DVM, PhD
Dear WSVMA Colleagues,
I am writing to express my interest in being re-elected to the WSVMA Board of Directors. I strongly believe in the power of unity within our profession and the importance of the support we provide each other through organizations like WSVMA. Our shared oath as veterinarians continues to guide my career and inspire my service to the community.
The challenges of recent years have tested us in unprecedented ways. Yet, we have continued to adapt, to uphold our oath, to care for animals, and to contribute to broader public and global health. I have seen firsthand how WSVMA has stepped up—connecting us across the state and nation, facilitating information sharing, and supporting our collective resilience.
It would be an honor to continue working with the Board to advocate for our members, amplify our diverse voices, and strengthen the network that binds our profession together. I remain deeply committed to collaboration, understanding, and the advancement of veterinary medicine across all sectors.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve. I would be honored to receive your continued support.
Warm regards,
Sally Thompson-Iritani, DVM, PhD
Dr. Sally Thompson-Iritani is the Assistant Vice Provost for Animal Care, Outreach & the 3Rs, and a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at the University of Washington School of Public Health. With over 30 years of experience in animal welfare, regulatory compliance, and preclinical research, Dr. Thompson-Iritani brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to the profession.
She earned her DVM from Iowa State University, completed a residency in laboratory animal medicine, and received her PhD at the University of Washington. She spent 18 years in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry as a Director, Scientist, and Veterinarian, overseeing preclinical product development. She later returned to academia, leading the Office of Animal Welfare at UW and currently overseeing animal care and preclinical research efforts.
Dr. Thompson-Iritani has been an active supporter of WSVMA since 2013 and joined the Leadership Development Committee in 2017. She has served on the Board since 2022, including terms as Treasurer and Vice President. Nationally, she serves on the Board of the American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners (ASLAP) and represents ASLAP as an alternate delegate in the AVMA House of Delegates.
I believe diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just ideals, but daily actions embedded in how we treat others, listen, and lead. My understanding of these concepts has deepened through personal experience: growing up in a non-Mormon household in Utah, navigating gender and height bias in veterinary school, raising biracial children, and reflecting on how assumptions shape our relationships. These moments have taught me to seek empathy over judgment and inclusion over comfort.
Diversity means recognizing the value in perspectives different from our own. Equity is about ensuring everyone has access and is valued for their contributions, not just in words but in compensation, opportunities, and respect. Inclusion is what I strive to practice daily, making others feel welcome and heard, knowing that I often benefit most by expanding my circle.
One moment that stays with me is when my son, asked what kind of shoes kids wore at his public school, simply replied: “I think they are all just tennis shoes.” That is the world I want to help build, one where we look beyond labels and see each other as individuals of equalworth.
