Q. WHAT CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE OFFICE OF AVMA VICE PRESIDENT?

A. I had the good fortune to be a member of the AVMA School Engagement Optimization Committee, made up of both volunteer leadership and staff members. We spent months reviewing data, feedback, and projections and came up with a plan that focuses the AVMA vice president's work on veterinary student leadership at the national level and builds stronger relationships with school deans and faculty.

That plan designates the vice president as the Board's liaison to the Student AVMA Executive Board and SAVMA House of Delegates. Key AVMA staff liaisons to the SAVMA student chapters are Student Initiatives Team members Drs. Derrick Hall, Caroline Cantner, and Anna Reddish.

Finally, the vice president will be the AVMA liaison to the deans and faculty of the veterinary schools. One important responsibility is identifying ways the AVMA can support veterinary faculty.

Q. HOW DO THESE CHANGES AFFECT SCHOOL VISITS?

A. As there are now 37 veterinary schools with Student AVMA chapters, it has become extremely difficult for a vice president with a full-time job to visit all schools during the two-year term. Were the “visit all schools” travel expectation to remain, we would find our only candidates for vice president are retired or only work part time. The expectation to visit every school is neither in the AVMA Bylaws nor stated in any AVMA policy.

This summer, I met with AVMA's Student Initiatives Team, and we came up with a list of several schools for me to visit during my final year as vice president. Many of these are newer schools, schools that were undergoing changes, and schools that need a visit from the AVMA vice president.

Q. WHAT'S YOUR MESSAGE TO STUDENTS?

A. One key message is to let students know about AVMA's expansive efforts of support in the areas of educational debt, well-being, and career planning. It was not that long ago that those were areas that were critical to me as I planned the road ahead after completing veterinary school. I also let students know that their concerns and worries, as well as many of their dreams, are shared by veterinary students across the country and around the world.

Q. WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM STUDENTS?

A. I am hearing concerns about the level of educational debt and questions on how they might manage it along with planning to raise a family and purchase a home. I am also hearing about some very creative and innovative plans for their careers. Although clinical medicine is still the mainstay, many students are considering work in public health, nongovernmental organizations, and politics or industry.

Q. ARE EDUCATIONAL DEBT AND STARTING SALARIES STILL A TOP CONCERN?

A. I would say I hear a little less buzz over the concern regarding starting salaries. Unemployment for veterinarians is at 0.5%, while the overall national unemployment rate hovers around 3%. That is good news for graduating students searching for their first job. On the other hand, while the current average starting salary is twice what it was when I graduated in 1998, the current average student debt figure is four times higher. AVMA needs to continue to collaborate with all entities available to help our graduating students.

Q. WHAT ABOUT WELL-BEING?

A. Another full-court press issue. Educational debt and well-being are inextricably linked. A lot of well-being issues stem from concerns about debt and a student's future. I think if we could wave a magic wand and eliminate all veterinary educational debt, we would see concerns over depression and suicide among veterinary students and veterinarians decrease a notch. There are multiple reasons why veterinary students and veterinarians deal with depression and anxiety, but debt often plays a major factor.

Q. OVERALL, WHAT IS STUDENTS' IMPRESSION OF THE AVMA?

A. It is very positive. I think we have done a good job of letting students know that AVMA is working hard to address the issues that are of concern to them. The website My Veterinary Life at myvetlife.avma.org has been a very successful tool providing support for veterinary students. Its emphasis on debt and finances, well-being, and career planning means it is a valuable tool in helping students and recent graduates deal with the challenges they face. I believe they know that AVMA is here for them.

Q. DID YOU LEARN ANYTHING DURING YOUR FIRST YEAR AS VICE PRESIDENT THAT SURPRISED YOU?

A. That something that could be so different could be so similar. What I mean by that is that each veterinary school is so distinctive. Its geography, the make-up of its students, and areas of clinical excellence are distinctive. What is so similar are the issues the students, deans, and faculty face and the solutions they create. There will be great benefit in sharing those solutions and realizing we are not alone and we are all in this together.

Q. HOW DO YOU HOPE STUDENTS WILL REMEMBER YOU?

A. I hope they will remember that I am doing my best to be a good listener and to be empathetic to their concerns. I remember when I was a veterinary student talking to the AVMA vice president at that time, Dr. Allen Miyahara, that he really listened. I knew that what I had to say would be taken to AVMA headquarters. He later became a valuable mentor and reinforced that to me as I worked my way up the ladder of AVMA volunteer leadership.

Q. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

A. I have been told by several previous AVMA vice presidents that this is one of the best positions, if not the best position, in AVMA volunteer leadership. This comes from a number of folks who made their way up to AVMA president. I have to agree. To work with and help support the future of our profession—the students and those who develop them, the faculty—is a tremendous thing.

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BREEDERS, AGENCIES HARD TO CONNECT

Chris Shelton is the supervisory air marshal in charge at the Transportation Security Administration Canine Training Center at Joint Base San Antonio, where the agency trains dog teams for the TSA and its law enforcement partners, putting them to work in simulated transportation and cargo sites. He said the TSA has about 1,000 dogs and has been buying 300–400 in each of the past few years to replenish and expand the pack as it's diminished by aging dogs, health problems, and retiring handlers.

Buying qualified dogs gets tougher each year, he said. Many litters in the U.S. have puppies that would fit the TSA's needs, if the agency could connect with their owners.

The AKC estimates the U.S. has about 15,000 working dogs in government or private hands. About 20%—3,000 dogs—retire each year.

The Department of Defense runs a small breeding program focused on Belgian Malinois at Joint Base San Antonio, and the TSA shut down its Labrador Retriever-focused breeding program in 2012 because of budget cuts.

Sheila Goffe, the AKC's vice president of government relations, said she learned three years ago that 80–90% of the dogs used to detect explosives by the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense were from another country. She advocates for dogs as the best technology for finding potential bombs and thinks American dogs have potential to be the world's best at that job.

Federal agencies buy a mix of purebred and mixed-breed dogs on the basis of detection ability, health, and personality. Goffe said the Labrador Retrievers and German Shorthaired Pointers typically used by the TSA are often easy to train, calm in crowds, and less intimidating than, say, a German Shepherd Dog.

Breeders in the U.S. also raise more Labradors than puppies of any other breed, she said.

Two years ago, testifying before a joint committee meeting of the House of Representatives on the use of dogs in security, Goffe said an AKC-led team that studied use and procurement of bomb-finding dogs had concerns not only about the sources of dogs but also about an opaque buying process with high failure rates, intimidating procurement processes, and inconsistent use of research on dog training.

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Quackenbush, a Black Labrador Retriever that now is a search and rescue dog in California, was bred and trained through the Penn Vet Working Dog Center. (Photo by Tracy Darling/Penn Vet)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 255, 9; 10.2460/javma.255.9.969

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The hearing was for two House entities: the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Affairs and the Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Protective Security.

Breeders also told the AKC team they were willing to sell or donate high-quality puppies. But they tend to sell their puppies within their first three months, whereas government agencies offer similar prices but want the dogs at 9–12 months old.

“The older age at which the government wants a puppy is problematic for breeders,” Goffe said. “Many kennels do not have facilities to maintain quantities of puppies for an additional six months or longer, especially with no guarantee of purchase at a later date.”

Any dogs rejected for detection work would be past the ideal age for placement in pet homes or homes looking for hunting or field trial dogs.

A POTENTIAL SOLUTION

A year ago, Dr. Otto and four co-authors published an article in Frontiers in Veterinary Science in which they proposed creating the Detector Dog Center of Excellence, a nonprofit cooperative led by academics in canine science and guided by others involved with working dogs. Those running the organization could oversee how dogs are bred and raised, would have the approvals for and familiarity with agency appropriations processes to allow them to act as middlemen between agencies and breeders, and could help breeders store genetic material.

“As a data collection and genetic evaluation center, the DDCoE will lead research to define quantitative traits involved in odor detection, to understand how these traits develop, and methods to optimize training of dogs endowed with enhanced odor detection ability,” the article states.

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Socks, a Yellow Labrador Retriever that now works as a bomb detection dog in Pennsylvania, received training and mothered two litters at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center. The center and the American Kennel Club are leading projects to make it easier for U.S. dog breeders to sell to federal agencies and police departments, although through separate models. (Photo by Annemarie DeAngelo/Penn Vet)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 255, 9; 10.2460/javma.255.9.969

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Success would require decades of work, so the cooperative needs to be able to survive when federal funding is scarce, the article states. Dr. Otto said a cooperative focused on phenotype and performance could change dogs in much the same way the U.S. dairy industry has changed cattle to improve their performance.

“We need to be able to characterize those phenotypes, and that tool to assess them is really critical,” she said. “And so we're working on a lot of ideas. How do we measure it? How is it reproducible?”

The DDCoE also can ensure that dogs are trained to work on slippery floors and in areas with loud noises, small children, and unfamiliar clothing, she said.

Penn Vet runs a working dog research and training facility, with a breeding program intended to help produce the next generation of detection dogs, university information states. Program leaders also plan to host a working dog conference in April 2020.

Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine also has a Canine Performance Sciences program with a breeding program focused on improving detection dogs. The program uses the latest theriogenology practices to improve selection and runs dogs through an 11-month training and socialization program before selling them to vendors, university information states. Continuous evaluations help show which jobs are most likely to be the best fit for the dogs.

Scott Thomas, who ran the TSA's breeding dog program from its inception in 2002 to its shutdown in 2012, co-authored the article with Dr. Otto and works with the AKC on its detection dog program. He said his group in the TSA successfully trained 600 dogs before the DHS shuttered a “gold mine” to save money.

In recent years, the quality of imported dogs has slipped, he said. Some vendors lie about ages and pedigrees, and some have low health standards that raise welfare concerns. Buyers hope to fix problems in training.

Federal agencies pay $4,000-$8,000 each for dogs bought in the U.S., including untrained dogs, according to figures from trainers and the AKC. Thomas thinks the accounting used on procurement trips has left out expenses and given a false impression that dogs in Europe are sold at comparable prices or cheaper.

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, signed in December 2017, directed the Department of Defense to examine the full costs of buying dogs, including personnel travel and shipping, rather than just the price tag per animal. The analysis also will include the washout rate.

The appropriations bill also resulted in formation of a working group of 10 experts on detection dogs that included Dr. Otto and representatives from the TSA, the Department of Homeland Security, Auburn University, Johns Hopkins University, law enforcement, and dog vendors. The group wrote a recommendation that was still working its way through various agencies on its way to Congress—and was unpublished at press time—to form a national breeding cooperative. Dr. Otto hopes lawmakers will approve.

The cooperative's model is still developing, but Dr. Otto said it should have a central clearinghouse that sells to agencies that would be the best fit for the dogs.

“There has to be a center of excellence in order to make it run because, when you've got such a distributed model, there has to be a main hub that has oversight and drives the research and collects the data and makes sure everything is going along according to plan,” she said.

Federal detection dogs would be the cooperative's priority, followed by dogs with multiple jobs, such as a police dog trained to detect narcotics and pursue fleeing people.

Dr. Battaglia said the cooperative model looks good on paper, but its application would require dealing with added oversight, regulations, and tax issues, in addition to the complexities of buying and reselling dogs. He is on the federal committee that recommended the cooperative, but he said the AKC favors instead the model the organization is developing in a pilot program, through which dog owners work with experts, test their dogs as they grow, and work to connect them to government buyers.

SELLERS FRUSTRATED

Kenneth D. Licklider is founder and owner of Vohne Liche Kennels, an Indiana-based company that trains dogs for federal and local police agencies. It also resells untrained dogs that have potential as working dogs. He said ample dogs are available—he bought 45 in Europe most recently—but the problem lies in certain agencies' selection processes.

TSA buyers accept about one-third of the dogs he submits. He blames unforgiving and arbitrary tests that disqualify young dogs, some of which are recovering from travel to Lackland Air Force Base.

“We have the same goals, but it's adversarial when they come,” he said.

Licklider said he can sell the rejected dogs within a week, such as a few bomb detection dogs he just sold to agencies in Senegal and Mauritania.

Ken Pavlick, co-owner and head trainer of Pacific Coast K9 in Custer, Washington, agreed with Licklider on testing, although he said demand for detection dogs is exceeding supply as their use has expanded over the past five to seven years. He said federal agencies use rigid testing methods to reject dogs that still become successful elsewhere. Some government buyers have rejected his dogs because they wouldn't play with a Kong toy or wouldn't play tug of war, he said.

Thomas wants to see more transparency in the government assessment process and assurances the testers are qualified to evaluate working dogs. Tests should be consistent, repeatable, and validated by science, rather than the opinion of someone who, for example, dismisses a dog's potential because the dog was confused when it saw a blue tarp for the first time.

Chris Shelton at the TSA's Canine Training Center acknowledged that vendors complain when TSA evaluators reject their dogs, but he said the mission is too important to lower standards. He said the agency wants to buy dogs from those domestic vendors and is trying to help people understand the agency's standards and needs.

TSA officials accept 30%-40% of the dogs they examine, Shelton said. The dogs need to be happy and healthy, with a mix of social skills and innate drive. Many are rejected over medical problems.

TRIAL RUN

The TSA has a full supply of dogs now, Shelton said, but the agency sees competition over a limited supply. A domestic breeding program could give stability.

Licklider is skeptical whether a domestic breeding program will succeed, citing the cost of raising dogs and uncertainty of success. Pavlick also questioned how the dogs could be raised to pass agency tests and what breeders could do with those that fail.

Goffe acknowledges not all the dogs raised as working dogs will make the cut for federal work. Some may become service dogs or pets.

Dr. Otto said the demand for working dogs comes with great opportunities to help dogs and protect people.

“I just really believe our dogs need to be made in the U.S.A. I think we've got the ability and we've got the skills and we've got all the resources to do it and to do it well—in the best interest of the country but also in the best interest of the dogs,” she said.

EXPLOSIVE HARPOONS AND ENTANGLEMENTS

He recalled becoming interested in marine mammals as a preveterinary student at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom during the early '80s. “The lecturers kept on harping back to marine mammals as the exception to every rule. From an evolutionary point of view, they are fascinating, like how a sperm whale holds its breath for an hour. That's how I became curious about them,” Dr. Moore said.

Later, after completing his veterinary degree at the university, Dr. Moore's first job was as an observer for the International Whaling Commission on an Icelandic whale catcher in the Denmark Strait to investigate the killing efficiency of explosive harpoons.

“There was and is a perception that explosive harpoons are not a particularly humane thing to use,” Dr. Moore said. “But having been trained in meat inspection and observing an abattoir (slaughterhouse) at work, I had a certain understanding of what it takes to kill an animal efficiently. I came away from that Icelandic ship with a pretty strong sense of the efficiency of a 90-millimeter-caliber cannon with an explosive grenade harpoon on it.”

Explosive harpoons are still problematic, Dr. Moore noted, particularly because a whale shot with one may take as long as 20 minutes to die. Compared with human interactions that unintentionally kill whales, however, the harpoons are more humane. “If you kill a whale by wrapping rope around it, you may drown it; in which case, it's going to take about an hour, because they can hold their breath for that long. Or it's going to take months or years if you're going to strangle them slowly, stop their feeding, constrict their appendages, and cause chronic infection and stress.

“When I started looking at some of these cases (of whale deaths) we were seeing on the beach, I thought back to the ongoing criticism of Icelandic, Norwegian, and Japanese whalers and thought, ‘Wait a minute, there's some serious hypocrisy going on here.’”

A CLEARER PATH

Necropsies by many people, including Dr. Moore, of endangered North Atlantic right whales and other species revealed that a large majority of whale deaths are caused by fishing line entanglements and vessel strikes. These findings, along with diverse, sustained public advocacy, resulted in fishing regulations by the National Marine Fisheries Service in the United States, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Canada, and the International Maritime Organization changing the path of shipping lanes within the right whale's habitat.

Dr. Moore's research brought to light the suffering whales and dolphins experience from entanglement-inflicted wounds such as amputations, lacerations, and infections. As such, he is a proponent of ropeless fishing, an admittedly expensive alternative to the buoy lines currently in use that use wireless modems to mark lobster traps on the sea floor.

“If only the average consumer of a lobster roll knew the risks of the gear being used for their culinary interest,” Dr. Moore said. ““Out of sight, out of mind” is definitely a challenge we deal with. Nobody wants to hear it because they don't really understand the consequences.

“If an entangled whale were part of the urban landscape, like dying on the sidewalk in New York or Boston, it would be a very different story when that nice pink lobster shows up on your table. Then you couldn't ignore the risks associated with how it got there.”

Dr. Moore helped develop the first whale sedation system to reduce boat avoidance by fatally entangled whales so rescue teams can more safely free them. The ballistic system is capable of administering 60 mL of highly concentrated sedative, in 20 mL boluses, to the muscle of a swimming whale through about 8 inches of blubber from a moving vessel 15 meters away. The system was used successfully in 2007 to deliver antibiotics to two humpback whales and in 2009 and 2011 with entangled North Atlantic right whales that were sedated so lines could be removed. The right whales both subsequently died of their entanglement wounds, but Dr. Moore said the principle of veterinary intervention at sea was established.

Dr. Craig Harms, a professor of aquatic animal medicine at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, called the whale sedation system “a remarkable technological success” for improving the health and welfare of entangled whales. “The prospects of attempting to sedate a swimming 20,000- to 40,000-kilogram animal are daunting,” Dr. Harms said. “Dr. Moore and his collaborators … ultimately succeeded in sedating an entangled right whale that could not otherwise be approached, making disentanglement possible.”

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Dr. Michael Moore releases a drone during a whale research expedition.

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 255, 9; 10.2460/javma.255.9.969

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EVENT

American Association of Avian Pathologists Inc. meeting, Aug. 2–5, Washington, D.C.

AWARDS

Phibro Animal Health Excellence in Poultry Research

Dr. Haroldo Toro, Auburn, Alabama, for sustained excellence in poultry disease and health for 20 years or more. Dr. Toro received his veterinary degree in 1983 from the University of Chile and earned his doctorate in 1987 from the Institute of Avian Diseases at the University of Giessen in Germany. He is a professor in the Department of Pathobiology at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Toro was recognized for his work as a global expert in immunosuppressive and respiratory diseases in poultry.

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Dr. Hector Cervantes

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 255, 9; 10.2460/javma.255.9.969

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Dr. Haroldo Toro

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Dr. Monique Silva de Franca

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Dr. Daniel “Jack” King

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Dr. Danny L. Magee

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Dr. Gustavo H. Schneiders

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Dr. Daniel A. Maekawa Maeda

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Dr. Carmen Jerry

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Kelly A. Mulholland

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 255, 9; 10.2460/javma.255.9.969

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Blanca Lopez de Juan Abad

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 255, 9; 10.2460/javma.255.9.969

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OFFICIALS

Drs. Eric Jensen, Huntsville, Alabama, president; David Frame, Ephraim, Utah, president-elect; Suzanne Dougherty, Elkmont, Alabama, executive vice president; Nathaniel Tablante, College Park, Maryland, immediate past president; K.A. “Ton” Schat, Ithaca, New York, northeast director; Samuel Christenberry, Cullman, Alabama, south director; Michelle Kromm, Wilmar, Minnesota, central director; Rocio Crespo, Puyallup, Washington, western director; Valerie Marcano, Athens, Georgia, student director; and directors at large—Drs. Rosemary Marusak, Chetek, Wisconsin, and Jarra Jagne, Ithaca, New York

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AAAP officials: Drs. Jarra Jagne, Rocio Crespo, Eric Jensen, Samuel Christenberry, Michelle Kromm, K.A. “Ton” Schat, Nathaniel Tablante, Valerie Marcano, and Suzanne Dougherty (Not pictured are Drs. David Frame and Rosemary Marusak.)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 255, 9; 10.2460/javma.255.9.969

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CONTACT

Janece Bevans-Kerr, Director of Member Services, American Association of Avian Pathologists, 12627 San Jose Blvd., Suite 202, Jacksonville, FL 32223; phone, 904-425-5735; aaap@aaap.info; aaap.info

EVENT

American Association of Food Safety and Public Health Veterinarians and National Association of Federal Veterinarians, joint meeting, Aug. 4, Washington, D.C.

PROGRAM

Dr. Burke Healey, deputy administrator of the Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Veterinary Services, spoke on the good relationship between the NAFV and APHIS VS and his intention to further strengthen the line of communication between both organizations. Paul Kiecker, deputy administrator of the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, spoke about the critical role that veterinarians play in the service and his goal of making it a careerlong choice for federal veterinarians. Dr. Maria Esteras, veterinary recruitment outreach coordinator at the FSIS, discussed the strategies and plans she has put forth towards the recruitment and retention of public health veterinarians in the service.

AWARDS

BUSINESS

The AAFSPHV provided its members an update on membership, strategic planning, budget, and the then-upcoming food safety symposium at the United States Animal Health Association meeting in October. Discussions were held during the joint business meeting on the latest efforts in public practice.

OFFICIALS

AAFSPHV: Drs. Jennifer Koeman, San Luis Obispo, California, president; Donna DeBonis, Oak Harbor, Washington, president-elect; Michele Pfannenstiel, Cumberland, Maine, recording secretary; Kelly Vest, Blackwell, Oklahoma, immediate past president; Katherine Waters, Denver, executive vice president and AVMA alternate delegate; Kristen Obbink, Ames, Iowa, AVMA delegate; and directors—Drs. Roger Murphy, Raleigh, North Carolina; Nancy Frank, Haslett, Michigan; Thomas Doker, Aiken, South Carolina; Mike Gilsdorf, Sykesville, Maryland; Kristen Obbink, Ames, Iowa; and Candace Jacobs, Olympia, Washington.

NAFV: Drs. Barbara Porter-Spalding, Raleigh, North Carolina, president and AVMA alternate delegate; Deanna A. Brown, Batesville, Arkansas, president-elect; Larry A. Davis, Jackson, Mississippi, secretary-treasurer and immediate past president; and Joseph F. Annelli, Washington, D.C., executive vice president and AVMA delegate

CONTACT

AAFSPHV: Dr. Katherine Waters, Executive Vice President, American Association of Food Safety and Public Health Veterinarians, 1901 E. 13th Ave., #8D, Denver, CO 80206; phone, 360-281-6088; aafsv.execvp@gmail.com; aafsphv.org

NAFV: Dr. Joseph F. Annelli, Executive Vice President, National Association of Federal Veterinarians, 1910 Sunderland Place NW, Washington, DC 20036; phone, 443-677-9001, jfannelli@nafv.org; nafv.org

EVENT

American Association of Industry Veterinarians meeting, Aug. 3–5, Washington, D.C.

PROGRAM

The association celebrated its 65th anniversary at a networking reception that drew more than 70 attendees and participated in the AVMA Career Fair.

BUSINESS

Members can use the association's website to access archived business and career-related webinars, past compensation surveys, and other career resources.

OFFICIALS

Drs. Debra Nickelson, Kansas City, Missouri, president; Pam Mitchell, Metairie, Louisiana, president-elect; Matt Krecic, Miami, secretary; Eduardo Vivas, Stilwell, Kansas, treasurer; and Ellen Lowery, Olathe, Kansas, immediate past president

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AAIV officials: Front row— Drs. Pam Mitchell, Debra Nickelson, Bonnie Bragdon (AVMA delegate), and Ellen Lowery; Back row—Drs. Gary Anderson (board member), Dan Marsman (past AVMA delegate), David Goodnight (board member), Tim Smaha (board member), and Carolyn Luther (board member) (Not pictured are Drs. Matt Krecic and Eduardo Vivas.)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 255, 9; 10.2460/javma.255.9.969

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CONTACT

Dr. Debra Nickelson, President, American Association of Industry Veterinarians, 13800 NW 79th Terrace, Kansas City, MO 64152; phone, 602-363-6382; djnickelson@gmail.com; aaivet.org

EVENT

American Board of Veterinary Toxicology meeting, Aug. 5, Washington, D.C.

AWARDS

NEW DIPLOMATES

Drs. Megan Romano, Lexington, Kentucky, and Wilson Ramirez-Duarte, Davis, California

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ABVT diplomates: Drs. Megan Romano and Wilson Ramirez-Duarte

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 255, 9; 10.2460/javma.255.9.969

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BUSINESS

A new website is being created and is expected to be functioning in a few months.

OFFICIALS

Drs. David Dorman, Raleigh, North Carolina, president; Tam Garland, College Station, Texas, president-elect; Adrienne Bautista, Davis, California, secretary; Ahna Brutlag, Bloomington, Minnesota, treasurer; and Timothy Evans, Columbia, Missouri, immediate past president

CONTACT

Dr. Adrienne Bautista, Secretary, American Board of Veterinary Toxicology, 1411 W. Covell Blvd., Suite 101, Davis, CA 95616; phone, 530-750-1056; abcashion@ucdavis.edu; abvt.org

EVENT

American College of Animal Welfare meeting, Aug. 1, Washington, D.C.

PROGRAM

The meeting drew more than two dozen attendees. The college offered its short course as part of the AVMA's animal welfare continuing education program and hosted a mixer offering diplomates an opportunity to build community and for veterinarians to gather information about board certification and meet potential mentors.

NEW DIPLOMATES

Robin Chadwin, Woodland, California

Mark Flint, Columbus, Ohio

Barry Kipperman, San Ramon, California

Heather L. Narver, Bethesda, Maryland

Patricia Pryor, Herring Cove, Nova Scotia

Sandra Strong, Raleigh, North Carolina

BUSINESS

Discussions were held on the college's efforts toward full recognition, including a focus on continued improvement of the college's training and short course programs and the refinement of the credentialing and examination processes.

OFFICIALS

Drs. Jeff Boehm, Sausalito, California, president; Jan Shearer, Ames, Iowa, president-elect; Kathryn Bayne, Frederick, Maryland, secretary; Steven R. Hansen, Phoenix, treasurer; and Gail Golab, Schaumburg, Illinois, immediate past president

CONTACT

Dr. Jeff Boehm, President, American College of Animal Welfare, The Marine Mammal Center, 2000 Bunker Road, Sausalito, CA 94965; phone, 415-289-7337; boehmj@tmmc.org; acaw.org

EVENT

American College of Poultry Veterinarians meeting, Aug. 2–5, Washington, D.C.

NEW DIPLOMATES

Brandon Armwood, Athens, Georgia

Julia Blakey, Turlock, California

Judith Labounty, Grimes, Iowa

Eric Parent, St. Hyacinthe, Quebec

Abigail Reith, Bentonville, Arkansas

BUSINESS

The ACPV certification examination was administered electronically for the first time.

OFFICIALS

Drs. Andrea Zedek, Simpsonville, South Carolina, president; Rocio Crespo, Zionsville, Indiana, president-elect; David Hermes, Washington, Indiana, immediate past president; Suzanne Dougherty, Athens, Alabama, executive vice president; James Barton, Fayetteville, Arkansas, AVMA American Board of Veterinary Specialties representative; and governors—Drs. Don Ritter, Millsboro, Delaware; Sarah Tilley, Baldwin, Georgia; Joel Cline, Elba, Alabama; Susan Williams, Athens, Georgia; Gregorio Rosales, Athens, Alabama; and Bruce Stewart-Brown, Salisbury, Maryland

CONTACT

Janece Bevans-Kerr, Executive Director, American College of Poultry Veterinarians, 12627 San Jose Blvd., Suite 202, Jacksonville, FL 32223; phone, 904-425-5735; support@acpv.info; acpv.info

EVENT

American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine meeting, Aug. 4, Washington, D.C.

AWARDS

Frank A. Todd President's Award

Dr. Kristen Voehl (Michigan State '01), Milton, Massachusetts, for meritorious service to the college.

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ACPV diplomates: Drs. Brandon Armwood, Julia Blakey, Judith Labounty, Eric Parent, and Abigail Reith

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 255, 9; 10.2460/javma.255.9.969

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Dr. Voehl is a clinical veterinarian and an instructor of veterinary parasitology in the veterinary technology program at Massasoit Community College in Brockton, Massachusetts. She is a diplomate of the ACVPM.

NEW DIPLOMATES

Laura Marie Anderson, Rockville, Maryland

Kristopher T. Appler, Raeford, North Carolina

Nancy M. Barnett, Hume, Virginia

Shawn C. Basinger, College Station, Texas

Amanda M. Berrian, Columbus, Ohio

Jocelin S.Y. Blake, San Antonio

Jessica Bowden, Lacey, Washington

Philip A. Bowling, Frederick, Maryland

Jenifer Chatfield, Dade City, Florida

Daniel L. Cole, U.S. armed forces

Andrea L. Coté, Clarksville, Tennessee

Jason R. Crawford, Kensington, Maryland

Emily J. Curren, Atlanta

Benjamin C. Dixon, Myersville, Maryland

Ernesto D. Villegas, Waynesboro, Virginia

Randal S. Dudis, Silver Spring, Maryland

Lizette O. Durand, Waianae, Hawaii

Jennifer A. Edmundson, Laurel, Maryland

Natalie Erker, San Diego

Emily E. Feyes, Columbus, Ohio

Klibs N.A. Galvão, Gainesville, Florida

Hailey Harroun-White, Terrell Hills, Texas

M. Erin Henry, Ithaca, New York

Drew B. Henschen, Silver Spring, Maryland

Levi D. Hoffman, Gainesville, Florida

Jessica J. Huwa, Owings Mills, Maryland

Eugene S. Johnson, Platte City, Missouri

Jodie M. Jones, Anchorage, Alaska

Donna J.A. Kelly, Akron, Pennsylvania

Katherine J. Kilzer, Jeffersonville, Indiana

Jennifer M. Kishimori, Cabin John, Maryland

Christopher M. Lewis, Kansas City, Missouri

Meghan Louis, Apex, North Carolina

Pádraig Lucey, Tulare, California

Muhammad M. Makhdoomi, Edinburg, Texas

Jacob G. Marcek, Clarksville, Tennessee

Robert A. Messenger, Gunpowder, Maryland

Michael F. Neafsey II, Holly Springs, North Carolina

Kathleen C. O'Hara, Davis, California

Sally Plichta, Aberdeen, North Carolina

Iwona T. Popkowski, New York

Karren Prost, Barrie, Ontario

Laurel E. Redding, West Chester, Pennsylvania

Thomas D. Rose, Columbia, Missouri

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ACVPM officials: Front row—Drs. Thomas Berg, Barbara Jones, Marianne Ash, Danelle Bickett-Weddle, Kimberly Orr (Specialty of Epidemiology immediate past president), and Renee Funk (past councilor). Back row—Drs. Rick Hill, Thomas Doker, and Matt Doyle (Not pictured are Drs. Sarah Hamer, Evan Shukan, and John Sanders.)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 255, 9; 10.2460/javma.255.9.969

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Kyle P. Ross, San Diego

Nicole L. Rowley, Gaithersburg, Maryland

Katie A. Rumsey, Urbandale, Iowa

Meghan C. Schirger, Rockford, Illinois

Constance Silbernagel, Encinitas, California

Patricia B. Simon, Inglewood, California

Christan H. Stager, Colonial Heights, Virginia

Dennis M. Summers, Etna, Ohio

Sara J.C. Taetzsch, Buena Vista, Virginia

Shawn Thomas, U.S. armed forces

Tara Urbano, Davis, California

Cole F. Vanicek, Oakwood, Ohio

Elizabeth Venit, Washington, D.C.

Whitney A. Waldsmith, Aberdeen, North Carolina

Natalie M. Wendling, Atlanta

OFFICIALS

Drs. Danelle Bickett-Weddle, Ames, Iowa, president; Rick Hill, Ames, Iowa, president-elect; Thomas Doker, Aiken, South Carolina, secretary-treasurer; Thomas Berg, Richland, Michigan, executive vice president; Marianne Ash, Lafayette, Indiana, immediate past president; Sarah Hamer, College Station, Texas, Specialty of Epidemiology president; John Sanders, Kearneysville, West Virginia, American Board of Veterinary Specialties representative; and councilors—Drs. Barbara Jones, Durham, New Hampshire; Matt Doyle, College Park, Maryland; and Evan Shukan, Bethesda, Maryland

CONTACT

Dr. Marianne Ash, Immediate Past President, American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, 2514 Marruth Drive, Lafayette, IN 47905; phone, 765-427-7113; mash@boah.in.gov; acvpm.org

EVENT

American Veterinary Epidemiology Society meeting, Aug. 5, Washington, D.C.

AWARDS

Karl F. Meyer-James H. Steele Gold Headed Cane Award, sponsored by Hartz Mountain Corp.

Drs. Jack A. Shere (Iowa State '87), Washington, D.C., and Kelley J. Donham (Iowa State '71), Iowa City, Iowa. Dr. Shere is associate administrator of the Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Earlier, he served as deputy administrator of APHIS Veterinary Services. A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Dr. Donham is a professor of occupational and environmental health at the University of Iowa. He co-authored “Agricultural Medicine: Rural Occupational and Environmental Health, Safety, and Prevention.”

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Dr. Craig N. Carter

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 255, 9; 10.2460/javma.255.9.969

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Some honorary AVES diplomates: Capt. Kis Robertson Hale, Dr. Gregory C. Gray, Cap. Christa R. Hale, Dr. Megin C. Nichols, Gloria L. Gellin, and Dr. Ashley E. Hill

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 255, 9; 10.2460/javma.255.9.969

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AVES Early Career Professional Achievement Award, sponsored by Hartz Mountain Corp.

Lt. Cmdr. Matthew M. Doyle (Michigan State '08), College Park, Maryland, was the inaugural recipient of this award, given in recognition of contributions toward one health early in one's career. Dr. Doyle serves as a senior veterinary medical officer in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. A diplomate of the ACVPM, he is part of a response team for the Food and Drug Administration's Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation Network.

Honorary Diplomates, sponsored by Hartz Mountain Corp.

Dr. Andrew T. Maccabe, Washington, D.C.; Dr. Ashley E. Hill, Davis, California; Capt. Casey Barton Behravesh, Atlanta; Capt. Christa R. Hale, Denver; Gloria L. Gellin, Lexington, Kentucky; Dr. Gregory C. Gray, Durham, North Carolina; Capt. Kis Robertson Hale, Silver Spring, Maryland; Dr. Megin C. Nichols, Atlanta; Dr. George R. Lueddeke, Hampshire, England; and Dr. Yrjö T. Gröhn, Ithaca, New York

BUSINESS

The late Dr. Leon H. Russell (see obituary, Aug. 15, 2019, page 415), a past recipient of the Karl F. Meyer-James H. Steele Gold Headed Cane Award, and the late Dr. Rene Carlson (see obituary, May 15, 2019, page 1151), an honorary diplomate of the AVES, were memorialized at the meeting. It was announced that a biography of Dr. James H. Steele, “Animal Health, Human Health, One Health: The Life and Legacy of Dr. James H. Steele,” is available on amazon.com and at other booksellers. All proceeds will go to the society to help implement and sustain future programs. The society's website can be accessed to follow recent AVES activities, to learn about the history of the organization, and to make a donation to support programs.

OFFICIALS

Dr. Craig Carter, Lexington, Kentucky, president; and board members—Keith Goldman, Secaucus, New Jersey; Dr. Lonnie King, Columbus, Ohio; Dr. George Beran, Ames, Iowa; Dr. Ron DeHaven, El Dorado Hills, California; Dr. Bruce Kaplan, Sarasota, Florida; Dr. William Stokes, Apex, North Carolina; Dr. Laura Kahn, Princeton, New Jersey; and Dr. Lisa Conti, Tallahassee, Florida

CONTACT

Dr. Craig N. Carter, President, American Veterinary Epidemiology Society, 3135 Newman Road, Lexington, KY 40515; phone, 859-321-4890; craig.carter@uky.edu; avesociety.org

EVENT

American Veterinary Medical History Society meeting, Aug. 4, Washington, D.C.

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Annelise Radzin

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 255, 9; 10.2460/javma.255.9.969

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Dr. Brooke Fourthman

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 255, 9; 10.2460/javma.255.9.969

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PROGRAM

The immediate past president of the AVMHS, Dr. Russell W. Currier, presided over the meeting. The AVMA poster display area included posters contributed by AVMHS members—Drs. Howard H. Erickson, Manhattan, Kansas; Philip M. Teigen, Silver Spring, Maryland; Russell W. Currier, Des Moines, Iowa; and Shannon Greeley, Burbank, Illinois. Drs. Erikson and Teigen contributed the poster titled “C. Barnwell Robinson (1859–1921): Founder of U.S. College of Veterinary Surgeons, Fire-Dept and District of Columbia Veterinarian.” Dr. Currier's poster was titled “Washington DC's Private Veterinary Schools, 1892–1918: Case study of Daniel Salmon's Short-lived National Veterinary College.” Dr. Greeley's poster was titled “Milestones in the History of One Health.” The society's exhibit booth featured the poster titled “Marking the Centennial Anniversary of AVMA Presidency Dr. Charles Allen Cary.” Dr. Cary served as president of the AVMA from 1919–20 and was founding dean of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine and a past Alabama state veterinarian. His biography, “The Cary Legacy,” authored by Sam Hendrix, was also on display at the booth.

AWARDS

J. Fred Smithcors Student Veterinary History Essay Contest, sponsored by the Donaldson Charitable Trust First place (tie)—Jennifer Chong Fan (Cornell '21), for “Animals in Court: The Early Days of Veterinary Forensics,” and Scarlett Denise Welfel (Iowa State '22), for “Doctor of Donkeys: The Story of Claude Bourgelat Who Turned His Love of Equids into a Medical Profession”; third place—Annelise Radzin (Ohio State '23), for “Trypanosoma brucei brucei: The Parasite that Plagued a Continent”; and fourth place—Dr. Brooke Fourthman (Purdue '19), for “A Brief History of Interventional Cardiology.”

BUSINESS

Similar to previous years, members had been sent a postcard outlining the program in Washington, D.C. This year's postcard featured a line drawing of the front of the building of the United States College of Veterinary Surgeons, a veterinary college in operation from 1894–1927 in Washington, D.C. Reports on ongoing AVMHS activities were presented, including the publication of two issues of the bulletin Veterinary Heritage in November 2018 and June 2019; the society's Registry of Heritage Veterinary Practices, which honors veterinary hospitals and clinics nationwide that are more than 50 years old; the AVMHS Time-Bites, a series of historical ministories, links to which are regularly published in the Veterinary Information Network's email newsletters; and the 2019 J. Fred Smithcors Student Veterinary History Essay Contest. It was announced that the Donaldson Charitable Trust will continue to sponsor and provide funding for the essay contest for another five years and that Dr. Kavan Flaming, Ames, Iowa, will continue to provide support for the enhanced AVMHS website. Dr. Rolan Tripp, founder of the Veterinary Future Society, presented his views on the future of veterinary medicine, focusing on telemedicine.

OFFICIALS

Dr. Jerry M. Owens, Glen Ellen, California, president; Dr. Zbigniew W. Wojcinski, Ann Arbor, Michigan, president-elect and program chair; Susanne K. Whitaker, Ithaca, New York, secretary-treasurer; Dr. Russell W. Currier, Des Moines, Iowa, immediate past president; and members at large—C. Trenton Boyd, Columbia, Missouri; Dr. Margaret N. Carter, Terrell Hills, Texas; Dr. Candace A. Jacobs, Olympia, Washington; and Dr. Janver D. Krehbiel, Okemos, Michigan

CONTACT

Susanne K. Whitaker, Secretary-Treasurer, American Veterinary Medical History Society, 23 Wedgewood Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850; phone, 607-257-9248; avmhs.info@gmail.com; avmhs.org

EVENT

Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges meeting, Aug. 3, Washington, D.C.

PROGRAM

Dr. Michael Lairmore, AAVMC president, outlined the progress of the association's current strategic planning process. He noted that a series of concept papers, exploring top issues in academic veterinary medicine, had been developed by staff members, board members, and volunteers, and the strategic plan is on schedule for completion in early 2020. Dr. Eleanor Green, dean of Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences and lead for the Veterinary Futures Commission, reported that the commission is nearing completion of a report on the future of veterinary medicine. Dr. Scott Angle, director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, spoke on the status of the relocation of the institute from Washington, D.C., to Kansas City, Missouri. He noted that only 25% of employees are expected to relocate, but the move is being approached as an opportunity for change. Dr. Stephane Martinot, president of the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education, outlined current issues and operations of the EAEVE. Dr. Sally Rockey, executive director of the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, spoke on FFAR Vet Fellows, a summer fellowship program offered to veterinary students, in collaboration with the AAVMC. The fellowship allows students to pursue research careers in global food security and sustainable animal production. Dr. Douglas L. Steels, vice president for food, agriculture, and natural resources with the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, presented an overview of the association's current operations and priorities. The AAVMC has recently partnered with the APLU on the establishment of the National Institute for Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Education. The meeting concluded with a presentation on the Veterinary Business Management Association by Ricky Walther and Emily Farmer, president and vice president of the association, respectively.

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Dr. Michael Lairmore

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 255, 9; 10.2460/javma.255.9.969

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OFFICIALS

Drs. Michael Lairmore, University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, president; Mark Markel, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, president-elect; Ruby Perry, Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine, secretary; Mark Stetter, Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, treasurer; and Calvin Johnson, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, immediate past president

CONTACT

Jeanne Johnson, Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, 655 K Street NW, Suite 725, Washington, DC 20001; phone, 202-371-9195, ext. 144; jjohnson@aavmc.org; aavmc.org

EVENT

Pride Veterinary Medical Community meeting, Aug. 1, Washington, D.C.

AWARDS

LGBTQ+ 2019 Leadership Award

Dr. Janet Donlin (Minnesota '81), Schaumburg, Illinois. Dr. Donlin is executive vice president and chief executive officer of the AVMA. She previously served as chief executive officer of the AVMA PLIT and before that was chief veterinary officer of the Global Veterinary Business Channel of Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. Dr. Donlin was honored for driving AVMA support of LGBTQ+ issues and the mission of the Pride VMC.

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Dr. Janet Donlin

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 255, 9; 10.2460/javma.255.9.969

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BUSINESS

The board of directors completed a strategic plan to outline the next three years. The plan focuses on education and advocacy for LGBTQ+ inclusion and diversity, student empowerment through leadership development and mentorship, and member engagement and outreach.

OFFICIALS

Dr. Dane Whitaker, San Francisco, president; Dr. Abby McElroy, Harrisville, Rhode Island, secretary; Kara Burns, Olathe, Kansas, treasurer; Dr. Sandy Hazanow, San Francisco, immediate past president: Corinne Weston, Corvallis, Oregon, student representative; and board members—Drs. Ellen Lowery, Olathe, Kansas; Jay Gladden, Madison, Wisconsin; and Mike Dibler, Orlando, Florida

CONTACT

Dr. Abby McElroy, Secretary, Pride Veterinary Medical Community, 584 Castro St. #492, San Francisco, CA 94114; phone, 304-546-0866; info@pridevmc.com; pridevmc.org

EVENT

Veterinary Medical Association Executives meeting, Aug. 2, Washington, D.C.

AWARDS

Executive of the Year

Christine Shupe, Alachua, Florida, for exemplifying the best in association management and continually bringing credit to the association executive profession and the association community. Shupe is executive director of the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association. Under her leadership for the past 21 years, the association has seen an increase in membership of 361%, received accreditation from the Institute for Credentialing Excellence for the VHMA program to certify veterinary practice managers, published a comprehensive biennial compensation and benefits survey, and launched an online networking community in 2011 dedicated to veterinary practice management.

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Christine Shupe

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 255, 9; 10.2460/javma.255.9.969

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Distinguished Service Award

Adrian Hochstadt, Schaumburg, Illinois, for exceptional service to the VMAE, demonstrating initiative, integrity, and commitment in serving the veterinary profession and association colleagues. Hochstadt is deputy chief executive officer of the AVMA. His efforts toward establishing what is now known as the AVMA Division of State Advocacy have benefited state VMAs in helping advance their public policy objectives. A past president of the VMAE, Hochstadt has served on several of the association's committees and task forces.

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Adrian Hochstadt

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 255, 9; 10.2460/javma.255.9.969

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OFFICIALS

Megan Kilgore, Topeka, Kansas, president; Susan Blevins, Atlanta, president-elect; Jost am Rhyn, Ottawa, Ontario, secretary; Dr. Randy Wheeler, Ankeny, Iowa, treasurer; and Dan Tjornehoj, South St. Paul, Minnesota, immediate past president

CONTACT

Megan Kilgore, President, Veterinary Medical Association Executives, P.O. Box 77, Lyndon, KS 66451; phone, 785-221-0312; megan@ksvma.org; vmae.org

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Megan Kilgore

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 255, 9; 10.2460/javma.255.9.969

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