AAVMC Catalyze 2026 brought more than 350 leaders and innovators in academic veterinary medicine to Washington, D.C. As AAVMC’s premier annual event, Catalyze serves as a hub for connection, collaboration, and forward-looking dialogue across the global veterinary education community.
Even before the official start of the conference, critical work was already underway. During AAVMC’s annual Advocacy Day on Wednesday, April 15, participants met with representatives on Capitol Hill to advance a number of key issues. Earlier in the week, the AAVMC Leadership Academy welcomed a new cohort and celebrated the graduation of another, while multiple committees—including Academic Affairs, CIVME, and the Admissions and Recruitment Committee—gathered to move important ideas forward.
Catalyze programming kicked off with the debut of the SPARK (Sharing Progress, Advances, Research, and Knowledge) News Hour, a dynamic new session highlighting recent research and emerging issues in veterinary education. Additional highlights included a Town Hall with Jon Fansmith on the federal policy landscape, sessions on supporting NAVLE success, and a discussion on the growing role of artificial intelligence in admissions.
Keynote speakers Matthew Salois, PhD, and Jamie Fairclough, PhD, offered perspectives on the economic, institutional, and technological forces shaping the future of veterinary medicine, with a focus on resilience, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration.
All AAVMC awards were presented live during the conference, and awardee tribute videos are now streaming.
The conference concluded on Saturday with interactive workshops on admissions strategy, AI policy development, and leadership decision-making. Throughout the event, attendees connected through dynamic conversations, a lively welcome reception, and shared meals, creating space for meaningful engagement.
Be part of the conversation next year—save the date for AAVMC Catalyze 2027: April 15–17, 2027, in Washington, D.C.
Post-conference, AAVMC kept the momentum rolling with our annual Pre-Veterinary Career Fair on Saturday afternoon, hosting 175 attendees and 19 AAVMC Member Institutions. The future of veterinary medicine is bright!
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