Photo courtesy NAVC Every January, the veterinary world seems to find its rhythm again in Orlando, Fla., where the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) hosts the annual Veterinary Meeting Expo (VMX). VMX has always been the unofficial pulse check for where the profession is heading—part reunion with industry peers, part reset button, if you will, and part preview of the trends and technologies poised to shape the next 12 months. This year, the expo banners the theme “World Classic: Celebrating the Champions of Care,” building on the excitement of the Winter Olympics. “The games and VMX have a lot in common–gold-level continuing education and content attended by the best and brightest in the industry. With that in mind, our theme is the perfect fit,” says Gene O’Neill, NAVC CEO. “[Attendees] can bet the Expo Hall will be transformed and [they] will feel transported to the winter games. Creating distinct experiences and opportunities to have fun is one way we say thank you to our veterinary community at VMX.” From January 17 to 21, at the Orange County Convention Center, VMX will offer more than 1,000 hours of continuing education and various learning tracks and will feature hundreds of exhibitors in the VMX Expo Hall. We caught up with O’Neill, and chief veterinary officer, Dana Varble, DVM, CAE, for a glimpse at the key themes and experiences offered to attendees. NAVC has launched or expanded several year-round and community-based programs. Can we expect the same this year? Gene O’Neill (Gene): For NAVC, VMX is the kick-off to our year of programming and events. While we would love for all of our veterinary community to come to Orlando, we realize that’s not always possible. That’s why we’ve created resources to meet veterinary professionals in other ways. VetFolio, our virtual platform, provides on-demand, high-quality education with flexibility to fit anyone’s schedule. This includes six certifications and thousands of hours of content that is only a click away. We have already opened registration for NAVC SkillShop 2026, an immersive, hands-on week of learning. Attendees can mix and match workshops to expand their expertise or tap into a new area of interest. This year, we’re excited to continue our HiVE series, which will be hosted in four key regions across the U.S. These events are all about community and honing in on specific skills and training that empower the entire veterinary team. HiVE events are unique because they take place in an attendee’s hometown, providing an opportunity to grow their professional network. It’s something we know is critical to the success of our community. Perhaps one of the initiatives I’m most excited about is NAVC’s international expansion. We’ve been working closely with some of our global partners to bring programming to new parts of the world. NAVC will have more to share this year, so stay tuned! VMX is offering more than 1,000 hours in continuing education, exploring several learning tracks, including small animals, exotics, and professional development. Happening January 17 to 21 in Orlando, Fla., the annual conference sports the theme “World Classic: Celebrating the Champions of Care.” Photo courtesy NAVC What emerging trends in vet med are being highlighted at this year’s expo? How do you see them shaping the future of the profession? Dana Varble (Dana): VMX is the place where our industry partners announce new trends and launch their latest innovations. Many of the best products and services are kept under wraps until VMX, so organizations can release them to the best audience in animal healthcare—our attendees! NAVC is intentional in carving out spaces and opportunities to showcase innovative solutions, products, and services. The Startup Launchpad will feature organizations competing in our annual Pet Pitch Competition, all vying for top honors to propel them to the next level. The VMX New Product Gallery is a must-see, now entering its sixth year, and includes revolutionary products designed to improve animal healthcare. Examples of past exhibitors include the first RNA vaccine technology for companion animals, breakthroughs in feline diabetes, and AI applications that help manage workflows in veterinary practices. What technologies or innovations do you expect to be showcased at VMX 2026 that will revolutionize vet care or practice management? Dana: At VMX 2025, AI was everywhere, but it still felt a little nebulous. How was it being used? Can we trust it? Is it practical? I expect that this year we will see significant strides towards answering those questions and the introduction of highly practical and refined AI tools. It is also more important than ever to recognize that AI and other technology all have the goal of increasing the human element. AI has the potential to eliminate busy work and increase efficiency, freeing up veterinary teams to focus even more on what we enjoy most about our profession. The animals and the people who love them! What key themes or challenges are being discussed in continuing education sessions? How do you think these address the current needs in vet practice? Dana: When we design programming for VMX, our goal is to provide comprehensive education that spans as many areas in veterinary medicine as possible. It’s important that we have content relevant to everyone on the veterinary care team, from the practice manager to the veterinarian. We also want to bring emerging topics and trends to the forefront of our content. For this year, a few key themes have emerged—improving the healthspan of animals versus just prolonging life, how veterinary sports medicine is shaping a new standard of care that goes beyond athletics, developing new models of care to address shortages in rural and underserved areas, addressing the rising trend of cannabis-related poisonings, and exploring the benefit of complementary therapies such as acupuncture, herbal remedies and nutrition-based care. The sessions and experts in each of these areas will give VMX attendees real-world solutions and practical information they can take home and begin implementing immediately. All in the spirit of advancing veterinary medicine and providing the best care possible. Of course, this only scratches the surface of the conversations and discoveries that will happen during VMX. It truly is a unique experience, and you never know who you might meet, what you might learn, or what you will discover. In a nutshell, what do you hope the attendees take away from VMX 2026? Gene: NAVC creates an atmosphere where our veterinary community can come together to learn, have fun, and remember the purpose behind the profession. VMX is a conversation starter. Whether that’s a start-up participating in our pitch competition, students navigating their education journey, or seasoned professionals sharing tricks of the trade. What I hope attendees take away from VMX 2026 is a sense of celebration, community, and accomplishment. We come together to recommit to the mission of advancing veterinary medicine for the animals we love. We want them to have the time of their life so that every January they feel there is only one place to be–VMX in Orlando, Florida.
