The 2024 Veterinary Innovation Summit, organized by the NAVC’s Veterinary Innovation Council, provides a platform for veterinary and industry professionals to explore new ideas and technologies. Past gatherings have opened eyes as companies work to ensure an innovative and resilient future for veterinary medicine. The networking and relational elements are also not to be ignored.
Unable to attend, I sought feedback from friends and colleagues in attendance*. The objective was to gather thoughts and takeaways that often bounce around in our minds in the days after the conference. The S&A Content Team kindly provided an overview of the keynote speakers linked here.
Among responses from attendees, we heard these multiple times:
- “Machine learning” is more appropriate than “AI”
- AI is not past dependent
- Security and privacy are concerns, especially at vet practice level
Other insights from those who shared their experiences included:
- Regarding dealing with chaos: “What if it went well?”
- Positive interactions between the aspirational, visionary and practical aspects of AI implementation
- Growing focus on pet healthcare, not just veterinary medicine
- AI can help augment veterinary workflows . . . it is a tool, not an endpoint
- Newer generations of people seem more focused on consumer-packaged goods
- Veterinary technicians were seldom mentioned
Innovative Pet Labs won the pitch competition with Radimal earning the popular vote.
Source: VIS Keynote overview, S&A. Link.
NOTE: Review the VIS program here <Link>
*We want to thank these individuals for providing perspectives for this post either directly or via social media:
Brenda Andreson, Kristi Fender, Cheryl Good, DVM, Candise Goodwin, Petra Harms, Catherine Haskins, Wendy Hauser, DVM, Ryan Leech, Kelly O’Brien, Jeff Santosuosso