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Empowering VMA Leaders to Create Thriving Organizations

VMAE exists to help veterinary medical association executives create thriving organizations and provide effective leadership in the veterinary profession.

Who We Are

VMAE is the professional home for executives of veterinary medical associations. Our members lead state, regional, and allied VMAs across the country and we support them with the tools, connections, and inspiration they need to succeed.

“I joined VMAE in 2020 soon after becoming CEO of VECCS. I was immediately made welcome by a group of fellow professionals in the same not for profit space. It is hard to summarize all the benefits of being a member of VMAE – great CE both virtual and in-person, collegiality, friendship, and a great network to trouble shoot problems. Highly recommended.”

Dr. Chris Gray
CEO
Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society

“VMAE has been an invaluable resource for me as a new executive and I know it will continue to be as I grow in my career. I enjoy having access to a nation-wide network of industry peers who experience similar challenges and are open to collaboration – and having fun!”

Jamie Falzone
Executive Director
Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association

What We Offer

Peer Connection
Join a national network of VMA leaders who understand your challenges and share your goals. Through our online community, peer groups, and events, members find real-time advice, shared strategies, and trusted support.

    • Access to a national network of VMA executives facing similar governance, membership, and operational challenges
    • Real-time problem solving through dedicated community discussions and benchmarking
    • Trusted environment for sharing strategies, templates, and lessons learned
    • Connections with industry and corporate practices through VMAE’s Strategic Initiative Partners

Leadership Development
Whether you’re new to your role or a seasoned executive, VMAE offers opportunities to learn and grow:

    • Annual in-person summer and fall conferences
    • ThinkWORKS virtual spring workshop
    • Scholarships to attend VMAE events
    • Excellence in Governance sessions at VLC
    • VMA Inspire leadership development certificate program for VMA executives and staff
    • Scholarships for MentorVet mentorship program
    • Volunteer service on a VMAE committee or task force

Practical Resources
VMAE curates tools and best practices including:

    • Power of 10 – leadership development program for early-career veterinarians
    • Veterinary Practice Health webinars and podcasts you can offer to your members free of charge
    • Journey – VMAE’s guide to building conscious inclusion in VMAs
    • Wellbeing support for veterinary professionals
    • Governance & Leadership – including board orientation, position descriptions, and assisting VMAs with recruiting and hiring staff
    • Speaker and vendor databases for VMAs to share recommendations
    • GENUS – leadership and business development newsletter for you to share with your members
    • Resources on engaging new graduates
    • Advocacy and communications strategies
    • Video decoding the veterinary association ecosystem and its common abbreviations and acronyms

…and much more!

In short, helping and supporting one another is VMAE’s core. As a community of association professionals dedicated to supporting and enhancing the efforts of organized veterinary medicine, VMAE fosters communication, cooperation, and learning for our mutual benefit.

What We Offer

Peer Connection

Join a national network of VMA leaders who understand your challenges and share your goals. Through our online community, peer groups, and events, members find real-time advice, shared strategies, and trusted support.

Leadership Development
Whether you’re new to your role or a seasoned executive, VMAE offers opportunities to grow:

  • Annual Summer and Fall Conferences
  • ThinkWORKS Virtual Spring Conference
  • VMA Inspire for emerging leaders
  • Scholarships

Practical Resources

VMAE curates tools and guidance on critical topics, including:

  • Veterinary Practice Health Webinars
  • Journey – VMAE’s Guide to building DEI in VMAs
  • Workforce Wellbeing
  • Governance & Leadership – Including resources to assist VMAs with recruiting and hiring VMA staff
  • Speakers Database and a Vendors Database
  • Animal Welfare
  • Engaging New Graduates
  • Advocacy and Communications Strategies

Just a few of the 90+ organizations involved

Membership Options

VMAE Membership is open to the chief executive officer identified by each qualifying veterinary medical association
or to any paid executive staff member of the qualifying veterinary medical association.

Individuals not meeting the membership qualifications as stated in the VMAE bylaws may apply for Affiliate membership.

  • Individual

  • $322yr

    • Available to any paid executive staff member (other than the chief paid executive) of a veterinary medical association, as defined in the bylaws.

Best price

  • Organizational

  • $322yr

    • Available to the Chief Staff Executive (Executive Director or CEO) of a veterinary medical association, as defined in the bylaws. If the association does not retain staff, the volunteer officer who has chief administrative responsibility for management of the association is eligible for Organizational membership.

  • Affiliate

  • $322yr

    • Affiliate members are individuals who do not meet criteria for organizational or individual membership but whose expertise and work in the veterinary profession is valued by VMAE. Affiliate members are considered on a case-by-case basis and approved by the Board of Directors. Click here for the policy on Affiliate membership.