Beyond Medicine:
Building Stronger Veterinary Practices
Friday, September 18, 2026
8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Lighthouse Cove Event Center Dewey Beach, Delaware
6 Hours CE credit
Beyond Medicine: Building Stronger Veterinary Practices is an immersive, practice-focused conference designed to help veterinary professionals strengthen the business, people, and ethical foundation of their practices. Through three engaging, interactive sessions, attendees will explore how efficient systems drive smoother workflows and profitability, how intentional culture-building leads to stronger teams and better retention, and how ethical decision-making protects trust, morale, and long-term sustainability. With real-world case studies, hands-on workshops, and actionable “quick wins” participants can implement immediately, this program goes beyond theory—equipping practice owners, managers, and leaders with practical tools to run healthier, more resilient veterinary practices that thrive in today’s evolving profession.
PLUS - group registration discounts - save more when you bring more team members (see registration section for details)
Featured Speaker
Shirley Lockhart, MBA
Owner, Lockhart Veterinary Consulting
Shirley began her career in veterinary practice management in 1988, overseeing operations at a small general practice. During her tenure, she played a key role in expanding services to include after-hours emergency care, integrating specialty medicine into daily hospital operations, and managing all financial aspects of the practice.
After ten years, she joined the founding team of the Veterinary Specialty Center of Delaware, now part of the BluePearl organization. The hospital initially launched with five specialties—Surgery, Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Radiology, and limited Emergency Medicine—and later expanded to include Physical Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, and Dermatology. In collaboration with her partners, she led the growth of the Emergency Department from a limited service to a fully staffed, 24/7, year-round operation, including the addition of Critical Care. Under her leadership, multiple departments evolved into multi-doctor services, and the hospital invested in advanced diagnostics, including CT imaging, digital radiography, and ultrasound. During this period, the organization grew from nine employees at inception to more than 100 team members at the time of its sale.
Outside of her professional work, she values time with her family, including her husband of 30 years, their two adult children, and granddaughter. Her interests include travel, reading, and spending quality time with family. She recently lost her beloved terrier-mix, Sandy, and is actively looking to adopt another rescue.
Event Schedule
September 18, 2026 - 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
Location & Accommodations
Conference Location
Lighthouse Cove Event Center
1301 Coastal Highway
Dewey Beach, DE 19971
CLICK HERE for information
Conference Hotel
1301 Coastal Highway
Dewey Beach, DE 19971
(302) 864-9100
CLICK HERE for general hotel information
CLICK HERE to book your overnight room
A small block of discounted rooms is available for conference attendees and can be booked on a first-come, first-served basis (Thursday - $189; Friday - $219).
Guests may also call 1-855-556-1297 and ask for the DVMA rate. The group code is G-VETZ.
Deadline to make reservations is August 20, 2026.
Registration Options
Take advantage of the Early-Bird pricing below! Prices increase $45 after August 31, 2026
New this year - discounts for group registration!
3-5 team members: 5% discount on all registrations (use discount code 3to5)
6-10 team members: 10% discount on all registrations (use discount code 6to10)
11+ team members: 15% discount on all registrations (use discount code 11orMore)
*all team members must be registered at same time on same order
Veterinarians
$185
DVMA Member Veterinarian – $185 / $230
Non-Member Veterinarian – $300 / $345
Includes:
6 hours CE credit
Admission to exhibit hall
Continental breakfast, breaks & lunch
Licensed Veterinary Technicians
$125
DVMA Member Licensed Vet Tech – $125 / $170
Non-Member Licensed Vet Tech – $160 / $205
Includes:
6 hours CE credit
Admission to exhibit hall
Continental breakfast, breaks & lunch
Veterinary Assistants & Support Staff
$125
DVMA Member Vet Asst & Support Staff
$125 / $170
Non-Member Vet Asst & Support Staff
$160/ $205
Includes:
6 hours CE credit
Admission to exhibit hall
Continental breakfast, breaks & lunch
Sponsors & Exhibitors
Annual Platinum Partners
Annual Bronze Partners
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health
- Diamond State Financial Group
- University of PA - Ryan Veterinary Hospital
