How Will Veterinary Conferences Survive the Pandemic?

With most of 2020's veterinary continuing education conferences moving to an online format, what lasting effects will this have in 2021 and beyond? Will some veterinary conferences fall victim to the coronavirus pandemic? What will future veterinary CE look like?

This week, hosts Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, RVT reflect on their experiences creating, supporting, and working with several veterinary conferences during 2020. What worked and what didn't? More importantly. What have we learned that can help improve veterinary CE in the future?

How will state veterinary medical boards and licensing agencies adapt to online CE? Will states begin allowing more virtual learning credits after the pandemic passes, or will they retreat to traditional CE requirements? Our hosts have strong opinions on this!

The pair also discuss the recent trend toward free and low-cost online CE. Dr. Ward ponders what impact this will have on the value of education and whether or not practices will continue to pay for staff CE if they can get it for free?

Beckie suggests online CE may have significant advantages over traditional in-person CE and is better suited to address many different learning styles of veterinary professionals.

Our hosts also speculate on how a shift toward online and hybrid CE will affect corporate sponsors and the ability of companies to share their advances with veterinary professionals.

Viewfinders, this is an important topic that few are talking about. CE affects all licensed veterinary professionals, and how we remain licensed and accredited is something we need to pay attention to. What do you think? How do you see veterinary CE evolving over the next few years?