The AAVMC’s annual conference, Catalyze 2025, was held April 10–12 at the Grand Hyatt Washington in D.C.
Catalyze 2025 in Washington, D.C.
Recognized as a leading professional development gathering in global academic veterinary medicine, Catalyze 2025 welcomed more than 400 participants. Throughout the three-day event, attendees connected with experts, tackled emerging issues and opportunities, exchanged ideas and strategies, and collaborated to help shape the future of veterinary medical education.
Catalyze offered a dynamic space for exploration, conversation, and creative thinking, all focused on navigating the complex issues facing academic veterinary medicine. The 2025 program featured sessions on preparing a rural veterinary workforce, equity-centered wellbeing, enhancing Spectrum of Care preparation, updates from the AAVMC Climate Change Working Group, and much more. All abstracts from Catalyze 2025 have been published in The Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, issue 52.2.
Catalyze 2025 programming was dynamic, timely and educational.
Attendees also participated in Town Halls on academic workforce, admissions and the new administration, and distance education and accreditation. Also, new this year, attendees had their choice of three hands-on workshops focused on admissions trends, navigating difficult conversations, and supporting long-term student retention during the Saturday sessions.
Rick Seltzer of The Chronicle of Higher Education, Zachary Pardos, PhD, of the University of California, Berkeley, and Jade Sasser, PhD, of the University of California, Riverside were the Catalyze 2025 keynote speakers. They spoke on emerging issues in the higher education landscape, “Paving New Academic Pathways for Socio-Economic Mobility with AI,” and “Climate Justice at the Intersections: Communicating Scholarly and Engaged Perspectives,” respectively.
Left to Right: The 2025 Keynotes – Seltzer, Pardos and Sasser.
The award presentations are always a distinctive feature of the event, recognizing established leaders in academic veterinary medicine who have excelled in their respective areas. This year’s awardees were:
AAVMC Excellence in Research Award
- Dr. Herman Barkema, University of Calgary
2024 AAVMC Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award, Presented by Zoetis
- Dr. Dean Hendrickson, Colorado State University
AAVMC Iverson Bell Award
- Dr. Susan Williams, University of Georgia
AAVMC Billy E. Hooper Award for Distinguished Service
- Dr. Oscar Fletcher, North Carolina State University
Each award was presented on stage at Catalyze 2025, and a tribute video was shown live at the conference. Please click the recipient’s name above to view their video and learn more about their important contributions to veterinary medicine.
Left to Right: Our 2025 Awardees – Hendrickson, Williams, and Barkema. Note: Fletcher was unable to attend.
In addition to the conference days, which were loaded with programming and networking, attendees attended several pre- and post-conference events, including Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill, Leadership Academy, committee meetings, and more.
2025 AAVMC Advocacy Day
The AAVMC Pre-Vet Career Fair was held on Saturday, April 12, to close out Catalyze 2025. 120+ prospective veterinary students gathered to meet with representatives from AAVMC member institutions and learn from keynote speaker Dr. Michelle Schack.
2025 AAVMC Pre-Vet Career Fair
Catalyze 2025 brought AAVMC’s mission to life by fostering innovation and advancing excellence in academic veterinary medicine. The conference created meaningful opportunities for collaboration, learning, and connection. View the full set of photos here.
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