This session offers a comprehensive overview of the current economic landscape affecting veterinary practices. Attendees will gain insights into key economic indicators, workforce demographics, and trends impacting the veterinary profession. The presentation will synthesize data from recent AVMA research, including the Pet Demographics Survey, Graduating Senior Survey, Census of Veterinarians, and the Practice Owner Survey, providing a holistic view of the profession’s economic health.
This session is designed for veterinary practice leaders seeking to align their operations with the latest economic developments in the profession.
Participants will emerge from this session with the ability to:
Dr. Christopher Doherty, MBA, CBV
Assistant Director Strategic Business Research and Outreach, AVMA
Christopher Doherty, DVM, MBA, CBV, is assistant director for strategic business research and outreach at the AVMA. Dr. Doherty obtained his DVM degree at the Ontario Veterinary College, his MBA at McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business, and is a chartered business valuator.
In his role with the AVMA, he analyzes data pertaining to new and early career veterinarians, as well as the veterinary labor market, and works in tandem with the rest of the Veterinary Economics Division team to aide in the translation of research findings into tools, resources, and actionable items that veterinarians can utilize and implement in their practices and their careers.
Katelyn McCullock, MS
Chief Economist/ Division Director Veterinary Economics, AVMA
Katelyn McCullock the AVMA’s chief economist and is responsible for leading the Veterinary Economics Division. She has over 15 years’ experience working in the field of agricultural economics with a focus around livestock economics. Prior to joining AVMA, McCullock ran the Livestock Marketing Information Center, which specializes in livestock marketing economics and commodity forecasting. She has worked in various roles related to livestock agriculture including advocacy and animal welfare work with American Farm Bureau Federation.
Katelyn earned her bachelor of science in agribusiness and resource management, minor in economics, from the University of Maine-Orono. She attended graduate school at Colorado State University where she earned a master of science in agricultural economics.
A misconception about artificial intelligence (AI) devices is that because the software or devices are not regulated by the federal government, the use of them is not regulated. Failing to recognize this put licensees at risk for disciplinary action by regulatory boards. This presentation will summarize common and current laws that govern the practice of veterinary medicine and how these laws apply to use of Artificial Intelligence. It will also address new concerns that veterinarians need to be aware of as they start using AI, such as automation bias, hallucinations, and black boxes. This presentation will be based on the white paper that AAVSB released earlier this year: Regulatory Considerations for the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Veterinary Medicine.
Participants will emerge from this session with gained knowledge on the importance of integrating best practices into their use of AI, to prevent future civil lawsuits or disciplinary action. Participants will be more aware of the affects that automation bias holds on medical decisions and the importance of obtaining informed consent prior to the use of AI.
Beth Venit, VMD, MPH, DACVPM
Dr. Beth Venit, VMD, MPH, DACVPM, is the first Chief Veterinary Officer of the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). Her work focuses on providing regulatory and licensure support to veterinary regulatory boards, performing outreach to all stakeholders within the veterinary profession, and providing education on relevant topics such as Spectrum of Care, veterinary technician utilization, and the use of emerging technology in veterinary medicine. Before joining AAVSB, Dr. Venit practiced emergency and general veterinary medicine for over a decade and held an AAAS Fellowship with the U.S. Department of State, where she specialized in global biorisk management for the prevention of zoonotic diseases. Through her work at AAVSB, she continues to participate in critical conversations at the intersection of veterinary care, public protection, and the future of the profession.
