The AVMA Strategic Plan, initiated in 2006, is designed to guide the nation's largest veterinary membership group on profession-related issues. The following five critical areas of issue have been identified as well as a basic framework for addressing them:
Schaumburg, Ill. - An amended policy titled "Castration and dehorning of cattle" includes new pain-control and procedural language.
Schaumburg, Ill. - The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) will create a new series of podcasts for pet owners. It's the association's latest effort to inform the public about issues related to pet health, public health and veterinary medicine.
Portland, Ore. - 5/8/08 - Sharon Harmon, executive director of the Oregon Humane Society, is expected to receive the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Humane Award.
Washington - 5-5/2008 - As Public Service Recognition Week kicks off today, officials at the American Veterinary Medical Association called on Congress to unlock funds to help veterinary educators recruit and train DVMs for this sector.
Bethesda, MD. - The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association (HSVMA) is moving forward to develop the new group, including plans this month to announce leadership council members.
Tampa, Fla. - The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) created a program to evaluate animal-insurance plans as a guide for owners.
Springfield, Ill. - A proposed ban on the use of gas for animal euthanasia, considered inhumane treatment, has come under fire from state veterinary leaders who argue the procedure has merit and should not be outlawed completely.
ST. Paul, Minn. - The state veterinary community is contesting a pending bill that would allow human chiropractors to work on pets without veterinary input, saying it would be one of the "loosest" such laws in the country if passed.
Schaumburg, Ill. - Pet health insurance is on the Group Health and Life Insurance Trust's (GHLIT) agenda, with goals to guide veterinarians on current public offerings and tentative plans to provide its own program one day.
Atlanta - Clare B. Reagan, CAE, joins the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association as its executive director.
Tampa, Fla. - The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) met veterinarian requests for a shorter, more concentrated conference to reduce time spent away from practices, but saw attendance drop slightly from 2007 at its annual conference in late March.
Lakewood, Colo. - Created in 1933 to help "pet doctors" boost the standards of companion-animal care, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) is marking its 75th anniversary.
Sacramento, Calif. - The California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) wants to rid its national counterpart of the vice presidency - an office that critics claim generates more election politics than student interest in the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
Tampa, fla. - An American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) fund that aims to provide quality health care for companion animals received a $50,000 donation from CareCredit at the association's annual convention in late March.
Schaumburg, Ill. - 4/22/08 - American Veterinary Medical Association leaders gave the OK for an exotic companion mammal specialty practice area that focuses on ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, rodents and other small exotic mammals.
Bethesda, Md. - 4/15/08 - The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association (HSVMA) is moving forward to develop the new group, including plans this month to announce leadership council members.
Washington - 4/8/08 - The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) wants veterinarians to pressure lawmakers to support the Senate's version of the Farm Bill.
Madison, Wis. - 4/2/08 - The Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association (WVMA) plans to release guiding principles for large-animal welfare, pending review by the group's Animal Welfare Committee and the Executive Board's final approval in June.
An accurate history is critical to the evaluation of a female animal suspected to be infertile.
Sacramento, Calif. - Longstanding disputes between the California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) and California Veterinary Medical Board (CVMB) came to a head last month, with the introduction of a bill designed to curb the power of regulators.
Sacramento, Calif. - West Hollywood City Council promises to fight California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA)-backed legislation that would bar local governments from criminalizing state regulated and sanctioned procedures.
Hershey, Pa. - The Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA) honored Dr. Michael A. Obenski with the association's 2007 Dr. A. Wayne Mountan Memorial Media Award.
Lexington, Ky. - Members of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and others wishing to submit scientific papers, "how-to" papers and review papers for possible presentation at this year's AAEP convention have until March 14 to submit them online for consideration.
Lexington, Ky. - Revised equine vaccination guidelines - updated by an American Association of Equine Practitioners' (AAEP) committee - reflect new attitudes on infectious diseases, core vaccinations and recent technology.
Twin Cities, Minn. - About 40 veterinarians working in animal rehabilitation created a new organization and set up an annual meeting.
Sacramento, Calif. - The California Veterinary Medical Association's (CVMA) Veterinary Insurance Service Co. (VISC) plans to roll out individual and small-group health-care coverage by April.
Lexington, Ky. - Four American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) leaders want to visit Mexican horse-slaughter plants following widespread reports of equine abuse and inhumane euthanasia.
Kuna, Idaho - Estimates of how much revenue the state might receive from a proposed annual fee for veterinary pharmaceutical firms in Idaho could be inflated by as much as double, according to the Idaho Veterinary Medical Association (IVMA), which is taking a neutral stand on the measure.
Washington- Eric M. McKeeby was named communications manager for the American Veterinary Medical Association's Governmental Relations Division.
