Vet Candy – Veterinary Lifestyle, News & Learning

What does it take to bring one of veterinary medicine’s most iconic conferences to Music City for the very first time?

On this episode of Living Well with Dr. Jessica Turner, Dr. Jessica sits down with Andrea Davis, CEO of Viticus Group, the organization behind the legendary WVC veterinary conferences, for a behind-the-scenes look at WVC Nashville and the people, planning, and big ideas bringing this nearly 100-year-old veterinary tradition to Nashville.

Andrea shares what goes into creating a conference veterinarians genuinely don’t want to miss, from hundreds of hours of continuing education and hands-on learning to KNACK Tracks, incredible speakers, live music, networking, and unforgettable events. WVC Nashville is taking everything veterinarians love about WVC and mixing in a serious dose of Music City energy.

But this conversation goes well beyond the conference.

Jessica and Andrea talk candidly about leadership, ambition, family, and what it means to build a career at the highest levels of veterinary medicine. Andrea shares her perspective on leading as a female CEO in an industry where women dominate the profession but remain far less represented in its top executive roles. They also talk about something many working parents understand all too well: how to pursue a big career while still making room for the people who matter most.

 

Sign up here: https://www.viticusgroup.org/wvc-nashville?utm_campaign=45126685-WVCN26%20-%20Vet%20Candy&utm_source=1600x400px%20%28leaderboard%20webpage%20ad%29&utm_content=1600x400px%20%28leaderboard%20webpage%20ad%29

 

And this week, both Andrea and Jessica are bringing their families along for the WVC Nashville experience, proving that sometimes the best business trip can also include a little family time, great music, and a whole lot of Nashville.

Dr. Jessica will be at WVC Nashville as a Vet Candy Ambassador, and you can meet her in person on Monday at the Chewy booth, where she’ll be signing copies of her new book, Blackbird. Stop by, say hello, and grab a free signed copywhile supplies last.

It’s leadership, veterinary medicine, family, CE, and Music City all rolled into one episode.

WVC Nashville is here. And if Andrea Davis has anything to say about it, Nashville is only the beginning.

 

#veterinarymedicine #wvcnashville #vetmed #animalhealth

Brain Smarts Live from WVC Nashville, with The Career Coach Vet, Dr. Ashley Hopkins

Hosts Clay and Caitlin Palmer bring Brain Smarts live from Nashville ahead of WVC Nashville 2026. Guest Dr. Ashley Hopkins, Career Coach Vet and founder of Hopper Vet, takes on trivia covering Bobcat Fever in cats, proposed UK veterinary reforms, and Arizona State University's fast track to full AVMA accreditation. Then an uninvited guest from the previous night's honky tonk crashes the taping with a career plan that is, generously, ambitious.

 

Recorded live ahead of WVC Nashville, August 15 to 18 at Music City Center.

 

Join us at WVC Nashville by registering here: https://www.viticusgroup.org/wvc-nashville?utm_campaign=45126685-WVCN26%20-%20Vet%20Candy&utm_source=1600x400px%20%28leaderboard%20webpage%20ad%29&utm_content=1600x400px%20%28leaderboard%20webpage%20ad%29

 

 

#veterinary #vetmed #veterinarymedicine #funnypodcast #comedy

Hosts Clay and Caitlin Palmer bring Brain Smarts live from Nashville ahead of WVC Nashville 2026.

Guest Dr. Ashley Hopkins, Career Coach Vet and founder of Hopper Vet, takes on trivia covering Bobcat Fever in cats, proposed UK veterinary reforms, and Arizona State University's fast track to full AVMA accreditation.

Then an uninvited guest from the previous night's honky tonk crashes the taping with a career plan that is, generously, ambitious.

Recorded live ahead of WVC Nashville, August 15 to 18 at Music City Center.

 

Join us at WVC Nashville by registering here: https://www.viticusgroup.org/wvc-nashville?utm_campaign=45126685-WVCN26%20-%20Vet%20Candy&utm_source=1600x400px%20%28leaderboard%20webpage%20ad%29&utm_content=1600x400px%20%28leaderboard%20webpage%20ad%29

 

 

#veterinary #vetmed #veterinarymedicine #funnypodcast #comedy

Can one of veterinary medicine's top neurologists outsmart the week's biggest headlines?

On this special WVC Nashville 2026 edition of Brain Smarts, hosts Caitlin and Clay Palmer put Dr. Lauren Downey Koos—clinical neurologist at BluePearl Veterinary and WVC Nashville headliner—through Vet Candy's fast-paced veterinary trivia showdown.

From CRISPR-engineered screwworms to augmented reality surgery, a $230 million veterinary teaching hospital, and the surprising science behind your cat's slow blink, Dr. Koos breaks down what's hype, what's real, and why these stories matter to veterinarians.

Along the way, she tackles rapid-fire questions, shares specialist insights, and proves that even neurologists can be stumped.

In this episode:

Colorado State University's game-changing $230 million veterinary expansion

The USDA's $105 million plan to stop the New World Screwworm

Could augmented reality become the future of veterinary surgery?

The science behind why slow blinking at cats actually works

A lightning-round made just for veterinary neurologists

Whether you're a veterinarian, veterinary technician, student, or simply obsessed with veterinary medicine, you'll walk away with surprising facts, practical takeaways, and a few laughs.

About Dr. Lauren Downey Koos

Dr. Lauren Downey Koos is a clinical neurologist at BluePearl Veterinary in Franklin, Tennessee, and a featured speaker at WVC Nashville 2026, where she'll share the latest advances in veterinary neurology.

About Brain Smarts

Brain Smarts is Vet Candy's fast-paced veterinary news game show, where the brightest minds in veterinary medicine compete against the week's biggest headlines. Think Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!—but for veterinarians.

Don't miss WVC Nashville 2026!

Join thousands of veterinary professionals August 15–18 in Nashville for four days of world-class CE, hands-on labs, networking, and the biggest names in veterinary medicine—including Dr. Lauren Koos. Sign up here: https://www.viticusgroup.org/wvc-nashville?utm_campaign=45126685-WVCN26%20-%20Vet%20Candy&utm_content=280x1920px%20%28webpage%20ad%29&utm_source=280x1920px%20%28webpage%20ad%29

Subscribe to Vet Candy for weekly veterinary news, research, expert guests, and trivia that every veterinary professional should know.

 

#veterinarypodcast #vetcandy #veterinarian #veterinarymedicine #animalhealth

Can an internal medicine specialist outsmart the week's wildest veterinary headlines?

On this episode of Brain Smarts, hosts Caitlin and Clay Palmer welcome Dr. Stephen Carey, veterinary internal medicine specialist and Associate Dean at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, for a fast-paced game comedy show.

 

Sign up for WVC Nashville here: https://www.viticusgroup.org/wvc-nashville?utm_campaign=45126685-WVCN26%20-%20Vet%20Candy&utm_content=280x1920px%20%28webpage%20ad%29&utm_source=280x1920px%20%28webpage%20ad%29

 

From surprising research and bizarre animal stories to the latest breakthroughs in veterinary medicine, Dr. Carey puts his knowledge (and sense of humor) to the test. Along the way, you'll hear about some of the biggest stories shaping the profession and get a preview of one of the featured speakers at WVC Nashville 2026.

Whether you're a veterinarian, veterinary student, technician, or simply love veterinary medicine, this episode delivers laughs, learning, and plenty of unexpected moments.

In this episode:

Veterinary news trivia and current events

The latest research making headlines

Funny facts from the world of veterinary medicine

Dr. Stephen Carey's journey as an educator and clinician

A preview of WVC Nashville 2026

Subscribe to Brain Smarts for new episodes featuring veterinary experts, news, trivia, and the stories everyone in vet med is talking about.

 

 

#veterinary #veterinarypodcast #veterinarymediciine #funnypodcast #smartpodcast