Annual Conference and J.T. Vaughan Equine Conference

The Auburn College of Veterinary Medicine’s 2023 Annual Conference and J. T. Vaughan Equine Conference — held October 5-7 — continued a tradition of 116 consecutive years of continuing education provided by the Southeast’s oldest veterinary program. More than 550 participants attended sessions and the conference provided opportunities for Auburn alumni, faculty, students, veterinary technicians and other veterinary professionals from across the region and nation to participate in cutting-edge continuing education and professional networking opportunities.

This year’s conferences were sponsored by Southern Veterinary Partners, Boehringer Ingelheim, Vetoquinol, Elanco, Purina and BRD Vet RX. As always, the three-day programs offered presentations in various disciplines of small animal, farm animal and equine veterinary education, as well as numerous animal health and wellness courses. In addition, the combined conference exhibit hall allowed attendees to engage with numerous vendors.

The 2023 program offered more than 80 hours of professional sessions in various disciplines, including courses designed specifically for veterinary technicians. In-state attendees were able to earn up to 20 hours of continuing education credit approved by the Alabama State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (ASBVME). This year also marked the class reunion time for the classes of 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013, 2018 and a very large gathering of Soaring Eagles (50+ years).

Sessions were led by some of the top veterinary professionals around the nation, including speakers from the fields of veterinary education, research and business. Among this year’s presenters were Dr. Heidi L. Hulon ’93, Regional Consulting Veterinarian for Elanco Animal Health; Dr. Brigetta A. Hughes, an avian diagnostic consultant for small and commercial flocks; Dr. George E. Moore, Professor of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue University; Dr. Paul Merkatoris, Assistant Teaching Professor of Large Animal Surgery at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; and Dr. Tamara Grubb, a practice owner and President-Elect of the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management.

Other 2023 presenters included Dr. Bret McNabb, Associate Professor of Clinical Livestock Reproduction and Director of the Large Animal Clinic at the University of California-Davis; Dr. Timo Prange, Clinical Associate Professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University and Dr. Bert Gaddis ’83, the only board-certified animal dentist in Alabama and owner of Animal Dental Specialists in Birmingham.