Skip to main content

Dr. Andy Roark Headlines 2020 Purdue Veterinary Conference

A smiling person with short dark hair, wearing a blue shirt and dark blazer, is captured in a candid portrait.

Going virtual won’t stop the 2020 Purdue Veterinary Conference from offering an agenda that includes exceptional speakers and hot topics in the veterinary profession.  One of the highlights this year is Dr. Andy Roark, who will serve as the Dr. Jack and Naomi Stockton / Class of 1971 Lecture keynote speaker, as well as a lecturer for the practice management track. 

Dr. Roark is a practicing veterinarian, international speaker, author, and media personality. He is the founder of the Uncharted Veterinary Conference and DrAndyRoark.com. An award-winning columnist for DVM360, he also is known for his popular Facebook page, website, podcast and YouTube show reaching millions of people every month.

Dr. Roark has received the NAVC Practice Management Speaker of the Year Award three times, the WVC Practice Management Educator of the Year Award, the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Veterinarian of the Year Award from the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians.

Dr. Roark’s topic for the Stockton Lecture, which will be held on Wednesday, September 23, is “How to Drive Change in Your Veterinary Practice.”  Now more than ever, we recognize change can be both difficult and necessary. Using numerous stories from his career as illustrations, Dr. Roark will outline key steps that can be taken to create change in an organization. 

In addition to the Stockton Lecture, Dr. Roark also will present six lectures for the Practice Management and Communication track on Thursday, September 24.  The talks will address how to improve your practice’s productivity in the exam room by building strong systems to deliver service and effectively build relationships with clients.  Additionally, Dr. Roark will explore how to communicate empathetically, efficiently, and effectively with clients who are seeking pet healthcare while experiencing financial difficulties.  Lastly, Dr. Roark will discuss client loyalty and the client experience, and explain how that relates to the development of a marketing plan for a practice.  

Offered in a virtual format for 2020, the Purdue Veterinary Conference will include three days of high quality tracks.  In addition to Practice Management, there will be tracks on Small Animal, Equine, Exotics, Ruminants, Swine, Emergency Preparedness, and topics of interest for veterinary nurses.  Attendees can earn up to 24 hours of continuing education, and will have access to the conference’s virtual exhibit hall. 

This 2020 Purdue Veterinary Conference would not be possible without the generosity of our sponsors:  IDEXX, Banfield Pet Hospital, the Indiana Board of Animal Health/Indiana State Department of Health, Nutrena, Purina, Zoetis, Elanco, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, and Coyne Veterinary Services.

Click here to view the conference schedule and registration information.

Writer(s): Andrea Brown | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

DVM and Veterinary Technology students gain job opportunity insights at fall PVM Career Fair

Purdue Veterinary Medicine's Fall Career Fair brought veterinary and veterinary technology students together with employers on October 30 at the Purdue Memorial Union. Students explored career opportunities, internships and externships while meeting representatives from veterinary practices and organizations.

In Memory: Dr. Mary Beth Leininger (PU DVM ’67)

Purdue Veterinary Medicine remembers Dr. Mary Beth Leininger (DVM 1967), who died November 6, 2026, at age 83. The first woman elected president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, she spent nearly three decades in private practice and held leadership positions in veterinary medicine, industry and education.

“Paws Up” for Kayla Fuqua – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

Kayla Fuqua, the day-shift Emergency and Critical Care receptionist at our veterinary hospital, is this week's Paws Up honoree. A colleague recognized her for supporting clients, coworkers and veterinary students, answering questions and helping her department during busy shifts.

MMAS Symposium at Purdue provides hands-on learning about Medicine of Mammalian and Avian Species

More than 80 participants joined Purdue Veterinary Medicine's 2026 Medicine of Mammalian and Avian Species Symposium on October 31 and November 1. Organized by the Exotic Animal Club, the two-day event combined presentations on exotic animal medicine with hands-on training in parrot handling, rabbit examinations, avian clinical pathology and other specialized topics.

Costumed characters boost Halloween spirits in Lynn Hall

Halloween brought Minions, the Lorax, Super Mario Bros. characters and plenty of other costumes to Purdue Veterinary Medicine. Students, faculty and staff celebrated with costume contests, trick-or-treating and a Halloween dessert competition in Lynn Hall, the Reed ADDL and the Veterinary Hospital.