Dear ACVIM Community,

It was great to see everyone who could attend this year’s in-person ACVIM Forum in Louisville, KY, and to be able to spend time with so many colleagues and friends. This year’s conference showcased a great deal of invigorating continuing education and highlighted exciting research that demonstrates our community’s continued dedication to advancing veterinary medicine and specialty care.

Beyond the excellent clinical and scientific information imparted by the fantastic line-up of speakers, I truly enjoyed several of the workshops and special events held during this year’s Forum. The pre-Forum Volunteer Leadership Convening was particularly thought-provoking, in which ACVIM leaders, staff and Diplomate volunteers worked for a full day to identify and prioritize initiatives that will help shape how the ACVIM will function and serve our members 10 years from now. You can read a summary of the day’s work here. 

Speaking of the future, celebrating those who will be responsible for implementing a number of these future endeavors was another highlight of my Forum experience.  What an honor it was to officially welcome and celebrate 185 new Diplomates to the ACVIM during the Specialty Symposium Reception and New Diplomate Certificate Ceremony. 

The Recognition Awards Luncheon was another great moment, during which time we honored the hard work of some of our lifelong volunteers and the achievements of our esteemed colleagues. It was wonderful to celebrate the efforts and careers of this year’s award recipients—all are truly deserving of these honors for their time given to the ACVIM and for their outstanding career achievements. Friday’s Colleagues and Cocktails event was a great way to close out the week with friends and colleagues and to raise awareness for those organizations in veterinary medicine advocating for a more inclusive and diverse future.

For those who were unable to join us in person, livestreamed courses and on-demand access to educational content presented during the Forum have been made available through October, something I know our busy members are grateful for. With that in mind, I would like to extend my thanks to the ACVIM Forum Planning Committees and ACVIM staff for putting on a virtual and in-person event that is a wonderful demonstration of all our organization has to offer. 

This year’s Forum truly underlined our shared dedication to shaping a thriving and equitable future for the ACVIM and veterinary specialty medicine in the wonderful backdrop of our host city, Louisville, KY. I look forward to the rest of whatever this fast-moving year has to offer and wish you all success throughout the remainder of the summer.