Learn how IDEXX is enhancing the lives of animals, people, and the planet.

IDEXX: Contributing to something bigger

During this interview with dvm360®, Melody Martinez, CVT, president-elect of the Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association, shares her journey to becoming a veterinary technician, and why she believes awareness months are important for educating the public on different demographics and identities. 

The following is a partial transcript of the video.

: If I am really thinking about the importance of these... observed time periods I think it is important because it brings awareness to a specific demographic or specific identity...there is a symbolic important meaning behind these months and it allows us to remember that our country [and] our society is not made up of just one kind of person. 

Videos

In a dvm360® interview, Melody Martinez, CVT, outlines her career in veterinary medicine, and shares the importance of awareness holidays 

Meet MCVMA president-elect: Melody Martinez, CVT

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has exceeded 100,000 members, furthering its growth and increasing its standing as a prominent voice for veterinarians nationwide.

 AVMA membership consists of approximately three-quarters of all US veterinarians, including members in every US state and territory and over 60 countries.

“Almost 160 years ago, about 40 veterinary surgeons from seven states gathered in New York to form what became the American Veterinary Medical Association,” said Janet Donlin, DVM, executive vice president and CEO of the AVMA, in the release. “We are so immensely grateful for the support and commitment of our members, and we are honored to serve them in all that we do, from policy, resources, tools and continuing education, to important advocacy work, insurance plans and so much more."

“When I reflect on the scientific advancements, education, training and expert care that have brought us to this day, and the dedication, compassion and service that our members deliver for our patients and clients on a daily basis, I see an innovative and ethically grounded profession with an amazing past and a very bright future. As always, we are stronger together,” Donlin added.

Millennials (those born between 1981-1996) consist of the largest generation represented in the association’s membership at 37.2%, but AVMA members range from the Greatest Generation (born 1901-1927, at 0.3%) to Generation Z (born 1997-2012, at 0.4%).

Additional generations represented include the Silent Generation (born 1928-1945, 6.2%), Baby Boomers (1946-1964, 25.8%) and Generation X (1965-1980, 30.1%). Those who identify as female consist of 61.5% of AVMA membership (up from roughly 50% in 2010), meanwhile those who identify as male represent 38.4% and those identifying as nonbinary comprise 0.1%.

Reaching 100,000 members is a significant milestone, according to AVMA President Lori Teller, DVM, DABVP (canine/feline), CVJ. This displays the success of AVMA’s efforts have been in meeting the evolving needs of the profession and society.

“Most of our current members can’t remember when society transitioned from horse-and-buggy days to automobiles, and the profession transitioned as well,” she commented, in the release. “The AVMA was there for its members then, and now, as we increasingly incorporate technology into our practices, the AVMA is here to help veterinarians utilize technology appropriately, not be replaced by it.

“The veterinary profession is vibrant because people can do a variety of things with a veterinary degree, and a diversity of opinions allows the AVMA to continue to be relevant,” Teller added. “The AVMA is known as the great convener because we are able to bring together people from diverse backgrounds to work together to find real solutions to problems that everyone can utilize.”

AVMA membership surpasses 100,000. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. September 20, 2022. Accessed September 23, 2022. https://www.avma.org/news/press-releases/avma-membership-surpasses-100000

Articles

The 100,000 milestone signifies a nearly 20% increase in membership over the last decade

AVMA surpasses 100,000 members

Yesterday marked the first day of fall! As you dust off your sweaters, pull out the Halloween decorations, and enjoy a pumpkin coffee, be sure to bring along your phone, laptop, or tablet to catch up on dvm360.com’s latest stories.

Here is what was popular this week on dvm360.com:

 of The Vet Blast Podcast, Jessica Trichel, DVM, sat down with Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, to discuss tips and tricks for those interested in opening their own veterinary practice.

 with dvm360®, Denise Rollings, CVT, VTS, offered an inside look into a lecture she will be delivering at the upcoming Atlantic Coast Veterinary Conference next month in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

In honor of National Cat and Dog Gut Health Awareness Day on September 21, 2022, we put together 3 must-read 

 on gut health in pets, and its importance to overall health. 

During his lecture at the 2022 Fetch dvm360® Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, Steve Dale, CABC, 

 how post-pandemic life has led to an emergence of canine separation anxiety cases.

Earlier this week, the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Center 

 the four 2022 inductees to the Equine Research Hall of Fame. 

Have you registered for our Atlantic Coast Veterinary Conference? Don’t worry there is still time! Join us on October 10-12 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, for a week full of fun and education. Register 

News wrap-up: This week’s headlines, plus tips on starting your own practice 

, Denise Rollings, CVT, VTS (Dentistry) expresses her interest in attending general practice topics at the Atlantic Coast Veterinary Conference (ACVC) including some behavior lectures. She also explains the benefits conferences like ACVC can have for attendees. 

I'm actually looking forward to attending some of the behavior [lectures]. I've been in dentistry for a decade, so I am way out of practice in general practice, especially in nutrition and behavior. 

Denise Rollings, CVT, VTS (Dentistry) discusses what ACVC sessions she is looking forward to attending

Denise Rollings, CVT, VTS (Dentistry) shares her excitement for ACVC

Merck Animal Health has signed a definitive agreement detailing to acquire Vence, a privately held company specializing in virtual fencing for rotational grazing and livestock management, from its founders and shareholders.

the acquisition is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2022, subject to customary closing conditions. Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“The acquisition of Vence will broaden our portfolio with complementary products and technologies to advance animal health and well-being as well as outcomes for our customers,” expressed Rick DeLuca, president, Merck Animal Health, in the release.

“Vence is a natural fit with Merck Animal Health’s growing portfolio of animal intelligence products that include identification, traceability and monitoring products. This new technology will give cow-calf producers the ability to track their cattle and the ability to move them from pasture to pasture,” he added.

Vence delivers advanced technology for producers and ranchers to track, monitor, and manage cattle movement via a high-tech platform of virtual fencing solutions to promote rotational grazing. Vence’s virtual fencing technology can decrease the need for fencing to subdivide pastures. It also enables producers and ranchers to manage their cattle and grass inventory, while reducing costs of labor and fencing materials.

“I believe that Merck Animal Health is the best long-term home for this technology and our team. Their unparalleled expertise in the livestock space, ability to develop and scale hardware products, high-quality customer support, and a strong global footprint to expand Vence’s market reach make us really excited to join Merck Animal Health,” said Frank Wooten, founder and CEO, Vence.

Currently, Vence technology is available in the US and parts of Australia.

Merck Animal Health to acquire Vence. News release. Merck Animal Health. September 22, 2022. Accessed September 23, 2022. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220922005501/en

Vence is an ideal fit with Merck Animal Health’s expanding portfolio of animal intelligence products featuring identification, traceability, and monitoring products 

Merck Animal Health acquires Vence

So I want to close about access to care in general, you know, we know that this is an issue that we see, not just here in this country, but around the world as well. So, you know, what are some things that you can...What do you...I guess some solutions, if you will? You know, pet owners are doing everything they can to try to...maybe driving 4 or 5 hours to see a veterinarian. That's one thing, and then level on the cost of veterinary care that we're talking about. So talk to me a little bit about this.

So when we were talking about access to care, there's multiple facets to it. There is the physical access to care and there's the financial access to care. Physically, even in some highly densely populated areas, there are no veterinarians and easy access, maybe because public transportation doesn't allow pets, the walk's too far, or whatever the case may be. So we need to try to figure out how to increase accessibility to veterinarians and these veterinary deserts, whether it's downtown LA, or the actual desert that you're driving through, but there's a population of people from that standpoint. So how do we act? How do we deal with that in the future? Some of that may come down to telehealth, when it gets down to it. Some may come down to mobile facilities that move around and hit these different areas and pockets. You can even look at a senior center that allows pets as maybe being a veterinary desert, because they may not have the ability to get from that center with their pet to a veterinary hospital, and making maybe having a veterinarian go to the senior center and do rounds or something like that would be a great way to access it. So the physical access is one that is going to take some time and thinking differently to have an answer to the financial access becomes a bit of a challenge as well. We've seen inflation impact everything, cost of gasoline in Southern California, and the state of California is freaking crazy. But it's impacting the cost of veterinary care as well. What we talked about earlier, is the fact that 46% of pet owners are taken aback for lack of a better way to put it by a $500 veterinary bill. Well, that's 4 tanks of gas in California. And so how do we deal with the financial aspects of things? And can we find different business models within our practice, or tangential to our practice, or synergistic with our practice, that allow us to have victory margins that are sufficient, but can bring down the cost of care, so that pet owners can afford basic care, that maybe st allows him to save some money for critical care and emergencies when they occur? I think we have to start to look at new and different business models that make it more affordable for everybody to afford veterinary care, and not just middle class, upper middle class who are even themselves being taxed by the cost of everything else, and now compound that with increasing cost of veterinary care. So how we do that, I think it's going to take some imagination, but we've seen it done in human health care, where they've made it affordable. And I know there's a whole different discussion on insurance. We don't want to go down that rabbit hole. But I do think we need to start to look at business models that are linked to veterinary hospitals that allow us to provide more affordable care for wellness so that there is some money leftover for those times of sickness, and disease and emergencies and injuries and accidents etc.

Yeah, no, it's a problem, but hopefully, there will be some solutions. I think what you're talking about, just changing the model up a little bit, sounds great. You know, and I know that there's a lot of affordable things that in terms of affordable vaccination clinics affordable spay neuters, and we don't like to say low cost anymore. So maybe trying to incorporate that somehow into the model may be a solution going forward. So, excellent. Well, this has been fantastic. Thank you so much, Dr Peter Weinstein for being here. This is fantastic.

My pleasure. And thank you to our friends at Synchrony, CareCredit and Pets Best for being here as well in supporting this session. This has been fantastic. Thank you so much for tuning in. And please stay safe out there and we hope you learned a lot today. Thanks for being on.

Access to veterinary care is a critical issue that can be affected by a practice's business model

SAP Partners