My NAVC Conference Experience

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It was a relief to step off the plane into temperatures that were not several degrees below zero. I had escaped the frozen wasteland of Indiana in January to attend the North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando, Florida, as an NAVC On-Campus student representative. On the ride to my hotel I met several veterinarians and they all said what my professors had been telling me for several weeks, “NAVC is such a great conference!” After my experience, I now heartily agree.

Decisions, Decisions

The first morning I dutifully set off to one of the convention centers to attend lectures and within minutes was rather panicked. How could I decide among three different talks that all sounded incredibly interesting and all took place at the same time? I encountered a similar dilemma every day that I was there. The sheer number of options for continuing education was overwhelming, with presentations on multiple topics occurring every hour at two different locations. I went to talks about small animal surgery and ophthalmology, the care of small ruminants and birds, the importance of the human–animal bond, and the veterinarian’s role in animal cruelty. There were presentations about reptiles, horses, practice management, hospital design, and a host of other topics. In addition there were wet labs and workshops galore addressing everything from emergency medicine to avian handling. No one would ever be able to attend everything, but everyone should be able to find an opportunity to learn in their areas of interest.

Getting to Know One Another

There were endless opportunities to network with other members of the veterinary profession. Veterinarians tend to be an affable bunch, and it was easy, even as a student, to strike up a conversation with anyone I met. Just turning and talking to the person next to me each time I rode the bus afforded a chance for me to expand my connections in the veterinary community. I met veterinary professionals from all over the United States and all over the world, and I know that those valuable contacts will serve me down the road one way or another. Wandering through the exhibit halls helped me discover the various options for supplies and services that will be available to me when I enter practice. Talking with the representatives at the different booths allowed me to form even more contacts and hear about new research and products that are affecting the veterinary profession.

One of the most important aspects for me was meeting and establishing friendships with other veterinary students. As an NAVC On-Campus representative I got to spend time with other representatives and the NAVC directors discussing how to raise awareness about NAVC. It was inspiring to listen to the intelligent people who will soon be practicing veterinary medicine, and it was great fun to get to know them better while eating meals, wandering the exhibits, or attending presentations together.

Serious Playtime

Veterinary folk know how to work hard, but they know how to play hard too. After full days of listening to talks, attending labs, or talking with exhibitors, everyone was ready for some fun in the evenings. Thanks to generous sponsorship from various companies there were plenty of chances for good entertainment and scrumptious free food. At the opening ceremony I laughed myself sick during a stand-up comedy show with Bill Engvall. I visited other veterinary students at the hotel to go swimming, listen to music, or just sit and talk. One unusually cool evening I cavalierly left my jacket behind at the hotel, so I nearly froze to death (ironic I know) during a nighttime SeaWorld outing where I enjoyed dinner, arcade games, a roller coaster ride, and a special Shamu show. During the closing ceremony I danced with people from Peru, the Dominican Republic, Quebec, and even far-off Minnesota.

When the conference came to an end, and I rolled away on the shuttle back to the airport, I leaned back feeling educationally gratified and thoroughly satisfied—albeit mildly sleep deprived. It was a little hard to say good-bye to the remarkable people and the sunshiny weather. I take comfort in the knowledge that the Conference will continue to provide worldclass opportunities for veterinarians year after year. I look forward to attending many more times in the future.

Marigold Bethany, NAVC On-Campus Representative