VMX 2020 Goes Virtual for Veterinary Students Worldwide

Veterinary Students Worldwide Can Attend the World’s Leading Veterinary Conference for Free: Live in Orlando or Online Anywhere

Banfield Pet Hospital® Sponsors Veterinary Student Registration for New VMX Virtual Platform

ORLANDO, FL – October 15, 2020 – When the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) hosts its annual Veterinary Meeting and Expo (VMX) in January, veterinary students and veterinary nurse/technician students everywhere will be able to virtually attend for free thanks to Banfield Pet Hospital®’s generous sponsorship, or attend in person in Orlando, Florida for free, thanks to the NAVC’s student support.

For the second consecutive year, veterinary students will have the opportunity to learn from some of the world’s most renowned members of the veterinary community about the latest techniques and technologies in veterinary medicine for free. They’ll also be able to network and make lasting connections with other members of the veterinary community, explore future career opportunities and visit the award-winning VMX Expo Hall, all both virtually online or in-person in Orlando. 

“At Banfield, we know the significant impact student debt can have on those in veterinary school and across the industry,” said Melissa Marshall, vice president of people & organization at Banfield Pet Hospital. “We’re thrilled to partner with NAVC to help remove financial barriers and provide opportunities for even more veterinary students to gain valuable insights and experiences virtually through VMX’s new online platform.”

VMX is the world’s most comprehensive veterinary conference, offering hundreds of continuing education (CE) credit hours annually for more than 30 years. Now, for the first time, VMX will also be available online through its new VMX Virtual platform, which features interactive educational programs, networking and a unique 3D Expo Hall experience. Attendees can choose from a variety of learning formats and hundreds of immersive and interactive session topics, whether they attend the live or virtual show. 

“Pet ownership and demand for veterinary services is at an all-time high and NAVC is committed to supporting the next generation of veterinary professionals in our growing field. We can’t thank Banfield enough for their incredible generosity and support,” said NAVC CEO Gene O’Neill. “Students bear considerable costs and, too often, debt associated with their education. We know that cost is a factor and can be the determining factor as to whether they participate in conferences such as VMX. We are pleased to help students advance their learning and career opportunities by enabling them to participate in the world’s premier continuing education conference either live in Orlando or through our exciting new virtual platform.”

The NAVC is partnering with the Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) on a joint marketing campaign to reach as many students as possible with this good news. Last year more than 1,000 students attended VMX thanks to free registration, more than doubling the number of students who attended each of the prior two years. This year, the NAVC expects an even higher volume of student participation thanks to the additional support from Banfield and SAVMA.

As part of the NAVC’s continuous commitment to the next generation of veterinarians,  veterinary practices can list available student internships and externships for free on the NAVC’s veterinary recruitment platform and job search app, NAVC Retriever, by visiting http://navc.com/Retriever.

VMX 2021 will take place January 16 - 20 in person in Orlando at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) and virtually anywhere around the globe to serve veterinary professionals who either cannot travel or choose not to. The NAVC has added many new health and safety guidelines for VMX 2021 and is partnering with the OCCC, host hotels and Visit Orlando to implement additional safety protocols. These include a first-of-its-kind partnership with Orlando Health to provide medical support and testing inside the Convention Center, mandatory masks, temperature checks at entrances, increased sanitation and disinfecting stations and procedures, larger conference rooms and learning centers, wider aisles and more. For a more detailed list of safety and health protocols, please visit:  https://navc.com/vmx/#safety.

About the NAVC

Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Orlando, Florida, with offices in Gainesville, Florida, the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) is a non-profit organization providing world-class professional development to the global veterinary healthcare community. Its largest initiative, VMX, hosts thousands of veterinary professionals each year. Other offerings include VetFolio, an online CE platform in conjunction with LifeLearn Animal Health; the NAVC Institute; the Veterinary Innovation Council; NAVC Retriever, a veterinary recruitment platform and job search app; and its Media division, consisting of: Today's Veterinary Business, Today’s Veterinary Nurse, Today’s Veterinary Practice, Veterinary Advantage, The Fountain Report and an online news and lifestyle channel, Spark! The NAVC’s Certifications division includes the Human-Animal Bond Certification, the Veterinary Business Leader Certification and the Pet Nutrition Coach Certification. Visit NAVC for more details.

About Banfield Pet Hospital®

Banfield Pet Hospital was founded in Portland, Ore. in 1955 and today is a pioneer in preventive veterinary care with more than 1,000 general veterinary hospitals in 42 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. More than 3,600 Banfield veterinarians are committed to providing high-quality veterinary care to over three million pets annually. As part of the Mars Veterinary Health family of brands, Banfield is committed to its purpose—A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS®—because pets make a better world for us. Press seeking additional information are invited to call the Media Hotline: (888) 355-0595.