Data meets medicine: AVI Talbot Veterinary Informatics Symposium marks 30-Year milestone at Virginia Tech (2024)

In an era in which big data is revolutionizing healthcare, the veterinary world is not far behind.

In mid-September, the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (VMCVM) hosted a landmark event that highlighted how digital innovation is transforming animal care. The Association for Veterinary Informatics (AVI) 30th Annual Talbot Veterinary Informatics Symposium, marked a significant milestone as it returned to its roots at Virginia Tech, bringing together experts from across the globe to explore the intersection of veterinary medicine and innovative technology.

Named after Richard Talbot, the veterinary college’s inaugural dean and a visionary in the field, AVI has evolved the symposium from a small gathering of forward-thinking veterinarians to a pivotal event in the veterinary informatics calendar.

Julie Green, director of the Veterinary Terminology Services Lab at VMCVM, emphasized the significance of the event's return.

"Dean Talbot started this organization, and the symposium is named for him. So here we are, right where it all began," Green said. "Dean Talbot knew that computers were going to be important. Now we're at the point where we all know they're important, and now we've got to use them well."

The symposium brought together practitioners, academics, and industry leaders, all united by a common goal: advancing the use of data and informatics in veterinary medicine.

Audrey Ruple, the Metcalf Professor of Veterinary Informatics at Virginia Tech, highlighted the event's timeliness and the college's role in the field.

"It's a fascinating time to have informatics come back to Virginia Tech because I think that we are truly at the leading edge of what we're doing in veterinary informatics now, especially on the academic side," Ruple said.

But what exactly is veterinary informatics? Sonnya Dennis DVM '95, a private practitioner, practice owner and Chairperson of the AVI Education Committee from New Hampshire offered an insightful explanation.

"It's this weird intersection between medicine, computer science, psychology, and all these other little areas," Dennis said. "In simpler terms, it's about using data to make better decisions for our furry, feathered, and scaled friends."

One of the key themes was the potential of veterinary informatics to revolutionize animal healthcare. Green explained the broad scope of the field.

"From 'I want to get my records recorded in a standard way' to 'I want to use this data to decide what products I'm going to develop' - it's all veterinary informatics," she said.

The event also addressed challenges and opportunities presented by emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence. Dennis cautioned against getting caught up in the hype.

"Right now, I think the issue is all fancy, shiny, sparkly buzzwords like AI that are somewhat distracting from what goes into that," Dennis said. "There's a lot of emphasis being put on those bells and whistles and not so much on the meat and potatoes underneath."

Jeff Alexander'94, DVM '98, Ph.D. '15 who works on the search team at the Veterinary Information Network, emphasized the importance of proper data structuring.

"The future is exciting with AI, but we're not there yet. There's plenty of hype, but a lot of work must be done. AI is not going to take jobs. It's only going to take jobs from people that don't understand how to use AI," Alexander said.

The symposium featured presentations on topics ranging from pet insurance data for population health analysis to monitoring trends in zoonotic diseases. Several students presented their research, highlighting the next generation of veterinary informaticists.

Janice O'Brien and Amanda Moore, both PhD students in Biomedical & Veterinary Sciences, gave presentations. O'Brien focused on monitoring and predicting Lyme disease trends among pet dogs to inform public health, while Moore discussed communicating informatics to non-informaticists.

"This is a fantastic experience for them," Ruple noted, underscoring the event's importance in nurturing emerging talent in the field.

According to Green, the real challenge lies in standardization. "There can be 14 different words used to describe the same disease depending on what region of the country or what region of the world you're in," she explained. It's a problem that goes beyond mere semantics—it's about creating a common language that allows computers (and veterinarians) to speak to each other effectively.

As the symposium progressed, it became clear that veterinary informatics isn't just about improving animal health but has profound implications for human health. "A lot of the things that our animals are experiencing are things that humans also experience," Ruple pointed out, highlighting One Health – the concept that human, animal, and environmental health are all interconnected.

Green summarized the potential impact of the work discussed: "In the future when a pet owner brings their animal to a veterinary hospital for treatment, all the data – from blood work to X-rays – will be in a standardized electronic format. This will lead to more efficient care and better outcomes for our animal patients."

The 30th Annual Talbot Veterinary Informatics Symposium honored its roots at Virginia Tech and highlighted the college's continued leadership in this rapidly evolving field. As veterinary medicine becomes increasingly digital, the insights and collaborations fostered at events like this will play a crucial role in shaping the future of animal healthcare.

Reflecting on the symposium's return to an in-person format, Dennis expressed enthusiasm:

"It's so good to be back in person,” Dennis said. “It's been four years of virtual only. I just love these people. It's nice to be with your peers. It’s wonderful to get people all involved in veterinary medicine data in one room."

Founded in 1981, the AVI unites professionals at the intersection of animal care and technology. AVI brings together experts from diverse fields, including biomedical research, computer science, and information technology. Their common goal? To harness the power of informatics to revolutionize animal healthcare.

From improving clinical practices to advancing biomedical research, AVI members are driving innovation in animal health. Their work spans clinical informatics, bioinformatics, and public health – all aimed at creating a smarter future for veterinary medicine.

To get involved in Informaticsvisit the AVI online.

Data meets medicine: AVI Talbot Veterinary Informatics Symposium marks 30-Year milestone at Virginia Tech (2024)
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