JAVMA News

Assessing veterinary technician education

Are veterinary technology programs measuring up to standards?

By Malinda Larkin

One of the goals of the Veterinary Nurse Initiative, which was launched last year, is to ensure that every veterinary technician is credentialed. The Veterinary Technician National Examination evaluates whether graduates of veterinary technology programs have the entry-level skills needed to practice and be credentialed. For the first time, information about performance on the VTNE by the more than 8,000 yearly graduates has been made public by most of the U.S. and Puerto Rican veterinary technology programs accredited by the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities. The data show wide variation in how well each institution prepares its students for the test.

Not all equal

Heather Prendergast, a consultant for veterinary hospitals and a registered veterinary technician, has taught veterinary technology for several years. She can vouch for the differences among veterinary technology students' experiences. She recalls teaching a class in which some students plagiarized their homework.

“The color and font of the website came through on the paper they turned in,” she said. She failed them; however, the college allowed them to continue their studies. Prendergast quit soon after. The program has since shut down.

“In our area, it was well-known those who came out of a certain school, that you should use caution when considering hiring them,” said Prendergast, who lives in New Mexico. “It's a huge problem, and … even worse is that some students are coming out with $60,000 to $80,000 in debt, and they're making minimum wage. (Veterinary technology programs) are not all equal, but I'm not sure how to make them all equal. CVTEA has set standards in place, but that is not developing equal programs.”

The AVMA CVTEA, which is charged with accrediting the 204 veterinary technology programs, reviews its standards on a three-year cycle to keep current with contemporary veterinary practice and best accreditation standards. The committee also closely reviews the required elements of the curriculum, both didactic knowledge and psychomotor skills, according to Laura Lien, assistant director in the AVMA's Education and Research Division and staff liaison to the CVTEA. She added that the review process includes gathering stakeholder feedback on current standards and any proposed changes. The committee also receives and reviews feedback from individuals who submit comments to CVTEA staff.

One of the changes the CVTEA made to its Accreditation Policies and Procedures in recent years was to require that every veterinary technology program publicly report data on the number of VTNE-eligible first-time candidates each program had for the preceding three years, the number who took the examination for the first time, and the three-year mean pass percentage. Programs were required to have the information posted by January 2014; however, implementation was delayed to provide programs time to comply. As a result, all CVTEA-accredited programs with at least three years of VTNE data were required to submit copies of VTNE testing results no later than Sept. 23, 2017. Going forward, veterinary technology programs must update their VTNE information by Sept. 1 of each calendar year on the institution's website.

Lien said the requirement was intended to provide transparency and disclosure for program applicants.

Kenichiro Yagi, a registered veterinary technician at Adobe Animal Hospital in California and an active veterinary technician educator, said, “Thinking about it from a marketing standpoint for schools, more students will want to go to schools with a higher pass rate. Now, that may turn into a pressure point for schools to teach to the exam rather than educate students on everything they need to be most effective in practice. It's a fine line to tread. With that said, it may motivate programs to improve their curriculum, and ultimately, people having that information out there and being able to choose the right program for them is helpful.”

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Distribution of three-year mean pass rates for 2014–17 on the Veterinary Technician National Examination(Source: Self-reported VTNE information)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 252, 9; 10.2460/javma.252.9.1036

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Mean national pass rates for first-time VTNE candidates (Source: American Association of Veterinary State Boards)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 252, 9; 10.2460/javma.252.9.1036

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Number of veterinary technology programs by state (Source: AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 252, 9; 10.2460/javma.252.9.1036

JAVMA News has compiled the publicly available information on VTNE pass rates for each program and made it available at http://jav.ma/VTNEmap.

Cutoff point

The mean three-year national pass rate for the VTNE has been 70.31 percent for first-time takers, according to the American Association of Veterinary State Boards, which proctors the examination. By comparison, the mean pass rate for the National Council Licensure Examination for registered nurses was 87.11 percent in 2017 for U.S.-educated, first-time takers and 72.11 percent for all takers, including those internationally educated.

Most veterinary technology programs' three-year pass rates fall at or above the national mean (including four with a 100 percent three-year mean pass rate). The CVTEA has mandated that a program's three-year mean rolling VTNE pass percentage for first-time test takers must be 50 percent or higher. Compliance is expected by Sept. 1, 2020. Programs not in compliance at that time may be subject to an adverse accreditation status.

“Since November 2013, the VTNE pass rate for individual testing periods has ranged between 64 percent and 74 percent. The CVTEA felt that the 50 percent pass percentage for a three-year rolling average was a good starting point,” Lien said, adding that the CVTEA also looked at standard deviations in considering the 50 percent pass percentage.

On the basis of publicly available information, 15 programs fall below a 50 percent pass rate. That means the following schools could be in danger of receiving an adverse accreditation status if they do not increase pass rates within about two years:

  • • Platt College-Alhambra (California): 27 percent.

  • • Platt College-Ontario (California): 34 percent.

  • • Platt College-Riverside (California): 36.7 percent.

  • • San Joaquin Valley College-Fresno (California): 34.11 percent.

  • • Pima Medical Institute-Aurora (Colorado): 43 percent.

  • • Fort Valley State University (Georgia): 41 percent.

  • • Iowa Lakes Community College (Iowa): 32 percent.

  • • Northeast Iowa Community College (Iowa): 30 percent.

  • • Independence Community College (Kansas): 28 percent.

  • • Northshore Technical Community College (Louisiana): 33.3 percent.

  • • Ross College-North Canton (Ohio): 44.23 percent.

  • • Broadview University-Sioux Falls (South Dakota): 43 percent.

  • • Vista College (Texas): 13 percent.

  • • Carver Career Center (West Virginia): 34.7 percent.

  • • Pierpont Community and Technical College (West Virginia): 41 percent.

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Veterinary Technician National Examination at a glance

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 252, 9; 10.2460/javma.252.9.1036

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Total national first-time VTNE test takers

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 252, 9; 10.2460/javma.252.9.1036

Nine of those are private institutions, and two offer bachelor's degrees. Two programs are on probationary accreditation, and two are on terminal accreditation.

In addition, 13 programs have three-year mean pass rates between 50 and 59.99 percent. That means the following schools are near the cutoff:

  • • Pima Medical Institute-Tucson (Arizona): 50 percent.

  • • Carrington College-Pleasant Hill (California): 55.4 percent.

  • • Carrington College-Sacramento (California): 52 percent.

  • • Carrington College-San Jose (California): 50.8 percent.

  • • Carrington College-Stockton (California): 53.7 percent.

  • • Southern Regional Technical College (Georgia): 58.8 percent.

  • • Harrison College-Indianapolis: 57.55 percent.

  • • Colby Community College (on-campus students) (Kansas): 52 percent.

  • • Murray State College (Kentucky): 52.29 percent.

  • • Vet Tech Institute at Hickey College (Missouri): 55 percent.

  • • Miller-Motte College (North Carolina): 53.85 percent.

  • • Wilson College (Pennsylvania): 56.4 percent.

  • • McLennan Community College (Texas): 55.03 percent.

Nine of those programs are private, and two offer bachelor's degrees. One program is on terminal accreditation.

Prendergast said that while all veterinary technology programs have standards set forth by the CVTEA built into their curriculum, she's not sure every school is good at applying the curriculum.

“I think we can see that, by some of the differences with those lower versus higher VTNE scores. Some programs are more for the profit, focusing on getting students enrolled, and are not as focused on the education. I think those VTNE scores certainly reflect that in those schools,” she said.

That's not to say that all for-profit schools fared poorly. While the Broadview University schools had a three-year mean pass rate of 55.6 percent among eight programs, the Pima Medical Institutes had a 71.6 percent three-year mean pass rate among nine programs.

Credentialing requirements

Another reason why some programs' graduates may fare better than others has to do with each state's requirements for credentialing veterinary technicians. For example, Becker University in Worcester, Massachusetts, posted this caveat on its website: “The number of eligible graduates who take the VTNE at Becker University is approximately half of the total graduates of the accredited program. Because certification is currently not required for veterinary technicians in Massachusetts, and despite encouraging all eligible candidates to take the exam, many do not.”

Many states require only a passing grade on the VTNE for credentialing. Others have a state-specific examination in addition to the VTNE. And some states privately credential via their state VMA or veterinary technician association, and in each of those cases, credentialing is not mandatory. Some states or territories do not recognize veterinary technology in their veterinary practice act, and several states do not have a formal credentialing process. The VTNE is not required to practice veterinary technology in Puerto Rico, for example.

Jim Penrod, executive director of the American Association of Veterinary State Boards, thinks the number of test takers would only grow “a bit” if it were a requirement of the state.

“There are 11 states that, although their veterinary technicians are not regulated, they do require the VTNE for a voluntary credential. The majority of those states do have an accredited program in them,” Penrod said. “Schools are encouraging students to take the exam. It's the culmination of their degree and signifies they have minimal knowledge to practice. Frankly, the VTNE, while used by accreditation bodies to demonstrate how well a program is doing—a licensure exam isn't meant to do that. It's meant to determine if the individual has the minimal competency to practice without harming animals or the public.”

That said, the AAVSB does report to veterinary technology programs with specific breakdowns in the practice areas tested to help inform their instruction efforts.

Prendergast said she's heard comments at Association of Veterinary Technician Educators meetings that instructors feel the VTNE is too hard and needs to be easier to pass, “which I totally disagree with,” she said. “The VTNE is set because it's a national examination. I'm not saying we need to teach to testing standards, but we need to elevate students' knowledge and problem-solving abilities, not increase ease of the test.”

Student perspective

On the verge of taking the VTNE for the first time is Christopher Chavez, a second-year student at Maple Woods Community College in Kansas City, Missouri, who graduates in May. He didn't have the benefit of seeing VTNE pass rates when applying to veterinary technology schools. Instead, he relied on a more old-fashioned method: word of mouth.

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Christopher Chavez, a second-year student at Maple Woods Community College in Kansas City, Missouri, will graduate in May and take the Veterinary Technician National Examination this summer. He currently works at a veterinary hospital as a veterinary technician and is looking forward to getting a raise once he becomes credentialed.

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 252, 9; 10.2460/javma.252.9.1036

Chavez said in addition to the location, Maple Woods' reputation was why he chose to go there. Brown Mackie College, a for-profit institution which used to have a campus in Kansas City, did not have a good reputation; it closed last year.

“Some places you don't get an opportunity to work directly with animals at the facility. Maple Woods has 14 dogs and 12 to 14 cats at once, so I was able to work hands-on with animals to practice techniques. Plus, knowing it's accredited by the CVTEA is great, which means they are keeping up to standards as far as skills we're required to learn,” Chavez said.

After graduation, he plans to continue working at Perimeter Veterinary Center in Shawnee, Kansas, as a small animal veterinary technician. He originally trained on the job there, but Chavez knew he wanted to be credentialed.

“Vet techs have a huge hands-on role in a pet's care, like before and during anesthesia. As a credentialed vet tech, you just know more and are able to be more efficient and figure out more clinical signs and things that could be going bad after a procedure, for example. Overall, credentialed techs allow for a better experience for pet owners and bring down the number of negative experiences at a hospital,” Chavez said.

Topper testifies in favor of animal drug user fees

Congress considers reauthorizing ADUFA, AGDUFA

By R. Scott Nolen

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AVMA President Michael Topper tells a House subcommittee that veterinary access to FDA-approved medications for use in numerous, diverse species is critical. (Courtesy of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 252, 9; 10.2460/javma.252.9.1036

AVMA President Michael Topper was among the witnesses on a panel testifying at a March 14 congressional hearing in support of reauthorizing user fee programs for new and generic animal drugs.

Two provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act—the Animal Drug User Fee Act and the Animal Generic Drug User Fee Act—have, for the past five years, allowed the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine to collect fees from drug sponsors to expedite the review of new treatments for animals.

Those provisions are set to expire Oct. 1, 2018.

Legislation under consideration by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health would renew the FDA's authority for another five years.

“Timely reauthorization is needed to ensure FDA's ability to deliver continued high levels of performance and help ensure there are no disruptions to these important programs,” Dr. Steven Solomon, FDA CVM director, told the subcommittee.

Among other things, user fees help fund the CVM's timely review of animal drug applications, market surveillance of animal drugs' safety and efficacy, and quality assurance measures for animal food as well as food products derived from animals.

In recent years, the FDA has approved a number of innovative treatment options, including two treatments for navicular disease in horses, which, for the first time, target bone changes commonly caused by the disease, according to Dr. Solomon. The agency has also approved new oncology treatments that target canine-specific tumors as well as the first generic version of a heartworm treatment, alleviating a drug shortage and providing a safe, effective, and more affordable alternative for pet owners.

As an alternative to antimicrobial use, the FDA approved a treatment to prevent mastitis in dairy cows. Another innovative approval was for the first drug to reduce pain in food-producing animals.

User fees provide new animal drugs with a predictable pathway to market, Dr. Topper testified, resulting in veterinarians having access to drugs that can potentially improve treatment outcomes, provide alternatives to existing treatments, fill unmet medical needs in veterinary medicine, and ultimately improve patient care.

User fees collected from sponsors of new animal drugs and generic animal drugs go toward expediting review of these treatments, so they are crucial, Dr. Topper said, especially because too few FDA-approved animal drugs are currently available to address the diversity of species and disease conditions that veterinarians treat.

“Comparisons show there are 23 times as many approved labeled indications for human use (as) there are for animal use,” Dr. Topper said. “With seven major species and innumerable minor species, all of which have many varied diseases and conditions to treat, veterinary access to FDA-approved medications for use in numerous diverse species is critical.”

During the hearing, Rep. Michael C. Burgess, chair of the health subcommittee, noted that the bulk of user fee programs were renewed last year with the FDA Reauthorization Act. “Our focus today on reauthorizing the Animal Drug User Fee Act and the Animal Generic Drug User Fee Act is equally important for the millions of American families and businesses that rely on the critical functions of FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine,” Burgess said.

Since its launch in 2004, ADUFA has been reauthorized four times. As part of the proposed legislation, program funding would increase by approximately $6 million annually, and all requests would have to be submitted electronically. The CVM would be required to begin implementation of the U.S.–European Union Mutual Recognition Agreement for good manufacturing practice inspections of pharmaceutical facilities. Review time for drug combinations for use in feed would also be shortened to 60 days when no additional data are required.

The generic animal drug provision, AGDUFA, has been reauthorized twice since 2008. In addition to increasing its funding by approximately $10 million annually, the proposed agreement would shorten the review time for abbreviated new animal drug applications (for generic drugs) to 60 days.

“From pet owners and veterinarians to farmers and animal food producers, updating these user fee agreements (is) essential in ensuring animal drugs are safe and effective for farm animals and our pets, while keeping our food supply safe,” Burgess said. “Reauthorizing these agreements also includes the new commitments between FDA and industry on performance goals and procedures.”

AVMA, United reach agreement on form for assistance animals

The AVMA, with support from the AVMA PLIT, took action when United Airlines announced a new policy requiring a veterinarian's signature vouching for the health, behavior, and training of psychiatric service animals and emotional support animals flying with United passengers.

The AVMA had concerns with United's Veterinary Health Form, including concerns about potential liability risks for veterinarians. The AVMA reached out to United and worked with the airline on revisions. United officials later posted a new form on the airline's website that reflects alternative language developed by the AVMA and the AVMA PLIT, the Trust that provides professional liability insurance and other coverage for veterinarians.

The new form must be completed by a licensed veterinarian. It includes the statement: “At the time of this physical examination, the animal appeared to be free of infectious or contagious diseases that would endanger other animals or public health.” The form asks if the animal is current for rabies and distemper vaccinations, if applicable.

The form also asks if the animal's owner has represented to the veterinarian that the animal has or has not bitten, scratched, or otherwise injured or attacked any person. If the animal has done so, the form asks for a description of the situation leading to the injury.

The AVMA is contacting the nation's other major air carriers to ensure that veterinarians have input into any requirements the carriers might be considering for transporting psychiatric service and emotional support animals.

The AVMA offers resources at http://jav.ma/animalassist about the types of service and support animals, the legal context for the use of these animals, and preventing fraudulent representations of pets as assistance animals.

Whitehair, on Board's commitment to AVMA members

Interview by R. Scott Nolen

Dr. Michael Whitehair has kept a busy schedule since his election as chair of the AVMA Board of Directors this past July. In addition to presiding over several Board meetings, the large animal veterinarian from Abilene, Kansas, is the District IX representative for AVMA members living in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Utah. Recently, Dr. Whitehair talked with JAVMA News about the Board and how it works to serve AVMA members and promote the veterinary profession.

Please share a few highlights from the Board agenda since your election as Board chair.

Where to begin? The Board has approved formation of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges/AVMA Joint Futures Commission and the AVMA Insurance Governance Structure Task Force, and the continuation of the Task Force on Volunteer Engagement. We adopted a statement on telehealth to guide the veterinary profession that has the support of the AAVMC and the American Association of Veterinary State Boards. A toolkit for veterinarians on the issue of telehealth is in the works, and we hope to have it ready in time for the annual convention in Denver this July.

A donation of $350,000 to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation from the AVMA was approved by the Board. The Board has made AVMA members' mental health and well-being a priority. In January, we met with Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Greg Ibach, who oversees marketing and regulatory programs for the department, to open channels of communication on topics important to our profession. The Board has strengthened the AVMA's political advocacy team with the addition of Dr. Kent McClure as our chief of government relations and the promotion of Dr. Ashley Morgan as director of state advocacy. We remain committed to the Future Leaders Program, diversity, and addressing the financial challenges facing our profession.

For AVMA members who don't know, please explain the Board's purpose and what gets done in a typical meeting.

Your AVMA Board of Directors is comprised of 11 district representatives, of whom two are elected each year as Board chair and vice chair. Then there are the AVMA president, vice president, president-elect, immediate past president, and treasurer. The treasurer is a nonvoting member of the Board. The Student AVMA president, the House Advisory Committee chair, and the AVMA executive vice president and assistant executive vice president are invited participants without a vote. Board actions are taken in accordance with our fiduciary responsibility to the more than 91,000 members of the AVMA. We coordinate with staff to review and align the efforts of our volunteer councils and committees, and use member input to set the direction of AVMA policy.

In addition to the business meeting, the Board devotes time to strategic discussions. What sorts of issues are addressed, and what value do the sessions have?

These discussions are valuable in that they afford the Board time to identify member needs and explore potential courses of action. The emphasis of strategic discussions is on how best to use AVMA resources, both human and capital, to most effectively address member needs. This touches membership services, advocacy, data management, professional development, lifelong learning, and leveraging our relationship with multiple outside groups to share and support our AVMA message.

How does the Board represent individual AVMA members while also promoting the profession?

The Board accomplishes this by attending state and national veterinary meetings to share our message as well as listen to these various sectors and learn about the issues facing them. Also, the Board seeks out alliances with other groups to find common ground on subjects important to AVMA members. Value comes from listening to membership, being advocates, having a workable process, and using our staff to help our Board create sound science-based policies.

AVMF steps up with $200,000 after onslaught of disasters

By Katie Burns

Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, and Hurricane Maria came one after another last fall. Wildfires burned in the western states. Then came winter storms.

Thanks to donors, the American Veterinary Medical Foundation was able to step up with more than $200,000 in grants over six months to help animals and veterinarians in the wake of the recent onslaught of natural disasters.

Among the grants, the AVMF had given more than $50,000 in disaster funding for victims of Hurricane Harvey as of mid-March. The total includes a $10,000 donation to the Texas A&M Foundation for the care of search-and-rescue dogs as well as pets, horses, cattle, and other livestock that were injured or separated from their owners. Disaster reimbursement grants of up to $5,000 went to veterinarians who provided medical care and boarding to animal victims of the storm, and disaster relief grants of up to $2,000 went to veterinarians who lost homes.

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St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in New Jersey airlifted 786 animals from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. The center received a $38,902 grant from the American Veterinary Medical Foundation for the first round of medical supplies necessary for the emergency intake and care of the animals. (Photos courtesy of St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 252, 9; 10.2460/javma.252.9.1036

Dr. Sam G. Miller Jr., immediate past president of the Texas VMA, lost his home to flooding after Harvey and received a grant from the AVMF toward his expenses.

Dr. Miller wrote a note thanking the AVMF for reaching out to individuals in the veterinary community personally affected by the disaster. He wrote: “So much of the focus and support is placed on help for the animals but the individuals that provide that care and are yet impacted personally by the disaster are often overlooked. Thank you for recognizing that it is just as important to support the health care team that provides the medical care for those animals.”

Foundation announces recipients of new research grants

The American Veterinary Medical Foundation recently announced the recipients of new research grants in pharmacology and pain management in dogs.

The AVMF and the Veterinary Pharmacology Research Foundation selected two recipients of the organizations' pharmacology research grants.

Dr. Derek Foster, assistant professor of ruminant health and production in the Department of Population Health and Pathobiology at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, is the recipient of the Veterinary Pharmacology Research Grant of nearly $30,000. Dr. Foster is conducting research on continuously collecting milk samples from the bovine udder by ultrafiltration to assess the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of intramammary ceftiofur.

Dr. Duncan X. Lascelles, professor of small animal surgery and pain management and director of the comparative pain research and education program at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, received the Veterinary Pharmacokinetic Research Grant of nearly $15,000. Dr. Lascelles' research focuses on the pharmacokinetics of gabapentin in cats following administration by three different routes.

The AVMF Research Grant for Pain Management in Dogs, funded by a bequest from Susan Isaac Maylahn, supports research on the management of pain originating from osteoarthritis or other diseases common in older dogs. The recipient is Dr. Butch KuKanich, a professor and assistant head of the Department of Anatomy and Physiology at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He will receive a grant of nearly $25,000 for his project focusing on developing an abuse-resistant oral analgesic for dogs with moderate to severe pain.

When Hurricane Irma struck, the AVMF gave a $10,000 grant to Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. The team there moved animals from shelters that were in harm's way. The team and other volunteers assisted in distributing medications for 800 animals.

After Hurricane Maria, the AVMF gave two $10,000 grants to the Puerto Rico VMA for disaster relief on the island. St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in New Jersey received a $38,902 grant from the AVMF for the first round of medical supplies necessary for the emergency intake and care of 786 animals that the center airlifted from Puerto Rico to New Jersey. Members of the New Jersey VMA volunteered their time and expertise for the center's efforts.

In October 2017, wildfires swept across Northern California. Volunteers from the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine performed search-and-rescue efforts for animals and provided emergency treatment. The AVMF gave a $10,000 grant to the school toward the response.

Wildfires also burned across Montana in fall 2017. The AVMF gave $5,000 to the Montana Stockgrowers Foundation to purchase hay following the wildfires. Winter storms in Montana again created a shortage of hay. The AVMF gave $25,000 toward hay to feed cattle and horses on the Fort Belknap, Northern Cheyenne, and Blackfeet tribal reservations.

Details about donating to the AVMF and applying for grants are at www.avmf.org.

Salois is the AVMA's new chief economist

The AVMA has announced that Matthew J. Salois, PhD, joined the Association's Veterinary Economics Division as director April 2 following the retirement of Michael R. Dicks, PhD, the AVMA's first chief economist.

Dr. Salois comes to the AVMA from Elanco Animal Health, where he served as director of global scientific affairs and policy since 2016, and as an economic research and policy adviser from 2014–16. Prior to joining Elanco, he worked as the chief economist for the Florida Department of Citrus and as an assistant professor in economics at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. Dr. Salois received a doctorate in applied economics in 2008 from the University of Florida.

“Matt brings a wealth of industry experience and knowledge of economics and research,” AVMA President Michael J. Topper said. “He has the opportunity now to build upon the AVMA economics division's solid foundation to ensure that all the incredible data we have are turned into the most effective tools and resources for our members and the profession.”

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Matthew J. Salois, PhD

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 252, 9; 10.2460/javma.252.9.1036

Dr. Salois said the scope of achievement already accomplished by the AVMA Veterinary Economics Division has been “breathtaking” and that the economics team currently in place is a testament to the AVMA's commitment to the veterinary profession. “I feel very privileged to be joining not only a team that I admire but also to be a part of the AVMA and a world-class group of people dedicated to providing value to its members,” he said.

One of Dr. Salois' goals in his new position is to deliver economic analyses that provide tangible and actionable direction for the veterinary profession.

“Like many economists, I have a genuine passion for the field,” Dr. Salois said. “But my ‘why’ is more than just about economics; it's about acting on the insights generated through economics to help guide decisions and, hopefully, lead the veterinary profession to a stronger place.”

The AVMA, according to Dr. Salois, has already done much to benefit its members and the profession, such as taking the many sources of data available and identifying the most relevant and valuable information “hiding inside.” But, he says, veterinarians can do more to help economists.

“I have been privileged to work with some top-notch veterinarians the last few years, and they have truly helped me be a better economist by bringing their insights and perspective into my work,” Dr. Salois said. “By partnering together, I believe that economists and veterinarians can become more than the sum of their parts. I want to hear our members' perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing the profession and how they see economics ultimately helping them.”

The AVMA and the Auxiliary to the AVMA are celebrating National Pet Week 2018 from May 6–12. Members of the AVMA can access the National Pet Week veterinary toolkit at www.avma.org/petweek. The public website for the event is at www.petweek.org.

Global project aims to identify viral threats

By Greg Cima

A 10-year virus identification project starting this year could identify most viruses with potential to cause disease in humans.

In an article published Feb. 23 in Science, leaders of the Global Virome Project estimate the cost of discovering all 630,000-830,000 viruses in the same families as currently known zoonotic viruses would be more than $7 billion. Finding 71 percent would cost an estimated $1.2 billion.

“Those viruses remaining undiscovered will, by the nature of sampling bias toward more common host species, represent the rarest viruses with the least opportunity for spillover, and therefore reduced public health risk,” the article states. “Their discovery would require exponentially greater sampling effort and funding that could be better spent on countermeasures for the more likely threats.”

A planning document published following an August 2016 meeting describes the virome project as “designed to be the beginning of the end of the Pandemic Era.”

Dr. Jonna A.K. Mazet is director of the U.S. Agency for International Development's Predict virus emergence project, director of the One Health Institute in the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, and one of the authors of the article in Science. She said the Global Virome Project cost is reasonable, relatively small, and lower than the expenses would be for responding to a single outbreak with a novel virus. The true cost will depend on participation by governments, organizations, and individuals.

Thailand has a national virus discovery and metagenomics project and will collaborate with the virome project, she said. China also is expected to contribute data through a national initiative.

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Ebolavirus particles are shown in blue on a chronically infected cell in this colorized scanning electron micrograph. (Courtesy of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 252, 9; 10.2460/javma.252.9.1036

She noted that the U.S. government has invested $200 million in Predict, which has provided the foundational work for the virome project. And dozens of organizations of varied size have expressed interest in participating in the virome project.

The information gathered through the Global Virome Project should improve forecasts and preparation for emerging infections, Dr. Mazet said. It also would build on Predict's success at amplifying regional abilities to detect and respond to virus emergence.

The Science article indicates additional benefits could derive from improved understanding of virus biology, competition among viruses, coevolution of viruses, evolution of virus clades, and novel virus group identification.

“Like the Human Genome Project, the GVP will provide a wealth of publicly accessible data, potentially leading to discoveries that are hard to anticipate, perhaps viruses that cause cancers and chronic physiological, mental health, or other behavioral disorders,” the article states. “It will provide orders-of-magnitude more information about future threats to global health and biosecurity, improve our ability to identify vulnerable populations, and enable us to more precisely target mitigation and control measures to foster an era of global pandemic prevention.”

FDA bans feed importer for safety violation, fraud

A Canadian company is barred from exporting animal foods to the U.S. after perpetrating a fraud intended to cover up a shipment of unsafe feed.

The Food and Drug Administration implemented the five-year ban on shipments from Meunerie Sawyerville effective March 1, a Federal Register notice states. The company received $80,000 in fines and a year of probation after pleading guilty in 2015 to two felonies related to false statements on a shipping manifest and importation of an unsafe drug with the intent to defraud and mislead.

A Meunerie Sawyerville truck containing cattle feed crossed into Vermont in September 2012. Sampling at the border showed the feed contained a higher-than-approved concentration of monensin, an antimicrobial, and Customs and Border Protection officials told the driver to store the shipment elsewhere for further tests by the FDA, the notice states.

Company president and owner Yves Bolduc “instructed the driver to deliver the feed to a Vermont farmer as planned, without informing the farmer that the feed had been sampled and ordered held by FDA,” the notice states. “Mr. Bolduc then engineered a plan that a sham shipment of similar-looking cattle feed cross the border under false Customs documentation to be stored on an unrelated piece of land in Vermont until requested for redelivery by Customs and Border Protection.”

The company created a shipping manifest for a fictional importer, “Ted Taft,” for the second truck, the notice states. When federal officials would call for redelivery, the second shipment would be presented as the first.

The FDA proposed the debarment in July 2017. Company officials argued in response that the adulterated feed was no longer a problem because they had stopped mixing monensin into cattle feed, plus no harm occurred, and debarment would hurt Meunerie Sawyerville.

FDA officials countered that company officials failed to address the causes of the crimes and provide assurance against similar conduct. They noted that Bolduc conceived the fraud and remained in charge of the company.

“In addition to adulteration, there are also many other reasons an unscrupulous importer might attempt to deceive Customs,” the notice states.

Recent grads benefit from bovine veterinarian conference

The American Association of Bovine Practitioners hosted the first in a planned series of educational meetings designed for recent graduates.

The inaugural AABP Recent Veterinary Graduate Conference, Feb. 9–10 in St. Louis, was open to veterinarians who had graduated since 2010, and 165 attended. Survey results from the meeting indicate two-thirds of attendees had graduated in the preceding three years.

The conference provided continuing education on beef and dairy medicine, with topics including obstetrics, necropsy, examinations, nutrition, immunology, calf diarrhea, gender bias, mentoring, practice burnout, and alternative careers.

Program chairman Dr. Blake Nguyen said in an announcement that the conference also gave attendees opportunities—in a supportive and encouraging atmosphere—to engage with AABP leaders and peers on the rewards and challenges of bovine medicine.

Dr. K. Fred Gingrich II, AABP executive vice president, said in the announcement that offering services to the next generation of veterinarians is critical to the AABP's success. He noted that the AABP also provides practice management workshops, and its Membership Committee is organizing a mentor matching program.

AABP leaders plan to host the next recent graduate conference in February 2019 at a location to be determined.

Recorded presentations are available to AABP members through the Beef Cattle Institute. The AABP website, www.aabp.org, includes a purple and white BCI logo linked to continuing education materials.

Study finds fingernail length, not nail polish, increases bacterial counts

Nail polish does not increase bacterial counts, but nail length does, according to a study of surgical personnel at a veterinary teaching hospital.

“The effect of nail characteristics on surface bacterial counts of surgical personnel before and after scrubbing” appeared in the October 2017 edition of Veterinary Surgery (Vet Surg 2017;46:952–961), available at http://jav.ma/nailstudy.

The sample population was 21 veterinary students, faculty members, and veterinary technicians who routinely scrubbed in for small animal orthopedic and soft tissue surgeries at the Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital between March and April 2015. Subjects were randomized into two groups, with one group wearing nail polish for one week and the other having unpainted nails. Each subject changed groups the following week. Fingernail lengths were measured each day, and samples for culture were taken from the surface and subungual areas of the nails on both hands with sterile cotton swabs and toothpicks before and after pre-surgical scrub and after surgery.

“The use of sterile gloves to prevent the transfer of bacteria from the hands to patients does not preclude efforts to minimize bacterial loads on the skin of surgeons as glove perforations can occur during surgery,” according to the report. “Indeed, glove tears were noticed after surgery in 23% of subjects in our study.”

Total bacterial counts and the quantities of staphylococci, other gram-positive organisms, and gram-negative bacilli did not differ between personnel with painted or unpainted nails. The only variable associated with higher bacterial counts was nail length, with higher bacterial counts obtained from fingernails extending more than 2 mm beyond the tip of the fingers.

Spending on pets approaches $70 billion

The American Pet Products Association released a report in late March finding that overall spending in the U.S. pet industry increased 4.1 percent between 2016 and 2017, from $66.75 billion to $69.51 billion. The APPA estimates a 3.7 percent overall increase in 2018.

According to the report, spending on veterinary care by U.S. pet owners increased 7.0 percent between 2016 and 2017, from $15.95 billion to $17.07 billion. The association estimates a 6.9 percent increase in spending on veterinary care in 2018, exceeding growth estimates for any other category.

Spending on pet food increased 2.9 percent to $29.07 billion in 2017. For pet supplies and over-the-counter medications, spending increased 2.7 percent to $15.11 billion.

In 2017, spending increased 6.9 percent to $6.16 billion in the category of pet services such as grooming, boarding, walking, training, pet-sitting, exercise, and yard services. Spending on purchases of live animals stayed the same at $2.1 billion.

“It's incredible to not only see growth for the pet industry in general, but to experience growth across all categories—with the exception of ‘live animal purchases,'” said Bob Vetere, president and chief executive officer of the APPA, in an announcement summarizing the report results. “Talk to any pet owner and they'll tell you how difficult it is to put a dollar limit on what they'd spend to give their loyal companion a happy life, and it's this outlook that continues to drive growth.”

American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation

The American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation welcomed 16 new diplomates following its board certification examination that was held Jan. 18–20 in Fort Collins, Colorado. The new diplomates are as follows:

Canine specialty

Brittany Carr Benson, Yellow Springs, Ohio

Matthew Brunke, Annapolis Junction, Maryland

Veronica Devall, Calgary, Alberta

Christopher Frye, Ithaca, New York

Tom Gibson, Guelph, Ontario

Equine specialty

Laura Fitzharris, Bristol, England Nicholas Kleider, Calgary, Alberta

Raphael Labens, Wagga Wagga, Australia

David Levine, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Meghann Lustgarten, Cary, North Carolina

Shawn Mattson, Rocky View County, Alberta

Solange Mikail, Cotia, Brazil

Jillian Mills, Redwood City, California

Erin Shields, Rocky View County, Alberta

Sarah Boys Smith, Newmarket, England

William (Wes) Sutter, Lexington, Kentucky

Ohio VMA

Event: Midwest Veterinary Conference, Feb. 22–25, Columbus

Awards: Veterinarian of the Year: Dr. Rustin Moore, Dublin. Dr. Moore received his veterinary degree (1989) and his doctorate in equine gastrointestinal physiology (1994) from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He is dean of the veterinary college, also serving as the Ruth Stanton Chair in Veterinary Medicine. Earlier in his career, Dr. Moore taught at Louisiana State University for 12 years. During his tenure at LSU, he led a team of emergency responders in animal rescue efforts in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Dr. Moore is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Distinguished Service Award: Dr. Ana Grum, Newark, in recognition of her 10-year service as chair of the association's planning committee for the annual Veterinary Exploration Conference. Dr. Grum received her veterinary degree (1986) and her doctorate in companion animal nutrition (2002) from the University of California-Davis. She is an academic adviser and instructor of undergraduate animal science courses at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. Officials: Drs. Liesa Stone, Cedarville, president; Ellen Yoakam, Mansfield, president-elect; Greg Haas, Findlay, vice president; Ed Biggie, Millersport, secretary; Dave Bauman, Maineville, treasurer; Kevin Corcoran, Xenia, assistant treasurer; Tod Beckett, Dublin, immediate past president; and AVMA delegate and alternate delegate—Drs. Robert Knapp, Dublin, and Linda Lord, Worthington

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Dr. Rustin Moore

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 252, 9; 10.2460/javma.252.9.1036

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Dr. Liesa Stone

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 252, 9; 10.2460/javma.252.9.1036

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Dr. Ellen Yoakam

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 252, 9; 10.2460/javma.252.9.1036

The AVMA Animal Health Studies Database connects researchers seeking animals to participate in clinical studies with veterinarians and animal owners exploring options for treatment. The website encompasses all fields of veterinary medicine and all species of animals. Go to www.avma.org/FindVetStudies to access the database.

Obituaries AVMA member AVMA honor roll member Nonmember

Thomas E. Allen

Dr. Allen (Missouri ‘73), 70, Patterson, Missouri, died Oct. 23, 2017. An equine veterinarian, he owned Allen Equine Dentistry in Patterson for the past several years, serving clients in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Missouri. Dr. Allen began his career as a partner in a mixed animal practice in Erie, Pennsylvania, working primarily at Thoroughbred racetracks. He later practiced equine medicine in California and mixed animal medicine in Desoto, Missouri, before establishing his practice in Patterson.

Dr. Allen authored the book “Manual of Equine Dentistry.” His wife, Dawn; a daughter and two sons; three grandchildren; and two brothers and two sisters survive him. One brother, Dr. Lance L. Allen (Missouri ‘77), is a veterinarian in Stilwell, Kansas, working in equine specialty insurance.

Robert E. Becker

Dr. Becker (Michigan State ‘55), 86, Crosslake, Minnesota, died Dec. 15, 2017. He practiced mixed animal medicine in Indiana and Minnesota for more than 40 years. Dr. Becker was also a beef cattle rancher. He was active with the Minnesota Cattlemen's Association, Crow Wing County Soil & Water Conservation District, Rotary Club, Lions Club, and Masonic Lodge.

Dr. Becker's wife, Jacqueline; two sons and two daughters; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to Crow Wing County Soil & Water Conservation District, 322 Laurel St., Suite 22, Brainerd, MN 54601.

James E. Brehm

Dr. Brehm (Ohio State ‘57), 85, Travelers Rest, South Carolina, died Feb. 2, 2018. He owned a small animal practice in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, prior to retirement in 2001. Early in his career, Dr. Brehm served in the Air Force, attaining the rank of captain. His wife, Suzanne; a son and a daughter; and two grandchildren survive him.

Barry Clay Cockrill

Dr. Cockrill (Texas A&M ‘95), 62, Pine Grove, California, died Dec. 23, 2017. He was the founder of Pine Grove Veterinary Clinic, where he practiced small animal medicine until his death. Dr. Cockrill also provided his services to Tri County Wildlife Care and the Performing Animal Welfare Society. He was a member of the Delta VMA. Dr. Cockrill is survived by his wife, Sophie; two sons, a stepson, and a stepdaughter; and a grandchild.

Memorials may be made to The Nature Conservancy, 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203; Foothill Conservancy, 35 Court St., Suite 1, Jackson, CA 95642; or The Jane Goodall Institute, 1595 Spring Hill Road, Suite 550, Vienna, VA 22182.

William W. Crandall

Dr. Crandall (Cornell ‘60), 89, Hallettsville, Texas, died Oct. 17, 2017. He owned a mixed animal practice in Hallettsville from 1963 until retirement in 1992. Earlier, Dr. Crandall worked in Brenham, Texas. He was a member of the Texas VMA.

Dr. Crandall served in the Army during the Korean War. His wife, Rubie, survives him.

Sidney A. Ewing

Dr. Ewing (Georgia ‘58), 83, Stillwater, Oklahoma, died Jan. 3, 2018. He had been the Wendell H. and Nellie G. Krull professor emeritus of veterinary parasitology at the Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences since 2003.

Following graduation and after earning a master's in parasitology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1960, Dr. Ewing joined the veterinary college at Oklahoma State as an instructor. In 1964, he obtained a doctorate in veterinary parasitology from the university and subsequently served on the veterinary faculties of Kansas State and Mississippi State universities.

Dr. Ewing returned to Oklahoma State in 1968 as head of what was known as the Veterinary Parasitology and Public Health Department. In 1972, he was named dean of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Ewing rejoined Oklahoma State in 1979. During his over 30-year tenure at Oklahoma State, he also served as interim associate dean for academic affairs.

Known for his research on parasites transmitted from ticks to dogs, Dr. Ewing identified the plant parasite Tylenchorhynchus ewingii and the organism Ehrlichia ewingii, both bearing his name. He was a past president of the Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases, Southwestern Association of Parasitologists, and American Veterinary Medical History Society, and was a past chair of several committees of the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists and Oklahoma VMA. Dr. Ewing served on the former Council of Deans of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges; was a member of the Society for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Helminthological Society of Washington, Society for Vector Ecology, and American Society for Rickettsiology; and was an honorary member of the Minnesota VMA. He co-authored the book “Wendell Krull: Trematodes & Naturalists.”

Dr. Ewing was Oklahoma Veterinarian of the Year and recipient of the first Oklahoma State University Eminent Faculty Award in 1997. He was elected to the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame in 2000 and was named AAVP Distinguished Veterinary Parasitologist in 2002. In 2008, the CRWAD annual meeting was dedicated to Dr. Ewing.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret; three daughters; a grandchild; and his two brothers and sister. Memorials may be made to the Krull-Ewing Endowed Chair in Veterinary Parasitology, Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Stillwater, OK 74078; Sidney A. Ewing Graduate Scholarship Fund, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA 30602; or The Botanic Garden at Oklahoma State University, with checks payable to the OSU Foundation and mailed to Friends of The Botanic Garden, 358 Ag Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078-6027.

Ange H. Palms

Dr. Palms (Texas A&M ‘45), 97, Denison, Texas, died Dec. 31, 2017. He was the founder of Preston Center Pet Clinic in Dallas. Following graduation, Dr. Palms served in the Army. He then cared for the horses and cattle at King Ranch in Kingsville, Texas, and provided his services to remote farms and ranches in the state before establishing his practice in Dallas.

Dr. Palms is survived by his wife, Margaret; three daughters and two sons; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.

Bennett J. Porter Jr.

Dr. Porter (Minnesota ‘61), 86, Minneapolis, died Dec. 14, 2017. In 1971, he founded Westgate Pet Clinic in Minneapolis, where he practiced small animal medicine until retirement in 1995. Following graduation, Dr. Porter joined his brother, Dr. Thayer Porter (Minnesota ‘59), and his father, Dr. Bennett Porter Sr. (Iowa State ‘31), in practice at Park Pet Hospital in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. He served in the Army during the Korean War, attaining the rank of 1st lieutenant, and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Dr. Porter is survived by two sons, two daughters, eight grandchildren, and a great-grandchild. One son, Dr. Bennett J. Porter III (Minnesota ‘82), is a veterinarian in Edina, Minnesota.

Memorials may be made to Presbyterian Homes-Folkestone Employee Education Fund, 100 Promenade Ave., Wayzata, MN 55391.

Lee H. Schechter

Dr. Schechter (Cornell ‘75), 68, Rexford, New York, died Dec. 17, 2017. He owned an equine practice in upstate New York for 30 years. Dr. Schechter also participated in educational programs in conjunction with the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County and assisted local humane societies with injured animals and rehabilitation.

He is survived by his wife, Cynthia; a son; and a grandchild. Memorials may be made to The Community Hospice, 310 South Manning Blvd., Albany, NY 12208.

Stephen Schwirck

Dr. Schwirck (Cornell ‘56), 85, Skillman, New Jersey, died Oct. 19, 2017. He founded Hillsborough Veterinary Hospital in Hillsborough, New Jersey, where he practiced small animal medicine. Dr. Schwirck later worked at Harlingen Veterinary Clinic in Belle Mead, New Jersey, until retirement. He served in the Army from 1956–1958, attaining the rank of 1st lieutenant. Dr. Schwirck is survived by his wife, Carol; two daughters, two sons, and a stepdaughter; and 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. His son, Dr. Charles Schwirck (Cornell ‘83), is a small animal veterinarian in Hillsborough.

William C. Wilcox

Dr. Wilcox (Colorado State ‘84), 59, Denver, died Dec. 18, 2017. A small and exotic animal veterinarian, he owned Stockton Pet Hospital in Lakewood, Colorado. Dr. Wilcox was a member of the Colorado VMA and active with what was known as the Denver Area Veterinary Medical Society, now Chapter 6 of the CVMA. He is survived by his wife, Verla; three sons and two daughters; nine grandchildren; his parents; and five sisters and four brothers.

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