NATION’S LARGEST VETERINARY CONFERENCE PRODUCED BY A STATE VETERINARY ASSOCIATION TO CONVENE FEBRUARY 21-24

(Columbus, February 21, 2019) – Sold-out laboratory sessions and a Sunday luncheon presentation by animal advocate and Columbus Blue Jackets Coach John Tortorella will be among the highlights of the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) 2019 Midwest Veterinary Conference (MVC) attracting more than 6,000 veterinary professionals to the SMG-managed Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC) from February 21-24.

“This is the fifth largest veterinary conference in North America and the largest produced by a state veterinary association,” said OVMA Executive Director Jack Advent. “Our pre-registration is the largest we’ve ever had at more than 5,600, and we’ve added sessions on telemedicine and aquaculture to the conference.”

“We’re really excited about Coach Tortorella and his wife coming for an interactive MVC Sunday Lunch session at 11:45 and talking about their family foundation that benefits animals,” added OVMA Communications Director Krysten Bennett. “We’re offering the MVC Professional Fair again and have added a cocktail hour, free professional head shots and a couple of vendors talking about branding yourself and social media to offer a more well-rounded, broad-based program this year. Our labs are really popular, including a session on how shelter dogs learn through play, and most of the labs have sold out.”

MVC offers more than 30 educational tracks involving 120 speakers, more than 400 hours of continuing education and an exhibit hall featuring new products from nearly 200 exhibiting companies.

New this year will be sessions on telemedicine, a special track for recent graduates, and certified euthanasia technician and orthopedic labs.

The exhibit hall will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. February 21, 22 and 23.

“MVC attracts nearly as many attendees as the national veterinary conference,” said GCCC General Manager John R. Page. “OVMA is one of our longstanding client partners and we are pleased to watch the conference continue to grow and be so highly regarded in the veterinary community.”