Jennifer Fiala

Chicago — If framers of a revision to the American Veterinary Medical Association's (AVMA) governing documents have their way, future presidential races, should they be tied, could come down to a "game of chance."

Philadelphia —Valley Central Emergency Veterinary Hospital plans to fight a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruling that favors the unionization of its staff and orders the practice to pay employees thousands in back pay and interest.

Minneapolis — In the coming months, researchers plan to unveil national statistics designed to map supply and demand of DVMs within the food animal sector.

YARDLEY, PA. — As the profession's watchdogs suggest lawsuits seeking emotional distress damages against veterinarians are on the rise, one lawyer/DVM expert has created the means for calculating and increasing pet worth apart from non-economic relief.

Boise, Idaho — The Idaho State Department of Agriculture plans to shelve legislation that critics say would have demoted the state veterinarian's status in an attempt to cement the position.

Pleasant Hill, Calif. — Increasingly vulnerable to lawsuits and state board complaints, veterinarians remain on the lookout for liability concerns in their practices, and graduates should be aware of the dangers of not working in a legally sound environment.

Chicago — American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) officials report the nation's concern for animal health since last year's hurricanes led to an influx of donations into the once-struggling charity.

Tempe, Ariz. — An activist-backed ballot proposition to eliminate sow gestation stalls in Arizona stands to produce the nation's second state to ban the controversial housing system.

Washington — Federal regulatory agents, at presstime, announced plans to network the national animal identification system (NAIS), linking private and state-operated animal tracking databases.

Schaumburg, ILL. — More than a year after the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) founded its welfare division, group leaders put the brakes on hiring a director in favor of first crafting broad positions on the well-being of animals.

Schaumburg, Ill. — Political jockeying between the American Veterinary Medical Association's (AVMA) ruling parties eases as the organization moves closer to a revised governing accord.

Fort Collins, Colo. — A United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) study reveals antimicrobials have been used more often to treat respiratory disease and mastitis than for all other diseases common among dairy operations.

Schaumburg, Ill. — Illinois, Massachusetts and Chicago City Hall debate it, but the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) appears it will not, for now, address the practice of foie gras production.

Schaumburg, Ill. — The National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues (NCVEI) plans to tackle income disparities between male and female veterinarians.

St. Paul, Minn. — The American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) adopted a position statement reaffirming its war on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) — a disease estimated to cost the industry $560 million annually

Schaumburg, Ill. — American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) leaders approved several positions, recognized diversity and upped convention registration fees starting in 2007 to earn an estimated $86,000 extra.

The federal government wants trend data on outbreaks of zoonotic disease and is looking to corporate veterinary practice to provide it.

Washington — Congress has sent the White House a $101-billion agriculture appropriations measure that earmarks funds for several key veterinary initiatives, including $500,000 for the National Veterinary Medical Services Act (NVMSA).

Santa Rosa, Calif. — Veterinarians are at odds over a ballot initiative opponents suggest could limit the use of recombinant vaccines.

Sacramento, Calif. - New powers proposed for registered veterinary technicians (RVTs) have the California Veterinary Medical Assocation (CVMA) squarely opposed.

Philadelphia — Dr. Joan Hendricks likens her trip toward the University of Pennsylvania's veterinary school deanship to an "emotional roller coaster."

Philadelphia - The "publish or perish" adage in academia rarely applies to veterinary students, yet college leaders claim carrying out scientific research and having it accepted by peer-reviewed journals can boost anyone's job prospects, even those embarking on a clinical career.

Philadelphia — The "publish or perish" adage in academia rarely applies to veterinary students, yet college leaders claim carrying out scientific research and having it accepted by peer-reviewed journals can boost anyone's job prospects, even those embarking on a clinical career.

Looking numb and weary, Dr. Gary Levy stands emotionless in what appears to have been a waiting room. His co-owners fled to higher ground, staff relocated and all that's left is the seemingly insurmountable task of reviving a practice disaster covered in mold, rotting in water and radiating a noxious stench.

Gainesville, Fla. — Media exposure and Internet rumors surrounding canine influenza have scientists and practitioners scrambling to clarify a sea of misinformation.

More than 88 percent of this year's new veterinarians graduated with educational debt averaging $88,077. Now working, they're taking home less than $44,000 a year.

Schaumburg, Ill. — As the government faces accusations it was wildly out of touch on Katrina, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) joins the list of concerned parties seeking after-the-fact answers from federal officials.

Plum Island, N.Y. — The fate of Plum Island's aging research facility hangs in the balance as the government mulls scrapping the laboratories and DVM leaders argue the nation needs higher-level biocontainment capabilities.

Washington — Veterinary and industry officials want the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to clarify an agency leader's negative remark aimed at the use of quantitative risk assessment to ascertain antibiotic drug safety.

Minneapolis — A study confirms the shortage of food animal veterinarians in the United States and offers future estimates on the depth of such deficiencies.