Banfield released two new resources for veterinary professionals at the Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX). Julie Heade, Industry Relations Specialist at Banfield Pet Hospital, supplied the following information on each resource to disseminate as you see fit, including a one-pager outlining key findings from the 2018 VET Report. Please feel free to use the information below in a newsletter or other communications to your members. If you have any questions about either of these resources, please reach out to Julie Heade  at Julie.Heade@banfield.com or 360-784-5234. With over 1,000 hospitals across the...

Today VMAE is launching a new structure of communications channels that reflect the evolution of our organization, the heightened pace at which information is flowing (in VMAE, in the veterinary community, in the world!), and the valuable information resources our partners are making available to us. Here’s a quick rundown of the VMAE channels: VMAE listserv – Designed for member-to-member connections and interaction about association management, topics related to the veterinary profession, idea exchanges, best practices, etc.  Listserv interactions are archived and searchable through the website. VMAE Peer to Peer...

VMAE | ThinkWORKS 2018 is just around the corner (April 12-14 in Houston) on the topic Diversity & Inclusion: A Roadmap for Success in Organized Veterinary Medicine and the Veterinary Profession. ThinkWORKS provides an opportunity to take a deep dive into the concepts of D&I, with the aid of a stellar line-up of issue illuminators who will share expertise and wisdom with participants. Since colleges of veterinary medicine are actively developing and implementing D&I strategies, VMAE has invited members of AAVMC to join us in Houston to enrich the dialog...

AAVSB (the American Association of Veterinary State Boards) is seeking input on telehealth language for the AAVSB model veterinary practice act. In September 2016 at the AAVSB Annual Meeting & Conference, Member Boards focused discussions on veterinary telehealth and the implications to the regulation of veterinary medicine. The AAVSB Regulatory Policy Task Force (RPTF) gathered input from those discussions to produce a series of telehealth talking points which were shared with AAVSB Member Boards at the 2017 AAVSB Annual Meeting & Conference. The RPTF, which is composed of 12 volunteers...

Executives from Amazon revealed bold plans for the pet category during a presentation at last week’s Pet Industry Leadership Conference in Naples, FL. Pet Business columnist Mark Kalaygian commented that “What they said will almost certainly have huge implications for brick-and-mortar pet retailers” – and the points he raises are of interest to observers of the pet category. You can read his column here....

A colleague of mine is fond of saying “Don’t just do something – sit there!” I’ve kept that admonition on a sticky note that I see when I open my desk drawer, a simple reminder about the value of taking time to contemplate, to stare out the window, to reflect. Often our busy days force us to do, do, do and then do some more, inhibiting our good intentions do less and think more. Enter VMAE | Thinkworks 2018. A perfect opportunity for a deep dive with a stellar faculty into...

As noted in a communication on Thursday, it was announced by Dr. Janet Donlin on Friday morning that VMAE is now receiving association management services through AVMA. Lisa Perius captured the announcement in a brief video in case you weren’t able to be in the ballroom for the VLC Plenary Session. One point to add is that the arrangement with AVMA does not change Tesha’s relationship with or service to VMAE — she and I will continue to be your staff team. Ralph Johnson, CEO | VMAE ...

Kelli Albarado - Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Society (Director of Operations) Forrest Bell - New England VMA Matthew Fernandez - Florida VMA (Program Manager) Fred Gingrich, DVM - American Association of Bovine Practitioners Tenley Haack - Idaho & Wyoming VMA Diane Matt, CAE - Colorado VMA Victoria Staples - West Virginia VMA Ann Wade - Florida VMA (Executive Assistant) We look forward to your active participation in VMAE and hope you find your membership valuable!...