs and their teams are taking care of themselves. This year’s conference featured a puppy playhouse and yoga sessions.
We want people to know “it’s okay to be you,” said Pease. “People can be people again, and not always be a veterinarian.”
A board-certified radiologist, Pease was a tenure track professor at Michigan State University before joining the Viticus Group in May 2017. He taught courses through the Las Vegas-based organization for 10 years and knew the former chief veterinary medical officer, Dr. Don Waldron, who taught him in veterinary school.
Pease said that making the move from college faculty to the Viticus Group was not a big stretch. DVM students and veterinarians can take hands-on training through the Viticus Group, which has permanent training facilities in Las Vegas.
“We’re 10 minutes from the airport, so it’s convenient for all of my colleagues that come in for training,” said Pease.
Dr. Jamie Perkins, DVM, joined the Viticus Group in August 2022 as program director of veterinary conference education. She and Kim Keating, education program manager, curated more than 850 hours of educational opportunities that took place over four days at the conference.
In places including the hospitality room, Viticus Group leaders and staff talk with veterinarians about how to improve upon educational content.
Research shows that a recent DVM graduate in the U.S. stays in the profession for about five years. Pease said that one of the reasons why they might want to leave the profession is a lack of confidence or proficiency in their skills. Attending WVC helps build that confidence and gives them the efficiency they need so they don’t get overwhelmed.
WVC is five years away from a centennial celebration. Pease said his team’s aim to build a conference with educational opportunities that appeal to all — if someone does not want to attend a big conference, there are other options. The Viticus Group led 28 hands-on courses during WVC at an offsite campus, which is only 10 minutes away from Mandalay Bay Convention Center.
“You can be in a small group with instructors and focus on things you’re really struggling with,” he said.
Planning has already begun for next year’s WVC. Organizers don’t want to feature the “same old, same old” talks, preferring instead to create a continuum.
“We offer over 100 courses over a year at our two centers,” said Pease. “We can use those courses as a stepping off point to come back to the conference as well.”
Learn more at: https://www.viticusgroup.org/wvc-conference
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