American Pre-Veterinary Medical Association Symposium
March 6-7, 2026, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine is proud to host the 2026 American Pre-Veterinary Medicine Association (APVMA) Symposium on March 6-7, 2026, in Baton Rouge.
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Friday, March 6th
4:00 PM - Renaissance Hotel guests check-in to the hotel.
4:30 PM - Symposium Attendee and Advisor Badge Pick Up outside the Bourbeau Ballroom at the Renaissance Hotel
5:30 PM - Doors Open for Opening Ceremony in the Bourbeau Ballroom at the Renaissance Hotel
6- 6:30 PM - Opening Ceremony
6:30 - 8 PM - Dinner and Keynote
8-9 PM - Business Meeting at the Renaissance Hotel (Closed Session)
Saturday, March 7th
6:30 - 8:30 AM Buffet breakfast at the Renaissance Hotel in the Bourbeau Ballroom. This is an informal service. No presentations.
8:00 AM - Swag bag and T-shirt Pick Up Opens at LSU Vet. Symposium Badge must be presented for pick up. Late Arrival Badge Pick Up available.
8:00 - 8:45 AM - Research Fair Set Up - Attendees who will present a poster should arrive at LSU Vet Med to hang their poster prior to the start of the 9:00 AM sessions.
8:30 AM - It is recommended that guests leave the hotel no later 8:30 AM to make their way to LSU Vet Med in time for the first sessions at 9:00AM.
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - Exhibitors Fair at LSU Vet Med
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - Lectures and labs at LSU Vet Med
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Advisors Meeting at LSU Vet Med
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Box Lunch Pick up at LSU Vet Med in the 1205 classroom. Please follow entry and exit signs.
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Research Fair Poster Session in the Bayou Classroom.
4:00 PM - Exhibitor Fair and all sessions conclude at LSU Vet Med
4:00 PM - 5:30 - No agenda items. This time should be used for travel and prep for closing ceremony held at Student Union. 8 min drive/25 minute walk from LSU Vet Med to LSU Student Union (1.1 miles).
5:30 PM - Doors Open for Closing Ceremony at LSU Union Royal Cotillion Ballroom located on the second floor of the LSU Union (room 250).
6:00 PM - Closing Ceremony at LSU Union Royal Cotillion Ballroom
6:30 - 7:45 PM - Dinner and International School Panel
7:45 PM - APVMA Announcements
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM Board Elections
Lectures are first-come first-served. If a room is full, please find another session.
Bayou Classroom
9:00 am - Dentistry with Dr. Curt Ritchie
10:00 am - Animal Behavior with Monique Feyrecilde
11:00 am - Equine Veterinary Careers Panel with Dr. Rose Baker
1:00 pm - Vet Coaching with Dr. Jennifer Quammen
2:00 pm - Poster Session till 4pm
Nest Classroom (Upstairs)
9:00 am - VMCAS Q&A with Diana Dabdub
10:00 am - Illness & Disease with Dr. Amy Bunch
11:00 am - Neonate Care with Collins Fairley
1:00 pm - Shelter Medicine with Dr. Sarah Hicks
2:00 pm - VMCAS Q&A with Diana Dabdub
1205 Classroom
9:00 am - Mental Health with Brittany Richmond
10:00 am - Affording Vet School with Dr. Rebecca Mears
12:00 pm - Lunch Pick Up - Enter from front hallway.
1:00 pm - Body Language with Jan Hargrave
2:00 pm - Mental Health with Brittany Richmond
1212 C Classroom
CHANGED - 9:00 am - Wilde Tracks with Kasey Pedersen
10:00 am - Pets for Life with Paula Shaw
11:00 am - Big Cat Care with Ginger Guttner
2:00 pm - Diseases Shouldn't Have Names with Dr. Brian Aldridge
1212 B Classroom
9:00 am -3:00 pm - Drop by anytime to help with this shelter animal-focused service project.
Labs
Attendees are assigned one of four labs:
- Anatomy Skills
- Clinical Skills
- Ruminant Lab
- Surgical Skills
Labs were assigned based on attendee preference in the order of registration.
Attendees will receive one LAB PASS with the name of their assigned lab and one of these start times :
- 9:00 am
- 10:30 am
- 1:00 pm
Attendees may swap tickets with other attendees.
A LAB PASS must be presented to enter the lab since each lab has a maximum capacity.
Closed-toe shoes and pants are required for lab sessions.
Friday, March 6th
Plated Dinner
- Mixed greens salad
- Sweet tea braised bone-in pork chop
- Pan seared polenta cake
- Braised collard green
- Bourbon poached apples
- white + dark chocolate mousse cake
- Water, tea, and coffee provided
Attendees with dietary restrictions disclosed at the time of registration will be provided a ticket for a special meal that the chef has prepared to meet those dietary needs. Please place this ticket on your table once seated. Alternate meals include a chicken entree with roasted potatoes and asparagus or stuffed bell pepper. Other modifications have been made per the provided requests.
Saturday, March 7th
Breakfast buffet, 6:30-8:30
- Fruit
- Assorted muffins and breads
- Scrambled eggs
- Grits
- Applewood smoked bacon and country sausage links
- Breakfast potatoes with fire roasted peppers and onions
- Warm buttermilk biscuits and southern white sausage gravy
- Juice, coffee and hot tea
Boxed Lunch, Pick up in Room 1205 at 12pm-1pm at LSU Vet Med. Attendees may eat in the classrooms or enjoy the outside spaces.
- Ham and Swiss
- Turkey and Provolone
- Grilled Veggie Wrap
- All served with chips, cookie, and a bottle of water.
Vending is available on the first floor for soft drinks and snacks.
Plated Dinner
- Classic caesar salad
- Chicken parmesan with herb risotto and green beans
- New York cheesecake with seasonal berries
Attendees with dietary restrictions disclosed at the time of registration will be provided a ticket for a special meal that the chef has prepared to meet those dietary needs. Please place this ticket on your table once seated. Alternate meal includes a mixed greens salad, Greek lemon polenta with portabella mushroom ragout, and allergen free dessert. Other modifications have been made per the provided requests.
Parking is free and does not require a parking pass.
Do not park in the client parking lot next to the Small Animal Clinic (toward the river). These spaces are reserved for emergencies and our small animal clients.
Enter the main lobby on the east side (toward the stadium) by following the long-covered walkway to the main entrance door.
Renaissance Baton Rouge to LSU Vet Med drive time approximately 18-20 minutes.
LSU Vet Med to Union Square Parking Garage for closing ceremony drive time approximately 8 minutes or 25-minute walk (1.1 miles). Please watch weather forecast for rain. Attendees may also park in the horseshoe around the Parade Grounds.
The Royal Cotillion Ballroom (room 250) is located on the second floor of the LSU Union on the south end of the Parade Grounds.
Dress code
Opening Ceremony (Friday) : Business Casual
Symposium (Saturday) : No official dress codes
Closing Ceremony (Saturday) : Business Casual
Louisiana Spring weather can change quickly. Expect cooler nights but warmer days. The chance of rain is always just around the corner, so pack a small umbrella or light rain jacket. The Vet Med buildings can be cool, so a light sweatshirt or other layer can be helpful.
If you participate in a lab, please wear closed-toed shoes and long pants.
What Does Business Casual Mean?
Business casual attire should be professional, neat, and comfortable, similar to what
you would wear for a class presentation, internship, or professional meeting. When
in doubt, choose the more professional option.
Maps
We will follow a rain plan for the ruminant lab - please follow signage in the school for the alternate route. You should go down the hallway for surgical skills and continue out to the barns. Students/staff will be available to escort you.
Register
Student registration for $145 opened December 19th at 9:00 AM ET and closed February 2nd 11:59PM CT. No refunds for cancellations will be given after February 2nd, 2026.
Registration confirmation will be provided after APVMA membership is verified. Please allow time for processing. Students who register and are not confirmed to be an APVMA member will have their request for registration cancelled and fees will be refunded.
Please follow the two steps below to register:
Step 1:
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED
Step 2:
Student Lodging
Student Attendee Lodging and opening night dinner (Friday) will be held at the Renaissance Baton Rouge (7000 Bluebonnet Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70810). Reservations must be made by direct call-in to (866) 469-5448. Reference “APVMA 2026 Symposium” of by booking at this GROUP RATE LINK . Cancellations must be received 24 hours prior to arrival or 1-night room and tax will be assessed. Attendee room rate is $169 per night prior to other fees. Group rate only applies for a March 6th - 8th stay. Reservations by attendees must be received on or before Friday, February 6, 2026.
Please register for the conference prior to booking hotel.
Advisor Information
An advisor agenda will be directly communicated to advisors by the APVMA Board of Advisors prior to the meeting. The meeting location will be across from the Clinical Skills Laboratory on the second floor. Please follow Clinical Skills signage.
Advisors should register at the same link as students on the first tab of this page. Please select an advisor ticket. Advisors should also email APVMAatLSU2026@gmail.com to request an registration discount code before proceeding with registration Step 2.
A limited number of rooms have been reserved at the Cook Hotel and Conference Center on LSU’s campus for club advisors. These rooms must be reserved through direct call-in at 225-383-2665. Reference “Spring Symposium.” The room rate is $209 per night prior to other fees. Reservations must be received by the hotel no later than Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
Sponsor and Exhibitor Information
Sponsors/exhibitors should email APVMAatLSU2026@gmail.com to request sponsor registration and to confirm availability of sponsor level as well
as provide details associated with the sponsorship tier.
If you would like to have additional representatives over the number included in the
sponsorship tier, $50 will be added for each additional attendee.
A separate registration/information request will be sent to advisors closer to the
event to get attendee details.
Hotel blocks have not been specifically reserved for sponsors. We do recommend a number
of the Downtown Baton Rouge hotels, which are located a very short distance from the
School of Veterinary Medicine where all Saturday events will take place.
- Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center
- Hotel Indigo Baton Rouge
- Watermark Baton Rouge
Sonesta ES Suites Baton Rouge at Southgate is another option on the edge of LSU's campus and near LSU Vet Med.
If you would like to mail items to the school prior to your arrival please send to:
Office of Admissions & Student Success
Attn: Gretchen Delcambre
LSU School of Veterinary Medicine
1213 Skip Bertman Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Transportation between the hotel and the LSU Vet Med will not be provided. All attendees are responsible for arranging their own transportation throughout the event. Several rideshare companies are available in Baton Rouge.
Renaissance Baton Rouge to LSU Vet Med drive time approximately 18-20 minutes.
The Cook Hotel to LSU Vet Med drive time approximately 10 minutes.
Downtown Hotels to LSU Vet Med drive time approximately 5-8 minutes.
LSU Vet Med to Union Square Parking Garage for closing ceremony drive time approximately 8 minutes or 25-minute walk (1.1 miles).
Airports
Both the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR) and Louis Armstrong International Airport New Orleans (MSY) are reliable airports for travel to Baton Rouge.
Travel time to LSU from BTR is 15 min and from MSY is 1 hour and 10 min. Please add 30-45 minutes of travel time at MSY if you rent a vehicle from the airport in New Orleans. The rental counters are located at the old MSY terminal by shuttle.
Stay for a day!
Lagniappe is a Cajun French word that means "a little something extra." If you find yourself here for an extra day, visit these websites for more exploration ideas: