VMX Conference Recognizes PVM Faculty and Staff as Speakers of the Year

Submitted by Alan Schrope, Veterinary Teaching Hospital Administrator

Congratulations are in order for two members of the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital team who were recognized as recipients of the 2018 VMX Speaker of the Year Award Monday, January 21, in Orlando, Fla., during this year’s annual Veterinary Meeting and Expo (VMX).  Dr. Nickie Baird, Large Animal Hospital chief of staff and professor of surgery in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, and Megan Brashear, Small Animal Hospital veterinary nursing manager, were among five award recipients honored at the annual convention, which is presented by the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC).

Megan Brashears and Dr. Nickie Baird pictured with VMX Speaker of the Year Awards
Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Megan Brashear, CVT, VTS (ECC), and Nickie Baird, DVM, DACVS, were honored this month at NAVC’s Veterinary Meeting and Expo in Orlando, Fla. as recipients of the 2018 VMX Speaker of the Year Award.

Dr. Baird was recognized as the Large Animal Speaker of the Year.  Megan was honored as the Nurse/Technician Speaker of the Year.  They were selected for the awards, along with the other honorees, based on feedback provided by veterinary professionals from around the world who attended VMX in 2018.  A statement on the NAVC website said, “The NAVC is proud to honor our Speakers of the Year…With a field of 350+ exceptional and nationally renowned veterinary speakers presenting more than 1,200 different sessions, it’s quite an honor to be voted as a top speaker by event attendees.”

The award winners initially were announced following last year’s conference, and then were invited to the official awards presentation at this year’s VMX.  The other 2018 award recipients were:

  • Small Animal – Dr. Audrey Cook, associate professor, Texas A&M University
  • Exotics – Dr. Shane Boylan, staff veterinarian, South Carolina Aquarium
  • Practice Management – Betsy Choder, attorney, VetCounsel, LLC

The announcement about the award recipients on the NAVC website included this statement of commendation: “A huge congratulations to those who wowed attendees with their incredible topics and talks at VMX 2018.”

Writer(s): Alan Schrope and Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

“Paws Up” brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

Today we share appreciation for Dr. Madeleine Swindell, who is a Purdue Veterinary Hospital Small Animal Rotating Intern.

Enthusiasm Pervades Purdue Veterinary Medicine Graduation Celebration

Applause, cheers, and waving gold pom-poms greeted members of Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Class of 2025 as they processed through the Purdue Memorial Union Ballrooms for the start of the College of Veterinary Medicine’s May Graduation Celebration. The event on Saturday, May 17, which followed the university commencement ceremony in the Elliot Hall of Music, attracted a capacity crowd of family, friends and loved ones.

Awards Ceremony Honors Outstanding Purdue Veterinary Medicine Staff

Applause and periodic shouts of “Bravo” punctuated the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s annual spring Outstanding Staff and Bravo Awards Ceremony. The program held in Lynn Hall on May 13 honored some two dozen staff members for meritorious accomplishments.