JAVMA News

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.253.5.516
Volume/Issue:
Volume 253: Issue 5
Online Publication Date:
01 Sep 2018
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Street medicine reaching pets of the homeless

Pop-up clinics serve the impoverished with basic veterinary care

By Susan C. Kahler

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Dr. Cathlin Craver puts a flea-and-tick collar on a dog at the AVMA Street Clinic in Denver as part of his visit. Dr. Craver plans to start a street dog team in Grand Junction, Colorado, where she is a shelter veterinarian and works with the national nonprofit Target Zero, which mentors shelters on best practices. (Photo by R. Scott Nolen)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

Pets of the homeless and near homeless were the center of attention July 15 at AVMA Convention 2018 in Denver. These cherished companions received free medical care from veterinary volunteers outside the Colorado Convention Center.

The first AVMA Street Clinic was part of the new AVMA Cares program designed to give back to the local community (see sidebar, page 520). It was a partnership with The Street Dog Coalition, which launched the first street clinic in 2015 for pets of the indigent in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Street clinics, or pop-up clinics, offer services such as basic examinations, rabies and core vaccinations, parasite control, microchipping when requested, and treatment of minor skin, eye, and ear problems. Medication is dispensed when needed. The veterinary care relies heavily on clinical skills and resourcefulness rather than technology. Diagnostic tests range from simple blood tests to free-catch urine dipsticks to running an ECG on an iPhone.

The past few years have seen an expansion of the coalition's street clinics as well as the wellness clinics and emergency services provided by the national organization Pets of the Homeless.

With the AVMA clinic's successful debut in Denver, the Association plans to reprise the clinic at AVMA Convention 2019 in Washington, D.C.

AVMA Street Clinic

Dr. Jon Geller, Street Dog Coalition founder, was on-site to oversee the AVMA Street Clinic. Two days earlier, at his convention session on street medicine, Dr. Geller had posed the question: Homeless pets and pets of the homeless—what is the difference? He said, “Home isn't necessarily a place. It's being with a loving person or family.”

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At the AVMA Street Clinic in Denver, 2017–18 AVMA President Michael Topper talks with Joel Hillan of CBS4 Denver about AVMA Convention 2018 and the AVMA partnering for the first time on a street clinic. “Pets need care no matter who their owners are and what their resources,” he said. Fox31 Denver and The Denver Post also reported on the clinic. (Photo by Cheryl Atkins)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

Having a pet makes the lives of homeless people even harder in many ways. It keeps them from riding a bus, living in most homeless shelters, or going to a job interview or doctor's office. “You have to admire them for (facing extra hardships) and realize that reflects the strength of their bond with the pets. The pet gives them a reason to get up. It's their protector on the streets,” he said.

Two teams of 12 volunteers each, working together for the first time, helped a steady stream of 60 owners with 75 pets—12 of them cats—from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The volunteers included Colorado-licensed as well as out-of-state veterinarians, veterinary technicians, practice managers, and veterinary students.

The AVMA clinic began on a sad note, with a gravely ill 14-year-old Chihuahua dying of end-stage pulmonary disease within five minutes of arrival. Even then, Dr. Geller and others were able to lend emotional support, and the owners were given transportation to a cremation facility, with the cost of cremation paid.

A mother had her family's 7-year-old Dachshund, Tinker Bell, in tow, and she and her two daughters each cradled one of Tinker Bell's 7-week-old pups—Angel, Gizmo, and Liebchen. “It means everything to get their shots and have them checked so we know that they're OK,” said the mother, who was concerned about weakness in Angel's back legs.

The Dumb Friends League provided free spay-neuter vouchers to distribute that day. Vouchers for more involved care were given for local veterinarians who donate the care or reduce their fees. The cost difference is often made up by the Ladybug Fund, Dr. Geller's nonprofit, and other organizations. He said in his convention session that the American Veterinary Medical Foundation “is doing a great job” with its Veterinary Care Charitable Fund, which accepts donations from an enrolled clinic's clients and disburses payments directly to the clinic for charitable care, with donations being tax-deductible.

Dr. Geller worked with local advocates for the homeless to get the word out about the AVMA Street Clinic, including Jennifer Bettridge of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. She informed many recently homeless pet owners who had moved into entry-level housing subsidized by the program. Bettridge and her husband, veterinary orthopedic surgeon Dr. Chad Devitt, ended up volunteering at the clinic as well.

The presence of CBS and Fox news affiliates as well as The Denver Post may have helped create more awareness among those needing services as well as the public about future clinics. The coalition holds monthly pop-up clinics in cities throughout Colorado.

It was the first time Dr. Deborah Patterson of Brooklyn Veterinary Clinic in Castle Rock, Colorado, volunteered at a street clinic. She said, “I am a general practitioner, and this is my daily work, but there was something more rewarding about that day, knowing that I was helping people that would do anything for their loved companion, even if it meant going without for themselves.”

The convention keynote speaker, Shiza Shahid, inspired Dr. Patterson to find a meaningful way to give back to her community, and she intends to continue working with the homeless. She said, “The street clinic was a perfect first step in that new goal. There is a great need for veterinary services in our homeless population.”

One man she met that day had come to Colorado for family and soon became homeless. “He was extremely depressed and at the lowest point in his life,” she said. “One day, a woman asked if he could take her dog since she was not allowed to have him where she lived. From that day forward, he had something very important to live for. … The human-animal bond is amazing, to lift a man from the lowest point of his life to feeling needed by a loved companion.”

Dr. Ken Brunson, an associate veterinarian at Tipp City Veterinary Hospital in the Dayton, Ohio, area, heard of the clinics and coalition through an AVMA Convention email and volunteered.

His role was walking patients and their owners through the stations. Dr. Brunson was paired with a Colorado-licensed veterinarian, and they started with a history and full physical examination and discussion of any concerns. The two then moved onto vaccines, heartworm testing for dogs, parasite preventives, and any diagnostic testing, though none was needed.

Dr. Brunson's first case made a special impression on him. Pet owner Octavia had recently adopted Cash, a year-old male Siberian Husky mix, and thought she had made a big mistake. But she talked about how much support Cash provided her and how he has helped her through some dark moments. “Volunteering really reinforced the power of the human-animal bond,” Dr. Brunson said. “We were set to work in two shifts, but I ended up staying over because I enjoyed working with the families. I'm actually discussing with Dr. Geller setting up a clinic in my area.”

Gaining steam

Dr. Geller said the AVMA Street Clinic triggered interest among participants in starting a Street Dog team in their own cities. He expects three to four new teams as a direct result of the AVMA event.

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Shara Cohen, a licensed veterinary technician from Aldie Veterinary Hospital in South Riding, Virginia, auscultates one of the AVMA Street Clinic's 12 feline patients. (Photo by R. Scott Nolen)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

Dr. Geller said discussions are also underway with Colorado State University veterinary students to run a free screening clinic for homeless pet owners going into housing. They would provide it at the same facility where mental health checks and medical and dental services are given. “This will give the students a chance to be in on the startup and operations as well as the medical care aspects,” he said.

Since 2015, street clinics have spread to the cities of Ashland, Kentucky; Boston; Chicago; Ithaca, New York; Kansas City, Kansas; Las Vegas; Nashville, Tennessee; Omaha, Nebraska; the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina; and Sarasota, Florida.

The greater Las Vegas area has the eighth largest homeless population among major U.S. cities, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development's 2017 annual Point in Time survey conducted one night in January 2017.

The Street Dog Coalition joined with The Animal Foundation of Las Vegas last November to provide vaccinations and medical care in Las Vegas during Project Homeless Connect, a broad outreach of services for the homeless held in various cities. “Close to 5,000 people attended the multiservice event, and well over 100 pets of the homeless received veterinary care,” Dr. Geller said.

AVMA Cares about community
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Convention volunteers assemble hygiene kits to distribute to homeless pet owners during the AVMA Street Clinic held July 15 outside the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. (Photo by Malinda Larkin)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

Attendees at AVMA Convention 2018 helped the Association give back to the Denver community by participating in the inaugural AVMA Cares program. The major project was the first AVMA Street Clinic (see page 516).

Hygiene kits assembled July 13 by convention volunteers were made available at the street clinic through AVMA Cares, with support from Purina, Blue Buffalo, Visit Denver, PSAV, MCI Group, and Sheraton Denver Downtown. Enthusiasm for the project was evident when all 300 bags were assembled in just 45 minutes by more than a hundred convention-goers who stopped to help.

Donated backpacks and pet food were provided at the clinic. The remainder of the hygiene kits were donated to Give Denver, a program of Denver Human Services.

Exhibitors were invited for the second year to donate leftover supplies for The Street Dog Coalition to deliver to local homeless pet owners.

A few other aspects of AVMA Cares were allocating a portion of all food purchases at the AVMA Concert to support the American Veterinary Medical Foundation as well as convention attendees donating 492 pounds of convention bags to schoolchildren in Ghana, Africa.

AVMA Cares will continue at AVMA Convention 2019 in Washington, D.C. Those interested in participating or donating are invited to contact Colette Apke at exhibits@avma.org.

Last October, Drs. Tad Coles of Overland Park, Kansas, and Larry Kovac of Kansas City, Missouri, piggybacked a veterinary street clinic onto Project Homeless Connect KC for the homeless and near homeless in the Kansas City area.

An ally in Pets of the Homeless

Nevada-based Pets of the Homeless celebrated its 10th anniversary in July. Its mission: to feed and provide basic veterinary care to pets of homeless people in the U.S. and Canada.

POTH partners with veterinarians to provide free wellness clinics in their communities at locations that serve the homeless. Through June, 299 pets had been helped this year. Veterinarians and veterinary technicians donate their time, and POTH underwrites the cost of medical supplies. The clinics offer examinations, vaccinations, minor treatment and medications, nail trimming, and ear cleaning. Vouchers are handed out for spaying or neutering.

These events usually have three or four veterinarians set up in a conference room, each bringing their own veterinary technician. The most recent one, in Carson City, Nevada, saw more than 90 pets in four hours.

Pets requiring extensive treatment are referred to the emergency care program, and a clinic in the POTH network is called. A 25 percent discount is asked of those clinics. Besides emergency cases referred from the wellness clinics, an average of 26 emergency cases are called in each week from around the country.

Founder Genevieve Frederick said, “(Over 10 years) we have treated over 18,000 pets through emergency care or wellness clinics we've sponsored. Since 2015, we've spent almost $800,000 on veterinary care at individual veterinary hospitals, and they've been so generous with their discounts to us. Last year, they discounted over $44,000 in veterinary fees.”

About 70 percent of the calls end up as emergency cases, amounting to 572 cases this year through June. The other 30 percent of people can't afford veterinary care and are referred to another organization for help.

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Romeo is one of many beneficiaries of emergency care from Pets of the Homeless. The 10-year-old Dachshund mix was living with his owner, a certified homeless veteran, in a tent in a forest near Mobile, Alabama. The owner called POTH after Romeo was having trouble eating and a large lump near his eye ruptured. Periodontal disease and a tooth root abscess were diagnosed. The dog's teeth were extracted, and a thankful owner was reunited with his companion. (Courtesy of Pets of the Homeless)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

POTH data indicate more than 65 percent of the pets in emergency cases were owned by homeless women, the owners had been homeless a mean of two years, and only 17 percent had transportation. Dogs account for 88 percent of animals treated, and cats for 11 percent.

One woman's bequest allowed POTH to expand its Carson City headquarters staff to six and reach communities with a high concentration of homeless people in Washington, D.C.; Seattle; Reno, Nevada; Los Angeles; and San Diego.

Current donation sites exceed 430. “Our donation sites have collected over 577 tons of pet food,” Frederick said. On the distribution side, the 480 locations are in food banks, soup kitchens, and pet food pantries in nearly every state.

Nationally, POTH has more than 900 volunteers recruiting donation sites, transporting food from the donation sites to distribution sites, fund-raising, and running pet food drives.

Frederick hopes more veterinarians will partner with POTH on wellness clinics in their areas. “We'll sponsor veterinarians who do wellness clinics, give them seed money, and give them a planning guide to let the community know. They should have it when and where the homeless congregate, such as a food bank or soup kitchen. All it takes is a couple folding tables, and you're in business,” she said.

Veterinarians are encouraged to contact their medical distributors for free vaccines, but short of that, POTH will reimburse them for any hard costs. The organization also urges them to approach their city for free dog licenses if the volunteers tag the dogs. Indigent owners who want to spay or neuter their pet can work with a low-cost clinic, Frederick suggested. “There are all kinds of opportunities for people who want to volunteer with us,” she said.

AVMA Convention had plenty to offer, from beginning to end

More than 9,100 flocked to Denver, including over 4,900 veterinarians

By Malinda Larkin

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AVMA Convention 2018 had plenty to offer attendees, both in the way of education and entertainment. A brass band (pictured) opened the keynote speech by Shiza Shahid. (Photos by R. Scott Nolen)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

AVMA Convention 2018 had plenty new to offer this year, between a diversity and inclusion jam session; demonstrations on telehealth, augmented and virtual reality, and 3D printing; and even a street clinic for low-income and homeless pet owners (see page 516).

The annual meeting exceeded expectations with a total of 9,154 attendees. That figure includes the most veterinarians in attendance ever, with over 4,900 veterinarians.

The convention took place July 13–17 in scenic Denver. Dr. Christine O'Rourke, chair of the AVMA Convention Management and Program Committee, said she hopes the educational program contributed to the turnout as well.

“One thing the committee tried to do this year is ensure that the continuing education sessions had enough breadth and depth. We wanted to make sure the CE was at the level that people needed and wanted,” she said. “We also tried to coordinate between programs, such as between companion animal and corporate and public practice, so as to not have much overlap. We still had some similar topics scheduled at the same time because it's hard to avoid, but we really decreased that and could bring the program together better.”

The convention offered over 1,000 CE sessions, with some of the most-attended sessions focused on dermatology, cardiology, and anesthesia.

Another change this year by the committee was to shift the schedule so that the first day would have sessions all day rather than half a day. Attendees responded and filled registration and CE sessions that day, which will mean further refinement for next year's convention, taking place Aug. 2–6, 2019, in Washington, D.C. The plan is to expand registration to the Thursday of convention and earlier that Friday. Convention organizers are also looking to prevent overflow sessions.

“We're thinking of new ideas for next year that might be able to solve that problem, possibly through streaming lectures so people can watch on their devices,” Dr. O'Rourke said.

The convention this year debuted the use of livestreaming with two convention events that AVMA members could watch for free and earn CE credit. These were the keynote address, “When Passion Meets Empowerment,” given by entrepreneur, investor, and women's rights advocate Shiza Shahid (see page 525), and the panel discussion “Perspectives on Access to Veterinary Care.” Both were available for a limited time after convention on the AVMA website.

Social hour

The keynote by Shahid helped to kick off the convention and to get the attendees engaged, said Michael Wilson, director of the AVMA Convention and Meeting Planning Division.

Other events happening at convention saw just as much enthusiasm from convention-goers as the CE sessions and keynote. These included new events such as goat yoga, which drew a capacity 25 participants who rose early to mingle with the small ruminants; a closing party for the exhibit hall; and a happy hour on the last night of the convention.

The Meet the Experts roundtable and the poster sessions had good feedback from attendees, who said they appreciated the chance to interact with speakers and researchers one on one, Dr. O'Rourke said.

The AVMA concert by rock band O.A.R. drew a crowd despite the rain thanks to a last-minute expansion into the covered Galleria area near Sculpture Park.

And the inaugural Live Life, Love All event saw a great turnout. Wilson said he had hoped to get 150 people to come and be a part of the diversity and inclusion jam session.

He said: “The event exceeded my expectations. We had a packed house with great performances from the Barkin’ Kats,” spearheaded by Deborah Stone, PhD, of Stone Veterinary Practice Management as well as members of the AVMA Board of Directors, which included now-President John de Jong along with Drs. José Arce, George Bishop, and Arnold Goldman. At the end, the crowd participated in a modified version of the song “YMCA,” called “AVMA.”

“It really brought people together through music,” Wilson said, adding: “The energy in Denver was exciting. We wanted to increase the social aspects of convention to give people something to do after a long day of continuing education.”

On display

When convention-goers weren't at sessions or events, they also packed the exhibit hall.

“We did change the schedule this year for people not only to attend more CE, but also to have more unopposed time to visit vendors. I think people appreciated that, both attendees and vendors,” Dr. O'Rourke said.

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This year's AVMA Vet Clinic Live focused on innovative technology and tools for practices. Vet Clinic Live allows vendors in the exhibit hall to demonstrate their products and services in a clinic setting.

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

More than 330 booths showcased their wares and other offerings. Five awards were handed out to the best booths. They are as follows:

  • • Best of Show, island: Henry Schein Animal Health.

  • • Best of Show, linear booth, 200 square feet or greater: Royal Canin.

  • • Best of Show, linear booth, 100 square feet: Nationwide Pet Insurance.

  • • Most Innovative Startup or Technology Company: Vet2Pet (http://vet2pet.com).

  • • Our Passion, Our Profession: Hill's Pet Nutrition.

The last two awards were voted on by convention attendees via the convention mobile app.

This year's theme for the AVMA's Vet Clinic Live was “The Connected Veterinary Experience,” with a focus on innovative technology and tools for practices. Vet Clinic Live allows vendors in the exhibit hall to demonstrate their products and services in a clinic setting,

The area “The Connected Care Journey” allowed startup and technology vendors to showcase their wares for providing teleadvice, wearable and home-connected technologies such as smart collars and video monitoring systems, personalized diagnostic tests, and voice-enabled services.

Another area in the exhibit hall delved into “The Digitized Practice,” with demonstrations of products related to digital radiography, augmented and virtual reality, and 3D printing.

Dr. O'Rourke said what she heard from people overall was they really enjoyed the meeting—even people who had attended a number of AVMA conventions.

“At convention, (veterinarians) like to get our CE and learn things and bring that back to our clinics and use it, but we also like to have fun,” Dr. O'Rourke said. “We added some fun this year, and people appreciated that. I think we gave people more options this year from beginning to end.”

Keynote speaker Shahid talks about advocating for yourself

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Shiza Shahid encouraged audience members at her keynote speech to allow themselves to push outside their comfort zones. (Photo by R. Scott Nolen)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

Well-behaved women seldom make history, Shiza Shahid reminded the audience during her keynote address at AVMA Convention 2018, held July 13–17 in Denver.

The entrepreneur, investor, and women's rights advocate gave the talk “When Passion Meets Empowerment,” which was sponsored by Hill's Pet Nutrition.

Shahid grew up in Pakistan—a country that consistently ranks in the World Economic Forum's top five worst countries for women. But she had parents who allowed her independence and a good education, which she says is uncommon for most girls in that country. While volunteering as a teenager, “I saw a very conservative, traditional view of what it means to be a woman—some of the most tribal parts of Pakistan where the very existence as a woman was a source of shame. It gave me a better understanding of the nuances and complexities of the world. How difficult it is to categorize a culture in simple terms. To effect change,” Shahid told JAVMA News.

Today, she has become a mover and shaker in venture capital and the nonprofit world. She is particularly passionate about leveraging philanthropy, venture capital, technology, and the media to drive scalable social impact.

Her life has taken many turns over the past decade or so. In 2007, Shahid received a full scholarship to Stanford University. During the summer after her sophomore year, she organized a camp for girls in Pakistan's Swat Valley after the Taliban barred them from going to school. One of those attending was 12-year-old Malala Yousafzai.

When Malala was shot in 2012, Shahid traveled to Pakistan to be by her side. “I thought there was an opportunity to help her and her family share her story. I gave them the best advice I could come up with on what I thought she should do,” Shahid said. “They trusted me with all their hearts. Even though I was 22, I was perhaps the only person who understood their culture.”

She had been building a career as a consultant at McKinsey & Co. in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, but at the family's urging, Shahid quit her job to become founding CEO of the Malala Fund, a New York-based nonprofit that aims to improve girls' access to education.

That took her on a 2 1/2-year journey, during which she worked with Malala to produce two books and a film about Malala's life. Shahid was there when Malala spoke before the United Nations and elsewhere globally, urging leaders to contribute more resources to girls' education. Shahid was also with Malala when Malala received the Nobel Peace Prize at age 17.

After that, Shahid felt compelled to resume pursuing entrepreneurship to effect greater change. So, she launched Now Ventures, a seed fund that invests in mission-driven startups. “For women and people of color, venture capital is not a friendly space at all, which is why I was drawn to it,” she said. “I want to rectify or reclaim the image of entrepreneurs having to be ruthless. They can be people who are kind, have strong values, and want to make the world better.”

For veterinary medicine, she noted the profession has its own issues with regard to a gender wage gap and a lack of racial and ethnic diversity.

She encourages female veterinarians and veterinary technicians to be more entrepreneurial, to have faith in their abilities, and to advocate for themselves.

“This can be made less daunting by cultivating a support network of other women professionals who can help them navigate these challenges and reassure them that they are not alone in these struggles. Often women are held back by the disproportionate responsibility they have in the home and parenting, and we need to shift those cultural norms. And of course, those in positions of power should proactively audit their payroll data to ensure they are paying all people equally for the same work,” she told JAVMA News.

As for those underrepresented in veterinary medicine, she told JAVMA News that it's essential to address the systemic inequalities in the field that make the profession inaccessible to people of color.

“Whether that's bias in schools, lack of mentors, the debt-to-income ratio, or other factors. From an individual standpoint, I would encourage veterinarians to mentor people from underrepresented ethnicities proactively. Cultivating diverse teams is not just the right thing to do; it also leads to better practices and stronger businesses,” Shahid said.

At the end of her keynote speech, she encouraged audience members to allow themselves to push outside their comfort zones.

“It's the only way to grow. The only way to change anything is to get outside of them,” she said.

Meritorious Service Award goes to Hoffsis

Dr. Glen F. Hoffsis, who has served as dean of three veterinary colleges, received the AVMA Meritorious Service Award on July 14 during the keynote presentation at AVMA Convention 2018 in Denver.

The Meritorious Service Award recognizes an AVMA member who has brought honor and distinction to the veterinary profession through personal, professional, or community service activities outside organized veterinary medicine and research.

Dr. Hoffsis (Ohio State ‘66) was founding dean of Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine in Harrogate, Tennessee, which graduated its first class this past May. He currently is special assistant to the president of LMU.

Previously, he was dean of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine from 2005–13 and dean of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine from 1993–2004.

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Dr. Glen F. Hoffsis

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

Dr. Hoffsis Is a past president of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners. He has served on AVMA committees and In numerous roles for local and state VMAs.

With a focus on large animal medicine and surgery, he was a faculty member and clinician at The Ohio State University for many years prior to assuming administrative roles, which began as hospital director. He Is a dlplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and has conducted research, given invited talks, and published approximately 100 scientific articles.

He currently is a member of the board of directors of Live Oak Bank of Wilmington, North Carolina, and a member of the board of trustees of Ross University in St. Kitts, West Indies.

Dedicated practitioner receives AVMA Award

By Katie Burns

Dr. R. Wayne Randolph loves all things veterinary medicine and all things organized veterinary medicine.

On July 14 during the keynote presentation at AVMA Convention 2018 in Denver, the dedicated practitioner of 44 years received the AVMA Award for contributions to the advancement of veterinary medicine in its organizational aspects.

Dr. Mark P. Helfat, a past chair of the AVMA Board of Directors, nominated Dr. Randolph for the award. In his nomination letter, Dr. Helfat wrote: “Over the years, I personally have witnessed Wayne's devotion to our profession in many forms and many ways—but none as pronounced as his ability to mentor, support, tutor, and encourage the younger members throughout veterinary medicine.”

Growing up in small-town New Jersey, Dr. Randolph was always the boy who had all the animals, and he wanted to be a veterinarian for as far back as he can remember. He had a duck, box turtles, and pheasants at various times in addition to the family dog.

He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 1974 and developed an affinity for zoological medicine. He completed an externship at the Bronx Zoo, but after learning there were not many jobs at zoos, he went on to work in companion animal practice.

Dr. Randolph worked at three practices, one in Virginia and two in New Jersey, and he consulted pro bono at a small zoo in New Jersey. He treated wildlife in practice and, times being different, wild animals that people kept as pets.

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Dr. R. Wayne Randolph (Courtesy of Dr. R. Wayne Randolph)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

In 1980, he opened his solo practice, Countryside Veterinary Hospital in Flemington, New Jersey, where he continues to work to this day. He hired an associate veterinarian a couple of times, but he decided he likes operating a single-doctor practice. His wife helps run the practice.

“I'm so lucky. I hope future veterinarians are as fortunate as we've been,” Dr. Randolph said. “I really love what I do. It sounds corny, but it's my hobby and my work at the same time.”

Dr. Randolph also loves to learn. He read a lot as a young veterinarian, but few opportunities for continuing education existed in New Jersey when he graduated from veterinary school in 1974. He went to veterinary conferences, and he got involved.

The Metropolitan New Jersey VMA asked him to be a program chairman, and he served for eight years. That organization held a meeting every month, and he later became its president. Then he got involved with the New Jersey VMA, for which he has been continuing education chair for the past 17 years, along with serving as president.

Dr. Randolph passed the first examination of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners to become a diplomate in 1981. Dr. Robert Kirk of “Kirk's Current Veterinary Therapy” asked Dr. Randolph to become the first regent in Canine and Feline Practice. Dr. Randolph spent countless Sundays meeting with others at the Animal Medical Center in New York City to help get the ABVP on its feet.

Countryside Veterinary Hospital earned accreditation from the American Animal Hospital Association in 1983, and Dr. Randolph also has participated in planning continuing education with AAHA.

He always has enjoyed organized veterinary medicine. Dr. Randolph said, “It was just so much fun to work with other veterinarians to see where we were going.”

When he talks with young veterinarians, he recommends they get involved. He said, “You meet all kinds of neat people, you learn all different sorts of things, and you give back.”

In 2001, he became a distinguished practitioner and fellow of the National Academies of Practice.

Through the years, Dr. Randolph has had various other adventures, particularly relating to his love of the outdoors and animals. He was a sled dog veterinarian for two races in Minnesota and the Iditarod in Alaska. He vividly recalls a near encounter during a fishing trip in Alaska when a large male grizzly bear tussled with a female who had two cubs.

Back at home, Dr. Randolph and his wife think they'll run the practice for another five years. He'd like to sell to a younger veterinarian and work for him or her. He still loves what he does and can't imagine not doing it. He concluded, “The profession has given me so much.”

Delegates send Howe and Bransford to high office

Story and photos by R. Scott Nolen

The AVMA House of Delegates elected Drs. John Howe of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and Grace Bransford of San Anselmo, California, as AVMA president-elect and vice president, respectively, during the regular annual session of the HOD, July 12–13 in Denver.

Dr. Howe ran against former AVMA staffer Dr. Angela Demaree to succeed Dr. John de Jong as president-elect.

In his comments to the HOD, Dr. Howe thanked Dr. Demaree for “a well-run campaign,” adding, “She really kept me on my toes.”

Dr. Howe completed his term as District VII representative on the AVMA Board of Directors this past July. He is a 1977 graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, former owner of a multidoctor mixed animal practice, and an aquatic veterinarian certified by the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association.

“A person does not get to this position by themselves. I've had a lot of people encourage me along the way,” Dr. Howe told delegates, and he specifically thanked Dr. Clark Fobian, former AVMA president, for convincing him to run for the AVMA Board.

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Dr. John Howe

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

“That's why I think it's very important that we encourage people to become active in state and national organized VMA,” he continued. “We have a lot of hidden leaders in this room, and all it takes is encouragement from us to bring out that hidden leadership and talent and the great things that they have to offer.”

The only candidate for AVMA vice president, Dr. Bransford was elected by unanimous consent. As vice president, she will serve a two-year term as the Association's official liaison to the Student AVMA and its chapters. In addition, she is a voting member on the AVMA Board.

“Thank you for giving me this very special opportunity to serve the profession—and what better way than to serve the future of our profession, our students,” she said to the HOD. “I'm so excited to work for them and help them however I can.”

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Dr. Grace Bransford

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

Veterinary medicine is a second career for Dr. Bransford; she previously worked in advertising and now owns a small animal practice. A 1998 graduate of the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, she has served on several AVMA entities, such as the 20/20 Vision Commission, the Task Force on Governance and Member Participation, and the Council on Veterinary Service.

AVMA president works to raise veterinarians' profile

de Jong wants ‘AVMA’ to be a household name

Story and photos by R. Scott Nolen

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Dr. John de Jong speaks to the AVMA House of Delegates about his plans as the Association's 2018–19 president.

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

As the “worldwide standard of excellence in veterinary medicine,” the AVMA should be a household name, as well known as the American Medical Association or American Dental Association, said Dr. John de Jong, who plans to use his platform as AVMA president over the next year to make his vision a reality.

Dr. de Jong was installed as 2018–19 AVMA president July 17, the final day of AVMA Convention 2018 in Denver. Four days earlier, the small animal practitioner from Newton, Massachusetts, laid out his presidential agenda in a speech during the regular annual session of the AVMA House of Delegates, also in Denver.

“It is my desire to work with our dedicated and talented AVMA staff to optimize our visibility using every means possible—print media, social media, radio, and television. I will harness my energy and enthusiasm and love of veterinary medicine to do so,” said Dr. de Jong, who writes a weekly column for the Boston Herald called “Ask the Vet” and has participated in local talk radio for many years.

He challenged all veterinarians to join him in his efforts. “We can all advocate for our profession more than we historically have, with enormous pride, while still being true to our core principles and our oath,” he said.

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Dr. John de Jong

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

A 1985 graduate of the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, Dr. de Jong is the founder and former chief surgeon of the reduced-cost spay-neuter clinic at Merwin Memorial Clinic in Allston, Massachusetts. He previously was a member of the AVMA HOD. Dr. de Jong subsequently was elected to the AVMA Board of Directors in 2010, serving as Board chair in 2015–16. The HOD elected him AVMA president-elect last year in Indianapolis.

Dr. de Jong recounted for the HOD his activities since his election in 2017. In addition to attending several state, regional, and national veterinary gatherings, Dr. de Jong met with leaders of the Mexican, Canadian, and Australian veterinary associations and also with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. He also attended the Student AVMA conference, the annual AVMA Economic Summit, and meetings of the AVMA Board and AVMA House Advisory Committee.

As AVMA president, Dr. de Jong will focus on member-identified priorities, such as advocacy, education, and economics. Of these, advocacy is where Dr. de Jong believes he can be most effective.

“I want to advocate on behalf of veterinary medicine to the public, not just our federal and state governments,” Dr. de Jong said. “I want the public to know who we are, to have a greater understanding and appreciation of the breadth of our profession in areas such as food animal production, public health, animal welfare, epidemiology, research, companion animal practice, and so much more, so that veterinarians might achieve greater economic growth and security.”

Dr. de Jong said the current and future financial picture for animal care in the United States is “outstanding,” yet veterinarians are not reaping the benefits they rightfully deserve. “It is time to collectively speak up, to take action, and reclaim what we deserve. It is time for veterinarians to earn better incomes and not always lag behind the rest of the health care professions in this regard,” he said.

“We in veterinary medicine need to stay united to be strong,” he concluded. “We need to be advocates for one another and for our profession.”

AVMA wants expanded FMD vaccine bank

By Greg Cima

The U.S. lacks a national vaccine supply sufficient for a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, according to AVMA leaders.

In July, the AVMA House of Delegates enacted a policy that says the Department of Agriculture should expand the national FMD antigen bank into one that could be used to create vaccine during an outbreak.

The policy calls for cooperation by the AVMA, USDA, state agencies, and veterinarians to ensure FMD vaccines would be delivered during an outbreak. It also says they should collaborate to research new vaccines, maintain laboratories, improve tests for the disease, plan for outbreaks, and give the public accurate information during an emergency.

The AVMA further recommends that federal officials use caution in approving importation of meat and other animal products from FMD-endemic regions.

The AVMA Board of Directors recommended that the delegates enact the new policy, citing action last year by the U.S. Animal Health Association.

In October 2017, leaders of the USAHA passed a similar resolution in favor of a larger federal FMD vaccine bank. They called for $150 million yearly for the vaccine bank, $30 million yearly for the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, and $70 million yearly in grants to states for animal disease emergency preparation.

Cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and deer are among the animals sickened by the FMD virus. The disease causes fever and blisters in and near the mouth, on mammary glands, and around hooves. Other signs include weakness, anorexia, and lameness.

A May 2018 report from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on FMD and vaccine use states that vaccination is one of the most powerful tools in fighting an FMD outbreak.

During an outbreak, the USDA would control vaccine produced by approved companies. The U.S., Canada, and Mexico maintain the North American Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Bank, which contains inactivated vaccine stock that can be used to create finished vaccines by manufacturers.

“However, the current quantities in the bank are only sufficient to address small outbreaks,” the APHIS report states. “If countries use all the doses from the bank, they would need to rely on vaccine manufacturers to provide a continuous supply to conduct a vaccination campaign. It takes at least 14 weeks for newly manufactured vaccine to be available.”

Brown, Kratt set sights on AVMA presidency

Story and photos by R. Scott Nolen

Two members of AVMA leadership launched their campaigns for 2019–20 AVMA president-elect during the Candidates' Introductory Breakfast, held July 13 in conjunction with the regular annual session of the AVMA House of Delegates in Denver.

Dr. Gary Brown of Sun Valley, West Virginia, is the District V representative on the AVMA Board of Directors and 2018–19 chair of the Board. Dr. Douglas Kratt of La Crosse, Wisconsin, is his state's delegate in the HOD and just completed a term as chair of the House Advisory Committee.

Speaking first, Dr. Brown highlighted the three pillars of his campaign: advocacy, education, and communication. Veterinarians are duty-bound to advocate on behalf of their profession, to legislators and the public alike, Dr. Brown said.

“We should advocate for the veterinarian. No matter what ways a veterinarian contributes to our profession, our industry, or our practice, support is paramount. The public we serve and protect every day needs to value the veterinarian,” he said.

Dr. Brown is a 1984 graduate of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and owner of a small animal practice in Princeton, West Virginia. A former West Virginia VMA president, HOD member, and AVMA vice president, Dr. Brown was elected to the AVMA Board in 2013 as the representative for Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.

He said the importance of financial education and literacy for veterinary students cannot be underestimated, especially because financial stress can diminish a veterinarian's health and well-being.

Dr. Brown emphasized the value of ongoing and ever-improving communication among the AVMA Board, HOD, councils, and committees and from the AVMA to members and the public. “While doing the work of the AVMA over the past 16 years, I have seen great relationships formed that endure today,” he said. “Through communication, we can leverage these powerful relationships and friendships to reach all of our common goals.”

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Dr. Gary Brown

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

Next to speak was Dr. Kratt, who used a Lego block as a metaphor for the versatility of the veterinary profession. “There are so many choices on what to do while being a veterinarian,” he said. “What piece do we play? Much like a Lego creation, we are all made up of different parts, which in turn make something great.”

Dr. Kratt is a 1998 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine and a small animal practitioner. In addition to being a former president of the Wisconsin VMA, he was part of the 2012–13 class of AVMA Future Leaders and is active on several AVMA entities, including the Strategic Management Committee and Working Group on Veterinary Engagement.

The challenges confronting the veterinary profession are many and daunting, Dr. Kratt said. “How we handle these challenges is what defines us,” he said.

“We must balance the challenges by exploring opportunities for our profession,” Dr. Kratt continued. “Proactively considering the needs of the veterinarian and the challenges of the future allows us to help our profession grow and continue to excel.

“What is my agenda when I become president? I don't have an agenda. A leader listens to the members and follows the strategic plan of the organization and does not push a personal agenda; they are a steward of the organization. A leader may assist in the big vision of the design, but they also play one of the Lego blocks in that design.”

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Dr. Douglas Kratt

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

AVMA debates over debarking

By Greg Cima

AVMA leaders are debating what to say about dog devocalization.

In a narrow vote in July, members of the AVMA House of Delegates turned down a proposal to express more forceful opposition to vocal cord surgeries to quiet dogs. Association policy currently states that devocalization—or debarking—should be used only as an alternative to euthanasia, after efforts to change a dog's behavior have failed.

During their regular annual session in Denver, the delegates were considering whether to shift focus of the policy away from descriptions of rare conditions in which devocalization is justified and toward the AVMA's opposition to a procedure that may be convenient for an owner but harmful to a dog. The revisions also would have aligned with policies in opposition to cosmetic ear cropping and tail docking in dogs and tooth removal in primates and carnivores without a medical reason.

By less than 1 percent of the vote, the delegates decided to refer the proposal back to the AVMA Board of Directors for reconsideration.

Delegates debated ahead of the vote whether the procedure is harmful, how a policy change could affect decisions by veterinarians and legislators, and whether establishing policies against certain procedures sets a precedent.

Dr. Apryl Steele, alternate delegate for the American Association of Feline Practitioners, said the procedure removes an irritation to humans without aiding the dogs, thus keeping the frustrations that made them bark but taking away their ability to get attention. She further explained after an HOD committee meeting that a dog may develop a persistent bark if it is not socialized, has no enrichment, or lacks exercise.

“Incessant barking is a manifestation of extreme anxiety and frustration, and for us to take away the manifestation of that level of anxiety, we are basically saying ‘As long as we're not aware of it, it's OK for that animal to suffer,'” she said.

Dr. Emily McCobb, chair of the AVMA Animal Welfare Committee, said in the committee meeting that devocalization has a high complication rate—about 25 percent—and, as an anesthesiologist, she has seen devocalizations that resulted in laryngeal webbing, or scarring which can make intubation difficult. The welfare committee supported the proposed policy change.

Scarring from devocalization surgeries also can cause breathing difficulties. In one study (J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2014;50:264–272) that followed outcomes of bilateral ventriculocor-dectomy surgeries, six of 25 dogs had chronic breathing problems and needed revision surgeries. AVMA information cites the study among evidence that devocalization has risks for dogs.

During the meeting, Dr. Walter McCarthy, delegate for New York, said devocalization is used to avoid euthanasia when drugs and behavior modification fail and a client's landlord threatens eviction. He also said it is hard to re-home a dog with a persistent bark.

“I have a real problem with not considering this as a last-ditch effort to save this animal's life,” he said.

Dr. Elizabeth Atkins, alternate delegate for Massachusetts, expressed doubt many such dogs would be euthanized for the lack of ability to find a new home.

“I think that's a rare outcome unless the owner's insisting on it,” she said.

Dr. William Grant, alternate delegate for California, said he performed two devocalization surgeries in the past eight years, with good results. His clients had received court orders to debark their dogs or remove them from their homes. He thinks decisions on the procedure should be between veterinarians and clients.

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Dr. Apryl Steele, alternate delegate for the American Association of Feline Practitioners, said devocalization removes an irritation to humans without aiding the dogs. (Photo by R. Scott Nolen)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

Dr. McCarthy said New York's legislature is considering a ban on devocalization, and AVMA policy can help determine whether such a bill passes. Other delegates said they worried the proposed policy change would set standards that could be used against veterinarians in court or be cited in support of further legislation to restrict veterinary practices.

Dr. Wendy Hauser, delegate for the American Animal Hospital Association, said the proposal before the delegates reflected language in AAHA policy. The organization opposes devocalization as an often-ineffective procedure that deprives dogs of normal behaviors.

AAHA policy calls for its use only as an alternative to relinquishment or euthanasia, with exceptions for airway obstruction or laryngeal paralysis.

Education costs, global roles worry AVMA delegates

By Greg Cima

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(Photo by R. Scott Nolen)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

Veterinary students are bearing more of the cost of their education as state and federal governments have cut higher education funding.

In July, AVMA leaders debated how they could help reduce those costs, as well as help veterinarians and students manage existing debt. They also deliberated over what role the AVMA should have in international veterinary medicine and whether members understand those activities and how they are beneficial.

Members of the AVMA House of Delegates passed recommendations that, pending approval by the AVMA Board of Directors, would have the AVMA study what to do on each topic.

The delegates said in those votes that the Board and AVMA staff should study how to give veterinarians, veterinary students, and veterinary school applicants access to financial advisers. They should find and promote ways veterinarians in private practice can help students manage their educational costs. They should consider developing a low-interest loan program for veterinary students. And they should consider creating tools state VMAs can use to advocate for higher education funding and loan repayment programs.

The delegates also said AVMA staff should make plans to educate AVMA members about the Association's international activities, as well as find out how much members understand and support those activities and priorities. The staff also should learn whether AVMA members want to be personally involved in global AVMA activities. And they should assess models for international AVMA membership.

In deliberations before the votes, delegates had various suggestions how to provide relief from educational debt: Veterinarians need to leave school with the confidence to start working with only a degree and basic medical supplies. They should be frugal for longer. Maybe established veterinarians can create a fund to give students discounted loans.

Delegates also talked about the decline in federal and state government contributions toward education. Some questioned whether students are being asked to not only fund much of their own education but also pay for research and build university endowments.

Dr. Michael Ames, delegate for Arizona, said the AVMA should consider funding a scholarship matching program, as well as asking that universities examine what costs they are asking that students bear.

Dr. Richard Sullivan, delegate for California, said the AVMA should consider encouraging federal legislation that would let employers help pay off student loans, with pre-tax money, as part of an employee's benefit package.

Dr. Amanda Bisol, alternate delegate for Maine, said the AVMA could work with banks to help younger veterinarians buy clinics. Clinic ownership helped her pay off her educational loans. Plus, improving access to clinic ownership could help veterinarians who want to sell their practices. On global activities, Dr. Sandy Willis, delegate for Washington state, said the world recognizes the AVMA as a leader in medicine and animal health. She asked delegates to consider how the Association should prioritize requests for help.

Dr. Michael Topper, 2017–2018 AVMA president, said international partners are asking for help developing programs to educate veterinarians Having competent veterinarians every where is good for everyone, he said.

Dr. Cathy Lund, delegate for Rhode Island, said the AVMA can help other nations with resources similar to those provided to state VMAs. Dr. William Sander, alternate delegate for Washington, D.C., said the AVMA's efforts on trade, disease, and research have reciprocal benefits for American veterinarians.

Others described the resources already available from the AVMA and the potential to be an even stronger voice for improvement in animal care.

Dr. James Brett, delegate for Mississippi, warned that some veterinarians don't understand why the AVMA works with other countries, and the Association needs to improve its education for colleagues on that topic.

HOD calls for health-conscious breeding guidelines for dogs, cats

By Katie Burns

The AVMA House of Delegates has called for the AVMA to collaborate with others on breeding practices and guidelines to minimize inherited disorders in dogs and cats.

The HOD passed the resolution during its regular annual session, held July 12–13 in conjunction with AVMA Convention 2018 in Denver. The resolution calls for the AVMA Board of Directors to consider AVMA collaboration with breed associations and stakeholders such as the American Kennel Club and the Cat Fanciers' Association “to develop recommendations on enhancing health-conscious breeding practices and guidelines with the goal of minimizing inherited disorders in dogs and cats.”

Dr. Rafael Laguens, president of the Federation of Veterinarians in Europe, said in his address to the HOD that the FVE and Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations have just adopted a position paper on breeding healthy dogs. According to the paper, available at https://jav.ma/breedingpaper, “There has been an explosion in the popularity of certain breeds with exaggerated traits, especially of those with extreme brachycephalic conformation.”

Dr. Richard Sullivan, California delegate to the HOD, said in an HOD committee discussion that the California VMA initiated the resolution, which ultimately was submitted by eight state VMAs. He said, “The profession is kind of stuck in the middle. We have humane groups that think we are facilitating what's going on in the purebred breeds, and as veterinarians, our oath says we have to help these animals no matter how we receive them.”

Dr. Jerry Klein, AKC chief veterinary officer, thanked the AVMA for reaching out regarding the topic. He said, “Hopefully, together we can educate breeders and veterinarians to help make recommendations for best breeding practices to enhance the health and well-being of all dogs.”

The original resolution had referred to breed standards. Dr. Klein said, “When members of AKC hear the word ‘standard,’ that can be sometimes words of war. The standard is basically a bible of that breed.”

The HOD committee proposed and the HOD passed an amendment to the original resolution to refer to breeding practices and guidelines rather than breed standards as well as to refer to dogs and cats generally rather than purebred dogs and cats.

Also in the HOD committee meeting, Dr. Kathleen Smiler, Michigan delegate to the HOD, suggested that the AVMA should bring large-scale breeders of purebred dogs into the discussion as stakeholders.

House fills council, HAC seats

In Denver, the House of Delegates filled vacancies on AVMA councils and the House Advisory Committee. The results are as follows.

Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents

Drs. Richard Hill, Ames, Iowa, and Jeffrey Powers, Beaver Island, Michigan, representing members at large; Dr. Michael Strobel, Northfield, Minnesota, representing clinical pharmacology; and Dr. Jessica Light, Sloughhouse, California, representing industry, exclusive

Council on Public Health and Regulatory Veterinary Medicine

Drs. Samuel Fassig, Boise, Idaho, and Dustin Oedekoven, Pierre, South Dakota, representing agricultural agencies

Council on Research

Drs. Ayman Sayegh, Tuskegee, Alabama, and Kathryn Meurs, Raleigh, North Carolina, representing colleges of veterinary medicine; Dr. Carlos Pereyra, Fairview, Texas, representing private clinical practice; and Dr. Matt Krecic, Morristown, New Jersey, representing veterinary medical research

Council on Veterinary Service

Drs. Ronald Kelpe, Rancho Santa Margarita, California, and Julie Buford, Nashville, Tennessee, representing small animal private practice, exclusive; Dr. Robin Paterson, Kingman, Arizona, representing private mixed practice; and Dr. Tiffany Collins, St. Petersburg, Florida, representing recent graduates or emerging leaders

Judicial Council

Drs. Marthina Greer, Neosho, Wisconsin, and Sarah Babcock, Washington, D.C., representing members at large

House Advisory Committee

Drs. Sandra Faeh Butler, River Forest, Illinois; Saundra Willis, Mukilteo, Washington; and Rex Anderson, Absarokee, Montana

At the subsequent HAC meeting, members of the advisory committee elected Dr. Sandra Faeh Butler as chair.

Brown, Carlson win AVMA Board elections

Drs. Gary Brown of Sun Valley, West Virginia, and Rena Carlson of Chubbuck, Idaho, were elected chair and vice chair, respectively, of the AVMA Board of Directors during a meeting of the Board on July 17 in Denver.

Dr. Brown is the District V representative on the Board and served as vice chair for the past year. He received his veterinary degree from the University of Georgia in 1984 and owns a small animal practice in Princeton, West Virginia. He is a former West Virginia VMA president, member of the HOD, and AVMA vice president.

In 2013, Dr. Brown was elected to the AVMA Board as the representative for Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. He is a candidate for 2018–19 AVMA president-elect (see page 531).

Dr. Carlson is a 1989 graduate of the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine and co-owner of a mixed animal practice in Pocatello, Idaho. She has served in numerous leadership positions within the Idaho VMA, including president and board chair.

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Dr. Gary Brown

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

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Dr. Rena Carlson

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

She represented Idaho In the AVMA HOD from 2004 until 2014, when AVMA members In Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming elected her District IX representative to the AVMA Board.

AVMA selects 2018–19 congressional fellows

The AVMA announced in July the selection of Drs. Meera Chandra and Fred Lehman for the 2018–19 AVMA Fellowship Program.

Beginning this August, Drs. Chandra and Lehman will spend a year in Washington, D.C., as full-time staff for a congressional office or congressional committee. During their tenure, fellows advise policymakers on a wide range of issues including food safety, public health, animal welfare, research, and small-business policies.

In September, the fellows will interview with congressional offices to receive their year-long placements where they will support the activities of that office full time. Fellows are not AVMA employees or lobbyists.

The fellows were selected from 12 applicants for the program following a three-phase, competitive selection process. The Fellowship Selection Committee was chaired by Dr. Tom Meyer, former AVMA president, and included former AVMA Fellow Dr. Rachel Cumberbatch and Adrian Hochstadt, AVMA deputy chief executive officer.

Dr. Chandra of Tampa, Florida, is a 2018 cum laude graduate of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Public Health and Health Professions. As a veterinary student, she worked with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Health Affairs, and the Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Dr. Lehman of Overland Park, Kansas, most recently worked for Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health as senior associate director of business development and licensing. He was an associate professor and extension leader at Mississippi State University and once owned a mixed animal practice in Texas. Dr. Lehman is a 1980 graduate of Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences as well as a diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists.

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Dr. Meera Chandra

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

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Dr. Fred Lehman

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

The AVMA Fellowship Program is sponsored through the American Association for the Advancement of Science, which works to place qualified scientific experts in congressional offices where they are needed. The AVMA provides funding for the program. To date, more than 65 veterinarians have participated in the AVMA Fellowship Program.

Education council members appointed

Three new members joined the AVMA Council on Education beginning with the new Association year in July.

The AVMA Council on Education Selection Committee appointed Dr. Philip Kieffer, Athens, Georgia, representing members at large; Dr. Norman LaFaunce, Modesto, California, representing private food animal clinical practice; and Dr. Sarah Mercurio, Rehoboth, Massachusetts, representing private clinical practice.

Board makes appointments

The AVMA Board of Directors, meeting in Denver, named the following individuals to the entities indicated, representing the designated areas. The duration of each term varies.

Animal Welfare Committee

American Association of Shelter Veterinarians—Dr. Jyothi Robertson, Belmont, California

Legislative Advisory Committee

American Association of Swine Veterinarians—Dr. Jason Kelly, Algona, Iowa

CSU launches certificate in Spanish for animal health and care

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Specialized medical language needed In animal health care covers everything from disease diagnosis and treatment to feeding, milking, birthing, and preventive medicine. (Photo by Teresa Tellechea)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

Colorado State University has launched a new undergraduate certificate, Spanish for Animal Health and Care, to make sure students in veterinary and animal science fields are equipped to communicate after they graduate and begin working with Spanish speakers in a farm or ranch setting.

The new certificate will be offered beginning this fall and will be available in an online-only format as well as in person. It is the brainchild of Shannon Zeller and Maura Velázquez-Castillo, both faculty in the College of Liberal Arts Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. The two worked with the College of Agricultural Sciences Department of Animal Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences to develop the curriculum.

They were introduced to the problem by Dr. Noa Roman-Muniz, an associate professor in the Department of Animal Sciences and a CSU Extension dairy specialist.

“Communication in animal care is important, because you might be talking about where you give a cow an injection, and that location affects how long the medicine is in the cow's system, and how well that medicine will work,” Dr. Roman-Muniz explained in a July 10 university press release. “So it's about human and animal health and safety, as well as food quality.”

Sometimes a Spanish speaker who knows a little bit of English—or an English speaker who knows some Spanish—will get designated as the farm's translator, but if the person is not fluent in both languages, misunderstandings can happen. Dr. Roman-Muniz, who is bilingual, says she witnessed a situation in which a farm manager was attempting to explain employee benefits such as health insurance and vacation time, but the translation was inaccurate and workers were getting ready to quit until she stepped in to translate accurately.

Improved communication can also lead to better understanding and appreciation of other cultures and people, Dr. Roman-Muniz explained. Plus, miscommunication can lead to a mass exodus of Spanish-speaking workers.

“I've gotten calls from farms asking if we at CSU can help find people to milk their cows because several workers just walked out due to a misunderstanding,” she says. “Students sometimes think they can just use Google Translate during their careers, but you can get into trouble. Our students need to be equipped to deal with multicultural populations.”

Specialized medical language needed in animal health care covers everything from disease diagnosis and treatment to feeding, milking, birthing, and preventive medicine.

Harvest Public Media reported: “The need for Spanish has been on the radar of top universities for the last decade, according to the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges.

“The schools have responded. Purdue has a Spanish podcast for veterinary students, and Kansas State and Texas A&M both offer classes that teach Spanish for animal health care.”

At Colorado State, the first two courses of the certificate address field-specific language functions and terminology for routine and complex workplace tasks. The third course is a more in-depth exploration of word formation mechanisms and terminology in equine care as well as dairy and beef livestock establishments.

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Shannon Zeller and Maura Velázquez-Castillo, both faculty with Colorado State University's Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures worked with the Department of Animal Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences to develop a Spanish for Animal Health and Care certificate. (Courtesy of CSU)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

The culminating course applies the students' linguistic skills to cultural aspects of diverse workplaces, including cultural displacement, workplace cohesion, and power relations around gender, age, and ethnicity.

Students will need to have some basic familiarity with Spanish before taking the courses, the equivalent of about two years' worth of study. Those not already enrolled at CSU can take the program and receive a master's badge instead of a certificate upon completion through CSU Online.

Additional plans include extending Spanish instruction in the veterinary college—a series of four, one-credit courses—to meet the needs of future rural and small animal veterinarians. And CSU's third-year veterinary students can now take a 20-hour, third-year practicum in Spanish-language instruction, an intensive language-immersion workshop, for a veterinary externship program.

Practice, supplier consolidations continue apace

By Katie Burns

Twenty-five percent of veterinary practices, representing half of all veterinary visits, will be corporately owned in five years, according to a forecast from Brakke Consulting.

In the area of animal drugs, the top five manufacturers currently represent nearly two-thirds of the global market by revenues. Three veterinary distributors dominate the U.S. market.

Brakke also predicts that preventive care plans for pets will become the norm, with most major practice groups already offering such packages or planning to do so in the near future.

These statistics come from the “Hot Topics in Veterinary Practice” webinar, presented four times at the end of June by John Volk, Brakke senior consultant. The webinar also covered results of the Merck Animal Health Veterinary Wellbeing Study (see JAVMA, Feb. 15, 2018, page 392).

Volk said the drivers of consolidation include practices being attractive to investors, a retirement bubble among veterinarians, reduced demand by veterinarians to be owners, low interest rates, and the availability of staff veterinarians at a reasonable cost.

Mars, which owns the Banfield Pet Hospital and VCA chains, is approaching 2,000 practices. The next-largest practice groups are National Veterinary Associates, with more than 400 practices, and VetCor, with more than 200.

Volk said owners of practices with three or more veterinarians and average or above-average performance have many options when they want to sell. For those with $1.2 million-plus in annual revenues, the current prices are seven to eight times earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. He said, “I see a lot less stigma attached to corporate sale.”

Brakke encourages associates to buy. Volk advises associates to work with a current owner, focus on good one-and two-doctor practices, and partner with others.

In drug manufacturing, the leading companies have characteristics such as broad product portfolios balanced between food and companion animals, diversification into new categories such as diagnostics, a propensity for acquisitions, large sales forces, and “expert, experienced” technical specialists. The largest companies are Zoetis, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck, Elanco, and Bayer.

Among the implications of manufacturer concentration are a move to direct sales, a goal to offer one-stop shopping, integration into practice systems, and the expansion of services as well as products.

In veterinary distribution, small, state, and regional companies were numerous not that long ago. MWI Animal Health, Henry Schein, and Patterson Veterinary dominate the market today.

A battle is looming in veterinary distribution between veterinary and nonveterinary suppliers. Volk said, “That competition is really going to be on service and speed of delivery and not so much on price.”

Regarding health plans for pets, Volk said pet owners want these packages, including the ability to pay for routine services in monthly installments. He said wellness plans increase veterinary visits and practice revenues, expand and improve patient care, attract new clients, and add “stickiness” to the practice-client relationship.

At NVA, visits by plan users increased 69 percent, from 3.3 to 5.5 times per year. Dental compliance increased from 8.4 percent to 74.4 percent.

Service providers can help practices implement plans, Volk said, while Partners for Healthy Pets offers a do-it-yourself manual at www.partnersforhealthypets.org.

AAFP releases first feline-specific anesthesia guidelines

Because of their unique physiology and small size, cats undergoing anesthesia are at a relatively greater risk of complications and death than many other species. Empirical evidence suggests that cats undergoing anesthesia have a higher mortality rate than dogs.

The American Association of Feline Practitioners has released the first feline-specific anesthesia guidelines, which appeared in the July 1 issue of the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (J Feline Med Surg 2018;20:602–634).

Relying on a standardized, evidence-based approach for administering anesthesia is especially useful for ensuring safe and predictable perioperative responses and anesthetic recovery. The new guidelines address specific causes of problems and methods to avoid perioperative complications associated with monitoring, airway management, fluid therapy, and recovery.

Additionally, the guidelines discuss other important aspects of feline anesthesia, including perianesthetic anxiety and stress, perianesthetic monitoring by physical and electronic means, the role of underlying diseases such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the correct use of anesthesia equipment, and total injectable anesthesia.

Content has been organized under specific topics: use and care of equipment, pre-anesthetic assessment, co-morbidities, critical-patient emergencies, anesthesia and sedation, perioperative complications, and anesthetic recovery.

The guidelines were authored by an expert panel and include tables, charts, and algorithms designed to minimize risks associated with anesthesia, along with other useful information and resources for veterinary teams. A client brochure provides cat caregivers with digestible information that enables them to understand anesthesia, what to expect, and how to properly prepare their cat for a procedure and care for the cat during recovery.

The anesthesia guidelines and supplemental resources are available on the AAFP website at www.catvets.com/anesthesia.

Drug approved for cow estrus synchronization

An old drug gained a new approval to aid artificial insemination in cows, and federal regulators have updated guidance to reflect the change.

In July, Food and Drug Administration officials published a letter to bovine veterinarians that Cystorelin (gonadorelin), a prescription gonadotropin-releasing hormone product, can be administered with cloprostenol sodium to synchronize estrus in cows raised for meat or milk. It is the fourth such synchronization product that has been approved but only the second that can be used in beef cows.

Agency officials also updated guidance for cattle producers on the estrus cycle and drugs used to control and synchronize estrus, available at https://jav.ma/estrus. The original guidance had been available since January 2017.

Cystorelin, which is made by Merial, has been approved for use in treating ovarian follicular cysts in dairy cattle since 1978. The FDA guidance on cattle estrus explains that drugs in the gonadorelin class mimic natural hormone release from an animal's hypothalamus before ovulation, prompting release of other hormones that cause ovarian follicle development and ovulation.

The three other gonadorelin drugs available for estrus synchronization are Factrel from Zoetis, Gonabreed from Parnell Technologies, and Fertagyl from Intervet.

Veterinary technicians, other clinic staff join unions

By Greg Cima

A little more than a year after talk of organizing began in earnest, veterinary staff at two clinics have voted to join unions.

Workers at a third may have enough votes to form a union. At press time, their employer was contesting four ballots that could determine the results.

In April, about 100 workers at VCA San Francisco Veterinary Specialists joined the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, according to the union and the National Labor Relations Board. Another 60 at a Seattle clinic, BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital, voted in May to join the National Veterinary Professionals Union.

About 110 employees of the VCA Northwest Veterinary Specialists clinic in Clackamas, Oregon, also may join the ILWU, pending a hearing over results of their vote July 5, NLRB information states.

At all three clinics, the prospective union members are veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, and other nonmanagement staff. VCA and BluePearl hospitals are owned by Mars.

Liz Hughston, a registered veterinary technician and president of the National Veterinary Professionals Union, said in a message that staff members at the BluePearl hospital in Seattle are the union's first members, although the NVPU has organizing campaigns in other practices.

“For strategic purposes, we don't disclose where those campaigns are in progress,” she said.

Two employees of the San Francisco clinic—Brianna-Lynn De Libertis, a medical liaison, and Laura Territo, RVT—sent a joint statement through the ILWU saying that they organized because they were frustrated with poor staffing, training, turnover, pay, benefits, and employee support.

“Besides being hard on employees and their families, these problems can compromise the quality care that animals and owners expect and deserve,” they said. “We decided to partner with the ILWU because they're a democratic, bottom-up union with a history of helping workers from many different backgrounds and industries.”

Gillian Enevoldsen, global vice president of people and organization for Mars Petcare, provided a statement saying that Mars leadership cares about all of the company's veterinary health associates, knows they are necessary for high-quality and compassionate pet care, and was sad to learn some thought they needed to form a labor union.

“While the decision to join or not join a union is entirely up to the individual associate, we believe it is best to maintain the direct relationship with our associates to address concerns they have,” she said. “We are working to better understand the concerns of our associates and remain committed to the industry, our associates and to quality care for our patients.”

In an announcement, ILWU officials predict veterinarians working in hospital groups also will join unions. Some have sought help from the Union of American Physicians & Dentists, which is affiliated with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the announcement states.

UAPD members include some veterinarians, according to information from the union. Stuart Bussey, MD, president of the union, said he has seen a rise in medical professionals—especially on the West Coast—joining unions.

Ohio State opens $9M clinical laboratory

By Greg Cima

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Concept drawing of the expanded Veterinary Medical Center (Courtesy of Ohio State University)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

The Ohio State University's new clinical skills laboratory has simulation models and practice areas where students can learn on their own.

At press time, the College of Veterinary Medicine's Clinical and Professional Skills Lab was scheduled to open in August. It is a 16,000-square-foot addition to the existing Veterinary Medical Center, at a cost of $9.3 million.

The laboratory includes simulation models, an instruction space for 80 students, and seven mock examination rooms.

Dr. Rustin Moore, dean of the veterinary college, said students in the laboratory will be able to use 3D printed organs that are flexible enough to imitate real ones, giving them practice on procedures such as canine abdomen palpation, ear examination, and feline intubation. They can use projector-based simulations to perform virtual surgery.

Dr. Moore said students in the examination rooms can record interactions with trained actors to see how they handle conversations about, say, pets in need of euthanasia, clients who can't afford procedures, or medical errors.

The expansion will give veterinary students more hands-on experiences starting in their first year, and it will supplement existing training. Dr. Moore said the additional clinical experience in realistic environments will build skills and confidence so that graduates are more prepared for practice. They will be better able to provide care for animals whether they are owned by clients who are rich or poor.

In a newsletter published by the veterinary college earlier this year, Dr. Tatiana Motta, who oversaw the laboratory's development and is an assistant professor of companion animal surgery, said the laboratory will help students master abilities at their own pace.

“Our aim is to graduate students who are ready to practice deeper thinking and work on all levels of complexity once they enter clinical practice,” she said.

University officials designed and built the Clinical and Professional Skills Lab with money given in 2016 by the Stanton Foundation. It is the foundation of the late Frank Stanton, PhD, who was president of the CBS television network from 1946–71 and who earned a master's degree, a doctoral degree in psychology, and an honorary doctorate at Ohio State.

The donation provided $19 million to establish the Building Preeminence in Veterinary General Practice Education program, which includes the new laboratory, an endowed chair in general practice and canine health and wellness, seven more faculty, 12 staff members, and a mobile veterinary clinic. The foundation also pledged that, if the university met certain goals, it also would receive another $20 million, five years later, to endow the program.

Phi Zeta presents research awards

Phi Zeta, the international honor society of veterinary medicine, recently presented awards to authors of two research manuscripts among submissions from the Phi Zeta chapters at 30 U.S. and two Caribbean veterinary colleges. Established in 1978, the awards consist of a plaque and a $1,000 check.

The basic sciences award went to Dr. Jamie Stewart (Illinois ‘13) at the Mu chapter of Phi Zeta at the University of Illinois. Her winning paper was “Nerve growth factor-beta, purified from bull seminal plasma, enhances corpus luteum formation and conceptus development in Bos taurus cows” (Theriogenology 2018;106:30–38).

Dr. Stewart recently completed a food animal internship and theriogenology residency at the University of Illinois. She is pursuing her doctorate in comparative biosciences at the university, due for completion this fall, and is slated to join the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine as an assistant professor in production management medicine. Dr. Stewart's research focuses on evaluating the role of a seminal plasma protein, nerve growth factor-beta, on fertility in ruminants, as well as improving reproductive technologies in captive white-tailed deer. Her clinical interests include performing advanced reproductive techniques, such as semen cryopreservation and laparoscopic artificial insemination, in goats, sheep, and deer.

The clinical sciences award was presented to Dr. M.L. Byrum (Illinois ‘16) at the Mu chapter of Phi Zeta at the University of Illinois. His winning paper was “Downregulation of CXCR4 expression and functionality after zoledronate exposure in canine osteosarcoma” (J Vet Intern Med 2016;30:1187–1196).

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Dr. Jamie Stewart

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

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Dr. M.L. Byrum

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

Dr. Byrum completed a small animal rotating internship at Purdue University in 2017 and is a medical oncology resident at the University of Illinois. His research focuses on molecular signaling of cancer and finding novel agents to perturb progression of cancer in dogs and cats.

American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia

The American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia welcomed 16 new diplomates following its board certification examination that was held June 1–3 in Chicago. The new diplomates are as follows:

Molly Allen, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

Barbara Ambros, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Julie Balko, Raleigh, North Carolina

Lauren Duffey, Philadelphia

Kristen Fizzano, Houston

Jennie Haan, Ames, Iowa

Chiara Hampton, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Ayako Oda, Raleigh, North Carolina

Diego Portela, Gainesville, Florida

Denise Radkey, Madison, Wisconsin

Rebecca Reader, Middletown, Connecticut

Hilary Shipley, Saint Paul, Minnesota

Alicia Skelding, Guelph, Ontario

Chris Smith, Knoxville, Tennessee

Melissa Smith, Athens, Georgia

Sharon Tenenbaum, Tallahassee, Florida

Alabama VMA

Event: Emerald Coast Veterinary Conference, June 13–14, Sandestin, Florida

Awards: Veterinarian of the Year: Dr. Barbara Benhart, Trussville. Dr. Benhart received her veterinary degree from Auburn University in 1969 and practices ambulatory equine medicine in the central Alabama area. A past president of the Alabama State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, she has served as secretary of the Jefferson County VMA for more than 40 years. From 2006–16, Dr. Benhart was in charge of equine continuing education at the Southern Veterinary Conference. Distinguished Service Award: Dr. James Milton, Birmingham, for exceptional achievements and contributions to the advancement of the profession. A 1967 veterinary graduate of Auburn University and a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, Dr. Milton founded Veterinary Surgery of Birmingham in 1995. Earlier in his career, he served as a professor and conducted research in small animal orthopedics at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. Layperson-of-the-Year Award: Allison Black Cornelius, Birmingham, for contributions toward the advancement of the profession and the association. Cornelius is the chief executive officer of the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. Under her leadership, the society has seen an exponential rise in adoptions, out-of-state transports, and number of animals helped. The society has also established an externship for Auburn's veterinary college and added animal control contracts for Jefferson County and several cities. Cornelius is the founder of Blackfish Strategies, consulting with nonprofit organizations and providing executive coaching and education. Special Award: Wayne Brantley, Montgomery, and Kaye Knight, awarded posthumously. Brantley is the zookeeper at the Montgomery Zoo. He was honored for his efforts in educating young people who visit the zoo. Knight was the founder of Sky Hill Animal Society in Selma. She was recognized for her dedication to the care of unwanted and neglected animals. Service Award: Drs. Arthur Serwitz, Birmingham; Brad Fields, Pike Road; Lewis Benefield, Montgomery; Thomas Fell, Mobile; Hank Lee, Atmore; Steven Murphree, Cullman; and Frances Kendrick, Selma Officials: Drs. Hank Lee, Atmore, president; C. Alan Jones, Hazel Green, president-elect; Randy Davis, Tuscumbia, vice president; Mark Russell, Huntsville, treasurer; Steven Murphree, Cullman, member at large; and Charles Ashwander, Decatur, immediate past president

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Dr. Barbara Benhart

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

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Dr. James Milton

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

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Allison Black Cornelius

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

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Wayne Brantley

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

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Dr. Hank Lee

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

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Dr. C. Alan Jones

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 253, 5; 10.2460/javma.253.5.516

Obituaries AVMA member AVMA honor roll member Nonmember

Howard C. Ashby

Dr. Ashby (Michigan State ‘44), 96, Florence, Montana, died April 2, 2018. Following graduation, he began his career in mixed animal practice in Lee's Summit, Missouri, establishing Lee's Summit Animal Clinic in the early 1950s. During that time, Dr. Ashby also served as veterinarian for the Kansas City Swope Park Zoo. From 1967–68, he worked as a relief veterinarian in Grenada. Dr. Ashby subsequently joined Oppenheimer Industries in Missouri, overseeing the care of cattle throughout the southeastern United States. In 1970, he returned to Grenada, where he served as the country's chief veterinary officer for three years.

Dr. Ashby moved to California in 1973, initially working for the state and later establishing Idyllwild Animal Clinic and Anza-Borrego Animal Clinic. He retired in 2000.

Dr. Ashby was an Army veteran of World War II, attaining the rank of captain.

His wife, Ann; four sons and a daughter; nine grandchildren; and a sister survive him. Memorials may be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, P.O. Box 96929, Washington, DC 20090, or The Humane Society of the United States, 1255 23rd St. NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20037.

Curtis C. Christenberry Sr.

Dr. Christenberry (Auburn ‘55), 88, Auburn, Alabama, died May 5, 2018. Following graduation, he served as a second lieutenant in the Air Force for three years. Dr. Christenberry then worked for the Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service as a veterinary medical officer, foreign animal disease diagnostician, and brucellosis epidemiologist until retirement in 1988. During that time, he also earned his master's in veterinary microbiology and virology from Auburn University (1973) and was a liaison officer with its veterinary college and a staff member of its microbiology department. Dr. Christenberry was a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine.

He served in the Air Force Reserve for 30 years, retiring as a colonel in 1987. For his military service, he received several awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal and Legion of Merit. Dr. Christenberry was active with the Lions Club, Salvation Army, and Alabama Medical Center.

His three daughters, a son, two grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren survive him. Dr. Christenberry's son-in-law, Dr. Robert May (Auburn ‘81), is a small animal veterinarian in Smithfield, Virginia. Memorials may be made to Auburn United Methodist Church, 137 S. Gay St., Auburn, AL 36830; Bethany House In-Patient Hospice, 1171 Gatewood Drive, Building 100, Auburn, AL 36830; or Food Bank of East Alabama, 375 Industry Drive, Auburn, AL 36832.

Wayne O. Hagen

Dr. Hagen (Minnesota ‘72), 70, Belgrade, Minnesota, died April 27, 2018. Following graduation until 1987, he owned Belgrade Veterinary Clinic, a large animal practice. Dr. Hagen subsequently returned to the University of Minnesota, where he earned his PhD in veterinary medicine in 1989. He then joined what is now known as Trouw Nutrition USA in Willmar, Minnesota, beginning his almost 30-year career as a veterinary/nutrition consultant. Dr. Hagen is survived by his wife, Mary; two daughters; a grandchild; and a brother. Memorials may be made to Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation, 101 Bridgeport Way, Suite 100, St. Paul, MN 55075.

Guy S. Hohenhaus

Dr. Hohenhaus (Minnesota ‘90), 57, Pasadena, Maryland, died June 25, 2018. A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, he was state veterinarian and chief of animal health with the Maryland Department of Agriculture from 2005–14. Prior to that, Dr. Hohenhaus served as public health veterinarian for the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. From 1990–2002, he was a professor and director of the veterinary epidemiology residency program at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. During that time, Dr. Hohenhaus earned his master's in public health (1996) from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland.

He served in the Army Reserve for more than 30 years, retiring as a lieutenant colonel from the 354th Civil Affairs Brigade. While in the military, Dr. Hohenhaus designed food safety, zoonotic disease, and refugee programs in several countries, and he was stationed in Afghanistan with the 407th Civil Affairs Brigade. In 2004, he received the Bronze Star for his contributions toward rebuilding Afghanistan's veterinary and public health infrastructure. Dr. Hohenhaus' wife, Michelle, and two sisters and a brother survive him. One sister, Dr. Ann E. Hohenhaus (Cornell ‘85), a specialist in veterinary oncology and small animal internal medicine, practices at the Animal Medical Center in New York. Dr. Hohenhaus' late father, Dr. Herbert A. Hohenhaus (Minnesota ‘56), was a mixed animal veterinarian in Osakis, Minnesota. Memorials toward the Guy Hohenhaus Veterinary Student Travel Fund, with checks made payable to Northeast USAHA and notated to Guy's Fund, may be made to Diane K. TenKate, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Accounting Service Center, S3–007 Schurman Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853.

Michael L. Kleban

Dr. Kleban (Colorado State ‘86), 57, Mesa, Arizona, died Jan. 5, 2018. In 1994, he founded Red Mountain Animal Hospital, a small animal practice in Mesa, where he served as managing veterinarian. Dr. Kleban also served as volunteer veterinarian for the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control. Earlier in his career, he was an associate veterinarian at Tri-City East Veterinary Hospital in Mesa. Dr. Kleban was a member of the Arizona VMA, served on the board of directors of the MaaViva Institute for Interconnectedness (providing education on creating sustainable living situations), and was active with the Eagle Scouts.

He is survived by his wife, Kristi; a daughter and a son; his parents; and a sister. Dr. Kleban's brother-in-law, Dr. Jeffrey Myers (Colorado State ‘86), is a professor of veterinary technology at Colorado Mountain College in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Memorials may be made to Maricopa County Animal Care and Control, 2630 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Mesa, AZ 85201, or Dr. Mike Kleban Memorial Fund—Planting Hope, N9565 Tamarack Road, Eagle, WI 53119, https://www.gofundme.com/dr-mike-kleban-memorial-fund.

Paul C. Long

Dr. Long (Oklahoma State ‘56), 90, Yukon, Oklahoma, died April 8, 2018. He began his career practicing primarily large animal medicine in Roanoke, Illinois. In 1965, Dr. Long moved to Oklahoma City, where he practiced small animal medicine at Dickensbrae Animal Hospital until retirement in 2002. A veteran of World War II, he served in the Army Air Corps. Dr. Long is survived by his wife, Anna; two sons and a daughter; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Putnam City Baptist Church, 11401 N. Rockwell Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73162, or Putnam City Schools Foundation, 5401 NW 40th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73122, www.pcf4kids.org.

John J. Pfost

Dr. Pfost (Ohio State ‘54), 95, Charleston, West Virginia, died April 6, 2018. He practiced primarily small animal medicine at Charleston Veterinary Hospital prior to retirement in the mid-1990s. Dr. Pfost also cared for animals at the local humane society. He was an Air Force veteran of World War II. Dr. Pfost's son, daughter, 10 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren survive him.

Harry Radcliffe

Dr. Radcliffe (Cornell ‘45), 96, Ormond Beach, Florida, died June 21, 2018. In 1973, he co-established Tomoko Pines Veterinary Hospital in Ormond Beach, where he practiced mixed animal medicine until retirement in 1994. Dr. Radcliffe also co-founded an emergency clinic in Volusia County during that time.

Following graduation, Dr. Radcliffe owned a small animal practice in Beloit, Wisconsin. In 1949, he joined the Army Veterinary Corps, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1968. Dr. Radcliffe received a Joint Service Commendation Medal for his military service. He subsequently worked for Merck Sharp & Dohme before co-founding his Ormond Beach practice.

Dr. Radcliffe's daughter, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 15829, Arlington, VA 22215, or Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, 355 Lexington Ave., 15th Floor, New York, NY 10017.

Mosey E. Rausch

Dr. Rausch (Purdue ‘74), 68, Lafayette, Louisiana, died May 17, 2018. He practiced small animal medicine in Lafayette for more than 35 years. Dr. Rausch traveled to Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake in 2010 to volunteer his services. His two daughters, four sisters, and three brothers survive him. One brother, Dr. F. David Rausch (Purdue ‘70), is a retired small animal veterinarian in Greenwood, South Carolina. Memorials may be made to Acadiana Animal Aid, 142 Le Medicin Road, Carencro, LA 70520, or Carmelite Monastery, 949 River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016.

Jon D. Schroeder

Dr. Schroeder (Kansas State ‘75), 66, Concordia, Missouri, died May 1, 2018. A mixed animal veterinarian, he owned Concordia Veterinary Clinic from 1976 until retirement in 2017. Dr. Schroeder was a member of the Concordia Lions Club. He is survived by his wife, Karen; four sons and a daughter; five grandchildren; and four sisters and two brothers. Memorials may be made to St. Mary's Catholic Church, 401 W. Broadway St., Higginsville, MO 64037.

Neil R. Seidel

Dr. Seidel (Texas A&M ‘90), 53, Giddings, Texas, died Jan. 7, 2018. Following graduation, he established Crossroads Animal Hospital in Bastrop, Texas, where he practiced mixed animal medicine for 10 years. Dr. Seidel later founded Texas Star Animal Hospital, a small animal clinic in Giddings, working there for the next 17 years. His wife, Karen; two daughters; his mother; and three sisters and two brothers survive him. Memorials may be made to AWARE (Always Wanted a Riding Experience), 1708 Centerpoint Road, San Marcos, TX 78666, or 5P-Society (an organization that helps spread awareness of 5P-Syndrome, a chromosomal deletion disorder), P.O. Box 268, Lakewood, CA 90714, www.fivepminus.org.

Aubrey L. Smith

Dr. Smith (Texas A&M ‘57), 84, Nashville, Arkansas, died April 2, 2018. He was a poultry inspector with the Department of Agriculture in Nashville prior to retirement in 1995. Prior to that, Dr. Smith owned a mixed animal practice in Perryville, Missouri, for 14 years. His wife, Jackie; three sons and two daughters; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; two great great-grandchildren; and two sisters survive him. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 1403 W. Sunset St., Nashville, AR 71852.

Wayne D. Smith

Dr. Smith (Missouri ‘56), 90, Green Castle, Missouri, died May 28, 2018. Following graduation until 1979, he practiced large animal medicine in Winigan, Missouri. Dr. Smith then worked as a field man for the Missouri Angus Association, retiring in 2004.

He was a past president of the Sullivan County Angus Association, Chariton Valley Angus Association, and Sullivan County Cattleman's Association and a past secretary of the Green Hills Angus Association. Dr. Smith was named Junior Angus Association Man of the Year in 1980 and was inducted into the Missouri Angus Breeders Hall of Fame in 1995, National Junior Angus Honorary Foundation in 1997, American Angus Heritage Foundation in 2001, and Northeast Missouri Livestock Hall of Fame in 2004. In 1997, the Missouri State Fair Cattle Show was dedicated to him, and, in 2004, the National Junior Angus Association Show was dedicated to him. Also in 2004, Dr. Smith was named the Missouri Cattlemen's Association's Pioneer Cattleman of the Year, and the University of Missouri Block and Bridle Club's Livestock Person of the Year.

Active in his community, he was a past chair of the Sullivan County Health Department Board, Sullivan County Memorial Hospital Board, and Sullivan County Ambulance Board and a past president of the Sullivan County Farm Bureau. Dr. Smith served on the state's Agriculture Advisory Committee and what was known as the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, and he was active with the 4-H Club and Masonic Lodge.

Memorials may be made to the Winigan Cemetery, Winigan, MO 63566.

Douglas H. Wick

Dr. Wick (Washington State ‘13), 31, Boise, Idaho, died April 21, 2018. A small animal practitioner, he was a staff veterinarian at Intermountain Pet Hospital in Meridian, Idaho. Dr. Wick is survived by his wife, Dr. Laura B. Wick (Washington State ‘13), a small animal veterinarian in Boise; his parents; and a brother. Memorials may be made to the Ridge to Rivers trail system, 1104 Royal Blvd., Boise, ID 83706, www.gofundme.com/douglas-wick-ridge-to-rivers-fund.

Sandra B. Wilson

Dr. Wilson (Oklahoma State ‘64), 77, Elizabethtown, North Carolina, died June 4, 2018. She owned Old Dominion Small Animal Clinic in Warrenton, Virginia, prior to retirement in 1999. Dr. Wilson also bred Egyptian Arabian horses. Her two daughters, two grandchildren, and a brother survive her. Memorials may be made to Oklahoma State University Foundation, Class of 1964 Endowed Scholarship #28–96900, OSU Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Attn: Sharon R. Worrell, 308 McElroy Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078, or National Multiple Sclerosis Society, P.O. Box 4527, New York, NY 10163.

Robert H. Wolf

Dr. Wolf (Texas A&M ‘65), 76, Little Rock, Arkansas, died April 15, 2018. He was director of laboratory animal resources and professor in the departments of surgery and pathology at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio prior to retirement in 2006. Dr. Wolf was instrumental in the expansion of animal facilities at UT Health San Antonio and helped garner substantial funding for medical research, animal facilities, and renovations of the facility. Earlier in his career, he was director of the vivarium at Tulane University Medical Center and head of the Department of Veterinary Sciences at Delta Regional Primate Research Center. A diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Dr. Wolf was a past president of the Association of Primate Veterinarians and a past director of the UT Health San Antonio Cancer Center. His wife, Judy; a daughter, son, and stepdaughter; seven grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and a brother survive him.

Waybern D. Yates

Dr. Yates (Missouri ‘68), 74, Kansas City, Missouri, died March 30, 2018. Following graduation, he served as a captain in the Army Veterinary Corps during the Vietnam War. Dr. Yates subsequently began his career in small animal medicine in Raytown, Missouri, establishing Raytown Animal Hospital in 1972. He was a past president of the Greater Kansas City VMA and a founding member of Turks and Caicos Veterinary Associates and a member of what was known as the Cayman Islands Veterinary Practice. In 1994, Dr. Yates was appointed to the Missouri Horse Racing Commission. He is survived by his wife, Sandra; two daughters; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Pets for Life Inc., 7240 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64114, www.kcpetsforlife.com.

Robert Young Jr.

Dr. Young (California-Davis ‘61), 87, Modesto, California, died March 6, 2018. Following graduation, he worked for Shell Development Co. in Modesto for 18 years, in animal health and safety. Dr. Young then established Young Veterinary Research, a contract laboratory supporting the discovery, development, and regulatory submission of new animal drugs by major animal health companies. He retired in 1997. Dr. Young was an Army veteran of the Korean War. He is survived by his wife, Lori; three sons; and five grandchildren. One son, Dr. David Young (California-Davis ‘86). took over Young Veterinary Research in 1997.

Cover Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Publication Date:
01 Sep 2018
  • View in gallery

    Dr. Cathlin Craver puts a flea-and-tick collar on a dog at the AVMA Street Clinic in Denver as part of his visit. Dr. Craver plans to start a street dog team in Grand Junction, Colorado, where she is a shelter veterinarian and works with the national nonprofit Target Zero, which mentors shelters on best practices. (Photo by R. Scott Nolen)

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    At the AVMA Street Clinic in Denver, 2017–18 AVMA President Michael Topper talks with Joel Hillan of CBS4 Denver about AVMA Convention 2018 and the AVMA partnering for the first time on a street clinic. “Pets need care no matter who their owners are and what their resources,” he said. Fox31 Denver and The Denver Post also reported on the clinic. (Photo by Cheryl Atkins)

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    Shara Cohen, a licensed veterinary technician from Aldie Veterinary Hospital in South Riding, Virginia, auscultates one of the AVMA Street Clinic's 12 feline patients. (Photo by R. Scott Nolen)

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    Convention volunteers assemble hygiene kits to distribute to homeless pet owners during the AVMA Street Clinic held July 15 outside the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. (Photo by Malinda Larkin)

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    Romeo is one of many beneficiaries of emergency care from Pets of the Homeless. The 10-year-old Dachshund mix was living with his owner, a certified homeless veteran, in a tent in a forest near Mobile, Alabama. The owner called POTH after Romeo was having trouble eating and a large lump near his eye ruptured. Periodontal disease and a tooth root abscess were diagnosed. The dog's teeth were extracted, and a thankful owner was reunited with his companion. (Courtesy of Pets of the Homeless)

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    AVMA Convention 2018 had plenty to offer attendees, both in the way of education and entertainment. A brass band (pictured) opened the keynote speech by Shiza Shahid. (Photos by R. Scott Nolen)

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    This year's AVMA Vet Clinic Live focused on innovative technology and tools for practices. Vet Clinic Live allows vendors in the exhibit hall to demonstrate their products and services in a clinic setting.

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    Shiza Shahid encouraged audience members at her keynote speech to allow themselves to push outside their comfort zones. (Photo by R. Scott Nolen)

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    Dr. Glen F. Hoffsis

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    Dr. R. Wayne Randolph (Courtesy of Dr. R. Wayne Randolph)

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    Dr. John Howe

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    Dr. Grace Bransford

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    Dr. John de Jong speaks to the AVMA House of Delegates about his plans as the Association's 2018–19 president.

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    Dr. John de Jong

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    Dr. Gary Brown

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    Dr. Douglas Kratt

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    Dr. Apryl Steele, alternate delegate for the American Association of Feline Practitioners, said devocalization removes an irritation to humans without aiding the dogs. (Photo by R. Scott Nolen)

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    (Photo by R. Scott Nolen)

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    Dr. Gary Brown

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    Dr. Rena Carlson

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    Dr. Meera Chandra

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    Dr. Fred Lehman

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    Specialized medical language needed In animal health care covers everything from disease diagnosis and treatment to feeding, milking, birthing, and preventive medicine. (Photo by Teresa Tellechea)

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    Shannon Zeller and Maura Velázquez-Castillo, both faculty with Colorado State University's Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures worked with the Department of Animal Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences to develop a Spanish for Animal Health and Care certificate. (Courtesy of CSU)

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    Concept drawing of the expanded Veterinary Medical Center (Courtesy of Ohio State University)

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    Dr. Jamie Stewart

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    Dr. M.L. Byrum

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    Dr. Barbara Benhart

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    Dr. James Milton

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    Allison Black Cornelius

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    Wayne Brantley

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    Dr. Hank Lee

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    Dr. C. Alan Jones

Dr. Cathlin Craver puts a flea-and-tick collar on a dog at the AVMA Street Clinic in Denver as part of his visit. Dr. Craver plans to start a street dog team in Grand Junction, Colorado, where she is a shelter veterinarian and works with the national nonprofit Target Zero, which mentors shelters on best practices. (Photo by R. Scott Nolen)

At the AVMA Street Clinic in Denver, 2017–18 AVMA President Michael Topper talks with Joel Hillan of CBS4 Denver about AVMA Convention 2018 and the AVMA partnering for the first time on a street clinic. “Pets need care no matter who their owners are and what their resources,” he said. Fox31 Denver and The Denver Post also reported on the clinic. (Photo by Cheryl Atkins)

Shara Cohen, a licensed veterinary technician from Aldie Veterinary Hospital in South Riding, Virginia, auscultates one of the AVMA Street Clinic's 12 feline patients. (Photo by R. Scott Nolen)

Convention volunteers assemble hygiene kits to distribute to homeless pet owners during the AVMA Street Clinic held July 15 outside the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. (Photo by Malinda Larkin)

Romeo is one of many beneficiaries of emergency care from Pets of the Homeless. The 10-year-old Dachshund mix was living with his owner, a certified homeless veteran, in a tent in a forest near Mobile, Alabama. The owner called POTH after Romeo was having trouble eating and a large lump near his eye ruptured. Periodontal disease and a tooth root abscess were diagnosed. The dog's teeth were extracted, and a thankful owner was reunited with his companion. (Courtesy of Pets of the Homeless)

AVMA Convention 2018 had plenty to offer attendees, both in the way of education and entertainment. A brass band (pictured) opened the keynote speech by Shiza Shahid. (Photos by R. Scott Nolen)

This year's AVMA Vet Clinic Live focused on innovative technology and tools for practices. Vet Clinic Live allows vendors in the exhibit hall to demonstrate their products and services in a clinic setting.

Shiza Shahid encouraged audience members at her keynote speech to allow themselves to push outside their comfort zones. (Photo by R. Scott Nolen)

Dr. Glen F. Hoffsis

Dr. R. Wayne Randolph (Courtesy of Dr. R. Wayne Randolph)

Dr. John Howe

Dr. Grace Bransford

Dr. John de Jong speaks to the AVMA House of Delegates about his plans as the Association's 2018–19 president.

Dr. John de Jong

Dr. Gary Brown

Dr. Douglas Kratt

Dr. Apryl Steele, alternate delegate for the American Association of Feline Practitioners, said devocalization removes an irritation to humans without aiding the dogs. (Photo by R. Scott Nolen)

(Photo by R. Scott Nolen)

Dr. Gary Brown

Dr. Rena Carlson

Dr. Meera Chandra

Dr. Fred Lehman

Specialized medical language needed In animal health care covers everything from disease diagnosis and treatment to feeding, milking, birthing, and preventive medicine. (Photo by Teresa Tellechea)

Shannon Zeller and Maura Velázquez-Castillo, both faculty with Colorado State University's Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures worked with the Department of Animal Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences to develop a Spanish for Animal Health and Care certificate. (Courtesy of CSU)

Concept drawing of the expanded Veterinary Medical Center (Courtesy of Ohio State University)

Dr. Jamie Stewart

Dr. M.L. Byrum

Dr. Barbara Benhart

Dr. James Milton

Allison Black Cornelius

Wayne Brantley

Dr. Hank Lee

Dr. C. Alan Jones

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