Continuing education is required for veterinary professionals’ licensure, but finding time for CE often feels impossible. In this episode of The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, speak with Dr. Andrea Freeman about a bold decision: closing her small animal practice and taking her entire team to VMX for continuing education.

Instead of sending one or two team members at a time, Dr. Freeman invited everyone. Doctors, technicians, CSRs, and part-time staff all attended. The result was more than CE credits. It strengthened communication, boosted morale, improved retention, and energized the entire practice.

Even more surprising? Dr. Freeman says her clients were supportive. With clear communication and advanced planning, she states her clinic did not lose business or trust.

If you have ever wondered whether shutting down for CE is realistic, this episode offers a practical, real-world example of how it can work and why it might be worth it.

VMX 2026 is in the books, and this week on Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Becky Mosser, MPA, RVT, share their observations from one of the biggest veterinary conferences ever, VMX in Orlando, Florida, USA.

Our hosts reflect on record-breaking attendance, the growing presence of veterinary technicians and support staff, the rise of booth-based CE, and how AI continues to weave itself into nearly every corner of the exhibit hall.

They also spend time on a topic that sparked real conversation on the show floor: the increasing presence of live animals in the exhibit hall. Drawing from international perspectives, personal experience, and a deep commitment to animal welfare, Ernie and Becky explore where enthusiasm, marketing, and responsibility intersect, and sometimes collide.

And one question keeps coming up: “If we wouldn’t recommend this environment to our clients for their pets, we have to ask why we’re comfortable normalizing it at our own conferences.”

This episode isn’t about easy answers. It’s about noticing patterns, asking better questions, and thinking carefully about what the future of veterinary conferences should look like.