Who We Are

We’re a community of Washington
State veterinarians.

We’re the ones who understand
that being a veterinarian is more
than just a career choice.

It’s a deep sense of compassion
for the health and healing of an animal.

To us, it’s knowing that we’re doing
our part to ensure our patients
always have an ally.

Because to us, our patients are not
just pets, they’re a valued member
of the family.

For this cause we have prepared
ourselves with the latest advances
in diagnosis and treatment.

For this cause we are moved to do
more.

To us this is more than a profession,
it’s who we are.

Together, we are the Washington State
Veterinary Medical Association.

Richard M. DeBowes, DVM, MS, DACVS, is a Professor of Surgery and the Director of the Professional Life Skills program at the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine.  Working with Dr. Kathleen Ruby and others, Rick helped fund, develop, promote and host, the Cougar Orientation and Leadership Experience at WSU and the AVMA Veterinary Leadership Experience (VLE) program for the global veterinary profession.  Based on his experiences in veterinary practice and his awareness of the “people skills” needed to be a great health care team member, Rick currently oversees the practice management curriculum and continues to teach in the leadership and the clinical communication courses for which he was the founding co-director

Dr. Lindsey Hornickel graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BS in Biology (’04), a MPH in Environmental Health and Infectious Disease (’09), and a DVM with a focus in Mixed Animal Medicine (’12). Following graduation, Dr. Hornickel practiced mixed animal medicine in rural Wisconsin for three years. In 2015, she moved to Seattle and since then has practiced small animal medicine exclusively. From the start of her veterinary career, Dr. Hornickel has actively exercised her passion for leadership and communication development through continual engagement and service in organized veterinary medicine. Currently, she serves in multiple WSVMA leadership positions as a member of the Political Action Committee and as the curriculum coach for the Power of Ten Leadership Academy. Dr. Hornickel also serves and supports her community through outreach with various local school districts, the Pacific Science Center summer camps, and volunteering with the Doney Coe Pet Clinic. She enjoys exploring the outdoors and sampling the incredible cuisine of the Pacific Northwest.

Jennifer Bennett graduated in 2002 from the University of Washington – Seattle, with an MS in Behavioral Neuroscience and in 2008 from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with her DVM. She has been the Medical Director for the Seattle Animal Shelter (City of Seattle) since 2017 and has a passion for shelter medicine and surgery. Dr. Bennett served on the House of Delegates for the California VMA before relocating to Washington, where she has been an active member of the WSVMA since 2015. She has worked with a variety of municipal and private organizations in California and the PNW, developing shelter medicine and surgery programs, participating in community outreach clinics, and working with humane law enforcement. In 2019, Dr. Bennett formed SAVeSS (Seattle Area Veterinarians in Shelter Services), a monthly support group for shelter veterinarians. She is the current Secretary for the WSVMA Board of Directors.

Dr. de Vries is a member of the American Association of Fish Veterinarians, American Veterinary Medical Association, Christian Veterinary Mission, World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association, Washington State Veterinary Medical Association, and the 2018-2019 WSVMA Power of Ten leadership class. She helped organize, produce, and distribute their class project, the Ready Vet Go podcast (https://wsvma.org/power-of-ten/podcast/). She was selected to attend the 2020 Veterinary Leadership Conference as the rising leader for Washington State by the WSVMA Board of Directors. Dr. de Vries has held leadership roles in veterinary school including WSU SAVMA Vice President, Treasurer of the WSU ACVIM student Chapter, and represented WSU at an AVMA Student Legislative Fly-In.

Originally from Wisconsin, Dr. Koenig graduated from Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. Upon graduation she completed an equine internship in Scottsdale, Arizona and then relocated to the Snohomish area where she practiced equine medicine for an additional year before changing to companion animal practice. Dr. Koenig practiced small animal medicine for six years and then became partner at Snohomish Station Animal Hospital in 2015. She enjoys snuggling with her two dogs, Booker and Monkey, hiking, photography, motorcycle riding and horseback riding.

Dr. Marshall (WSU, 1989) focuses solely on caring for feline patients at Island Cats Veterinary Hospital, the clinic he started on Mercer Island, Washington in 1996. He is currently a member of the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine Feline Focus Task Force actively working toward improving the facilities and training to cater more toward the unique characteristics of cats. He enjoys spending as much time as possible with his veterinarian wife and two college-age children. He is an avid photographer who also participates in a weekly curling league and likes to spend summer weekends hiking and camping.

Ms. Joy joined WSVMA as Executive VP in 2002 following a successful 17-year career in business. Ms. Joy had a strong desire to align her heart with the work and working in non-profit was the best way to do that. A career change followed. “I had the wonderful fortune to be hired by the WSVMA,” Ms. Joy commented, “which not only allowed me to bring my heart into my work in a much greater capacity, but also to blend my love for animals and the wonderful people who care for them.” She is past president of Veterinary Medical Association Executives and currently serves on AVMA’s State Advocacy Committee. Ms. Joy enjoys hiking, boating, travel, the arts, and spending time with her daughter, son and her cats Pookie and Weezie.

Meet the Past Presidents of the WSVMA

We’re thankful to all of those who have volunteered time and resources to
improve veterinary medicine and the lives of those touched by it.

1909 Dr. J. Hilton
1910 Dr. S. T. Miller
1911 Dr. S. T. Miller
1912 Dr. A. J. Damen
1913 Dr. J. W. Kalkus
1914 Dr. J. T. Seely
1915 Dr. Robert Prior
1916 Dr. E. E. Wegner
1917 Dr. L. C. Pelton
1918 Dr. L. C. Pelton
1919 Dr. Walter Ferguson
1920 Dr. R. A. Button
1921 Dr. G. A. Jones
1922 Dr. J. W. Woodside
1923 Dr. H. A. Tippeer
1924 Dr. R. J. Donohue
1925 Dr. P. G. MacKintosh
1926 Dr. J. R. Fuller
1927 Dr. C. S. Phillips
1928 Dr. J. J. Stratton
1929 Dr. George W. Staggs
1930 Dr. E. A. Ehmer
1931 Dr. J. E. McCoy
1932 Dr. O. G. Button
1933 Dr. A. H. P. Hendricksen
1934 Dr. V. O. Pauhlman
1935 Dr. Ray Gilliam&lt
1936 Dr. Stanley Worley

1937 Dr. C. E. Sayer
1938 Dr. R. R. Isham
1939 Dr. J. P. Johnson
1940 Dr. Harry Marsden
1941 Dr. F. E. Smith
1942 Dr. M. O. Barnes
1943 Dr. W. L. Kilpatrick
1944 Dr. W. L. Kilpatrick
1945 Dr. O. Leighton Bailey
1946 Dr. George Folger
1946 Dr. Philip Millard
1947 Dr. Norman Garlick
1948 Dr. M. O. Mulqueeney
1949 Dr. LeMar Gaw
1950 Dr. T. Robert Phelps
1951 Dr. John Stevens
1952 Dr. Philip Hinze
1953 Dr. James Kraft
1954 Dr. Don Clarke
1955 Dr. Roy Hostetler
1956 Dr. Irwin Erickson
1957 Dr. George Duby
1958 Dr. William F. Harris
1959 Dr. Ernest Stone
1960 Dr. Robert Burch
1961 Dr. Howard DuBois
1962 Dr. Philip Pfarr
1963 Dr. Robert Ebright

1964 Dr. Harold Warsinske
1965 Dr. Ivor Evans
1966 Dr. Neil V. Follett
1967 Dr. Thomas Guilfoil
1968 Dr. Alex J. Ryncarz
1969 Dr. Orin G. Swanson
1970 Dr. Leon M. Bodie
1971 Dr. Clyde M. Bemis
1972 Dr. Robert E. Wilson
1973 Dr. Ronald J. Streeter
1974 Dr. L. Everett Macomber
1975 Dr. Stanley B. Coe
1976 Dr. William L. Yakely
1977 Dr. Arnold C. Slater
1978 Dr. John E. Alexander
1979 Dr. Jerold D. Gemar
1980 Dr. Michael J. Lust
1981 Dr. Robert L. Pietila
1982 Dr. Verner Pedersen
1983 Dr. Dee G. Meek
1984 Dr. Reilly P. Glore
1985 Dr. G. Gary Duskin
1986 Dr. Daniel L. DeWeert
1987 Dr. A. Roger Harder
1988 Dr. Thomas F. Meyer
1989 Dr. Harmon A. Rogers
1990 Dr. Brian E. Albers
1991 Dr. Charles R. Root

1992 Dr. Warwick M. Bayly
1993 Dr. Jerry Pospisil
1994 Dr. Kim A. Nicholas
1995 Dr. Donald I. Kelts
1996 Dr. Kathryn M. Haigh
1997 Dr. William B. Holleman
1998 Dr. Robert W. Bishop
1999 Dr. William Testerman
2000 Dr. Kathleen M. Connell
2001 Dr. Kit B. Bowerman
2002 Dr. Jayne E. Jensen
2003 Dr. Clive C. Gay
2004 Dr. Saundra E. Willis
2005 Dr. Robert R. Gilpin
2006 Dr. Saundra E. Willis
2007 Dr. Robert A. Thompson
2008 Dr. Debora Wallingford
2009 Dr. Carrie La Jeunesse
2010 Dr. Kit Wenrick
2011 Dr. John Cannon
2012 Dr. James McCutchan
2013 Dr. Jocelyn Woodd
2014 Dr. Lisa Parshley
2015 Dr. Lisa Parshley
2016 Dr. Kathy Hickey
2017 Dr. Paul DeMaris
2018 Dr. Jean Gulbransen
2019 Dr. Gary Marshall