On Site

Badges show attendee first name or nickname, full name, attendee type, company, and location*. There will also be a QR code. See below for samples (barcode not shown).

* Keep in mind, the location is pulled from your PRIMARY address. If you choose your home address as primary, it may not correspond with your company's location.

Sue Dr. Susan Jones ABC Animal Hospital Columbus, Ohio Veterinarian		Bob Robert Smith XYZ Research Lab Cincinnati, Ohio Technician

Your information will be printed on your badge EXACTLY as you provide it during registration (including capitalization), so please enter these details as you would like them to appear.

Your name, attendee type, company, primary mailing address, and phone number (if provided) are encoded in the bar code and may be scanned by exhibitors.

Please note, we DO NOT provide email address to any third parties.

View a proof of your badge by logging in to your attendee profile and clicking on the "My Badge" tab in the navigation bar.

*Please note, this is just a representation of your badge and may not be used on site in place of your official badge.

Editing Your Badge

1. Click here to go to the registration site and click Log In.
2. Enter the name and email address you registered with, then check your email and/or text messages* for a six-digit verification code. Return to the login page and enter the code.
3. Under the "Attendee Registration Actions" header, click the "Modify Registration" button.
4. Update your badge fields on pages 1 and 2 of registration:
   • First/last name and individual type: Page 1 (Begin Registration).
   • Prefix, company, and location: Page 2 (Contact Information >> Create Your Badge).
5. Keep clicking "Next" until you get to the payment page, then click "Submit" to save your changes. If you do not complete this step, your changes will NOT be saved.

For Advance Registrants: You may update your badge at any time prior to the MVC; however, any changes made after Jan. 19 will not be reflected in your mailed badge. You will need to print a new badge on site.

Packets will be mailed to advance registrants* approximately two weeks prior to the MVC. If you register after the advance cutoff, you may pick up your badge on site.

Please note, we do NOT mail packets to student registrants, regardless of when they register.

*Registering by Jan. 22 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

If you do not wish to share these details with exhibitors, simply decline to have your badge scanned in the Exhibit Hall.

Badges are required for entry into all MVC sessions, labs, special events, and the Exhibit Hall.

Attendees should bring their confirmation packets with them to the Conference. However, should you forget to bring it, or if you lose your badge after arriving, you can print your own badge at the self-serve badge printing kiosk. Please note, you may only print your badge from the kiosk once.

Pets

We love them as much as you do, but Convention Center regulations and health department codes prohibit pets. In keeping with the law, only service animals are permitted.

Service Animals

Please note, documentation is required for individuals bringing service animals. (See next question for details.)

Per the Americans with Disabilities Act and Ohio law, disabled individuals are permitted to bring assistance animals into most public places. These regulations include the following provisions:

• Disabled means blind, hearing-impaired, deaf, and/or mobility impaired
• Assistance animal means any animal that aids someone who has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities (e.g., walking, seeing, hearing)
• Assistance dogs may be brought into public places, provided that:
  • The dog may not occupy a seat on public transportation
  • The dog must be leashed
  • Any dog in training to become an assistance animal should be covered by liability insurance
• You cannot be charged an additional fee for your service animal, but you can be held financially liable for any damages it causes.
• Public facilities are allowed to ask if your animal is a service animal and which tasks it is trained to perform. They cannot, however, ask detailed questions about your disability or animal.
• Public facilities are permitted ask you and your service animal to leave if it threatens the health or safety of other patrons.
• Keep in mind that neither federal nor Ohio law recognizes emotional support animals as "assistance animals," which means that public facilities are not required to admit them. We strongly encourage you to contact the convention center and your hotel in advance to find out their policies on ESAs.

If you have questions, please contact the convention center and your hotel directly to find out their policies. For more information on the legal requirements, please see:

• Ohio Revised Code 955.43: Dogs with blind, deaf or mobility impaired person
• Ohio Administrative Code 4112-5-02: Discrimination Definitions
• ADA Regulations

Proof of a service animal (also known as an assistance dog under Ohio law) would include one or more of the following:

• Evidence the animal was trained by a non-profit special agency to assist individuals with a disability including: sight impairment, hearing impairment, mobility impairment, medical condition or providing psychiatric assistance.
• A statement from a human health care professional that the individual benefits from the assistance of the service animal, and a statement from a veterinarian indicating the animal is of a suitable temperament in their opinion to provide assistance to the individual in areas of public gathering.
• Completion of a statement by the individual attesting that the animal is necessary because of a disability and what work or task has the animal been trained to perform.

Service/Assistance Animal Rules

• Must be kept on a leash or harness and under the control of the person at all times.
• Identification of the animal as a service/assistance animal by a vest or similar item upon the animal and identification on the animal by badge of the animal’s name, its owners name and cell phone.
• Waste bags must be on the owner’s possession and promptly used when necessary.
• Animal must be removed if it becomes aggressive and/or vocalizes extensively.

The MVC staff needs attendees to moderate many of the CE sessions during the Conference. Learn more about moderating »

Any MVC attendee can volunteer as a Session Moderator. Please note, you MUST be registered to attend on the day(s) you volunteer. In other words, it's not a way to attend for free (sorry!).

A Session Moderator is essentially a Speaker's assistant. They introduce the speakers of their selected sessions using an introduction prepared by the MVC staff and, in the event of a problem, assist in locating appropriate staff to resolve A/V equipment or room issues.

Volunteers usually moderate for a morning (8 to 11:30 a.m.) or afternoon block of sessions (1:30 to 5 p.m.), but we will gladly accept any level of commitment!

In addition to the networking possibilities, moderators are invited to a complimentary lunch with their speakers on the days they volunteer.

As a bonus, all volunteers who sign up by Feb. 9 will be entered in a raffle to win tickets to the Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Buffalo Sabres game on Friday, Feb. 23!

You may sign up online after completing your MVC registration. Please note, you will need a valid email address and be a registered attendee in order to volunteer.

A link to online volunteer sign-up and an access code will be included in your MVC registration confirmation email. If you registered by mail or fax and did not provide an email address, please contact us to obtain the login information.

The moderator kit will be posted on the MVC website two weeks prior to the Conference. We will contact you via email once it is available, or you can access the kit via the volunteers page.

The MVC reserves blocks of rooms in nearby hotels at a discounted rate. You may make your reservations online; the links provided in the Hotels & Travel section will take you directly to the Conference's designated room blocks with the group codes already entered in. You may also call the hotels directly to make your reservation using the phone numbers provided; please be sure to use the group code specified.

As OVMA does not handle or have access to attendee hotel reservations, you should contact the hotel directly if you have any questions or changes. Please visit the Hotels & Travel page for the phone number of each hotel or refer to your hotel reservation confirmation email.

If our room blocks are booked, we will add overflow hotels to the Hotels & Travel page. You can also find information on other nearby hotels from the Columbus visitors' bureau.

The MVC is held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center (400 N. High St., Columbus Ohio 43215) and the Hyatt Regency Hotel (350 N. High St.). Columbus is serviced by John Glenn International Airport (CMH). View map & get driving directions » | View airport information »

Please see the Travel & Hotels page for more information.

There are several garages and surface lots located within walking distance to the GCCC and Hyatt. Please see the Hotels & Travel page for more information on nearby lots, parking rates, and pre-pay options.

Keep in mind that the MVC is not the only event occurring at the venue, and downtown Columbus is a busy metropolis—so it's best to give yourself plenty of time to commute, park, and navigate in/around the Convention Center.

Because finding parking can sometimes be tricky, we recommend you sightsee on foot when possible. There are plenty of restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues within walking distance. Visit Experience Columbus to learn more about nearby activities.

If you plan to venture farther away, or adverse weather makes walking impractical, you can catch a ride on the COTA bus system, hail a taxi, or use a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft to get around town. Learn more »

Yes, ARCpoint Labs of Columbus will be on site to provide this service on Friday, Feb. 23, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Who should get their titers tested?

The CDC recommends the following for individuals in risk category 3 (which includes veterinary professionals):

• Either a one-time titer check after 1 year and up to 3 years following the first 2-dose vaccination, OR
• 1-dose booster between 3 weeks and 3 years following the first vaccine in the 2-dose vaccination

Read the CDC's full Rabies Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) guidelines »

What is the cost for titer testing?

The price is $98 for an antibody screen or $118 for endpoint testing. Payment accepted in cash, credit card, or check payable to ARCpoint Labs.

The MVC does NOT provide meals to attendees, but it does offer complimentary beverages throughout the day.

Attendees will be able to purchase lunch right in the Exhibit Hall during the midday break, and there are a variety of other dining establishments in or within walking distance of the convention center.

Community Bulletin Board

Attendees are invited to post and browse employment opportunities and for-sale listings on the bulletin board located in the Gathering Corner. Space is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Recruiting Opportunities

The MVC currently does not host a job fair or other recruitment events, but attendees are welcome and encouraged to use the mobile app to network with colleagues.

Meeting Space

The MVC does not provide dedicated private interview space, but attendees may set up small informal meetings amongst themselves in the common areas.

There is a private room designated for nursing mothers located on the south side of the GCCC/Hyatt connector.

Mothers who would like to store their equipment or need access to a refrigerator during sessions may use the OVMA staff office. Stop by the Attendee Assistance counter to inquire.

No, child care is not offered.

Attendees can drop off or look for abandoned items in the MVC Registration & Attendee Assistance area or visit the GCCC/Hyatt lost and found in the Hyatt Regency’s Union hallway.

Yes, a coat check is available each day in the convention center near the Exhibit Hall. Attendees may check coats and luggage as needed.

Due to low attendee interest, we have discontinued audio recording of sessions.

However, some sessions will be video recorded. Although they are available for individual purchase, they will be offered on the Virtual Platform for on-demand viewing for six months. View the CE schedule to find out which sessions will be recorded.

No. Please print your documents in advance if you would like to have a hard copy.