Greetings from the summer meeting of the AVMA House of Delegates (HOD). The meeting was held in a hybrid format the last weekend of July in conjunction with the virtual AVMA Convention. It was a busy meeting, with many agenda items and elections taking place. The House of Delegates met over two days to discuss a total of nine resolutions and elect new AVMA officers, House of Delegates leadership, and new AVMA committee members.
Dr. Lori Teller from Texas was elected to the position of AVMA President-Elect. This meeting marked the end of the presidential term for Dr. Doug Kratt of Wisconsin. Dr. Jose Arce from Puerto Rico ascended to the role of President for the coming year. Dr. Karen Bradley of Vermont was elected as the Board of Directors Chair. Dr. Rex Anderson of Montana was re-elected to the House Advisory Committee (HAC) and was later elected HAC Chair.
Dr. Rena Carlson from Idaho and Dr. Grace Bransford from California announced candidacies for the 2022-2023 President-Elect position. Dr. Jennifer Quammen of Kentucky announced her candidacy for the position of 2022-2024 Vice President.
A highlight of every HOD meeting is the AVMA’s Veterinary Information Forum (VIF), where delegates address timely topics of concern in the profession and provide feedback on the way forward. We would like to thank our WSVMA members who answered our survey calling for input on the topics addressed during this year’s forum: “HOD Delegates as AVMA Brand Advocates: How to Best Communicate AVMA Member Value to our Constituents” and “Economic Dynamics in the U.S. Veterinary Workforce.”
- As a result of discussions on the topic of how delegates can best communicate with their constituents, the HOD approved a resolution calling for the HOD’s House Advisory Committee to form a working group to explore and define delegates’ role as AVMA ambassadors in promoting AVMA member value, reporting back to the HOD at the next meeting (Resolution 15).
- The VIF topic related to economic dynamics in the U.S. veterinary workforce resulted in a resolution conveying a message to the veterinary profession stating, “Your AVMA recognizes the economic, staffing, and morale challenges that currently exist in the U.S. veterinary workforce. Your AVMA is working on these complex problems and will be delivering information to aid in your understanding of these issues, including Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association articles going forward, as well as providing tools to assist you, such as convening the AVMA Veterinary Business and Economic Forum in the fall of 2021 with a focus on these issues.” (Resolution 16) Watch for upcoming articles in JAVMA and other AVMA online publications on this important topic.
The HOD also addressed the following Resolutions on the agenda for this meeting:
- Resolution 8 – Reclassifying Ventilation Shutdown Methods as Not Recommended: The HOD voted to refer the resolution to the AVMA Board of Directors for consideration by the AVMA Panel on Depopulation.
- Resolution 9 – Rules for Officer Election Campaigns: The HOD voted to adopt the resolution.
- Resolution 10 – Policy on Veterinary Compounding: The HOD voted to refer the resolution to the AVMA Board of Directors for further clarification by the AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents.
- Resolution 11 – Revised Policy on Use of Random-Source Dogs and Cats for Research, Testing, and Education: The HOD voted to adopt the resolution.
- Resolution 12 – Revised Policy on Veterinary Foresight and Expertise in Antimicrobial Discussions: The HOD voted to adopt the resolution.
- Resolution 13 – Revised Policy on Notification to the Veterinarian of Violative Residues in Foods of Animal Origin: The HOD voted to adopt the resolution.
- Resolution 14 – Policy on Use of Prescription Drugs in Veterinary Medicine: The HOD voted to refer the resolution to the AVMA Board of Directors for referral to the AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents for further clarification.
It is our pleasure to serve and represent the veterinarians of Washington. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. We welcome your input.
Respectfully submitted, Dr. Diana Thomé, Washington Delegate, and Dr. Gary Marshall, Washington Alternate Delegate
Posted August 20, 2021