DeHaven's hiring triggers AVMA leadership shuffle

SCHAUMBURG, ILL. — Former government official Dr. Ron DeHaven's hiring to the American Veterinary Medical Association's top position appears to have prompted a series of high-level job changes within the membership organization.

The domino effect kicked off in July, with then-Assistant Executive Vice President Dr. Janet Donlin's announcement that she would resign her second-in-command seat. The 16-year association veteran accepted a position at Hill's Pet Nutrition as the company's top veterinarian executive. Donlin, who once appeared groomed to take over AVMA's executive vice presidency following Dr. Bruce Little's retirement, lost her bid for the job to DeHaven but has not commented about whether her decision to leave was related to that.

To fill the void caused by Donlin's departure, newly appointed DeHaven, former head of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), moved Dr. Lyle Vogel to the position. The former AVMA Animal Welfare Division director will hold the title unofficially until November, when the Executive Board meets and can formally approve his promotion.

"Dr. Vogel is highly respected for his expertise, both by the AVMA staff and our stakeholders," DeHaven says in prepared statement. "That experience and expertise, plus his proven management skills, will serve the association well during this transition period."

That shift means Dr. Gail Golab also moves up the AVMA food chain, at least on an interim basis until Vogel is confirmed.

Dr. Janet Donlin

But as Golab, widely regarded as an unmatched welfare authority at AVMA, takes Vogel's director position, her associate seat within the Animal Welfare Division remains vacant.

Dr. Lyle Vogel

That adds to the division's four other staff openings. The assistant director job will focus on food-supply veterinary medicine and welfare issues in that arena.