Strong turnout characterized the 2025 Purdue Veterinary Conference with the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine welcoming more than 1,000 participants to the annual event. Held September 16–20 on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus, the annual continuing education conference for veterinary professionals attracted more than 240 veterinarians and 180 veterinary technicians/veterinary nurses, along with industry representatives and exhibitors as well as Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty, staff, and students.
Guided by the theme “Opening Doors, Changing Lives: Shaping the Future of Veterinary Medicine,” this year’s program emphasized the importance of knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and innovation in advancing the veterinary profession.
The conference program began Tuesday evening, September 16, with the Elanco Human-Animal Bond Lecture, featuring Lori Kogan, PhD, a psychologist and professor of clinical sciences at Colorado State University. Dr. Kogan, who also chairs the Human-Animal Interaction Section of the American Psychological Association, shared timely insights on the evolving relationship between humans and animals. A reception followed, providing an early opportunity for attendees to network.
A full slate of continuing education sessions began Wednesday, September 17, offering more than 115 sessions across multiple tracks, including small animal care, veterinary technology/nursing, equine and exotic animal medicine, farm animal medicine, diagnostic medicine, shelter medicine, and emergency preparedness. Participants could earn up to 24 CE credits while tailoring their schedules to their areas of interest.
Key continuing education sessions that had wide appeal included the Wellness Keynote by Dr. Alicia Grandey, Liberal Arts Professor of Psychology at Pennsylvania State University. Her insightful presentation, “How to Break Out of the Burnout Spiral,” drew a capacity audience and offered practical strategies to recognize and manage professional fatigue.
Thursday’s programming line-up featured the Roger L. Lukens Lecture, delivered by Leslie Wereszczak, LVMT, VTS (Anesthesia/Analgesia), from the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center. In her inspiring talk, “16 to 60: A Veterinary Nursing Pilgrimage,” Wereszczak reflected on her professional journey from kennel worker to director of an ECC service at an academic teaching hospital, sharing stories and lore from a career well-lived in the field of veterinary nursing/veterinary technology. At mid-day, Karrah Herring, JD, CEO and Principal Consultant of Lucy Mina Consulting, drew a capacity crowd for the Purdue Veterinary Conference Keynote, with her talk entitled, “Standing Firm, Even When the World and Patients Are Not.” Herring offered actionable strategies for leading with integrity and fostering respectful, high-performing work environments.
Another Thursday CE highlight involved presentations by two Purdue legends in veterinary clinical pathology — Dr. Dennis DeNicola and Dr. Fred Metzger — who returned to their alma mater to deliver back-to-back sessions on canine and feline hematology. Drs. Metzger and DeNicola are co-founders, along with former Purdue Veterinary Medicine dean and Professor Emeritus, Dr. Alan Rebar, of Laboratory Retrievers, LLC, which promotes global companion animal health by enhancing the clinical pathology educational opportunities available to each participant in the companion animal health ecosystem.
Later that afternoon, Dr. Grandey returned to the stage for the Jack and Naomi Stockton/Class of 1971 Lecture. The audience for her talk on “Managing the Emotionally Charged Workplace,” filled Fowler Hall.
In addition to the keynote lectures and a broad array of CE sessions, the Purdue Veterinary Conference also featured an Exhibit Hall that provided opportunities for participants to meet with nearly 30 vendors while exploring new products and services. Other conference events and highlights included an Exhibit Hall Mixer reception, the Alumni, Students, and Friends Celebration, and the recognition of alumni classes celebrating reunion milestones, including the 50th Reunion Class, the Class of 1975, which was honored with the 50th Class Anniversary Dinner.
Conference attendees also had the opportunity to see the newly opened Dr. Janet Houghton Dental Suite during a Friday afternoon reception held at the facility to celebrate this exciting new resource that supports clinical training in veterinary dentistry and elevates patient care for pets needing dental treatment. The reception followed several talks Friday morning by Purdue graduate and board-certified veterinary dentist Dr. Matt Lemmons.
The week concluded with another cherished Purdue Veterinary Conference tradition, the Dr. Skip Jackson Dog Jog, which was held Saturday morning, September 20. The popular annual event attracted more than 100 human participants, many of whom were accompanied by their canine companions as they ran or walked the 5K course that began and ended at Lynn Hall.
The Purdue Veterinary Conference continues to serve as an important annual event that highlights PVM’s ongoing commitment to advancing veterinary medicine through education, engagement and innovation. By offering extensive learning opportunities, meaningful discussions, and events that have become time-honored traditions, the conference strengthens connections across the profession while preparing veterinary professionals to meet the challenges of the future.
