What Every Veterinary Professional Should Know from VLC & VMX 2026

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when thousands of veterinary professionals gather at the start of a new year to talk about leadership, innovation, and the future of vet med?In this special solo episode, Dr. Megan Sprinkle shares her top takeaways from two major events — the AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference (VLC) and VMX. From generational dynamics and “gentelligence” to the rapid evolution of AI in veterinary care, this episode highlights what’s shaping the profession in 2026 and how you can take action in your own career.Whether you attended the conferences or not, this episode brings the most impactful conversations directly to you.Resources & References:Video episode on YouTubeEpisode notes on Substack Gentelligence bookTimestamps[00:00:00] Introduction to Vet Life Reimagined [00:00:25] Overview of the Veterinary Leadership Conference (VLC) [00:01:45] Keynote Reflection: Dr. Megan Gerhardt and "Gentelligence" [00:02:15] Five Generations in the Workforce: Why collaboration matters now [00:03:50] Mental Health Expectations: How generational norms have shifted [00:04:45] Success Definitions: From Boomer "workaholism" to Gen X autonomy [00:09:15] The Millennial Experience: High pressure and the "entitled" label [00:11:15] Gen Z in the Post-Pandemic World: Access to info and personal health [00:12:20] Digital Communication: Punctuation anxiety and the "passive-aggressive" thumbs up [00:14:10] Four Practices for Gentelligence: Identifying assumptions and replacing judgment with curiosity [00:15:55] Leadership Phrases: Open-ended questions to support your team [00:17:20] Mutual Mentoring: Learning from every age and situation [00:18:30] VMX 2026 Recap: High attendance and diverse CE highlights [00:20:45] The Evolution of AI: Market consolidation and the shift toward utility [00:22:30] Industry News: Acquisitions, product launches, and the power of connection [00:25:10] Supporting Working Parents: Improvements in conference inclusivity [00:26:50] Closing Remarks: Four years of the podcast and the new Substack The Animal Health, Nutrition, Technology Innovation (AHNTI) conference will be in Boston on Oct 26-28. Registration closes July 12th, so don't wait. Learn more at AHNTI-US.com and use code VETLIFE10 to save 10% on registration.Support the showMore Vet Life Reimagined? 💡 Find us on YouTube and check out our website.Connect with Dr. Megan Sprinkle on LinkedInLooking to start a podcast? Use Buzzsprout as your hosting platform, like I do! Use this link to get a $20 credit. And use Descript as your recording platform, editing tool, AI resources, and more. Use my referral link for a discount. Make sure you are following the podcast to catch each weekly episode. Here are ways to support the podcast:- Give it a 5-star rating & review- Subscribe on YouTube- Share the episode- Nominate a guest - Find out how to become a partner!