Hello, Fellow Washington Veterinarians,
Although I know many of you already know me, I am the 2020-2026 District XI Director on the AVMA Board of Directors (BOD), District XI, encompassing Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Alaska, Oregon, and Washington. I am a small animal internist with the recently formed Zoetis Reference Labs; I worked for Phoenix Lab previously. I was bitten by the “organized veterinary medicine” bug years ago by a colleague and have loved the camaraderie and opportunity to give back to my profession. I have been involved in the former Puget Sound VMA, WSVMA, and recently was your delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates.
I look forward to working with your current representatives to the House of Delegates (HOD), Drs. Diane Thomé and Gary Marshall, to update you on AVMA activities and listen to your ideas and concerns.
The following is an update on AVMA activities, particularly those that are member-focused.
2021 AVMA Convention and New AVMA Leadership
The AVMA had a very successful virtual AVMA Convention, Jul. 29 through Aug. 1, with 3,700 attendees. The HOD met in person and virtually, elected Dr. Jose Arce, small animal practitioner from Puerto Rico and LSU graduate (Go Tigers!) as AVMA president. Small animal practitioner from La Crosse, Wisconsin Dr. Doug Kratt is now immediate past president. Dr. Lori Teller is our new president-elect. Dr. Teller is a clinical associate professor of telehealth at Texas A&M University. Dr. Teller was most recently chair of the AVMA BOD.
Former AVMA BOD Chair Dr. Rena Carlson and former AVMA Vice President Dr. Grace Bransford have announced their candidacies for the 2022-2023 president-elect.
Dr. Jennifer Quammen, cofounder of a veterinary coaching business, announced her candidacy for the 2022-2024 AVMA vice presidency, the position representing the AVMA to the colleges of veterinary medicine.
The AVMA Board of Directors elected Dr. Karen Bradley, Vermont, as their chair and Dr. Ronald Gill, Illinois, as Vice-Chair.
Upcoming CE
AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference 2022 will be held virtually and in-person in Chicago Jan. 6-9. Registration just opened. This is a great leadership event for emerging leaders from our state associations.
AVMA Convention 2022: Jul. 29 through Aug. 2, Philadelphia.
Veterinary Workforce Challenges
Veterinary Workforce Challenges, Practice Productivity, and Veterinary Technician Utilization are key priorities to be included in the 2022 Strategic Plan. This topic was front and center at the recent AVMA Veterinary Business and Economic Forum that took place virtually a couple of weeks ago. The AVMA Business and Economic Forum just wrapped up and there were many discussions around workforce issues, practice efficiency, pet owner surveys, student debt, and much more. These challenges are nicely described in a commentary written from an economic by Dr. Matt Salois and a veterinary viewpoint by Dr. Gail Golab in a new JAVMA Commentary “Are We in a Veterinary Workforce Crisis?” available online now and previously published in the Sept. 15 issue of JAVMA.
The new AVMA 2021 Economic State of the Profession Report is available in the AVMA Store in the Economic and Market Research Reports section at www.avma.org. Free to members, the Economics Division reviewed results of three major annual surveys to create an indispensable resource for veterinary students entering the workforce, practicing veterinarians looking for an enhanced understanding of economic issues shaping the profession, and educational and business leaders in the veterinary sector.
The AVMA Working Group on Veterinary Technician Utilization working with AVMA Economics Division and the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine presented results of their survey of technician utilization at the Business Forum. The AVMA will be moving forward on recommendations and tools based on the results of this survey. At this time, please find “Utilizing veterinary technicians to improve practice success” which offers the best practical tools to fully utilize veterinary technicians in practice on the AVMA website.
A new ebook, “Language that works: Changing the way we talk about veterinary care” is available exclusively to AVMA members at www.avma.org/Language of Care. It is an essential guide for the veterinary team to use when discussing the value of veterinary medicine and encouraging pet owners to prioritize wellness visits.
Telehealth (important tool as we review challenges to the veterinary workforce)
AVMA continues to work to provide educational tools for members on how to effectively and efficiently incorporate telehealth into veterinary practices.
“The AVMA Guidelines for Use of Telehealth in Veterinary Practice” is a step-by-step reference guide on telehealth and regulations, including use in conjunction with the VCPR. It was sent out with JAVMA earlier this year as was the 2021 AAHA/AVMA Telehealth Guidelines for Small Animal Practice. Both are available online. Also, online at avma.org/coronavirus are tips from veterinary practices that adopted curbside care during the pandemic.
State Advocacy efforts in telemedicine continue to support the requirement for a physical examination or timely visits as a premise to establish a VCPR and not the establishment of the VCPR by telemedicine alone.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
AVMA/AAVMC Commission for a Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive Veterinary Profession was established Nov. 2020 with 16 members. The commission worked this past year to establish actionable goals that promote diversity, equity, inclusion throughout the veterinary community. Many representatives of affinity groups are involved.
AVMA Board reviewed the full strategic diversity, equity, inclusion framework at the September Board meeting. The BOD will be adding specific DEI items to the 2022 overall AVMA strategic plan and budget including creating more opportunities for diverse members to participate in AVMA volunteer leadership, expanding DEI content in AVMA programming, expanding collaboration with strategic partners for DEI programs, improving the collection of member and student information as related to DEI, and performing an internal DEI audit of the association.
AVMA Axon (CE Center) offers a new Brave Space Certificate Program. This webinar helps to explore the impact of stereotyping, unconscious bias, and workplace harassment and offers numerous tools and information for veterinarians to become better allies for equitable treatment for all. Also new on Axon, “Cowboys and Pit Crews” is Dr. Atul Gawande’s keynote address from the 2021 AVMA Virtual Conference and “Princess Found: You are more than your title” Princess Sarah Culberson’s general session address from the conference.
Just released: new certificate programs: “Disaster Business Continuing Certificate” and “Veterinary Responder Certificate”. www.avma.org/axon
Launch of the New JAVMA Website
With the recent hiring of our new Director of the Publications Division and the Editor-in-Chief of JAVMA and AJVR, Dr. Lisa Fourtier, we have a new look to JAVMA and some exciting new publications. “Surgery in your Practice” is the inaugural issue of the new supplement to JAVMA. These supplements, intended to be released twice a year, will focus on specific topics of use to veterinarians across practice types. The digital version will be available online Dec. 15, 2021, at https://[email protected], and the print version of “Surgery in your Practice” will be sent along with JAVMA on January 15, 2022. Also, look for digital collections “Pathology in Practice” and “What’s Your Diagnosis” that is expanded to include a wealth of submissions.
Wellbeing
The AVMA in collaboration with many other veterinary associations and groups remains committed to offering members access to a wide range of resources that support healthy living and self-care. Webinars and toolkits for veterinary workplaces and veterinary colleagues, the Workplace Wellbeing Certificate Program, free suicide prevention training for all veterinary professionals, and other wellbeing resources are available at www.avma.org/wellbeing.
AVMA Federal Advocacy Efforts
Hot off the press: The Paws Off Act of 2021, fully endorsed by the AVMA, was introduced into the House of Representatives. This bill would require food containing the sugar substitute xylitol to include a warning label specifying its toxic effects.
American Veterinary Medical Foundation
The AVMF has created a new Leadership Guild to recognize major contributors committed to the mission of the AVMF. A new AVMA Certificate for First Responders will be launched shortly with an $80K grant from AVMF for AVMA to develop this training program to help prepare veterinarians who volunteer to serve on local or regional disaster teams. www.avmf.org
If you have any questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out and let me know what is on your mind. I can’t wait until we can meet in person.
By Sandy Willis DVM, DACVIM, [email protected], 206-817-9227 cell
Posted November 5, 2021