NAVC builds out a year-round calendar for veterinary teams
CURRENT BRIEF VERSION: NAVC is using its 2026 calendar to keep veterinary teams engaged beyond its flagship VMX meeting, with a mix of virtual education, role-specific conferences, and hands-on training. A recent Today’s Veterinary Practice roundup highlighted two near-term offerings in particular: a free VetFolio webinar on reptilian CPR and HiVE Midwest, NAVC’s March 21-22, 2026 conference in Covington, Kentucky, built for veterinary nurses, technicians, and practice management staff. Broader NAVC materials show that this is part of a larger year-round lineup that now also includes SkillShop in Orlando on May 24-28, 2026, additional HiVE regional meetings in San Antonio and Charlotte, and VMX 2027 registration already open. NAVC has also used VMX 2026 programming to spotlight bigger themes it wants to carry through the year, including healthy lifespan, rehabilitation and mobility, access to care in rural and underserved areas, and practical innovation across species. (todaysveterinarypractice.com)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the calendar reflects how major CE providers are leaning into continuous, role-targeted education rather than relying only on one large annual conference. HiVE’s programming is explicitly aimed at support staff, with sessions on CPR, triage, communication, compensation, resilience, and career development, while NAVC’s post-VMX messaging emphasizes workforce support, practical skills, and future-focused topics such as innovation and responsible AI. Outside leadership commentary from this year’s conference circuit has also underscored a related workplace challenge: multigenerational teams. At AVMA’s Veterinary Leadership Conference, speakers highlighted how generational friction can contribute to turnover, disengagement, and succession-planning problems—issues that make communication and leadership training especially relevant for veterinary employers. That matters for hospitals trying to retain teams, expand technician utilization, and give pet parents access to more consistent care. (navc.com)
What to watch: Watch whether NAVC continues expanding regional, role-specific education in 2026 as workforce pressure and demand for flexible CE remain high, and whether it keeps pairing clinical content with leadership, communication, and access-to-care themes. NAVC’s broader ecosystem also extends beyond CE itself, including industry-facing programs like the VETTY Awards, which recognize animal health marketing campaigns across clinics, pharma, diagnostics, associations, and advocacy groups. (navc.com)