Trends magazine is going digital

Forty years ago, the first issue of Trends magazine shipped out to AAHA members. The April 1985 issue sported the headline: “Can You Really Afford a Computer?” The issue also proposed an “AAHA Five Year Computer Plan.” Little did those 80s headline writers know that four decades later Trends would evolve into a format that 1985 computers could only dream of.

That’s right, after 40 years in print as one of the top veterinary practice management magazines in the industry, Trends is going fully digital, starting Jan. 1, 2025. The new platform will be a combination of our existing newsletter, NEWStat, and Trends articles and features.

The new format will allow us to provide the same great content—features, news briefs, departments, and fan favorites such as “5 Questions for a Specialist”—plus new forms of content like videos, quizzes, and interactive pages. You’ll also have the opportunity to sign up for our new, twice-weekly email newsletter that highlights all of our great content.

While much of the new Trends will be open to all, the new setup will also include exclusive members-only content for AAHA members and member practices.

For me, someone who has been on the Trends team for 15 years, this is an exciting— and yes, a little bit scary—transition. On the one hand, it is the end of an era. Print has been a fixture in the world of disseminating information for over a thousand years. So, shepherding our flagship print publication away from the mighty printing press feels strange.

But we live in a digital world where billions of people across the globe have access to some kind of digital platform. Our digital move is a pioneering effort into the future, and the team we have in place at AAHA to make that transition is top-notch.

We have a wonderful team of talented, creative, dedicated people that are ready to make the digital transition not only successful, but fun, exciting, and built to last.

I know that for some, the feeling of a paper publication in their hands is hard to replace. But, I hope that you can keep an open mind and join us for the next chapter, the all-digital Trends, as we move forward into the future.

Stay tuned for updates on where specifically to look for the new digital Trends and how to sign up for our new newsletter.

Meanwhile, if you have any questions, reach out any time to [email protected].

Cover photo credit: Rudzhan Nagiev © iStock via Getty Images Plus 

Disclaimer: The views expressed, and topics discussed, in any NEWStat column or article are intended to inform, educate, or entertain, and do not represent an official position by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) or its Board of Directors.