About Us
VMX Like 0
INSTITUTE
Industry Services
EDUCATION
VETFOLIO
VIC
Spark!
PUBLICATIONS
News
EXHIBITORS & SPONSORS
Share
Tweet
NAVC
26K likes
Like Page
Chris Kelly is the founder of Veterinary Advantage Magazine and has served as its president and publisher since its inception in 2008. Prior to that he was President and Publisher of MDSI, a leading healthcare publishing firm he founded with a partner in 1993.
Be the first of your friends to like this
Kelly received his BS in Business and Economics from the University of New Hampshire. He grew up the oldest of seven children in Skaneateles, NY, where he and his wife Lynn, also a Skaneateles native, still own a summer home. Chris and Lynn have three children: Paige Kelly Ellington who serves as Veterinary Advantage’s digital strategist and production manager, Connor, and Shannon and their ‘pure bred’ rescue mutt Riley.
NAVC on Friday
Agree or Disagree? Share your thoughts
Chris Kelly
5
NAVC acquired Veterinary Advantage Magazine and its related products in late January 2017. Kelly and his team are now a part of the NAVC family, and the Veterinary Advantage products are official publications of the NAVC. The acquisition positions the NAVC publishing division as the largest in the veterinary industry, with plans to launch new publications and services in the very near future.
4
2
NAVC: Welcome to the NAVC family! Our relationship is such a natural fit, one that complements the existing products and services of both organizations. What are your hopes for how customers and readers will benefit? Kelly: Thank you. We are all thrilled to be a part of the NAVC. Culturally, it is a perfect fit and has felt comfortable since the first day I sat down with Tom Bohn, Gene O’Neill and Mark Cushing to chat about the possibilities. I believe there are numerous benefits to both NAVC and Vet-Advantage customers and readers. At the core of it is the recognition of the importance of the business side of animal health and the supply chain. Both are critical in terms of creating financially healthy practices and increasing standards of care. Having the resources and reach of the NAVC will significantly benefit our current product portfolio, and we expect to actively add new products and increase the value we bring to our readers and customers. It will also allow us to commercialize certain digital products and apps directly to the NAVC audience of veterinarians, technicians and office personnel, that will help them better manage their businesses. A key component of managing business that we will be introducing this summer is a new publication, Today’s Veterinary Business, which will be the only publication focused solely on the business side of the practice. NAVC: We’re intrigued by The Fountain Report, your subscription news service to animal health executives and managers that keeps them up-todate on industry activities. What feedback do you get about the publication? Kelly: High level executives tell us they value the fact we aggregate the things they need to know into a single document they can read at their leisure, along with updates on M&A and true sales numbers. Bob Fountain and Duane Thurman, ex-Pfizer Animal Health Executives who are animal health experts, developed the concept and have been publishing it for the last 15 years. We purchased it in 2016. They have remained involved on a consulting basis to maintain the integrity of the information we gather. We are also jointly developing and marketing custom reports which we will launch this year. Much of our focus over the past year has been on improving the technology, delivery and readability of the Fountain Report. We are pleased that the feedback has been very positive. We are getting ready to launch a new website with access to the reports, as well as company profiles on the top animal health companies, which we hope will greatly expand the value of the service and our readership. NAVC: Your end of 2016 letter to your Companion magazine readers was optimistic. Excerpt: “Perhaps most encouraging is our customers seem to be doing well. Pet ownership is back to pre-recession levels, and as a result visits to the vet are up, practice revenue is up, and millennials should continue to drive those numbers in a positive direction. The overall spend on veterinary care increased by almost 5 percent year over year, and according to the APPA, the business will reach almost $63 billion in 2016.” In your opinion, is this a sustainable trend? Kelly: I am by nature an optimist. The economy seems to be picking up, people are feeling more confident, and the market has been on a nice run since November. Couple this with the growing pet ownership numbers and the outlook is positive. There are certainly threats to this trend though. The increase in pet spending is coming primarily from well-to-do clients and new client visits are down, meaning the increase in practice revenue may be coming primarily from price increases. Long term that is not sustainable. For practices across the board to stay Kelly’s dog healthy, we will need to get lower income clients back to the vet, which is good for both the pet and the practice. This will require out-of-the-box thinking, and perhaps new models of care to attract clients from all economic sectors. These changes are starting to happen, and for the good of the industry, I’m hopeful it is veterinarians leading the change. NAVC: Please tell us about changes you see coming to the tax code and regulatory environment in the industry in 2017. Kelly: The talk of lower taxes and fewer regulations is certainly a driver in the market’s recent performance. Whether our representatives in Washington can actually come to an agreement and get something done is the big question. If they do, my sense is we could see a very robust economic picture moving forward. We came out of the great recession with very slow growth, much slower than in past recessions. If we lower the regulatory and tax barriers and get back to 3% GDP growth, that would cure a lot of ills. It would be great for the economy and bode quite well for veterinary practices as well. NAVC: What is your management style? What do you hope you are known for among your employees? Kelly: I’m a pretty hands-off manager. I’ve always tried to hire smart, motivated people who are self-starters and just get the job done. As a result, we have been blessed with people who are collaborative, talented and driven. We are all dedicated to making sure our customers have a great experience when they interact with us, and we strive to continually improve our products. You might say we are doing our best to live up to our tagline of ‘promoting excellence’ although this doesn’t mean we are perfect! In terms of what I hope I am known for among my employees – which is that I value them, their contributions and always have their best interests at heart. NAVC: What’s the primary source of satisfaction that you receive in your work? Kelly: I really enjoy being an entrepreneur. I love creating a vision, doing the research, talking with experts, building a team, and creating new products and services. It is a very satisfying experience to bring a product to market that delivers value, helps solve problems and spreads knowledge. I also love seeing my team grow personally and professionally – in their capabilities, vision and confidence. Fighting to build successful products, enduring the ups and downs, being persistent and bold inspires people and promotes that growth. The beauty of the relationship with NAVC is it allows us to do exactly what we have been doing, albeit on a larger platform with additional resources. We have so many interesting projects in the works that I get amped up just thinking about it. We have also have gained new team members at NAVC that will add to the experience. The talent they have put together in Gainesville, Orlando, and around the country is top notch, and we are very happy to be a part of it. NAVC: What are you learning now, personally and professionally? How do you find the time? Kelly: I will say I haven’t had much time for learning over the past six months. Between getting things worked out with NAVC, working on new projects, wrapping up the year-end, integration, 2017 planning, and industry conferences, it has been a bit crazy. On top of that, on the personal side we had our youngest graduate from high school, win a state lacrosse championship and then leave for college, all while planning for the wedding of her oldest sister last October. Looking back, I’ve probably learned quite a bit through it all, although it would be nice to find some time to properly synthesize it! NAVC: We understand that you enjoy lots of sports, yet it seems your involvement in lacrosse surpasses the others. What is it about lacrosse that you like so much? Kelly: I love sports. While I don’t play lacrosse any longer, I do continue to play basketball, work out, golf, hike, paddleboard and ski. Lacrosse is my passion though. I have played since 4th grade, all through college and on club teams until just a few years ago. The sport has given me more than I could ever give back and I will always be involved in it in some way. I coached for 15 years and retired four years ago. Fortunately my son Connor is a JV coach at a local high school, so I try to live vicariously though him! The primary reason I retired from coaching was to watch my youngest daughter play high school lacrosse. Watching her prepare, work hard, bond with her teammates and fight to win a state championship in her senior year was my Chris and his daughter most enjoyable time in sports – I know the game has done as much for her as it has done for me, and that is very gratifying.
Ben co-founded Whistle as an Entrepreneur in Residence at DCM Ventures in Menlo Park, CA, combining a personal love of animals with his academic and professional experience across the U.S. and China. Ben was inspired to find a way for people to better understand and care for our pets – everyone’s favorite family members. Whistle launched with the Whistle Activity Monitor in 2013, catalyzing the pet tech category and the conversation around the role technology can play in a pet’s overall health. After hearing from customers that many owners fear losing their pet, Whistle focused on bringing a location monitoring solution to the platform – culminating in the acquisition of Tagg, a former Qualcomm subsidiary, and integration of best-in-breed GPS tracking hardware with Whistle software.
Ben Jacobs Co-founder and CEO of Whistle & Speaker at the Veterinary Innovation Summit*, March 28-30, 2017
Prior to launching Whistle, Ben received his B.A. and M.A. in East Asian Studies at Yale University. After college, he worked as a consultant at Bain, where he was able to work closely with great brands and organizations across various fields, including technology, private equity and consumer goods. Today, Ben oversees the Whistle team as it maintains its position as the category leader in pet technology. Whistle creates smart products and a mobile platform that seeks to help pets live longer, healthier and happier lives. Through intuitive devices like the Whistle GPS Tracker and Whistle Activity Monitor, and the largest comparative database of pet health information, Whistle is fueling groundbreaking insights to enable a new era of preventative care for pets. The San Franciscobased company is backed by DCM, NGP, and other leading venture firms and executives across the pet, retail, and technology industries. www.whistle.com. About the Veterinary Innovation Summit Texas A&M University and the NAVC are proud to introduce a ground-breaking CE event, the Veterinary Innovation Summit, April 28-30, in College Station, Texas. This event is for innovative thinkers and disruptors that welcome change and growth; it’s a one-of-a-kind CE opportunity. Dedicated to sparking and fostering ingenuity, the Veterinary Innovation Summit offers a combination of unique programming, a diverse attendee pool and an immersive learning environment. Get fresh perspectives from veterinary and non-veterinary entrepreneurs and health professionals on the latest technologies in veterinary healthcare. Participate in interactive “Speaker Conversations” about the future of veterinary practice and enjoy positive, creative conversations among veterinary innovation and design competition finalists. Learn about experiences, successes and failures from business owners during “Founders Fireside Chats.” Listen to and participate in debates on controversial issues in “Collision Panels.” NAVC: We’ve heard about your legendary passion for pets. What “call to action” are you going to issue at the Veterinary Innovation Summit? What’s your approach to connecting with an audience? Jacobs: Our call to action is pretty simple – let’s make caring for our pets smarter and more intuitive. Whistle was founded on our love of pets and to improve their lives as they improve ours. With our products, like our new Whistle 3 pet tracker, we give pets a voice and give you a little more information to make important decisions about their health. When speaking with a new audience, I like to begin by sharing about my own relationship with my dog Duke. Since we started Whistle in 2012, he’s been by my side as my colleague, my commuting buddy, and a constant reminder of why my cofounders and I set out to build a company with a purpose.
Ben’s dog, Duke
NAVC: Tell us about Whistle having office pets. In full disclosure, we’ll share that NAVC staff members can bring their pets to work; it provides instant therapy for the animals and us! Jacobs: In short, it keeps us honest. It’s easy to get swept away by a demanding schedule or to be overwhelmed with an engineering or business challenge and miss the forest for the trees. Having pets in the office keeps us close to our mission, and they’ll gladly bring us back on track if they see us taking life too seriously. Whether it’s Duke trotting and rounding up the other dogs like he owns the place, or our HR director’s Basset Hound making his rounds for belly rubs, the dogs remind us of what we’re in the office to do. It can get a little nutty with roughly a dozen dogs roaming our SF headquarters, but I think I speak for everyone when I say it’s a great perk of the job.
Ben and Duke
NAVC: We admit to spending an extraordinary amount of time enjoying the lost dog/found dog stories on your website from pet owners expressing their gratitude for the Whistle GPS Pet Tracker. We like to imagine you reading them aloud in staff meetings. What do those stories mean to you and your staff? Jacobs: These stories are why we do what we do. The office buzzes every time we hear from a user who prevented their Houdini from a sneaky escape or was able to intercept their intrepid explorer and bring them home safely. I love knowing that we empowered a pet owner to provide protection and care to their best friend in a moment when they needed it most. We listen very closely to our users’ feedback, whether it’s these encouraging save stories, small feature requests, or ways we can improve. Listening and responding to their stories is how we can become an every day partner in pet care for each of our Whistle users. NAVC: Do you have a mentor? Do you serve as a mentor? Jacobs: I’m a big believer that you should always be learning. I received that advice from some of our investors and advisors early on in building Whistle, all of whom I respect quite a bit. I make it a point to be learning constantly from people in my network and take time to share things I’ve learned along the way with other entrepreneurs. If you’re not learning from your team and others outside of your company, you are ultimately going to be slowing down both your progress and the progress of the company. NAVC: If time, talent and money were no barriers, what innovations or discoveries do you think would benefit veterinarians the most? Jacobs: As with humans, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I’d love to find a way to prompt and encourage pet owners to visit the vet consistently and proactively. As we know, pet owners are putting more and more time between vet visits and missing opportunities for preventive care. Finding that practical nudge that helps pet owners spend more time partnering with their vet and understanding their pet’s unique health needs will be a big benefit for veterinarians and our beloved pets.
Dr. Gail Gibson is a companion animal practitioner at the Animal Medical Clinic, Inc. in Skowhegan, Maine. She came to Skowhegan years ago with her husband, Jack, a native of the area. After spending a year working on large animals, she joined her husband at the Clinic and has been there ever since. Dr. Gibson graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science degree in pre-veterinary medicine and animal science. She started work on her Master of Science degree only to be accepted the following year at the Gail Gibson, VMD University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine. After four years of study she graduated in 1982 where she received her VMD. Dr. Gibson has been active in the Maine Veterinary Medical Association and has served as Chairman of the State Board of Veterinary Medicine. She’s very involved in her community, having served as President of the local Rotary club as well as serving on the New England Board of the American Red Cross. Dr. Gibson’s interests include ophthalmology and dermatology. NAVC: Congratulations on being our incoming President of the NAVC Board of Directors! What strengths and hopes do you bring to the table? Dr. Gibson: Thank you! I’m really looking forward to the wonderful collaboration within our industry for which NAVC is known. I’m a people person so I’m anxious to make personal connections with the many organizations, companies, and individuals that we serve. I hope to be a very approachable President for all members of the veterinary healthcare team. I’ll really be looking for their input. NAVC: What’s the most exciting thing about being in the position of leading NAVC at this time in their history? Dr. Gibson: Exciting is exactly how it feels! I’m a veterinarian from a rural area who has had the great fortune to, not only work with an amazing Board of Directors and staff, but also to move into a leadership position. That’s a lot to take in for a small town veterinarian from Maine! I really am humbled by the opportunity. NAVC: How has the NAVC as an organization changed since you first became involved in (year)? What is it about NAVC that has kept you intrigued and involved? Dr. Gibson: Change is our middle name! When I first joined the Board of Directors, we were primarily involved with organizing an annual conference that took place in Orlando in January and in providing week long intensive study in one subject at our NAVC Institute. Now we have moved into other areas as well where we can provide quality continuing education through other forums. Vetfolio, which provides resources on the Internet for your entire practice, offers CE courses, web conferences, and more. We also publish two outstanding journals, Today’s Veterinary Practice and Today’s Veterinary Technician. Also a little more than a year ago, we became involved with helping with management of smaller associations and with helping them host conferences for their organizations. I’ve only touched on a few of our services but they all are meant to help our industry. Our next venture is going to be creating an annual conference on the west coast in Portland, Oregon, called NAVC Live. We want our colleagues that may be too far away from Florida to have an opportunity to experience an innovative NAVC conference nearer to them. We’re also going to expand our Institute to include week long study in Buffalo, New York, called NAVC Discovery. All very exciting stuff. NAVC: What advice do you have for rural practices that experience challenges hiring and keeping qualified employees? Dr. Gibson: You have hit on one of the most challenging aspects of my veterinary career. It has been difficult to say the least to attract and then keep veterinarians to rural areas. I try to convey to candidates the wonderful lifestyle that can be enjoyed in our area, the close personal relationships that you develop with your clients, and the wide array of cases that you get to handle in the practice. It’s usually not the salary or the benefits that are the problem because, if anything, they are better than what is being offered elsewhere. I wish I had the answer because I’d never want to live anywhere else. NAVC: NAVC relies on partnerships and sponsorships to produce quality events and affordable onsite and online education. What’s in it for those willing to invest in NAVC? Why are we a good choice? Dr. Gibson: Our partners and sponsors are invaluable. Without them we could never produce such an all-encompassing conference as we do or publish such valuable journals that keep our veterinary healthcare team current in this ever changing world. They help form the backbone of not only the NAVC Conference but all of the programs that we offer. We are a progressive and collaborative organization in a large industry that really benefits from our work. Part of why I love being a part of NAVC is because we approach every project with a “How can we help?” attitude. I think that makes us a great choice for our partners and sponsors. NAVC: You have a lot to be proud of. What accomplishments do you hold most dear? And what are you looking forward to? Dr. Gibson: So many people end up in careers that they grow tired of. I am so lucky that I still love and have great enthusiasm for veterinary medicine. My husband, Dr. Jack Gibson, and I bought a small veterinary practice years ago and, with the help of a great staff, we have built it into a four doctor practice that provides quality medical and surgical services while emphasizing customer service. Professionally, this is my greatest accomplishment. Personally, and more importantly, we have raised two accomplished children with good hearts, Reid and Lisa. Family means more to me than anything. We are anxiously awaiting our 5th granddaughter to join Alyssa, Amanda, Mya, and Briana! Life is never dull at our house! NAVC: Is there any program that NAVC offers that we may not know about? Dr. Gibson: I’m so glad you’ve asked because one of the most satisfying areas of NAVC in which I have been involved has been the Colin F. Burrows International Scholars Program. Through a partnership with WSAVA, we locate veterinarians throughout the world who, with some help from NAVC, can create continuing education for their colleagues. We sponsor them by providing them with airfare, hotel, meals and a stipend so they can attend our annual conference in Orlando. Once they’re here, we involve them in all the aspects of creating a CE conference so they can replicate the experience back home. All the scholars that I’ve worked with have been just wonderful people; they are all so appreciative of our efforts. It has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my time on the NAVC Board.
Dr. Lester is Principal/Executive Vice President of Relationships for LegacyVet, a new veterinary lead organization that offers veterinarians a unique business strategy that preserves and grows their practice legacy. Previously he was Assistant Dean for Clinical Relations at Lincoln Memorial University and a founding member of the LMU College of Veterinary Medicine. Before that, Dr. Lester was Vice President of University and Professional Relations for Mars Inc./Banfield Pet Hospital. Dr. Lester was amongst the founding leadership team of Banfield Pet Hospitals. Prior to that Bob had a small town mixed animal practice.
Robert Lester, DVM
He earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Oregon State University/Washington State University, a Bachelor of Science degree in Veterinary Science from Washington State University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from Oregon State University. Dr. Lester is a graduate of the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges Leadership Academy. NAVC: Welcome to the NAVC Board of Directors. Your 25 plus years of medical and operational experience, ranging from being an owner/operator of a small rural veterinary practice to Fortune 500 executive leadership, and academic administration, make your perspective particularly valuable. What are your hopes for your service on the NAVC board? Dr. Lester: I admire progressive organizations that are willing to challenge the status quo and drive growth. NAVC is just such an organization. It is rapidly becoming the thought leader in our great profession. I hope to contribute to NAVCs forward looking strategic initiatives, support senior leadership, and continue to drive positive change in our ever evolving profession. NAVC: We are intrigued by your new start up, LegacyVet. How’s it going? What prompted the career change? Dr. Lester: Excellent! Doctor engagement to date has far exceeded our wildest expectations. Practice owners, particularly baby boomers like me, are looking to sell their practice. Managing practices optimally has become increasingly complex, competition has grown, younger veterinarians are not as interested in ownership, and practices have never been worth more than they are right now. All of this has combined to make this a great time for owners to explore new options for their practice. LegacyVet works hard to develop strong trusting relationships with owners to determine their aspirations for their practice, their team members, and their next career step. When we allow a practice to join us we place a transition team consisting of a past practice owner and a hospital director in the practice to work side by side with the doctor and his/her team. We spend several months working with their team to learn the things that have made them successful, and to share our tools, benefit packages, career paths, buying power, wellness plans, and management experience and support. Our model is unique. We are doctors serving doctors. We’ve been practice owners. We’ve been senior executives at the largest veterinary practices. We simply apply all that we have learned in serving doctors and enhancing the legacy that they have worked so hard to build. We both maximize the financial reward the owner has worked so hard for and preserve and enhance their legacy. My career change was prompted by the opportunity to work with trusted friends to launch a veterinary owned and lead practice, committed to building relationships with practice owners and providing wise stewardship of their practice. Veterinarians working with veterinarians. What could be more fun? NAVC: What advice do you have to veterinarians who might be considering a career change? Dr. Lester: I remain as excited about our profession today as the day I was accepted to veterinary school. Our profession is booming. From clinical practice, to industry, to academia and beyond. The pet family bond continues to grow, pet ownership is up, pet spending is up, euthanasia’s are down, pet lifespans are up, One Health is taking hold, global protein needs continue to grow. The future is bright. I encourage colleagues to find their happy place. There is so much going on in veterinary medicine, there are professionally fulfilling roles for everyone. NAVC: You are known for your outstanding leadership roles throughout your career. Did you have a mentor? Have you served as a mentor? Tell us what you think makes an effective leader different from an effective manager. Dr. Lester: I aspire to be a mentor and hope that I have helped others along the way. I very much enjoy working with students and newer graduates. I’ve had several mentors of my own. The most important being my original business partner and friend Dr. Dave Larsen in Sweet Home, Oregon. Dave has the classic small town James Herriot mixed animal practice. We did it all. I learned from Dave all the things I didn’t figure out in veterinary school. Incidentally, after a long and successful career caring for all creatures great and small, Dave is about to begin a well-earned retirement. Management and leadership are critical to any organizations success. Warren Bennis’ quote resonates with me – “Leaders do the right thing, managers do things right.” Good words to lead by. NAVC: Relationship building appears to be in your DNA. What guidance can you share about what has worked best for you in establishing and nurturing key relationships? Dr. Lester: Ours is a small profession. If you hang around long enough you get to meet everyone. I sincerely enjoy catching up with and learning from everyone that has chosen to be a part of this profession. My only guidance would be to encourage everyone to get involved. Volunteer, join a committee, task force, civic organization. I learn so much by simply participating. Woody Allen said, “Eighty percent of success is just showing up.” NAVC: You’ve described yourself as “a passionate believer in the veterinary profession’s double bottom line proposition of doing well by doing good.” Makes good sense. We’d like to know more about why you believe that’s important. Dr. Lester: Ours is a calling. Many of us knew we wanted to be in this profession from an early age. What we provide to society is so unique and so important. It not only satisfies a universal need to give back and do worthwhile work, but it can also provide for a very nice livelihood. NAVC: What do you see as the key strategic advantage our profession has in its work to serve society? Dr. Lester: The most valuable asset we have as veterinary professionals comes from the high esteem that we are held in by the society we serve. Veterinarians are viewed favorably by 97% of pet owners. In survey after survey, veterinarians are ranked as the second most admired profession. That high regard society places in our profession allows us to have the success and impact we’ve always enjoyed. Given the caliber of people we continue to attract to this profession, I suspect we’ll become the most admired profession someday. In the meantime, nurses hold that spot. NAVC: What do you do for fun? Over the years, have you had one particularly favorite pastime? Dr. Lester: I love spending time with my family. My wife Crystal, and teenage daughters Paige and McKenzie. Our family are complete Disney freaks. When we’re not at Disney Land, we’re at Disney World, or on a Disney Cruise or …. Disney shareholders really should be sending us thank you cards.
NAVC welcomes Laura Walker, our new Senior VP of Sales & Publishing. In this role, Walker will oversee the creation and implementation of an organization-wide strategic business plan that elevates the unification of our sponsorship, exhibits, advertising and publishing efforts. Her role includes oversight of the publishing of Today’s Veterinary Practice and Today’s Veterinary Technician, the official journals of the NAVC. Her initial priorities include building cross-platform packages to maximize exposure and increase value to our Industry Partners.
Laura Walker and her yellow lab, Athena
Laura has nearly 20 years’ experience in special interest digital and print media working with both B2B and B2C brands. She joins the NAVC with a diverse background in sales, marketing and publishing and brings a proven track record of developing results-driven campaigns for a wide range of industries and international clients. Laura graduated from the University of Georgia with degrees in Journalism and Sociology. NAVC: We’re delighted you are on the NAVC team! You have outstanding experience across industries and across the globe. What would you like for us to know about you as we are getting acquainted? Laura: I am equally delighted to be here! What is there to know about me? Hmmm. I ask a lot of questions. I like to find answers and create solutions. I’m very open to new ideas. I believe “because that’s how we’ve always done it” is not a good enough reason to keep doing things a particular way if there’s an improvement that can be made. Most of my career has been spent working with digital products (email, social media, video, web sites) and one of the things I love about that segment is the ability to receive near-instant feedback from your audience. As I look at the NAVC brand family I see the building blocks of a great foundation that we will continue to grow by innovating and working together as a team. NAVC: The DNA of your resume has prominent recurring themes: transformation, growth, breakthrough thinking, strategy, multi-faceted, collaborator, innovative. How much have curiosity and love of problem solving contributed to your skills? What other factors led to your success as an accomplished global marketing and digital leader? Laura: “Very curious” is an apt way to describe me, for sure. I’m both eager to know things and pretty comfortable being unconventional, so I have both definitions covered. This curiosity was what first compelled me to intern with and then work at CNN in the mid-1990s. Having unfiltered access to information, reading news or seeing video footage before it went on air, knowing things first – this really appealed to me. When I learned how to build web pages around the same time, I realized that the internet was an even bigger platform with more information and opportunities to be creative. In the late 1990s, building web pages was like solving a puzzle. You could find a web page that was doing want you wanted to replicate, view the source code in the browser, and figure out how to do it yourself. That’s what appealed to me initially. As I progressed in my career, I also discovered the thrill of sharing what you know with people who are eager to learn and the satisfaction that comes with seeing people succeed, based in part on information you have given them. I think this is why I’m so attracted to the NAVC’s emphasis on professional development. NAVC: Tell us about the last time you were delighted or surprised. Laura: I celebrated my birthday during my third week on the job at NAVC. I had been traveling a lot and had barely spent eight days in the office. I’m new here so I wasn’t expecting any kind of acknowledgement from my new colleagues, but wowza, was I surprised! I came into the office that day to find a balloon bouquet, a cake, a card signed by the team, and a birthday gift. I was stunned by the thoughtfulness and care. In retrospect, everyone had been so welcoming that I shouldn’t have been as surprised as I was.
Laura’s first birthday celebrated with the NAVC family
NAVC: You have been recognized for award-winning, goal-breaking programs executed in collaboration with a vast network of peers and partners across the globe. We assume many have been important across a variety of projects and industries over the years; how do you establish and nurture those relationships? Laura: I listen. I’m keenly interested in people, their challenges, what motivates them to get out of bed each morning, and what brings them happiness and joy. And I’m honestly interested in these things. I want to know. If there’s a way that I can help, I want to. I’ve also gotten feedback over the years that my “secret weapon” is my honesty. I won’t say something just because it’s what you want to hear or it’s the easy answer to give. I don’t play games. I try to respect people’s time, though I’m guilty of occasionally letting meetings creep past their scheduled end time when there’s a lot to share. NAVC: NAVC develops lots of new products and services in our efforts to offer increased value to our customers. We’ve evolved into being much more than we were originally known for. How do we successfully communicate our new NAVC brand without losing the essence of what people love about us? Laura: This is one of our biggest challenges as an organization, isn’t it? First of all, we can’t be afraid to change and evolve. Change can be hard. Change can be scary. The alternative, though, is pretty grim. Stay the same forever? Not possible. Become stagnant? Not appealing. Change can also be pretty awesome! Invigorating. Stimulating in unexpected ways. To successfully change without alienating our constituents, we all need to know, live and love our vision, mission, and core values. Then we should examine everything we do through that lens. For example, as I’ve met people in the organization and asked them what makes the NAVC stand out, “excellent customer service” has been a recurring response. No matter how the organization evolves, excellent customer service is something we can and should continue to provide. Providing that type of consistency as we grow will help us maintain what people know and love about us while we give them opportunities to get to know us in different ways. NAVC: We’d like to know about your hobbies and your pets. What do you do for fun? Laura: I have been an avid reader from a very early age. Fun animal-related fact: the first book I learned to read on my own was Go, Dog. Go! Now my tastes run more towards science fiction and historical fiction than illustrated children’s books about dogs going to a party. That said, I would be the first person to RSVP “yes” for a dog party because I’m in love with dogs. My husband and I are the proud parents of a 3-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever, Athena. She is part of the family and is pretty well-traveled, which is a segue into my other passion: traveling. Family portrait – Athena, Reuben and Laura on a trip to St. Whenever we visit a destination by car, George Island, FL. she comes along. Our most recent trip with Athena was to the Florida Keys in July. Prior to that we spent two weeks exploring Portugal in April. Athena spent those weeks cadging treats from her grandparents. I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout the Caribbean and Europe, though there are still plenty of places I’d like to visit or revisit. I love researching and then experiencing the history and culture of any unfamiliar place. I like to learn new things which is one of the reasons the NAVC is such an attractive organization to me. I am thrilled to have joined the team.
Dr. Sally Haddock is the owner of St. Marks Veterinary Hospital (www.stmarksvet.com) in the East Village of New York City. Her practice has the reputation of being committed to providing high quality, compassionate care to pets, “whether furry, scaly or feathered.” Dedication to their patients was recognized by New York Magazine’s issue on The Best Veterinarians of New York City. A native of Ohio, Dr. Haddock received her Bachelor’s degree in Zoology from Miami University (Ohio) and, in 1980, her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the Ohio State University. Prior to opening St. Marks Sally Haddock, DVM Veterinary Hospital in 1986, Dr. Haddock was selected for a one year internship followed by a two-year medical residency at the Animal Medical Center located in New York City. Dr. Haddock is one of a few select veterinarians who have received the Merit Award, as well as the Outstanding Service Award from the Veterinary Medical Association of New York City. Her book, “The Making of a Woman Vet,” published by Simon and Schuster describes the rigors of veterinary college and the trials and triumphs of veterinary practice. Even with her busy practice, Dr. Haddock finds time for cycling, gardening, photography and fitness classes as well as spending quality time with her husband, step-children, children, grandchildren and beloved pets Fonzi, a Bernese Mountain Dog, and Barley, a yellow lab who was rejected from Guiding Eyes for the Blind. One of her favorite activities is dining at her husband’s restaurant, Veselka, which is conveniently located on the same block as St Marks Vet. NAVC: We’re delighted that you have been appointed to the NAVC Board of Directors. What strengths do you bring to that role? Having owned St Marks Veterinary Hospital for 30 years, I believe I can represent a private practitioner’s viewpoint about continuing education needs that are helpful in our changing profession to assist us to become better veterinarians. NAVC: What are you looking forward to most about serving on the board? Dr. Haddock: I’m honored to be on the Board working with all these high energy and inspiring fellow Board members, especially at this pivotal time of NAVC. I look forward to working along with the Board and staff of NAVC as we branch into other areas of veterinary medicine, besides the NAVC conference, to promote world class veterinary education to all. NAVC: You are known to enjoy seeing avian and exotic pets– parrots, rabbits, Guinea pigs, chinchillas, potbellied pigs, hedgehogs, ferrets and other small mammal patients. You’ve been quoted as stating that furry chinchillas are “the cutest things in the whole wide world.” In what seems like a Golden Retriever world, what is it about exotics that intrigue you? Dr. Haddock: I not only love their unique personalities and characteristics– how could you not fall in love with a lop-eared bunny?! But I also love the challenges involved with their medical and surgical needs. Successfully saving an egg bound bird is so rewarding! And how could you not enjoy working with a parrot who says, “I love you…I do!” after you’ve examined him?
NAVC: We very much admire how your practice is actively involved in your community. Tell us about your work with NY SAVE and Paws NY. Dr. Haddock: NY SAVE and PAWS NY are two wonderful charitable organizations who assist financially restricted owners by treating their sick pets; it continues the human companion animal bond between them. PAWS NY works specifically with homebound owners. Volunteers bring the pets to the vet for their owner and return them home safe and sound. We also enjoy performing courtesy exams for newly adopted pets through the ACC (Animal Care and Control.) NAVC: What message would you like to give to pet owners who use “Dr. Google” to diagnose and treat their sick animals? Dr. Haddock: The Internet has a wealth of knowledge and assists clients in understanding their pet’s ailments. However, to make a diagnosis, a vet still must examine your pet and do the necessary diagnostics – bloodwork, radiographs, etc. A vet cannot make a diagnosis over the phone or the Internet without actually examining the animal because a VCPR (vet client patient relationship) doesn’t exist. I do welcome clients who have researched their pet’s problems on the Internet. An educated client is the best client, but please leave the diagnosing to your veterinarian. NAVC: We excerpted some rave reviews of your book “The Making of a Woman Vet.” They affirm what we bet was your primary purpose for writing it. Congratulations! Are there other key factors that motivated you? “Sally Haddock inspired me with her true life account of becoming a vet. The way she writes makes you feel as if you are struggling with her every step of the way. I have always wanted to be a vet and her true life account has given me that extra push to achieve my dream.” “It’s a long hard road to vet school indeed, and every time I resent taking calculus courses, or need a reason to study for something, or have a hard day at work (at a local veterinary practice), this book reminds me of why I want to be a veterinarian too. Also, Dr. Haddock’s difficulty getting into vet school tells me there’s hope for me too!” Dr. Haddock: Actually a client of mine approached me during my internship at the Animal Medical Center. I had been taking care of his elderly cat, Marie, who was living with CRD (chronic renal disease.) Down the line when Marie declined, the owner brought her to me to euthanize her. We both cried together as she transitioned peacefully to another world. The following week he called me and asked me if I had ever thought of writing a book. Writing a book? I didn’t even have time to do my laundry during my internship! Marie’s owner was a book agent and he encouraged me to write “Making of a Woman Vet” with writer Kathy Matthews. Kathy and I had many breakfast meetings over cheese blitzes at Veselka as I answered her questions and told her endless vet stories and the challenges I faced to become a veterinarian. I can’t imagine if I had worked anywhere else other than NYC that this book would have ever happened. It still always amazes me when a high school student calls me from somewhere in the US and asks to interview me. One young lady was so excited because she was one of the only students whose subject (me) for their biography was still alive! NAVC: Is there another book coming? Dr. Haddock: Nothing in the works at this point in time. Perhaps that could be a project for me someday when I retire. NAVC: We confess that we are intrigued that your husband, Tom Birchard, owns Veselka, a Ukrainian/American restaurant near your practice. We’d like to know more about that, about your family and your pets. Dr. Haddock: Ahhh…a subject dear to my heart! Veselka has been located in the East Village for over 62 years. They serve Ukrainian and American food to a very diverse clientele. They have proudly received many Best Late Night Dining Awards as they are a 24/7 restaurant in a city that never sleeps! Among their specialties are pierogis, borscht, cheese blintzes and stuffed cabbage. All of this is located just a half block away from St Marks Vet! My family, both two-legged and four-legged, includes two stepsons, Jason and Tommy; three children, Kristen, Todd and Sara; three grandchildren, Tyler, Serena and Sofia; and two dogs, Fonzi and Barley. NAVC: What is it like being a city vet? Dr. Haddock: Ohh…The excitement of being a vet in NYC! Although I’m originally from Ohio and I’m a country girl at heart, there is no better place to be a veterinarian. I am so honored to be able to treat NYC’s Best Friends! 1. The clients in NYC tend to be well-educated, and very engaged in their pet’s care. They want the best for their pets whether that be preventative care, treatment for trauma or illnesses, surgical options, and emergency care. Many clients do not have children so their pets ARE their children. It’s so rewarding to be entrusted to be in charge of their pet’s care and to be welcomed into their families! 2. Many clients request house calls and St Marks Vet is there for them seven days a week. House calls bring some variety into your work day. The beauty of a house call is you can examine a pet in their home environment which is less stressful for the pet. This is especially helpful with pets with behavioral issues. The more common reasons for a client to request a house call is for care for multiple pets, having a parrot, or for in home euthanasia for a beloved pet. 3. Specific challenges of being a vet in NYC include High Rise cats, those who have taken a tumble out of its window and the specific injuries associated with these falls. BDLD (big dog, little dog) and dog fights in the dog runs in the city parks are a common occurrence. Of course, there is the occasional HBC (hit by car) or HBB (hit by bicycle) as well. 4. Of course, we get our share of celebrities as clients. Once you get past the initial fear of speaking to someone famous, you realize that they are just loving pet owners like everyone else and that bond puts us all on the same page.
Social Media Advertising NAVC Social Media Takeover – For 4 hours the NAVC’s social media channels are yours! Don’t miss this opportunity to share your branded messaging with our social audience of over 22,000! The takeover includes: 4 Instagram posts 4 Twitter posts 2 Facebook posts 2 LinkedIn posts 2 Google+ posts There are only 3 social takeover spots left, so contact your SAM today! Social Square – The Social Square, located in Hallway D of the OCCC, will be the hub for all things Social Media for the NAVC Conference 2017! The Social Square will be a badge stop for the Mobile App Game as well, creating even more traffic! The NAVC has created a fun mix of social experiences that will capture the attendee’s attention and prominently promote your brand! In addition to the NAVC Social Media Takeover, bundle packages include a mix of the following items: Branded Social Media Step & Repeat Backdrop with your logo – everyone loves a selfie! Your branded Step & Repeat backdrop will be located in the Social Square area for the entire week of the NAVC Conference 2017 and posted all over social media channels! Facebook Live recordings to a Facebook audience of 12,000+ The Recharge Lounge is a high demand area for attendees who need to recharge their iPhones, iPads and laptops all while relaxing on comfy, branded couches and chairs. There will be several branding options for this space which attendees will notice as they sit and relax and even as they are walking by throughout the week! Contact your SAM today and ask us about the Social Media bundle that will be the best fit for your NAVC Conference 2017 goals!
Booth Drivers Real Deals – The NAVC RealDeal booklet is inserted into every attendee’s document bag during check-in. It is compact, portable and ensures your message doesn’t get lost in the crowd. These coupons are a great way to bring more prospects and more business to your booth. SIGN UP FOR REAL DEALS
Bag Inserts – Scientific Session Bag Inserts, Premium Document Bag Inserts and 3-D Bag Inserts are great ways to increase exposure, promote and create brand awareness and foot traffic to your booth. These items are inserted into every attendee’s document bag and is a perfect way to grab the attention of all attendees! ORDER A BAG INSERT
The Official Program Guide – The Official Program Guide is the official manual of the NAVC Conference and includes the final program and schedule of events taking place. Attendees will use this on-site manual as their reference source throughout the NAVC Conference to point them in the direction of sessions and all the events taking place. The OPG is included in all document bags upon attendee check-in. All covers and tabs are sold out. PLACE AN OPG PRINT AD
INSIDE NAVC Newspaper – This On-site full color newspaper is published Sunday through Wednesday during the NAVC Conference, and it’s a great opportunity to get your company noticed on-site. Advertising opportunities include print ads distributed in high-traffic areas as well as banner ads in the digital email version distributed to all attendees. PLACE AN INSIDE NAVC AD
New Product Gallery – Launching a new product that you want to spotlight at NAVC Conference 2017? Apply to our new and improved New Product Gallery. Interactive digital panels, live presentations in the heart of the exhibit hall, and a podcast on VetFolio, what better way to introduce attendees to your brand? If your company is launching a new product or service between July 2016-July 2017, click here to apply. Spots are limited and selected companies will be notified in November if selected. SUBMIT A NEW PRODUCT
Passport Program – Each NAVC Conference attendee has the opportunity to win big prizes through the NAVC Passport Program, including trips, Apple products and a car! To be eligible to win, attendees must acquire a “stamp” from each of the sponsoring booths in the Exhibit Hall. The Passport program is a highly sought-after sponsorship opportunity for driving traffic to your booth and creating a buzz of excitement within the Exhibit Hall. Only 7 spaces remain available. SIGN-UP FOR THE PASSPORT PROGRAM
Digital Offerings Spots/dates are limited, please contact your SAM to ensure availability of your desired placement and date. If a digital order form is submitted for an item that is not available, we will contact you directly to discuss other options. Custom eBlast – Customize an email message to promote your company, products and service. eBlasts are sent to over 40,000 veterinary professionals. Space is very limited, contact us today to lock in your desired delivery date. SIGN-UP FOR A CUSTOM EBLAST
NAVC.com– NAVC.com averages 30k visits a month and spikes to over 85K the month of Conference. We offer both run of site and run of conference options. SIGN-UP FOR A WEBSITE BANNER AD
Connect2Care eNewsletter – Our monthly eNewsletter is sent to our list of over 40,000 veterinary professionals. We offer top, middle and bottom banner ads. The average open rate of our newsletter is 20.52%! SIGN-UP FOR AN EMAIL BANNER AD
INSIDE NAVC Newspaper (Digital Version) – Our on-site full color newspaper is also sent electronically to over 40,000 veterinary professionals, Sunday through Wednesday during the NAVC Conference. Advertising opportunities include top, middle and bottom banner ads in our digital email version. SIGN-UP FOR A DIGITAL BANNER AD
Charity Events In 2017, the NAVC is offering two exciting sponsorship opportunities that not only provide a tremendous amount of visibility to potential sponsors but also gives back to the industry. 5k Fun(d) Run – The 2017 NAVC/WSAVA Foundation 5K Fun(d) Run will be hosted at SeaWorld Orlando! Participants will run their way through the park habitats as their family and friends cheer them on. All proceeds raised from the $25 entry fee will be given to the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Foundation (WSAVA). You will want to be a part of this event. Sponsor options range from a title sponsor all the way to providing runners with branded promotional items. Contact your SAM to get all of the details! Charity Golf Tournament – Hosted at the Rosen Shingle Creek Golf Club, designed by the renowned Arnold Palmer Design Company, this beautiful golf course is minutes from the Orange County Convention Center! The 2017 NAVC Charity Golf Tournament will give attendees and sponsors time to discuss business while enjoying a few hours on the greens. All proceeds raised during the tournament will be given to the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Foundation (WSAVA). Sponsor the entire tournament or a four person team, either way this will be an event that attendees will remember. If you are interested please contact your SAM. P.S.- A four person team is only $1,350 and includes green fees, lunch, 2 drinks and swing analysis by a pro for each player!
Visual Branding Opportunities Looking to make a lasting impression at Conference 2017? Take a look at just some of the options we have that will leave attendees thanking you! Plush Animals – Increase your brand awareness with the NAVC Conference 2017 plush stuffed animal sponsorship! Due to high demand in 2016 we are increasing the quantity to over 7,000 stuffed animals for NAVC Conference 2017! As the sponsor, 2,000 plush stuffed animals will be given to your team to be used any way you like! Your logo or brand will be placed on the stuffed animal’s scrub top, so visibility will be high! NAVC Deli – The NAVC Deli in the Exhibit Hall is a major gathering place where attendees eat lunch, network with colleagues, review their schedules or simply take a breather. As an NAVC Deli sponsor, you can highlight key messages and encourage attendees to visit your booth or special event. Attendee Badges – Attendees must wear their badges to get around Conference all week. Picture your company name and logo worn by over 10,000 Conference attendees at every session and event, on the buses and while visiting the exhibit hall. Amazing repeat exposure for your company! Interested in any of these opportunities? Contact your SAM for more details today!
Dr. Wismer is the Medical Director at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. She is responsible for overseeing medical recommendations made by the veterinary staff. She is also highly involved in lecturing, making media appearances and writing, and she coordinates the APCC’s extern program. Dr. Wismer earned her undergraduate degree from Ohio’s University of Findlay in 1990 and received her DVM from Purdue University in 1994. In July 2003, she became a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology and the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology. Dr. Wismer has written several peer reviewed toxicology articles and book chapters. She is an adjunct instructor at the Tina Wismer, DVM, DABVT, DABT, MS University of Illinois, previously a visiting professor at St. Matthews University (Cayman), and a consultant for VIN (Veterinary Information Network). Dr. Wismer is also a Master Gardener. NAVC: Congratulations on being appointed to NAVC’s Veterinary Innovation Council (VIC). The Council focuses on strategic, innovative and industrywide solutions that will benefit all stakeholders in the animal health industry. What are some of the high impact issues that you want the VIC to know more about? Dr. Wismer: Student debt is a very important topic that affects not only new graduates but also established veterinarians. As many of us are moving into that ‘thinking of retirement’ phase of our lives, we need the younger generation to be able to have that purchasing power. Also, as millennials are more group-oriented than any other generation, this may be the time to change the individualpractitioner-based practice. Perhaps a model based more on human medicine – one centrally located emergency/critical care practice with multiple satellite ‘healthy pet’ clinics. If everyone had a monetary piece of all the practices, there would not be the issue of ‘stealing clients’ or the need for everyone in the area to buy expensive, yet not used every day, equipment (ventilator, ultrasound, etc.). NAVC: The services performed by the APCC are extraordinarily beneficial to our profession. We are grateful for the excellent support it provides to help animals exposed to potentially hazardous substances, including providing 24-hour veterinary and diagnostic treatment recommendations by specially trained veterinary toxicologists. Help us understand what was involved in establishing and then maintaining this valuable service. Dr. Wismer: The Animal Poison Control Center was started at the University of Illinois in 1978. It was mostly focused on large animal and averaged about 1 call per day. The service began to become more well-known and outgrew the University in 1996. It was brought under the ASPCA umbrella at that time. The APCC has grown by leaps and bounds and now receives about 800-1000 calls a day. The focus has also shifted almost exclusively to small animal (dogs 88% of cases, cats 11%). To maintain the center we employ about 23 veterinarians (10 are boarded toxicologists) and about 40 support staff (veterinary assistants and veterinary technicians). Our phone system recognizes veterinary clinic phone numbers and those go into the queue to be answered by a veterinarian. The public calls are triaged by the support staff. NAVC: Your professional experience began in a small animal practice in Michigan, and later with an emergency practice in South Bend, IN, before you joined the APCC in 1998. What are some of the most valuable experiences from your earlier career that have helped you in your role as APCC’s Medical Director? Dr. Wismer: My first employer had an amazing way of connecting and communicating with people. As a new graduate I found I had a huge vocabulary and an amazing set of differentials, but not a lot of practical knowledge on how to talk to clients. I learned so much just by watching (OK, eavesdropping!). The emergency clinic helped me to understand how if Plan A doesn’t work, then we can try Plan B or even Plan C. It also taught me to talk directly to my colleagues and to not always believe what the client relayed to me. In one instance I was both the emergency vet that saw the client and also the day time vet (relief vet) that saw them the next day at the clinic. Their interpretation of what I had said the night before was ‘enlightening’ to say the least. I was shocked they didn’t recognize me (in their defense, I had showered and changed my clothes!). All of these communications issues have helped me shape the way I get information from clients, how I let people know what the plan is and what steps we need to take to get there. This helps in both patient care and managing people. NAVC: Help us understand what professionals need to know about using AnTox™, the APCC’s clinical animal toxicology database system that identifies and characterizes toxic effects of substances in animals. We understand that toxicology education is part of APCC’S mission. How can people reading this interview get more information and help spread the word? Dr. Wismer: Our database is agent (substance) driven. This allows us to input information about each case (signalment, substance ingested, amount ingested, time frame since ingestion, clinical signs and treatment) and then be able to search to determine what amount can be problematic. We are able to compare similar cases that may have happened years apart to help determine the prognosis and best manner of treatment. Follow up on these cases is very important. The robustness of our database depends upon the referring veterinarian. If you are a veterinarian who receives an email or fax from us wondering about the case outcome, the APCC would love to hear from you. NAVC: The APCC was the first to discover Lillium and Hemerocallis Spp toxicity in cats, Vitis sp (grapes and raisins) toxicity in dogs, and Macadamia nut toxicities. The Center’s staff wrote the first articles on bromethalin toxicity and helped shape the treatment for many toxins including cholecalciferol, permethrin, and 5-fluorouracil. You’ve published more than 250 articles and book chapters in the last 25 years. Having acknowledged those tremendous contributions, we’d like to know, if time and money were not factors, what innovation, cure or invention would you want to be developed now that would most help veterinarians and pet owners? Dr. Wismer: Great question! It may take magic instead of money and resources, but I would love to find a way to educate all pet owners about animal care. Many problems that send people to the vet are due to the lack of knowledge about things like preventative diseases or pet proofing their home or even general husbandry in the case of exotic pets. This knowledge can help decrease such heartache and unnecessary animal suffering. NAVC: The APCC works closely with human poison control centers to provide animal poisoning information. Is there a Zoobiquity-type communication exchange with those centers for human poison control that also informs your work with animals? Dr. Wismer: We always attend the national conference for the Human Poison Control Centers every year and put on a veterinary symposium. Comparing and contrasting toxicities among species is a hot topic. We are able to provide the information on why acetaminophen causes methemoglobinemia in cats and not in people. It is also important that we attend to see if there are any new treatments performed on the human side that can be incorporated into veterinary medicine (intralipids and cholestyramine being two of the newer things we have pulled from human medicine). The free exchange of information is important for learning. NAVC: We’re fascinated by the amateur dog racing and AKC coursing that you do with your Borzoi. What fun for you and your pup! How long have you been doing this and what’s involved? And, of course, we want to see a photo of your dog. Dr. Wismer: One of my co-workers (Karla Smith, DVM) participated in both racing and coursing. She decided to breed her first litter of Borzoi and I wanted a puppy. I have always loved long-nosed dogs and have owned Greyhounds and even a Collie. Ash (FC RiverRun Oxota Fire in the Glen Avalon SC CGC FCh SGRC2) became mine, as I just wanted a companion. When I got her, Karla said “She’ll probably run for you. You’ll have a good time.” What an understatement! Ash has earned her field championship in both AKC coursing and ASFA (American Sighthound Field Association) coursing. Her favorite activity, however, is straight racing (LGRA – Large Gazehound Racing Association). This is like Greyhound racing where they start in boxes and chase a lure. She was actually the number one LGRA Borzoi in the country in 2014 and 2015. Ash is truly a once-in-a-lifetime dog. The NAVC offers sponsorship and advertising opportunities to fit all of your needs. Don’t delay making your sponsorship and advertising plans, many options are limited and they are going fast. Here are just a few for you to consider for Conference 2017: Advertising: Grab attendees’ attention before they even step foot in Orlando! Preliminary Program Guide – Reach 100,000+ through our NAVC Conference 2017 Preliminary Program Guide, direct mailed to veterinarians, veterinary technicians, practice managers and other members of the veterinary healthcare team. We only have a few spots available so contact your Strategic Account Manager today for more details. Click here to reserve your spot, but hurry because ads are due July 18th! Educational Programs: As an educational program sponsor, your company can help advance the veterinary profession while reaching customers in ways only the NAVC can offer! Practice Management Program – From finances, to human resources, to inventory control and current trends we have it all! Attendees can choose from a variety of topics to strengthen their business acumen. The NAVC offers ten full day tracks focused on practice management. Eight full day tracks remain. Interested in sponsoring? Contact your SAM for more information. Veterinary Technician Program – Thousands of veterinary technicians attend the NAVC Conference every year. Show your support by sponsoring one of our 9 veterinary technician focused tracks. Want more information? Contact your SAM today. Empowering to Lead – The NAVC offers a leadership track, IGNITE! track and reception dedicated to helping veterinarians, technicians and practice managers become better leaders. IGNITE! Sessions are TED-like talks about people and ideas that inspire us everyday. These programs provide attendees with the tools needed to lead effectively, achieve financial goals, and obtain the highest level of compassion satisfaction while avoiding compassion fatigue. If you are interested in more details on our Empowering to Lead sponsorship options, please contact your SAM. Fear Freesm – It’s back! The NAVC is excited to partner with Fear Freesm to offer attendees the chance to learn tips, tricks and new protocols to reduce and remove anxiety triggers. There are two full day tracks being offered in 2017 and you do not want to miss out on the opportunity to sponsor these highly popular sessions. With only two tracks available for sponsorship, don’t wait to secure your spot! Contact your SAM to lock your company in. Health and Wellbeing Center and Track – The NAVC wants to focus not only on the professional development but the physical and mental well being of our attendees as well. The Health and Wellbeing Program is a new initiative in 2017 between Kansas State University and the NAVC. In the exhibit hall, there will be a Health and Wellbeing Center where attendees, for a minimal fee, attendees can have blood samples collected for a rabies titer, CBC, serum chemistries and other essential blood tests. Other activities such as guided meditation will also be offered. Mental health counselors will share resources on overall mental health wellbeing. There will also be a companion educational full day track focused on health and wellbeing. Ask your SAM for more details on the sponsorship options! Entertainment: BIG! That is the best way to describe our 2017 entertainment schedule. Want to be a part of the action? Check out what we have to offer: General Session – The NAVC Conference 2017 is thrilled to have Robin Roberts as the General Session featured speaker! Conference 2017 will open with the story of Robin Roberts’ award-winning career, her battle against multiple life-threatening illnesses and her triumphant return to the anchor desk of Good Morning America.Partnering with the NAVC as the Sponsor of the Robin Roberts General Session, your company will have 10 minutes to present to a full house of Conference Attendees! Your company will be recognized as the sponsor in multiple General Session promotions including the Official Program Guide, eBlast, Mobile App, Digital Advertising and more. As an additional benefit, complimentary promotional advertising will be provided in the Preliminary Program Guide (if confirmed before print date), the Official Program Guide, and pre-Conference eBlast. New for 2017, the General Session will also be a stop on the Mobile App Gamification! Ask your SAM for more details. Finale Party – When you sponsor the finale “Conference dance party,” — traditionally held on Wednesday evening, the last night of Conference — you’re giving all attendees a chance to join peers and family members in a joyful celebration. It’s the perfect way to wrap up an intense 5 days of learning. Reach out to your SAM for more information. The “BIG GAME” – For Conference 2017, we will be sharing our event on Sunday, Feb. 5th with the NFL’s Super Bowl! Because of this exciting event, we are planning some fun activities for our attendees and exhibitors. We will be closing our exhibit hall at 4 PM, to allow you and our attendees to be involved with those activities, including our huge Super Bowl party. We do have a premier sponsor, Elanco and we are looking for other sponsors to be involved. If you are interested in joining the sponsorship opportunity that comes with the Super Bowl festivities, please contact your NAVC sales person to discuss what that sponsorship can look like! New and Exciting: 2017 holds many new options for your company to consider. Take a peek at what is instore! New Product Gallery – Launching a new product that you want to spotlight at NAVC Conference 2017? Apply to our new and improved New Product Gallery. Interactive digital panels, live presentations in the heart of the exhibit hall, and a podcast on VetFolio, what better way to introduce attendees to your brand? If your company is launching a new product or service between July 2016-July 2017, click here to apply. Spots are limited and selected companies will be notified in November if selected.
Dr. Matt Winter, DVM, DACVR, is NAVC’s new Executive Vice President of Veterinary Education, bringing 12 years of experience in academia and 10 additional years of experience in the profession as a practicing veterinarian, veterinary technician and radiology resident. Winter has participated in numerous research initiatives and held leadership and mentor roles. He’s taught at Iowa State University and the University of Florida.
Matt Winter, DVM, DACVR
After completing his undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University, Winter went on to receive his veterinary medical degree from Cornell University and completed his residency at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. NAVC: Welcome aboard the NAVC team! You are responsible for leading our Scientific and Educational Programing, supporting the Program Committee and serving as a technical advisor for all educational offerings, including Conference, Institute and Laboratories. Give us some examples of how some of your previous professional experiences prepared you for this new opportunity. Dr. Winter: As an academician for the last 12 years, I have a special interest in education as well as in educational methodology. People learn in different ways, and teaching future veterinarians has provided many opportunities for me to explore the ways in which lectures, small group discussions, and laboratories combine to provide the broad types of exposures that can aid in retention of knowledge. At the University of Florida, I have been fortunate to work with exceptional educators from the College of Veterinary Medicine and from other areas of the University. My colleagues have provided invaluable insight and experience which have helped me develop courses, and have exposed me to new teaching techniques and technologies. Having been involved in NAVC and WVC over the last 6 years, I have also had opportunities to explore teaching in a continuing education environment. While there are indeed similarities between these two experiences, there are also many differences, especially the selfdirected, problem oriented learning that we associate with continuing education and adult learning. NAVC: We’re excited that you are in charge of NAVC’s educational expansion and discovery of innovative, novel offerings that further our mission and vision. What is your approach when determining and developing new programs? What’s the litmus test of what’s in and what won’t be a good enough match? Dr. Winter: I’m excited too! I love the fact that NAVC is so interested in pursuing innovation and novelty in teaching. We have learned a great deal about effective teaching, and being in a position to explore new ways to engage people in a continuing education environment is a perfect fit for me. In terms of developing new programs, I think that it’s important to keep your finger on the pulse of the profession. Veterinary medicine is amazing in that it affords us so many avenues and opportunities to engage in providing better health for animals, people and the planet. Having an open dialogue with practitioners about what the needs and issues are in their practices, while also watching for new and exciting techniques that are being developed in universities and in industry are all key to keeping continuing education offerings relevant and interesting. Ultimately, I think that the intersection between the novel, the desired, and the practical seems to me to be the “sweet spot” for developing new programs in continuing education. NAVC: You’ve got an impressive history of receiving recognition for outstanding teaching, including being named the University of Florida’s Teacher of the Year within the College of Veterinary Medicine. What’s the “secret sauce” that makes you effective in the classroom? Any tips for other instructors? Dr. Winter: Hmmmmm. That’s a great question. It sounds trite, but I think that the key is engaging the students as partners in the learning process. So many of us have learned by being “spoon-fed” information delivered in hour after hour of lectures. Our butts were sore and our minds went numb while we tried to memorize factoids and figures. My notes are intermittently marred by unintentional nap induced drool that occurred during some of my classes in vet school. I’m sure I’m not alone. Certainly a “special sauce” might have made that spoon-feeding more palatable. But I’ve always preferred a learning environment in which I was an active participant, engaged in dialogue, with real-time feedback on my progress. We’re a competitive bunch, and we all want to be assured that we’re getting it. So, using educational tools to provide immediate feedback allows for self-evaluation in real time. Also, I think that providing a learning context is valuable. Sharing a story that illustrates the utility of a particular concept often provides that context, as well as a mechanism for recall, which aids in retention. And who doesn’t love a good story, or a good joke? Sometimes humor adds a little bit of levity, and gives the mind a break, a bit like mental interval training. I have this great joke about a grasshopper… but I won’t bore you with that now. NAVC: You earned your DVM from Cornell University, then later served as President of the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Association Executive Board. How was leading this not for profit board different from the skills necessary for leadership in your profession? Many of our readers also serve on boards of directors; any advice on how to become a better board member? Dr. Winter: I think that many of the skills necessary for leadership in veterinary medicine are really no different than they are in other professions. To me, trust, vision, and communication are central to effective leadership. My involvement in Alumni Executive Board was early in my career, and I learned a lot from working with fellow alumni who were very willing to teach a new graduate like me some important lessons about board membership and who were dedicated to the veterinary community. Boards of directors should be committed to the advancement of the not for profit organization through vision, support, and fiduciary responsibility. Veterinarians are largely a selfless demographic, made up of people who seek opportunities to make a difference, and who have a passion for caring. These, to me, are essential characteristics for board members, and they are inherent characteristics of our profession. NAVC: You have presented more than one hundred CE lectures, refereed publications and scientific abstracts and attended more than 30 conferences. Without naming names, how do the educational opportunities that NAVC offers via our various venues compare to other organizations in the industry? What do you think we can learn from our competitors? Dr. Winter: As I mentioned earlier, each of us has a different learning style, and we respond to different teaching methods. Some of us learn best in relaxed atmospheres, laid back, in a quiet environment, while some prefer the great variety of a larger conference. Others prefer a deep dive, with small groups, specific focus and hands on interactions with peers and instructors. Still others desire short communications, or a distillation of material in a specific area of interest. And some require the opportunity to click their way to an online learning experience. In short, what I have learned is that having a variety of learning options is important, while still providing opportunities to connect with friends and peers. I think expanding the breadth and variety of offerings is an important part of NAVC’s future. We should bring more diversity and collaboration to continuing education. NAVC: What’s the most challenging issue you have faced in your career? How did you handle it? Would you do anything differently? Dr. Winter: The most challenging issues I have faced revolve around organizational change and communication. I remember one incident where several different teams were very dissatisfied with a chronic problem that made lives difficult for everyone. There was finger pointing and victimization. We were all guilty. I made a decision that I thought would fix it. It didn’t work. I made that decision without fully understanding the multiple perspectives involved, but more importantly, without completely understanding everyone’s needs and the emotional component that hijacked our interaction. Once we understood everyone’s motivations and perspectives, the solution was creative and beautifully simple. I learned that active listening, and understanding what people need can lead to solutions that no one considered, often without anyone feeling that they have compromised their position. NAVC: If time and money were no object, what innovation or invention would you wish for that could help veterinarians the most? Dr. Winter: Deep in the heart of every veterinarian who has seen Star Trek, there is the desire to own a medical Tricorder, a device that enables a dizzying array of diagnostics to be run by simply waving it over the patient, while it makes spaceage woo-woo sounds. Of course, I may be slightly influenced by my love for diagnostics, evidenced by my diagnostic imaging background. To be honest, I don’t think we’re that far away from a device like that, and I hope that this technology arrives sooner than later. For now, there are apps that mimic tricorder function, and I’ll have to settle for those. NAVC: We know you enjoy outdoor activities, woodworking, cooking and beer brewing, and spending time with your wife Brandy, daughter Mia, and your two pups, Newman and Marvin. Those sound fun and relatively easy going versus your very busy and demanding job. What’s your philosophy about how to stay sane with a crazy schedule? Dr. Winter: In our profession, many of us struggle with work-life balance, and successful work-life integration looks different for each person. I get a great degree of personal satisfaction from my work, and it can be difficult not to get lost in the often self-imposed demands of my career. I am lucky to have a family that keeps me grounded, and wife that makes me a better person. The importance of my family and friends in my life reminds me to change my focus and zoom out to adjust my perspective. And taking time for a bike ride or a picnic with my family, or an afternoon of brewing beer with friends also has a way of stoking my creativity and renewing my enthusiasm for work. Spending time with those I care about, or drinking the beer I brew, reminds me to sit back and enjoy what I’ve worked hard to create and maintain, which is a common theme for life in general.
Profiles in Leadership is a monthly interview that showcases outstanding leaders and bright minds in the veterinary health profession. Dr. Ellen I. Lowery is Director, U.S. Professional and Veterinary Affairs for Hill’s Pet Nutrition. She leads the strategic development of all programs and partnerships with the veterinary profession, including schools, students, key thought leaders, practicing veterinarians and technicians, and trade and professional associations. Dr. Lowery has served as President of the American Veterinary Dental Society, spokesperson for National Pet Dental Health Month, Chair of the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry Management Committee and CoChair of the Annual Veterinary Dental Forum.
Ellen I. Lowery, DVM, PhD, MBA
She graduated from Kansas State University with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine and a PhD in Comparative Pathology. She completed her MBA degree from The University of Kansas. NAVC: You’ve earned your stripes through progressive levels of leadership at Hill’s, including experience as a research scientist, working on the development of Prescription Diet® t/d® and Science Diet® Oral Care. You worked on the team responsible for the development and implementation of the methodology that resulted in all Hill’s oral products receiving the Veterinary Oral Health Council seal for plaque and tartar control. Then you transitioned to the commercial side, holding positions of increasing responsibility, including Technical and Marketing Communications manager, Veterinary Consultation Services manager and senior manager in Veterinary Customer Development. Would you identify some of the strengths and skills that you learned from your previous experience that makes you a better leader now? Dr. Lowery: Every position I’ve had with Hill’s has provided me with incredible opportunities to learn and develop my skills. I joined Hill’s early in my career as a scientist. That was my first job in industry, so I was immediately immersed in learning corporate culture. Looking back, I realize that the first key skills I learned were self-awareness and self-management. Being able to understand and manage myself allowed me to recognize my strengths and development needs, to manage my emotions and responses, and to work towards continuous improvement. A team environment taught me the value of strong relationships and collaboration, working toward shared goals and delivering an outcome much stronger than I could produce on my own. Embracing opportunity and stepping outside my comfort zone (from research to marketing) brought me to a whole new level of business experience and, much to my surprise, I discovered how much I enjoyed being on the commercial side of the business. As I continued saying yes to new opportunities, I gained experience in people development, organizational behavior, decision making and business strategy. Early in my life I was very much the dependable, driven, organized individual who could always be counted on to get the work done. Now I strive to provide the strategy, vision and empowerment to deliver results through an incredible team. NAVC: In addition to oral pathology and clinical nutrition, your other professional interests are education and team training/development. You co-led the development of the Hill’s Women Empowered Network, and you are currently a facilitator for the Fundamentals of Colgate Leadership employee training course. That is quite impressive. What is your primary message for inspiring others to achieve the best they can be? What inspires you? Dr. Lowery: My challenge to myself and to others is to bring your best self to every situation. That’s not always easy to do as we get weighed down by the stressors of life, the pressures of our jobs and, frankly, the behaviors of others. I’m fond of saying that the reaction of other people is their self-reflection, and the only thing I am really in control of is me. I try to stay focused on three key factors 1) Core Values, 2) Choices and 3) Fail Forward. I encourage everyone to identify their core values – what’s most important to them. Mine are integrity, love, grace, authenticity and significance. It’s important to me to live my life with integrity, to love and be loved, to demonstrate and share grace, to be open and honest, and to be of value to the lives of others. I love to talk about choices, because we all have the ability to choose. If I say I have no choice, then what I’m really saying is that either I didn’t choose the circumstances (bad things happen), or I don’t like the available options, or I don’t want to make a choice or I have to make a certain choice. In the words of Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory on CBS), “the only thing we have to do is take in oxygen and excrete waste.” We don’t always get to choose the events in our lives; we do have the personal power to choose our reaction. Make the choices the person you want to be would make. Don’t be afraid to fail. I firmly believe that we learn more from failure than from perfection, and there’s such strength in adopting an attitude of fail forward. Allowing this in ourselves and adopting this with our teams support continuous learning and growth. NAVC: You and your family live in the Flint Hills of Kansas and enjoy spending time at your farm with your pet family, which includes horses, sheep, dogs, cats and birds. Talk about living the dream! Is this what you envisioned as an ideal life when you were growing up? Dr. Lowery: I was definitely born with the heart of a country girl! I grew up in a town environment but always wanted to live in the country. We have a small hobby farm and it’s a lot of work; however, it is my ideal life! Depending on the season, our days start at or before sunrise so that we can ensure all the pets are cared for before our ‘workday’ begins. I love walking the dogs down the drive, discovering the great smells that each new morning brings, enjoying the sound of the horses nickering when they see us, and watching the antics of the sheep and our newest additions, the mini pigs. Weekends are spent gardening, grooming, mucking and riding when we can, as well as catching up with family and friends. Life is rich. NAVC: We are very impressed with Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love® – your program that benefits local shelters. You’ve provided more than $280 million worth of food to over 1,000 shelters, 365 days a year, helping over 8 million pets find a new home. Tell us more about the philosophy behind this outreach and its impact on adoptions, volunteer programs and donations. Dr. Lowery: At Hill’s, our mission is to help enrich and lengthen the special relationship between people and their pets. The Hill’s Food, Shelter and Love® program is one way we live our mission every day. The goal is simple – to provide dogs and cats with great nutrition that will make them healthier, happier and more adoptable. The Hill’s Food, Shelter and Love® program is active in all 50 U.S. states and 6 Canadian provinces, and it helps feed more than 100,000 homeless pets every day. Along with the expert care provided by shelter staff and volunteers, this program plays a vital role in the ability of shelters to help pets find their forever homes. NAVC: Hill’s employs more than 220 veterinarians, Ph.D. nutritionists and food scientists who work every day around the world to create new products and improve existing ones that will help our pets live a long, healthy and full life. Most of us don’t think too much about our pet’s food until there’s a problem. What do you wish the average pet owner knew about pet nutrition? How can veterinarians help with the general education process? Dr. Lowery: In America, families with pets (dogs and/or cats) now outnumber families with children. What I wish the average pet owner knew is how to look beyond the package or the advertising campaign or the common pet food myths and look for a food that provides high quality, safe and efficacious nutrition appropriate for their pet’s current life stage and health condition. That’s a mouthful, pun intended, because the reality is that the pet food industry is a billion dollar business and robust with foods that market to pet parent emotions. Meeting consumer needs/wants is critical to business success; combining that with optimal clinical nutrition for the health of the pet is what separates a quality company from the rest of the pack. I believe that most pet parents want the very best for their pets, and they trust their veterinary team to provide the best recommendation. However, pet parents are becoming savvier and more demanding about what they want, or probably more often don’t want, in their pet’s food. Veterinary practices that establish a nutrition center and make dietary recommendations that are patient-specific for the lifetime of the pet are practicing good medicine and providing the best care for their patients and their clients. The AAHA and WSAVA nutritional assessment guidelines established nutrition as the 5th vital assessment and emphasizes a team approach to nutritional education, client communication and implementation of appropriate protocols to incorporate nutritional assessment and specific food recommendation into regular patient care. In the words of Hippocrates, “food should be our medicine and medicine should be our food.” NAVC: Hill’s Pet Nutrition has been a valuable partner with NAVC for many years. We are quite proud of our relationship. How does that partnership fit into Hill’s strategic plan? Dr. Lowery: Hill’s has been a partner with the profession for over 60 years. We look for partnership opportunities that support professional growth and the overall health of the veterinary profession. Hill’s and NAVC have the shared goals of innovation, leadership, excellent education and inspiration. NAVC: Did you have a mentor or a person you admired that you learned from? Have you served as a mentor? Do you have recommendations about how these relationships can become even more successful? Dr. Lowery: I have been very fortunate to work with and learn from outstanding colleagues and friends. I learned directly though feedback and coaching, as well as indirectly through observation of behaviors, both successful and dilutive. I’m also an avid reader of personal development and leadership literature. My personal philosophy is that there is a pearl, and many times a brilliant diamond, to be learned from every person and every situation. It’s important to me to add value to others, and I strive to do this through formal and informal mentoring relationships. My recommendation for successful relationships is to look for individuals that you admire and find opportunities to work with and learn from them. Mentoring doesn’t have to be a formal, structured relationship to be beneficial. Actively seek feedback – not just for the things you’re doing well, but also for the tough situations. Look at coaching and feedback as a constructive experience and find a trusted colleague or friend who is willing to provide candid feedback. Be accountable for your actions and your leadership development. NAVC: What is your personal philosophy for managing work, family and time for yourself? Dr. Lowery: Work life balance is a personal definition that is unique to every individual. My philosophies are find what works for you and your family, be flexible, develop resilience and forgive yourself for being less than perfect! One of my toughest challenges is putting me first, although I know being my best self requires that personal investment. There’s always going to be more to do than time to get it done. Every time I say yes to something, I am saying no to something else. It’s so easy to get caught up in the busyness of life, and I’ve learned to say yes to the things that matter the most. Each day I pick the one thing that must get done at work and at home and make it my priority. Sometimes I get it done, and other times unexpected events demand a new triage. Take a deep breath, look at the big picture and let go of things that can be done another day. I do small daily things at home, such as sort the mail, one load of laundry, tidy up the kitchen and prepare everything needed for the next morning; each takes a few minutes of immediate time, yet delivers big results. I’m better prepared at the start of the next day and I’ve opened up valuable time on the weekends for me and my family. Profiles in Leadership is a monthly interview that showcases outstanding leaders and bright minds in the veterinary health profession. Vincent Bradley is president and CEO of Banfield Pet Hospital, the world’s largest veterinary practice with 16,000 associates working in over 930 hospitals in 42 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Mexico. Vincent joined Banfield in 2011 as senior vice president of operations, where he was responsible for hospital operations and field leadership, as well as real estate, facilities, construction, international and franchise operations. He also led Banfield’s partnership and collaboration with PetSmart. Prior to joining Banfield, Vincent served as the executive leader and divisional vice president of Take Care Health Systems Employer Solutions Group (now Premise Health), a wholly owned subsidiary of Walgreen Co. He began his career as a teacher in Japan and the United States, and has served in leadership roles for a number of nonprofits, including the YMCA. Vincent holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies from Miami University and a master’s degree in education from Harvard University. NAVC: Congratulations on being appointed to NAVC’s Veterinary Innovation Council (VIC). We’re delighted you are part of the team. VIC will bring positive change and promote strategic, innovative solutions to enhance animal health for the benefit of consumers, veterinary professionals and the animal health industry. At Banfield, you also create high impact by focusing on results and partnerships. With that valuable relevant experience, what do you hope to bring to the VIC board table? Bradley: At Banfield, our focus is to have a positive impact on pets, pet owners, our associates and the veterinary profession. Much of our success can be attributed to our emphasis on fostering the relationship between the client and the veterinarian as well as responding to the needs of consumers in the veterinary marketplace. And we’re good at it—Banfield is the world’s largest veterinary practice with locations in 42 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Mexico. Because of our size and scale, we feel a responsibility to participate in industry initiatives like VIC and have a seat at the table with the rest of the profession. We believe VIC is much needed in the veterinary profession, and we strongly believe that looking at innovation through the eyes of the consumer is necessary for long-term vibrancy—of both Banfield and the larger profession. We have the ability to leverage our size to test new ideas, or what we call “microtests”, in certain markets. I’m looking forward to sharing some of those learnings with the larger group as we discuss strategies for bringing some of VIC’s initiatives to scale. My goal as a VIC board member is to bring real substance to the conversation—for example, we provided more than just seed funding for the AVMA’s Partners for Healthy Pets initiative—we also shared the best practices for preventive care that have taken us years to develop. We did so because we believe that a rising tide lifts all boats and a strong profession benefits us all. NAVC: What’s the most exciting thing about being in the position of leading Banfield Pet Hospital at this time in their history? Bradley: Our practice has been growing each year, and we continue to raise awareness for the value of preventive care in helping pets live better lives. I look forward to leading us into our next chapter and having an ever-stronger impact on millions of pets, pet owners and the health of the veterinary profession as a whole. With the rapid advancement of technology and innovation in the healthcare space, Banfield has tremendous opportunity to explore and implement new ways to serve our clients and the pets we care for every day. I am excited to be at the helm of an organization that is collectively focused on ways to continually evolve our service delivery to improve both the pet owner and patient experience and allow us to broaden our impact on pet health. Over the past five years, Banfield has been focused on building an organizational culture that values professional engagement as well as supporting the local communities in which our associates work and play. I am so proud of how far our organization has come and look forward to continuing this trajectory in future years. For us, “leaning in” to the profession means meaningfully engaging with industry partners, supporting critical initiatives, student groups and empowering our associates to become actively involved in the profession through participation in professional associations like their state VMAs, CE and veterinary conferences. I’m also proud that more and more of our associates are volunteering in their local communities and with local nonprofits—in 2015, Banfield associates donated over 8,000 volunteer hours, and I want to see our volunteer impact grow every year along with our growth. We also support pets and communities through our recently-launched Banfield Foundation, which has already awarded over $1 million to rescues and shelters across the country since its launch less than a year ago. There are so many exciting things happening at Banfield right now, all of which ultimately feed into one overarching goal for me—to make Banfield the employer of choice for companion animal professionals through our innovative business practices, high quality medicine, professional and community engagement, focus on associate development and benefits offerings. I look forward to leading Banfield on our journey to meet this challenge. NAVC: What is your management style? Is there a favorite quote or book that reflects the essence of that? Has it changed over the past decade? Bradley: I started out my career as a teacher in both Japan and the U.S., which has had an enormous influence on how I lead. If I learned anything in my early career it is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to leading people. In a dispersed workforce with associates all over the country, building systems that provide consistency while also ensuring freedom for individual development and leadership is both a challenge and responsibility. This is one of the reasons why we invest so heavily in developing our workforce. As far as a favorite quote goes, I grew up in Cincinnati, OH, and have always been a fan of legendary coach Paul Brown. He was a great leader and wasn’t wild about pomp and circumstance, like dancing in the end zone after scoring. He told his players to “act like you’ve been there before”. This quote is one that has always stuck with me. It’s about succeeding with humility and quiet confidence. It doesn’t remove the expectation of excellence—as a matter of fact, it comes from the position of expecting it, which I believe is far more powerful. NAVC: What do you hope you are known for among your employees? Bradley: I hope that our associates consider me to be a caring leader who is passionate about our people and who has an unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on every pet and family we have the privilege to care for and serve. Ultimately, I hope that there is general consensus once I’m gone that I left Banfield, as well as the veterinary profession, a little better off through my work here. NAVC: You and your family live just outside Portland, Oregon, with your dogs, Bingo and Ollie. What’s your philosophy about having personal boundaries that assure you get your job done, yet also get to enjoy your family, and your personal pleasures of golfing, bicycling, yoga, travel, and cooking? Bradley: This is a tough question. Finding balance is a constant struggle that is not easy to master, though having a supportive family certainly helps! Ultimately, family is most important to me, which is why it’s so critical to have their support. And while the hobbies you mentioned are certainly personal pleasures of mine, they are secondary to work and family. It’s hard for me to compartmentalize and separate my professional and personal lives because I love my job so much and have a real passion for making a difference for the thousands of associates who work for our practice and the millions of pets under their care. I could support my family in many ways, but I choose Banfield because I want to live my passion, and I do not think there is a better place to have the type of impact I seek than where I am today. I consider my position much more than just a job—it is an honor and a privilege. NAVC: If you could have a superpower, what would you choose? Bradley: It might seem like a cliché, but I’ve got to go with flight. I travel a lot and love the perspective that I get from being up high and looking down at the world— it really allows you to step outside of the day-to-day minutia and take in the big picture.
Vincent Bradley is president and CEO of Banfield Pet Hospital, the world’s largest veterinary practice with 16,000 associates working in over 930 hospitals in 42 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Mexico. Vincent joined Banfield in 2011 as senior vice president of operations, where he was responsible for hospital operations and field leadership, as well as real estate, facilities, construction, international and franchise operations. He also led Banfield’s partnership and collaboration with PetSmart. Prior to joining Banfield, Vincent served as the executive leader and divisional vice president of Vincent Bradley Take Care Health Systems Employer Solutions Group (now Premise Health), a wholly owned subsidiary of Walgreen Co. He began his career as a teacher in Japan and the United States, and has served in leadership roles for a number of nonprofits, including the YMCA. Vincent holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies from Miami University and a master’s degree in education from Harvard University. NAVC: Congratulations on being appointed to NAVC’s Veterinary Innovation Council (VIC). We’re delighted you are part of the team. VIC will bring positive change and promote strategic, innovative solutions to enhance animal health for the benefit of consumers, veterinary professionals and the animal health industry. At Banfield, you also create high impact by focusing on results and partnerships. With that valuable relevant experience, what do you hope to bring to the VIC board table? Bradley: At Banfield, our focus is to have a positive impact on pets, pet owners, our associates and the veterinary profession. Much of our success can be attributed to our emphasis on fostering the relationship between the client and the veterinarian as well as responding to the needs of consumers in the veterinary marketplace. And we’re good at it—Banfield is the world’s largest veterinary practice with locations in 42 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Mexico. Because of our size and scale, we feel a responsibility to participate in industry initiatives like VIC and have a seat at the table with the rest of the profession. We believe VIC is much needed in the veterinary profession, and we strongly believe that looking at innovation through the eyes of the consumer is necessary for long-term vibrancy—of both Banfield and the larger profession. We have the ability to leverage our size to test new ideas, or what we call “microtests”, in certain markets. I’m looking forward to sharing some of those learnings with the larger group as we discuss strategies for bringing some of VIC’s initiatives to scale. My goal as a VIC board member is to bring real substance to the conversation—for example, we provided more than just seed funding for the AVMA’s Partners for Healthy Pets initiative—we also shared the best practices for preventive care that have taken us years to develop. We did so because we believe that a rising tide lifts all boats and a strong profession benefits us all. NAVC: What’s the most exciting thing about being in the position of leading Banfield Pet Hospital at this time in their history? Bradley: Our practice has been growing each year, and we continue to raise awareness for the value of preventive care in helping pets live better lives. I look forward to leading us into our next chapter and having an ever-stronger impact on millions of pets, pet owners and the health of the veterinary profession as a whole. With the rapid advancement of technology and innovation in the healthcare space, Banfield has tremendous opportunity to explore and implement new ways to serve our clients and the pets we care for every day. I am excited to be at the helm of an organization that is collectively focused on ways to continually evolve our service delivery to improve both the pet owner and patient experience and allow us to broaden our impact on pet health. Over the past five years, Banfield has been focused on building an organizational culture that values professional engagement as well as supporting the local communities in which our associates work and play. I am so proud of how far our organization has come and look forward to continuing this trajectory in future years. For us, “leaning in” to the profession means meaningfully engaging with industry partners, supporting critical initiatives, student groups and empowering our associates to become actively involved in the profession through participation in professional associations like their state VMAs, CE and veterinary conferences. I’m also proud that more and more of our associates are volunteering in their local communities and with local nonprofits—in 2015, Banfield associates donated over 8,000 volunteer hours, and I want to see our volunteer impact grow every year along with our growth. We also support pets and communities through our recently launched Banfield Foundation, which has already awarded over $1 million to rescues and shelters across the country since its launch less than a year ago. There are so many exciting things happening at Banfield right now, all of which ultimately feed into one overarching goal for me—to make Banfield the employer of choice for companion animal professionals through our innovative business practices, high quality medicine, professional and community engagement, focus on associate development and benefits offerings. I look forward to leading Banfield on our journey to meet this challenge. NAVC: What is your management style? Is there a favorite quote or book that reflects the essence of that? Has it changed over the past decade? Bradley: I started out my career as a teacher in both Japan and the U.S., which has had an enormous influence on how I lead. If I learned anything in my early career it is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to leading people. In a dispersed workforce with associates all over the country, building systems that provide consistency while also ensuring freedom for individual development and leadership is both a challenge and responsibility. This is one of the reasons why we invest so heavily in developing our workforce. As far as a favorite quote goes, I grew up in Cincinnati, OH, and have always been a fan of legendary coach Paul Brown. He was a great leader and wasn’t wild about pomp and circumstance, like dancing in the end zone after scoring. He told his players to “act like you’ve been there before”. This quote is one that has always stuck with me. It’s about succeeding with humility and quiet confidence. It doesn’t remove the expectation of excellence—as a matter of fact, it comes from the position of expecting it, which I believe is far more powerful. NAVC: What do you hope you are known for among your employees? Bradley: I hope that our associates consider me to be a caring leader who is passionate about our people and who has an unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on every pet and family we have the privilege to care for and serve. Ultimately, I hope that there is general consensus once I’m gone that I left Banfield, as well as the veterinary profession, a little better off through my work here. NAVC: You and your family live just outside Portland, Oregon, with your dogs, Bingo and Ollie. What’s your philosophy about having personal boundaries that assure you get your job done, yet also get to enjoy your family, and your personal pleasures of golfing, bicycling, yoga, travel, and cooking? Bradley: This is a tough question. Finding balance is a constant struggle that is not easy to master, though having a supportive family certainly helps! Ultimately, family is most important to me, which is why it’s so critical to have their support. And while the hobbies you mentioned are certainly personal pleasures of mine, they are secondary to work and family. It’s hard for me to compartmentalize and separate my professional and personal lives because I love my job so much and have a real passion for making a difference for the thousands of associates who work for our practice and the millions of pets under their care. I could support my family in many ways, but I choose Banfield because I want to live my passion, and I do not think there is a better place to have the type of impact I seek than where I am today. I consider my position much more than just a job—it is an honor and a privilege. NAVC: If you could have a superpower, what would you choose? Bradley: It might seem like a cliché, but I’ve got to go with flight. I travel a lot and love the perspective that I get from being up high and looking down at the world—it really allows you to step outside of the day-to-day minutia and take in the big picture.
Dr. Seraly is a highly respected, boardcertified dermatologist with a practice in McMurray, Pennsylvania. As a working professional and a father of four, he has a true understanding of his patients’ busy lifestyles, and a sincere appreciation of the complexities of scheduling appointments for themselves and their families. Seraly and Larry Eakin are the co-founders of Iagnosis, a virtual health company based in Pittsburgh, PA, which is developing a series of telemedicine solutions for dermatology practices. Their first offering, DermatologistOnCall® is being used in Seraly’s office (and hundreds of other dermatologist offices) to screen and treat patients who are worried about long waits for an appointment. It is the largest teledermatology platform in the country with providers in 33 states and growing. He established this secure online platform for offering quick, affordable, highquality dermatological care, especially for those who not have convenient access. Dr. Seraly treats more than 10,000 patients nationally through both in-office and online visits. NAVC welcomes Dr. Seraly to our newly created Veterinary Innovation Council (VIC) board of directors. This collaborative, industry-wide initiative is focused on leading innovation in global animal health. The VIC was formed to act as the first veterinary organization that works industry-wide to focus on positive change and push the envelope for innovative solutions across professional boundaries. Their mission is to convene the brightest minds in the profession and industry together to tackle innovation opportunities that lift up all animal health care segments including caregivers, academia, suppliers and consumers. Telemedicine, also known as “telehealth” or “virtual health,” is a safe and convenient way to provide healthrelated services to patients through digital technologies. This can either be done via a real-time virtual consultation between the patient and physician using video technologies, or as store-and-forward, which involves a patient uploading information and is then reviewed and diagnosed remotely by the physician. According to BCC Research, the telehealth market globally is expected to double to more than $27 billion by 2016, and while a large portion of that will be driven by home health and disease management monitoring, experts see the veterinary telemedicine market growing in step with the larger segment.
NAVC: As a pioneer in telemedicine and teledermatology, you were especially attractive to NAVC for our VIC board. On behalf of our industry, we want to examine whether telemedicine can be an affordable and convenient benefit to veterinarians and to the animals they serve. What are your thoughts about the transferability of this program that is not new to medicine but is relatively new to veterinary science? Dr. Seraly: The transferability is very high. In fact, I see many parallels between the practice of human medicine and veterinary medicine when it comes to access issues, affordability, life style impact to prospective animal owners, and offering expanded choices to the consumer. Remember, telemedicine simply leverages telecommunication technologies to enable the delivery of medical care at a distance. There are millions of animal owners nationally that don’t have timely access to pet care or perhaps are reluctant to seek that care due to a variety of economic, work-related or life-style reasons. Some pets may be difficult to transport, another reason why owners may put off a vet visit. In addition, the indirect “societal” costs of animal owners to miss work, travel, and wait for a veterinary appointment can be tremendous. Why not offer a new veterinary care delivery modality that facilitates instant access to the most qualified providers of animal care? In this way, you let both the animal owner voluntarily choose to access care in this manner and allow the highly skilled veterinary health care provider to also voluntarily choose to offer care in this manner. NAVC: You are a highly-respected practitioner, specializing in skin cancers, infectious diseases and autoimmune disorders. Timely diagnosis and treatment are essential to successful outcomes, yet many patients have to wait months to be seen by a board-certified dermatologist. What was your “aha” moment like when you realized there was an innovative, effective healthcare delivery option for serving your patients? Dr. Seraly: The “aha” moment occurred about 10 years ago. I was at a weekend soccer tournament for one of my children, and I had nine phone calls from patients that had me answering questions, providing care, calling in prescriptions, yet not being able to document at all in the medical record, assuming all of the liability and not getting paid for my time. I thought, When I am not practicing medicine, I am working in my art “There has to be a better way!” Thus studio. the concept of direct-to-patient or directto-consumer teledermatology was developed. Teledermatology has been around for over 25 years but has essentially existed as a B2B or provider-to-provider model. I pioneered one of the first direct-to-patient teledermatology models (skindronline.com) reducing all barriers to access for the patient. Once I started offering e-visits as an extension of my practice, I learned first-hand how satisfied patients were in being able to access my dermatology expertise, anytime and anywhere, and whenever a problem existed. For the patients, I realized a solution that eliminated their “worry factor” was huge! Making the care affordable, even better! I realized very quickly that this opportunity was bigger than me and my practice locally in Pennsylvania. I incorporated Iagnosis in 2010 and then spent two years building the technology platform to scale nationally and share my vision with other dermatologists. NAVC: You’ve said that “dermatology lends itself to telemedicine because people generally know when they have a problem with their skin. Instead of waiting months, this platform allows them to go online anywhere, anytime, and typically within 24 hours, they will have a prescription in their inbox. If they need to be seen, they are brought in ASAP.” What have your patients said to you about the pros and cons of their experience? Dr. Seraly: Based on post-treatment outcome surveys, our overall patient or client satisfaction rate is 98%! Our network is growing nationally. It literally takes months in many markets for patients to be able to “physically” see a dermatologist. The biggest “pro” with the DermatologistOnCall.com platform is that we have reduced the wait time for patient care to 11 hours or less on average. Patients can choose a dermatologist and submit their case. Approximately 96% of all submitted cases can be adequately diagnosed online. Of this group, 85% are diagnosed, given prescription treatment and are provided counseling about their condition. Approximately 15% of cases require, based on the provided diagnosis, an inoffice diagnostic or therapeutic procedure (such as a biopsy or excision). Another big “pro” that I have observed is that many patients are using this access point of care as a “spot-check” to reduce the worry factor for new or changing skin lesions, and dermatologists, on the other hand, are using this platform as a teletriage tool to expedite in-office procedural care when indicated. Dermatologists also see a benefit in freeing up their in-office appointments and exam rooms for more complex or procedural cases, since many conditions can be very quickly and easily dispatched through an online diagnosis. Virtual care is not for everyone. Telemedicine is not intended, for example, to be a replacement for the direct relationship between a health care provider and their patient, nor is it intended, for example, in dermatology, to be a replacement for a full body skin examination. The biggest “con” is getting healthcare providers to see the world differently and adapt to change. Patients, and, I expect, animal owners, are ready for this change! NAVC: How has having telemedicine as a tool changed the way you practice and the way the office operates? Maybe walk us through how an econsultation goes? Dr. Seraly: Telemedicine has enabled my practice and staff to be more efficient, has improved new patient acquisition, gives established patients more choices, and has certainly enhanced practice profitability based on a minimal time requirement. The process is actually quite simple and mimics the same process that patients normally go through during an in-office encounter. Patients log onto DermatologistOnCall.com, review the Notice of Privacy Practices and HIPAA consent, provide their self-reported medical history, select their doctor, describe their problem or chief complaint, upload images of the problem which serves as the physical examination, go through a payment interface, and then submit their visit. The dermatologist gets notified via text and email that a new patient is waiting in their virtual waiting room. Once the provider completes the case, the patient is notified by text and email to log into their secure portal to review the doctor’s assessment and treatment plan. In most states, we can also e-prescribe if a medication is advised. We enable messaging for a 30-day period post diagnosis and treatment, and we allow the patient to send a digital copy of their health record to their primary health care provider. The patient always has access and full transparency to their medical record. NAVC: No doubt your four children are quite tech savvy. Do they think you are a “cool” dad since you have openly embraced new technologies? Dr. Seraly: Kids always think their parents are “geeks.” Mine perhaps more so! I have always immersed my children in technology. For example, I literally had computers in all of their rooms, even with Internet access when it became available, when they were young children. I wanted them to learn to be comfortable with technology and to harness the positive power of its capabilities. You should have seen the eyebrows of their grandparents raise on that one!
My greatest accomplishment-My Family! (From Left to Right: Loretta (wife-optometrist); Paul, 19 Freshman Univ. of Pittsburgh; Silvia, 21, Cadet-US Airforce Academy; Mark, 23, 1st year West Virginia Univ. Medical school; Julia, 17, high school junior)
NAVC: So that we understand the distinction, Iagnosis is a technology provider of online dermatology solutions. It facilitates connecting patients to a board-certified dermatologist, and provides the dermatologist with all of the telemedicine tools to diagnose, treat, and counsel patients using this virtual office platform. How does your product DermatologistOnCall work within Iagnosis? Would a similar framework be beneficial for veterinarians who use telemedicine? Dr. Seraly: Great question! Iagnosis, which is a play off the word Diagnosis, essentially was devised to be synonymous with an “intuitive Internet-based diagnosis.” Iagnosis is the company and DermatologistOnCall is the flagship product or virtual office platform that we developed. Our long-term vision is that Iagnosis will have many telehealth products in our suite. I believe a similar framework as used in DermatologistOnCall would be beneficial for any health care provider including veterinarians who use telemedicine. The foundational core of our platform is based on telemedicine best practices, state rules for telemedicine operations, privacy and security. We did not cut any corners in its development. In human medicine and veterinary medicine, the delivery method has to be compliant with best practices and importantly fit within the customary workflow of providers, in a manner that they are familiar. Otherwise, if the technology is clunky, does not mimic how we normally practice, or is out of compliance, then adoption will be low. NAVC: It’s understandable that doctors and veterinarians might have concerns that telemedicine might replace in-office visits. You discuss the “myth of cannibalization” in your web video series. (Click here to hear from him in this 2-minute video.) What’s your bottom line reply when this issue arises? Dr. Seraly: Bottom line on cannibalization? No such thing! Why do I say that? Let me take dermatology and then veterinary medicine as an example. Of the 130 million plus skin visits annually in the US, only 35% of visits are seen and treated by dermatologists. The majority have to go elsewhere for care, which frankly is less optimal and costlier to the health care system. For dermatologists, offering telemedicine services is an opportunity to tap into the 65% of the market that are going elsewhere! For veterinarians, I recently learned from the VIC leadership that there are over 80 million dog owners and 80-100 million cat owners who don’t have either timely or affordable access to their veterinarian or likely do not follow-up for requested in-office visits once an initial relationship has been established due to work, travel or life-style conflicts. There appears to be the same situation or “pressure points” as I call them in veterinary care as it does in dermatology whereby animal owners just simply chose not to get care due to lack of convenience. It appears that telemedicine can significantly allow veterinarians to scale their work force, provide access to more animal owners and patients and improve practice profitability. NAVC: Getting back your serving on the VIC board, what kind of an experience are you hoping for? What would a successful experience look like? Dr. Seraly: I find the people, the field of veterinary medicine, and similarly related “challenges” in scaling membership workforce fascinating. There are many parallels to what I have experienced in dermatology. As we have begun debunking traditional “myths” in human medicine on care delivery, it is my hope that veterinarian healthcare providers will responsibly challenge their basic assumptions that most components of diagnosis and treatment need to be done in person with their patients. A trusting relationship between an animal owner, patient, and veterinarian can be established virtually. It is time to disrupt tradition and adapt, adopt, and embrace change! Profiles in Leadership is a monthly interview that showcases outstanding leaders and bright minds in the veterinary health profession. Kenichiro Yagi, BS, RVT, VTS (ECC, SAIM) Ken Yagi is a veterinary technician in the field for 15 years. He is a UC Davis graduate with a BS in Animal Science and is pursuing a master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences, with an emphasis in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery at the University of Missouri. He is employed at Adobe Animal Hospital in Los Altos, CA, as the ICU Manager and the Blood Bank Manager. Ken also serves as the recording secretary for the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society, the treasurer for the Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technicians, and the NAVTA State Representative Committee chair. He is interested in transfusion medicine, respiratory care, evidencebased medicine and critical care nursing. The NAVC is delighted that Ken has accepted a position on the board of directors of NAVC’s Veterinary Innovation Council (VIC). This collaborative, industry-wide initiative is focused on leading innovation in global animal health. The VIC was formed to act as the first veterinary organization that works industry-wide to focus on positive change and push the envelope for innovative solutions across professional boundaries. Their mission is to convene the brightest minds in the profession and industry together to tackle innovation opportunities that lift up all animal health care segments including caregivers, academia, suppliers and consumers. NAVC: Among the transformational topics the VIC Board is considering is how to leverage the training of credentialed veterinary technicians. Tell us what your hopes are on this issue. Yagi: As I received more opportunities to meet technicians out in the world, I realized that I was quite fortunate in finding my place of work on first shot. I worked through various roles of veterinary technicians from assisting veterinarians with appointments, inducing and monitoring anesthesia, scrubbing in for orthopedic procedures, ICU nursing, emergency receiving and assisting of surgeries, establishing a blood bank, introducing critical care ventilation, to now being in the role as manager. I enjoyed the privilege of autonomy and empowerment to explore my interests while serving the practice. The word “privilege” is used intentionally here because I realized that this wasn’t the case for everyone as my horizon expanded to the rest of the world. There are credentialed technicians in the field who are neither given much opportunity to contribute to their full capacity nor encouraged to grow. This results from a combination of veterinary technicians feeling helpless in the situation to advocate for themselves to be utilized, and practice owners not realizing the lost potential of leveraging technicians due to a gap in awareness. My hope is that my role at VIC can help produce effective solutions that fill this gap at the practice level, such that my type of experience becomes a norm. NAVC: You are on record as an advocate for changing the title of your profession from “veterinary technician” to “veterinary nurse”. Why would this change be significant and how’s that movement progressing? What role has your position as State Representative Committee Chair of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) played in advancing this change? Yagi: The topic is causing quite a debate among veterinary technicians, since our scope of practice at first glance seems broader than human nurse’s scope of practice. With that said, the profession is ever evolving. As we move to performing more focused roles in hospital-like settings and serving compassionate roles encompassing care for the entire family, nursing becomes a more apt terminology. The term “technician” relates to focusing on the mechanical and technological work, also implying an absence of originality, or art in the professional work. The term “veterinary nurse” is more accurate to our role in tending to the unique needs of each patient and family. There also is a need to nationally standardize credential requirements. Under the title we will be able to unify the profession and gain even better understanding and support in our role from the public to create further demand of qualified, educated individuals to care for their pets. The movement has a tremendous amount of support from various stakeholders, and the veterinary field looks to be ready for this change that many have dreamt of for years. It is no longer a dream, though there is no doubt that establishing the title will be a long term process, requiring determination of the optimal path and collaboration between national and local organizations. Everyone should weigh in, whether for or against, so that we have an accurate picture of what lies ahead. My role with NAVTA has allowed me to reach out to dedicated and passionate individuals advocating for veterinary technicians throughout the nation, bringing all of us closer together and communicating to be a cohesive profession. Veterinary technician associations are also evolving. By being able to play my part in the strengthening of local activity, I hope to help the profession better tackle large scale goals such as this one. NAVC: You decided to not pursue your veterinary medicine degree and found fulfillment instead in direct patient care by providing comfort for patients and families, especially in emergency and critical care situations. You are known for insisting on high standards and exceptional mastery of technical skills. To what or whom do you attribute this drive for excellence? Yagi: I was not aware I had such a reputation! It is true, however, that I feel like every individual should strive hard to make sure we are contributing to the veterinary team in a meaningful way. Asking “Why?” to understand the “What” and “How” of the field, consciously incorporating evidence-based knowledge into our practice will lead to maintaining the latest and highest standards required of us to ensure positive outcomes, whenever possible. I think that my biggest driving factor comes from personal experience of being on the other side of having a beloved family member being cared for by exceptional nurses, going through emotional ups and downs before finally having to say goodbye. The nurses who cared for us were absolutely amazing in their attentiveness, and while human and veterinary medical care have a gap to be filled, I made a commitment to do all that I can to provide the best care possible. I also stand on many shoulders of kind, humble, and inspiring colleagues and friends to have my current viewpoints.
NAVC: Through your enthusiasm and engaging methods, you have become known for challenging people to think critically to inspire their professional growth. You invite everyone to ask the question of “Why?” to understand the reasons behind the “What” and “How” of your field. What techniques do you use in your speaking and teaching to encourage this deeper inquiry? Yagi: My students and team members have our chuckle moments when they ask me a question about something, and they say before I even open my mouth, “You’re going to ask me ‘Why do you think?’ aren’t you?” They are usually right, because I’ve always felt that knowledge is something that can be gained through various literature and resources while the ability to think through a problem is what makes an individual bring value to the team. I try to encourage critical thinking. The other answer I sometimes give is “It depends.” And we discuss the background knowledge which applies to the specific situation to give better understanding of why the patient might be affected in a certain way, while in other situations it might not be the same. While pattern recognition and intuition is very important for veterinary technicians to anticipate the needs of the patient, relying too heavily on typical patterns will lead to us missing details which can be the difference between a positive and negative outcome. Lastly, I like to break down the topic of discussions into step by step sequences of cause and effect so that individuals can walk themselves to the next step as I ask guiding questions and feed information. I feel that many individuals psychologically limit themselves from thinking past the step they are familiar with and taking those steps together is the best way to gain a better understanding. I think all of us can relate to reading about certain things and feeling like we know how it is, but experiencing it gives another entirely different level of understanding. I try to create the experience as best I can. NAVC: In addition to your full time job and to pursuing your M.S. in Biomedical Sciences (Veterinary Medicine and Surgery), you are currently an ECC Trainer for PetED Veterinary Education & Training Resources , an instructor/ moderator for the Veterinary Support Personnel Network, and a part time faculty member at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, CA. You sound like the perfect person to offer us some tips on setting priorities and time management. Yagi: I consider myself rather fortunate that what I do for my enjoyment and what I do professionally are in very good alignment. Committing to lifelong learning, equipping myself to do my job better, helping others do the same, and taking part in efforts that make a meaningful difference gives me a sense of purpose in life. There is less need to prioritize when activities are all tugging from similar directions. For example, my graduate program is flexible enough with coursework and thesis topic to let me focus on what I am interested in. So I have gained knowledge on critical care, transfusion medicine, and training that I applied in practice and incorporated into my presentation topics. It is inevitable that the amount of time available becomes limited and eventually runs out. I am definitely no exception to that rule, and have had to make people wait longer than I wish to, or decline on something I am interested in but could not prioritize. Whenever I can, I try to turn some non-productive time into productive time such as having podcasts ready to be listened to during my drive to and from work each day. The length is just right to listen to interesting content (I am hooked on leadership related podcasts right now), and then contemplate how it applies to myself. Lastly, it is sometimes more important to take a break so the mind can be refreshed and ready to be creative again when back. I can’t say that I am always good at taking my own advice on this, however. NAVC: What do you do for fun? Any hobbies? Yagi: Currently, what I do for fun is all about spending time with the kids. We have a 6 and 3 year old, who are a constant source of joy. The outings to the park, the conversations over a meal, bike ride around the neighborhood, reading books together, and even playing with the toy veterinarian clinic set are all things that I look forward to. The wacky treatments they come up with for my made up disease is amusing. I am always told that kids grow up too fast and to cherish the moments, and I’m taking that to heart. I also have to admit that I do tend to binge watch TV shows on Netflix and play some video games from time to time. NAVC: You have a lot to be proud of. What accomplishments do you hold most dear? And what are you looking forward to? Yagi: The biggest sense of accomplishment comes from being pinned as a member of the Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technicians. It wasn’t because of the prestige or the title that I felt proud. It was because it symbolized my relationship to all of the people in the academy and the field that shared the same passion that I have the privilege of walking alongside. We all share similar paths and experiences on a lifelong journey of learning. The anticipation of what we all can accomplish together is a huge source of my motivation. Is it advanced veterinary technology/nursing degrees? Veterinary nurse practitioner-like roles? I am absolutely looking forward to where the field continues to evolve through the future generation of exceptional veterinary nurses that will drive us forward.
Here’s a fact you may not know: the NAVC is a nonprofit association. We do not earn profits for our owners — all the money we earn or receive through sponsorships is used for our quest of veterinary education and success. We rely on revenue from our program sponsorships, exhibitors, advertisers and registration fees in order to provide world-class continuing professional development for the global veterinary healthcare community. We don’t want to imagine what would happen without our Industry Partners. Their support makes possible a significant portion of the extraordinary NAVC experience at the most affordable rates for everyone on the veterinary healthcare team. This includes our annual NAVC Conference as well as our other programs: VetFolio, NAVC Institute, NAVC OnCampus, our official journals (Today’s Veterinary Technician and Today’s Veterinary Practice) and more. There are 4 main levels of NAVC sponsorships: Diamond, Platinum, Gold and Silver. These levels are based on companies offering major year-round sponsorship/support related to all NAVC programs. Direct sponsorships are funds provided by Industry Partners to support specific events or services for attendees. Indirect sponsorships are additional funds for events or services at NAVC programs in which an attendee benefits (e.g., catering or attendee bags). We’re grateful to these major Industry Partners for their commitment, but of course, we appreciate all our veterinary Industry Partners! Smaller companies might not be able to attain these partnership levels, but they’re extremely important to the NAVC and our Conference attendees. Not only do they invest what they can during our events, but they, along with our major partners, provide education, new technologies, forums with industry leaders, special events, demonstrations and much more, all to provide you with timely and relevant information that helps you thrive. 25% Savings to You For every dollar our Industry Partners spend to sponsor NAVC Conference 2016 sessions and services — and to exhibit in our Exhibit Halls — they save you approximately 25% in your fee to access hundreds of CE learning sessions, networking opportunities and more. In addition, many of our sponsors, exhibitors and advertisers offer free giveaways, discounts and special opportunities during NAVC Conference to help you meet your practice goals! The NAVC Board of Directors is responsible for strategic and financial oversight of our activities, including the NAVC Conference, NAVC Institute, VetFolio, Today’s Veterinary Practice, Today’s Veterinary Technician and other efforts from our association. Specifically, through leadership and committee direction, they manage the following duties: Determine the NAVC’s mission and purpose Ensure effective strategic planning Monitor and strengthen programs and services Ensure adequate financial resources Protect assets and provide financial oversight Build a competent Board of Directors Ensure legal and ethical integrity Enhance the organization’s public standing
President Christine Navarre, DVM, MS, DACVIM (LAIM) Extension Veterinarian, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Baton Rouge, LA President Elect Melinda D. Merck, DVM Owner, Veterinary Forensics Consulting, LLC Austin, TX Immediate Past President Charlotte Lacroix, DVM, JD Owner and CEO, Veterinary Business Advisors, Inc. Whitehouse Station, NJ Vice President Gail Gibson, VMD Practitioner, Animal Medical Clinic, Inc. Skowhegan, ME Treasurer Laurel Kaddatz, DVM Hospital Director, Pound Ridge Veterinary Center Pound Ridge, NY Director Paige Allen, MS, RVT Distance Learning Instructional Technologist, Purdue University West Lafayette, IN Director Cheryl Good, DVM Owner, Dearborn Family Pet Care Dearborn, MI Director Susan Klein, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM) Mobile Ultrasonographer Chester, NJ Director K. Leann Kuebelbeck, DVM, DACVS Owner, Brandon Equine Medical Center Brandon, FL Welcome to our new Board member! Director Harold Davis, BA, RVT, VTS (ECC) Manager, Emergency and Critical Care Service, William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California, Davis Davis, CA
This year, the NAVC Conference team is delighted to welcome Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, MD, a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Natterson-Horowitz will be speaking here on Zoobiquity, which is an interdisciplinary field with a strong basis in established science and research from human medicine, veterinary medicine and evolutionary biology, as well as related disciplines, including anthropology, psychology, neurobiology, paleontology and physiology. The concept of Zoobiquity is powerful for veterinary professionals: its translational aspect comes from the juxtaposition and synthesis of knowledge and development of new hypotheses for modeling disease and treatment. In 2012, Dr. Natterson-Horowitz co-authored the New York Times bestselling book, Zoobiquity: The Astonishing Connection Between Human and Animal Health. Her animal-related background includes serving as a cardiovascular consultant to the Los Angeles Zoo as a member of its Medical Advisory Board, and she is Chair of the Zoobiquity Conference, a national educational program that facilitates interdisciplinary discussions between physicians, veterinarians and others in the health professions. We asked Dr. Natterson-Horowitz about her experiences with animal care and her thoughts on Zoobiquity. NAVC: Your “aha!” moment started when the Los Angeles Zoo called you to consult on Spitzbuben, a kitten-sized Emperor tamarin that was in heart failure. The chief veterinarian cautioned you about making eye contact with the tiny monkey, saying it would lead to capture myopathy, a condition in animals that causes damage to the heart by releasing an overflow of stress hormones. Your knowledge of takotsubo cardiomyopathy in humans, where firm, healthy contractions are reduced to inefficient spasms, caused you to recognize the relationship between the two conditions and to realize that veterinarians and physicians could learn a lot by sharing information. Put us into that moment with you and describe how that epiphany felt. Dr. Natterson-Horowitz: “In the procedure suite at the zoo, the patient was being prepped for her echocardiogram. Out of reflex, I approached the patient while making lots of eye contact to reassure her. But having never had a non-human patient before, it didn’t occur to me that usual calming measures for people might result in very different response in other animals. The veterinarians cautioned me about ‘capture myopathy’, a term I had never heard before. I remember dutifully backing off but being intrigued by this term. When I got back to work I literally just Googled ‘capture myopathy’ and I learned that when some animals are chased, restrained and/or frightened, they may experience surges in catecholamine resulting in a variety of clinical effects. But what literally stopped me in my tracks was a sentence about a sub-form of capture myopathy in which animals that have been suddenly frightened, without restraint and without a chase, die acutely. This description of a well-known veterinary syndrome struck me as nearly identical to that of a relatively ‘new’ identified human syndrome — the broken heart syndrome, or takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Finding the commonalities between the two syndromes was truly exciting for me as a cardiologist because I am primarily a clinician and not an investigator, and I never really thought I would discover anything. So making this connection was an unexpected and a great feeling. But as interesting to me was how well it illustrated the gulf between our professions. Here was a syndrome that veterinarians had been diagnosing, treating and even preventing for decades, which was ‘discovered’ by cardiologists in about the year 2000. It was exciting and alarming to wonder how things might have been different if cardiologists and ER doctors had this information over the past 30 years. Moreover, I had my ‘capture myopathy moment’ because I am a human cardiologist who is allowed to spend time working beside veterinarians. It became pretty thrilling to wonder what ‘capture myopathy moments’ might be waiting for oncologists, psychiatrists, immunologists, and others to discover through veterinary and human medical collaborations.” NAVC: In your book Zoobiquity, you credit early contributors to this “new” field of knowledge. Respecting that their findings paved the way somewhat, to what do you attribute the fact that your research “got legs” (2 legged and 4 legged) and has become an international phenomenon? What part did access to better technology play? Dr. Natterson-Horowitz: “Got legs—2 versus 4… that is funny! All of us who are working in the One Health space are standing on the shoulders of the giants that preceded us. One Health really is one of the biggest and most important ideas of our time. Despite the veterinary profession’s deep awareness of it, remarkably, the majority of physicians in the United States have neither heard of One Health nor do they have a sense of what it is about. I think one part of the problem has been One Health’s traditional emphasis of zoonotic diseases as a central connector between human and animal health. Of course, zoonoses and other infectious processes are of crucial importance to human and non-human animal populations. But there are crucial One Health connections to be made in every specialty of medicine. The vast majority of the 900,000+ physicians in the United States are busy practicing pediatrics, family medicine, cardiology, dermatology, psychiatry, ob-gyn and other specialties. Infectious diseases and emerging pandemic threats, while important to physicians, may seem disconnected to their day-to-day practice concerns. What my co-author, Kathryn Bowers, and I tried to do in Zoobiquity was to feature important pathologies shared by non-human animals and people which are NOT explicitly infectious – heart failure, breast cancer, self-injury, obesity and eating disorders among others. I think some of the success of our conferences and the book has been our emphasizing the point that One Health is for every kind of clinician — physician, nurse, psychologist and dentist — not to mention patients. The role of technology in moving our ideas forward has been huge. First, our comparative research was made absolutely possible by guided web-based search strategies. Had we tried to write the book 15 years earlier, it would not have been possible. Social media has also helped create excitement around Zoobiquity conferences, and the reach of my TED talk has everything to do with social media.” NAVC: As of this interview, your TED talk has been viewed 1,276,535 times. We especially liked the closing: “Because it turns out, some of the best and most humanistic medicine is being practiced by doctors whose patients aren’t human. And one of the best ways we can take care of the human patient is by paying close attention to how all the other patients on the planet live, grow, get sick and heal.” How did you encapsulate your years of research and practice into a 20-minute TED talk? Dr. Natterson-Horowitz: “Doing a TED talk is a pretty specific thing. They give you a timeline of preparation and rehearsal that starts about 9 months before the talk, so I had plenty of time to reflect on how I would use the 18 minutes to (in an engaging way!), give the history of the gulf between our fields and analyze the cost of this disconnect and the power and potential of collaboration to benefit both human and non-human animal patients. It was challenging to talk about the blind spots we physicians have without being disrespectful to my profession. But it was a real opportunity to share ideas about how to bring the fields together. Interest in Zoobiquity conferences spiked after the talk and I heard from clinicians from both human and veterinary medical fields from around the world. Ultimately, the goal is to bring together practitioners in human medical and veterinary care of all kinds for a collaborative and transformative experience. I have been surprised by how much of a platform TED is for ideas like this. One of the most unexpected (and exciting) aspects of the whole experience is that the talk has been translated into 25 languages. Hearing from veterinarians and physicians who connect to the ideas from Egypt, Japan, Poland, Kazakhstan and Sweden has been gratifying and reaffirming of the work.” NAVC: We imagine that you spend a lot of time thinking about the implications of Zoobiquity. What completely different topics or interests are you passionate about? Dr. Natterson-Horowitz: “Zoobiquity is what I am passionate about! After 20 years of a pretty standard academic cardiology practice, exposure (serendipitously) to the tremendous potential of human and animal medical collaboration has pretty much consumed my thought and intellectual work. It has also pushed me towards the emerging field of evolutionary medicine. Evolutionary biology is as foundational to medicine as mathematics is to engineering or architecture, but it has been pretty much ignored by medical schools and physicians. The chairman of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology here at UCLA is an expert in animal behavior and had long been interested the application of evolutionary biology to medicine. He attended a Zoobiquity conference and the two of us decided to join together to start a program in evolutionary medicine. Every February (Darwin’s birth month), we host Evolutionary Medicine Month. We invite evolutionary biologists from around the world to present at UCLA Internal Medicine Grand Rounds. We then ‘embed’ the evolutionary biologists on rounds with our interns, residents and medical students as guest attendees. UCLA undergraduate students also can minor in evolutionary medicine. We will soon launch a master’s degree in evolutionary medicine for medical students and other professional clinical students. It would be great to see veterinary students interested in evolution and medicine participate in this program. Other than that, I’m busy with my teenagers, their sports and schools, my husband and our adorable, kind, wise and geriatric Havanese, Bongo.” Dr. Natterson-Horowitz Dr. Natterson-Horowitz completed her undergraduate studies at Harvard College and received a master’s degree from Harvard University. She received her medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco. In addition to patient care, she is actively involved with medical education and research. Dr. Natterson-Horowitz holds a professorship in the UCLA Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and is Co-Director of the Evolutionary Medicine Program at UCLA.
Tuesday, January 19, 2016 IGNITE!: “How Will Veterinary Science Transform Human Medicine?” 11:05 – 11:15 AM Marriott | Grand Salon 8 Meet The Professor Luncheon: “Veterinarians on Rounds at the Human Hospital” Sponsored by Aratana 12:00 – 1:30 PM Gaylord | Tampa Evening Highlight: “Zoobiquity: Bringing Human Science to Animal Medicine” Sponsored by Aratana 7:30 PM Gaylord | Osceola Ballroom
Dr. Melinda Merck has made it her life’s mission to advocate for animal abuse cases. She is the owner of Veterinary Forensics Consulting, LLC, in Austin, Texas, and serves as a forensic veterinarian consulting on cases involving animals. She assists investigators of animal cruelty with crime scene investigation as well as the examination of live and deceased victims. She frequently testifies as a veterinary forensic expert around the country and provides training for veterinary, attorney and law enforcement professionals internationally on the use of veterinary medical knowledge in the investigation and prosecution of animal cruelty cases. Her dedication to this cause has also flowed into a unique leadership role in the veterinary profession. Dr. Merck is Program Chair for the NAVC Veterinary Forensics: Animal CSI track. She’s also the founding chair of the Board of Directors for the International Veterinary Forensic Sciences Association. She is chair of the WSAVA Animal Wellness and Welfare Committee and serves on the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys Animal Cruelty Advisory Council. Yesterday, she was presented with the 2015 Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association Veterinary Advocate of the Year Award for her admirable leadership in creating the field of veterinary forensics. Dr. Merck is very excited about her new role as NAVC President. She recently sat with us to discuss her background and the future of the NAVC. How long have you been involved with the NAVC? Dr. Merck: “I first became involved with the NAVC as a speaker at the NAVC Conference 2004. The NAVC gave me my first opportunity to speak on veterinary forensics to a national audience. It was such a huge success that they asked me to chair a half-day program the following year, which grew to a full-day program! The NAVC was the first and only industry organization to offer a yearly program on veterinary forensics. Working closely with their team, I developed the VetFolio Veterinary Forensics and Animal CSI certificate courses.”
What excites you about the NAVC Conference? Dr. Merck: “The NAVC Conference offers creative and engaging continuing education opportunities. The entire staff, program chairs and others involved have a commitment to offering cutting-edge topics with world-class speakers. We get excited every year about new and innovative ways we can provide unique learning and networking experiences. It’s not just about attending lectures, it’s about the entire NAVC Conference experience!” What, in your opinion, is the biggest challenge today in veterinary medicine? Dr. Merck: “I think the biggest challenge is the emotional and mental wellness of the veterinary community. Recently published studies have brought to light the ‘elephant in the room’ issues that are silently impacting us. The NAVC has created a Leadership Track as a permanent part of our Conference to provide tools to enhance the wellbeing of the community and empower them for leadership.” [Editor’s note: before you leave this year’s Conference, be sure to stop by the Share a Secret booth in the Marriott Exhibit Hall to learn about suicide prevention in our profession.] What does the NAVC uniquely offer the veterinary community? Dr. Merck: “Gosh, many things. Most recently, the NAVC created a unique organization called the Veterinary Innovation Council (VIC). We announced this development Saturday night and in our Monday issue of INSIDE NAVC. In short, the VIC’s mission is to convene the brightest minds in the profession and industry to tackle innovation opportunities that lift up all animal healthcare segments, including caregivers, academia, suppliers and consumers. It will be the first veterinary organization working industry-wide to focus on positive change through innovative solutions across professional boundaries. In addition, the NAVC partnered with AAHA in 2015 to create VetFolio, providing a unique online learning and educational resource that’s growing by leaps and bounds. I’m very proud that VetFolio offered the first certificate courses in Veterinary Forensic Science and Medicine and Animal Crime Scene Investigation, reaching an international audience. The NAVC Institute program is still extremely popular each summer because it provides a unique hands-on, intensive learning experience where dedicated veterinary professionals work in small groups alongside leading experts. I’d also like to mention our International Scholar Program, where we invite select people from across the world to come to the Conference and learn how to provide continuing education in their respective countries. We covered this program in our Sunday issue of INSIDE NAVC.” How does the NAVC provide resources for all veterinary disciplines? Dr. Merck: “For starters, the NAVC publishes two amazing resources for the veterinary community: Today’s Veterinary Practice and Today’s Veterinary Technician. These practical, peer-reviewed clinical publications are the official journals of the NAVC… reaching more than 60,000 industry professionals each! Also, through VetFolio, we offer free webinars and certificate courses you can’t find anywhere else. Plus, the NAVC now has an industry services division providing veterinary association management support. We’re committed to finding ways to provide for and respond to all needs of the veterinary community.” What’s your vision? A year from now, the NAVC will… Dr. Merck: “…continue to build on our new and innovative programs and initiatives! We have achieved so much in the past few years and the entire NAVC team has great vision for the future. My vision as President is for us to continue identifying additional ways we can give back to the veterinary community.” What’s the first thing you’ll do as NAVC President? Dr. Merck: “Thank my dad for being a role model of integrity and compassion; for instilling in me that I could do and be anything. Then I’ll get to work with Tom Bohn, CEO, and our wonderful Board on our NAVC Conference 2017 inaugural move to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando… and take the next steps toward our vision for the NAVC. Stay tuned!” Did You Know? Melinda Merck, DVM, leading champion of veterinary forensics and animal crime scene investigations… Developed the first Veterinary Forensics course for the University of Georgia and University of Florida veterinary schools. Frequently lectures at other veterinary and technician colleges, teaching workshops on animal crime scenes and the processing of burial and surface remains. In the 2009 Michael Vick dogfighting case, her forensic determinations of the deceased and buried dogs formed the solid foundation for the successful prosecution of Vick’s crimes. For her contribution, she received awards from the US Department of Justice, US Attorney’s Office and US Office of the Inspector General. Developed the VetFolio Veterinary Forensics and Animal CSI certificate courses in 2014. Is a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Science, a member of the International Association of Blood Stain Analysts and a Research Associate at the Centre for Forensic Research, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia. Is the author of Veterinary Forensics: Animal Cruelty Investigation, 2nd edition, by Wiley Publishing and is a contributing forensics author in other textbooks.
Make plans to join us Tuesday morning for a unique veterinary industry learning opportunity. Last year, in a standing room–only crowd, 15 speakers covered a wide range of topics, from technology and emerging wildlife diseases to leadership and dealing with patient end-of-life grief. This year you can expect an equally interesting variety of topics, but in a slightly different format. We’ve expanded the 5-minute TED*-like talks into 10 minutes each, giving each presenter more time to dive into a fresh way of thinking about the future of our profession. Talks begin at 8:00 AM and run through 11:30 AM, covering a diverse range of topics, from Zoobiquity (www.zoobiquity.com) to compassion fatigue, wildlife to cognitive computing and financial concerns to disconnecting from technology. These topics “move” our speakers and hopefully you as well. Join us for the entire IGNITE! session, or come and go as your schedule allows. Just know that you can expect to hear new insights, inspiration and practical tips in veterinary education, practice, professionalism and community. IGNITE! 2016 topics INCLUDE: Why Veterinary Medicine Is More Viable Than Ever Protecting Your Practice from Bullying in the Workplace Behavioral Science of Client Retention Getting Your Life Unstuck Understanding the Era of Cognitive Computing Because I’m hAPPy! One Health – One Community The Vet Confessionals Project: What’s Your Secret? A Case for Nurse Practitioners How to #UNPLUG…Taking a Digital Sabbatical How Sea Turtles Engaged a Young Boy with Cancer How Will Veterinary Science Transform Human Medicine? *The NAVC and IGNITE! are not affiliated with TED or TEDx.
Tuesday, January 19, 2016 8:00 – 11:30 AM Marriott | Grand Salon 8 The NAVC has been named the official association management company of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) to oversee conference and membership management, strategic planning initiatives, branding, marketing, governance and accounting services. Founded in 1978, the ABVP is an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)–recognized veterinary specialty organization offering certification for veterinary practitioners with exceptional knowledge, skills and competency in 11 recognized areas: Avian, Beef Cattle, Canine and Feline, Dairy, Equine, Exotic Companion Mammal, Feline, Food Animal, Reptile and Amphibian, Shelter Medicine and Swine Health Management. In addition to leading the way in veterinary certification programs, the ABVP organizes symposia, educational courses, study groups and other CE opportunities, as well as fundraising activities to support and fund projects. “We chose the NAVC because we were looking for an association management company that truly understands who we are and shares our mission and vision,” explained ABVP President Kimberlee A. Buck, DVM, DABVP (Canine and Feline Practice), DABVP (Avian Practice). “The NAVC shares our dedication to advancing the profession and giving back for the overall betterment of veterinary healthcare around the world.” NAVC CEO Thomas M. Bohn, MBA, CAE, added, “We are honored to represent the ABVP and empower their unique identity and independence. Our highly experienced team of executive directors, marketing experts, conference planners and administrators will work alongside our extensive network of contractors and event management experts to help the association reach its goals while maintaining, and even enhancing, its reputation in the field.” The NAVC’s Industry Services Division currently works with veterinary organizations that include the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV), The Pet Nutrition Alliance (PNA), the American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition, ExoticsCon, the Latin American Veterinary Conference, the Southern European Veterinary Congress, and VetFolio. ABVP certification is available to practicing veterinarians without the need to pursue a formal residency or postgraduate education. The ABVP is dedicated to advancing veterinarians who demonstrate excellence in species-oriented clinical practice and share a common desire and willingness to deliver superior, comprehensive and multidisciplinary veterinary service to the public. The main purpose of the certification is self-improvement through displaying specialist-level skills and knowledge. The certification offered by the ABVP is recognized by the American Board of Veterinary Specialties of the AVMA. The ABVP also provides residencies to promote expertise and proficiency in a recognized veterinary specialty by providing instruction and guidance through a structured residency program.
Free-spirited, fearless and fierce, Sheryl Crow has garnered nine Grammys, performed duets with musical luminaries such as Sting and Mick Jagger, released seven studio albums which sold more that 35 million records worldwide, saw the launch of her very own clothing line Bootheel Trading Co., is a cancer survivor and passionate humanitarian and has performed for President Obama! From humble beginnings as a jingle and back-up singer, Crow has reached the pinnacle of professional solo success. Crow’s debut, the seven times platinum Tuesday Night Music Club, hit #3 and earned three Grammys–Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the classic “All I Wanna Do.” The album also featured “Strong Enough,” “Can’t Cry Anymore,” and “Leaving Las Vegas.” 1996’s triple platinum Sheryl Crow (#6) earned the Grammy for Best Rock Album and, for “If It Makes You Happy,” Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. 1998’s platinum The Globe Sessions (#5) also garnered the Best Rock Album Grammy, as its “Everyday Is A Winding Road” and “My Favorite Mistake” both reached the Pop Top 20. The new millennium brought 2002’s platinum C’mon C’mon (#2), whose gold “Soak Up The Sun” peaked in the Top 20 and “Steve McQueen” again nabbed her a Best Female Rock Vocal Performance Grammy. The 2003 greatest hits compilation, the four times platinum The Very Best Of Sheryl Crow, was also a #2 charter, featuring a new recording, a cover of Cat Stevens’ “The First Cut Is The Deepest.” 2005’s platinum Wildflower (#2) featured the duet with Sting, “Always On Your Side.” On her 2008 release, Detours, Crow explores both personal and global issues. Produced by Bill Bottrell (who last worked with Crow on her 1993 debut, the seven-times platinum Tuesday Night Music Club). Crow unveiled her soul stylings on her seventh studio set 100 Miles From Memphis. Growing up in Kennett, Missouri, 100 miles from Memphis, Crow grew up listening to the irresistible soul sounds on the radio coming out of Memphis in the late 60s; Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Booker T, Aretha Franklin and early 70s; Al Green, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Sly Stone and Aretha Franklin, all of which shaped the artist Sheryl Crow is today. Crow is a passionate supporter of a variety of environmental and health-related charities, including The NRDC, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and The World Food Program. This year saw the opening of the Sheryl Crow Imaging Center in the Pink Lotus Breast Center in Los Angeles.
Monday, January 18, 2016 • Doors open at 7:30 PM • Begins at 8:00 PM Gaylord | Osceola Ballroom
“Existing veterinary trade organizations perform vital roles in protecting and advancing the interests of their members. But we saw an unmet need for a veterinary organization that works industry-wide to focus on positive change and push the envelope for innovative solutions across professional boundaries.” —Thomas M. Bohn, MBA, CAE, NAVC CEO During Saturday’s Conference Opening Ceremony, the NAVC announced that it has established the Veterinary Innovation Council (VIC), a non-profit 501(c)(6) association with the mission of convening the brightest minds in the profession and industry to tackle innovation opportunities that lift up all animal healthcare segments, including caregivers, academia, suppliers and consumers. The VIC, as an exciting, new, project-driven, collaborative industry body, is aimed at three primary goals: 1. Convening talent from across the profession to tackle global challenges facing the animal health industry—challenges that require collaboration and innovation 2. Developing realistic, innovative solutions capable of transforming areas of critical value to the veterinary profession and animal health industry 3. Collaborating with professional organizations, companies and nonprofits to implement the innovations and reforms NAVC President Christine Navarre, DVM, MS, DACVIM (LAIM), added, “We’re proud to initiate this exciting development for our profession. The VIC will carefully leverage the breadth and depth of the NAVC and its relationships within the profession to build the foundation for a long-term engine that drives innovation and reform.” Adrian Hochstadt, JD, CAE, is the new Senior Vice President of Industry Services & Executive Director of the Veterinary Innovation Council. He comes to this new position with significant association management and veterinary advocacy experience. For the past 10 years, he served as the AVMA Assistant Director of State Relations. His background also includes roles at the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons and the American Bar Association. He said, “I look forward to working with a variety of entities and individuals to promote solutions that will enhance animal health for the benefit of consumers, veterinary professionals and the animal health industry.” (Read more about Adrian on p. 9.) Introducing the Veterinary Innovation Council Board of Directors The following industry leaders have joined the VIC Board:
Back row: Tom Bohn, MBA, CAE, NAVC CEO; Dr. Christine Navarre, NAVC President; Dr. Doug Aspros, Pet Nutrition Alliance, President; Adrian Hochstadt, JD, CAE (Executive Director of the VIC); Dr. Mark Seraly, DermatologistOnCall®; Kenichiro Yagi, BS, RVT, VTS (ECC, SAIM), Adobe Animal Hospital Bottom row: Dr. Mia Cary, NAVC, Chief Innovation Officer; Dr. Charlotte Lacroix, JD, NAVC Immediate Past President Not pictured: Dr. Eleanor Green, Dean, Texas A&M University; Dr. James Lloyd, University of Florida Two industry partners remain to be named. For questions about the VIC, please contact Adrian Hochstadt directly at
[email protected]. Look for the new product panels just outside the Gaylord & Marriott Exhibit Hall entrances Each year, the NAVC Conference showcases a select group of new products designed for veterinary professionals. You’ll find these new products and services on display outside the entrance of both the Gaylord & Marriott Exhibit Halls through Wednesday, January 20, 2016, in the Official Program Guide and online at NAVC.com/conference/new-product-gallery/. Our three-member selection committee, made up of NAVC Past Presidents who are in active practices, makes selections based on various criteria, including innovation and impact on everyday practice. Eligible products are considered new if they were released between July 2015 and July 2016. When you view these products on display, you’ll notice an interactive “learn more” code inviting you to tap your badge to get more information. This makes it easy for each company to send you product details and more via email. 3M™ Bair Hugger™ Therapy Temperature Management Unit, Model 775 by 3M Animal Care Gaylord 1508 Clinical Warming With More Control Forced-air warming was introduced to the world in 1987 with the launch of the 3M™ Bair Hugger™ system. Our latest advancement in forced-air warming—the 3M Bair Hugger Model 775 temperature management unit—offers two airfow settings, hose-end temperature sensing for precise temperature delivery and ease of use from a single, quiet warming unit. It’s also compatible with all Bair Hugger blanket styles. 3m.com/animalcare BLUE Natural Veterinary Diet Formulas by Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd Marriott 3311 Introducing Natural Prescription Pet Food From Blue Buffalo Developed by veterinarians. Preferred by pet parents. BLUE Natural Veterinary Diet formulas are made with the ingredients pet parents prefer 5 to 1 over the leading brands, featuring: high quality protein from real meat, wholesome fruits and vegetables, NO chicken (or poultry) by-product meals, and NO corn, wheat or soy. Visit TrueBLUEVets.com for more information. Claro™(florfenicol, terbinafine, mometasone furoate) Otic Solution by Bayer HealthCare Gaylord 1513 Take non-compliance out of the equation Introducing our latest innovation in first-line therapy against canine otitis externa. Single-dose regimen Zero homework — no treatments at home Proven effective against susceptible strains of yeast (Malassezia pachydermatis) and bacteria (Staphylococcus pseudintermedius) Stop by the Bayer booth for complete product information. CAUTION: Federal (U.S.A.) law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. PRECAUTIONS: Use with caution in dogs with impaired hepatic function. bayerdvm.com/show.aspx/productdetail/claro Duralactin Canine Joint Plus Soft Chews by Veterinary Products Laboratories Gaylord 1425 A smart defense against inflammation Introducing the reformulated Duralactin® Canine Joint Plus Soft Chews by Veterinary Products Laboratories! Duralactin® brand products are made with MicroLactin® and help manage inflammation by blocking the neutrophils from entering into sites of tissue injury and by inhibiting neutrophil attachment to the endothelial wall. Therefore, Duralactin® can help manage inflammation without the side effects of traditional inflammation therapies. Because of this, veterinarians can feel confident in recommending Duralactin® brand products. They’re scientifically proven to help your patients live more comfortable, active lives. duralactin.com/for-vets/ Duralactin Canine Soft Chews by Veterinary Products Laboratories Gaylord 1425 A smart defense against inflammation Introducing the new Duralactin® Canine Soft Chews by Veterinary Products Laboratories! Duralactin® brand products are made with MicroLactin® and manage inflammation. MicroLactin® promotes and protects tight cellular junctions and interferes with the ability of neutrophils to adhere to the blood vessel wall, thereby blocking neutrophils from passing through capillary walls to sites of inflammation. duralactin.com/for-vets/ Duralactin Feline + Fatty Acids Soft Chews by Veterinary Products Laboratories Gaylord 1425 A smart defense against inflammation For your inflammation wildcat! One of the few products available for inflammation for cats, Duralactin® brand products are made with MicroLactin® and reduce inflammation by blocking the entry of neutrophils from the circulatory system into sites of tissue injury and by inhibiting neutrophil attachment to the endothelial wall. duralactin.com/for-vets/ IDEXX Neo by IDEXX Laboratories Gaylord 2207 Neo: the next generation of practice management software Unlike software that’s installed on your server, Neo is cloud-based, and you can use it anywhere, on any device. Designed by a veterinarian, Neo is intuitive to use and easy to learn. You’ll save money with Neo, too. Since you won’t have to manage a server or software updates, your practice will see dramatic cost savings. Switching is easy, and you can get started for free. idexxneo.com Interceptor® Plus (milbemycin/praziquantel) by Elanco Gaylord 1325 A monthly chew that provides broad-spectrum parasite control A soft chewable tablet, flavored with real chicken, that contains milbemycin oxime to protect dogs against some common intestinal parasites and heartworm disease. The addition of praziquantel boosts coverage even more to include tapeworms for broad-spectrum parasite control. Prevents heartworm disease and treats and controls adult hookworm (A. caninum), roundworm, whipworm and tapeworm (Taenia pisiformis, Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus) infections in dogs. Safe for use in dogs and puppies 6 weeks of age and older and 2 lbs of weight or greater. Important safety information Treatment with fewer than 6 monthly doses after the last exposure to mosquitoes may not provide complete heartworm prevention. Prior to administration of Interceptor Plus, dogs should be tested for existing heartworm infections. The safety of Interceptor Plus has not been evaluated in dogs used for breeding or in lactating females. The following adverse reactions have been reported in dogs after administration of milbemycin oxime or praziquantel: vomiting, diarrhea, depression/lethargy, ataxia, anorexia, convulsions, weakness, and salivation. For product label, including complete safety information, visit Gaylord booth 1325. interceptorplus.com Onsior® (robenacoxib) injection by Elanco Gaylord 1325 • Marriott 4023 New convenient formulation. Trusted postoperative pain relief. Good news! Now you have a new option to effectively control postoperative pain in cats. Onsior injection is here! Onsior injection is convenient and safe to use interchangeably with Onsior tablets in cats >=4 months and 5.5 pounds. Onsior injection provides effective control of postoperative pain and inflammation associated with orthopedic surgery, ovariohysterectomy, and castration for up to a maximum of 3 days with once-a-day administration in cats ≥ 4 months of age. Important safety information Onsior should not be used in cats that have a hypersensitivity to robenacoxib or known intolerance to NSAIDs. For subcutaneous use in cats only. All cats should undergo a thorough history and physical examination before the initiation of NSAID therapy. Do not administer Onsior injection or tablets in conjunction with any other oral or injectable NSAID or corticosteroid. The most common adverse reactions in clinical studies were incision site bleeding, incision site infection, vomiting, lethargy, and decreased appetite. For product label, including important safety information, see Gaylord booth 4023. us. onsior.com Osurnia® (florfenicol/terbinafine/betamethasone acetate) by Elanco Gaylord 1325 • Marriott 4023 Simple new treatment for otitis externa infections in dogs* Osurnia® is a treatment for otitis externa administered in a pre-measured, easyto-use single-dose tube with a flexible, soft tip that is meant to be gentle on a dog’s ears. The two-dose per ear treatment regimen should be administered in the veterinary clinic seven days apart, which can help maximize treatment compliance. Osurnia® is an adaptable gel.1 The gel formulation squeezes out of the tube and spreads easily with gentle massage. Important safety information Osurnia® (florfenicol/terbinafine/betamethasone acetate) is for otic use only under veterinary supervision. Do not use in dogs with known tympanic perforation or a hypersensitivity to florfenicol, terbinafine or corticosteroids. Adverse reactions observed during clinical trials include vomiting, increased liver enzymes and transient loss of hearing. For full product label, including important safety information, please visit Gaylord booth 4023. 1Elanco data on file.
*Infections associated with Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Malassezia pachydermatis. Royal Canin Multifunction by Royal Canin USA Gaylord 1715 A Magnificent Combination For over 45 years we’ve partnered with veterinarians who share our obsession for bringing out the best in cats and dogs. We discovered 1 in every 3 pets suffers from multiple health conditions. That’s why, through science and research, we developed a precise multifunction solution. When you prescribe the new multifunction nutrition you have the power to transform the health of each cat and dog. royalcanin.com/multifunction Solliquin™ Behavior Health Supplement by Nutramax Laboratories Veterinary Sciences, Inc. Gaylord 825 • Marriott 3612 Chewable supplement to encourage calmness in stressful situations SOLLIQUIN™ is a chewable supplement intended to support behavioral health in dogs and cats and facilitate relaxation in stressful situations: L-theanine: an amino acid found naturally in black, green, and white teas. Magnolia officinalis: an extract from the bark of the Magnolia tree. Phellodendron amurense: fruit and bark extracts from the Amur cork tree. Whey protein concentrate: a milk protein extract. solliquin.com SVet II by FUJIFILM Sonosite Gaylord 2527 Exceptional Ease of Use in Point of Care Ultrasound FUJIFILM SonoSite, the leader in point of care ultrasound (POC), delivers imaging solutions to human emergency and critical care medicine. These POC design features lend themselves to the busy veterinarian with streamlined design features. SonoSite has responded with SVet II. Exceptional ease of use, full bleed monitor, cart mounted, dualtransducer connectivity, adaptive screen, tactile knobs for responsive adjustments are all pivotal design features and exemplify its efficiency and POC design. veterinary.sonosite.com/svet-ii-navc/ Swift M10T-BTW1 Digital Tablet Microscope Series by Swift Optical Instruments, Inc. Gaylord 2227 Digital Compound Microscope with Integrated Tablet Introducing the newest series of Swift digital research-grade microscopes with 8 inch tablet technology. HDMI, USB and Wi-Fi enabled interface combined with optical excellence offers unlimited possibilities. This is your all-in-one, image viewing, capturing and sharing solution! swiftoptical.com/products/m10t-mcs-p Zymox PLUS Otic Advanced Solution by PKB Animal Health Gaylord 613 Manage Resistant Otitis Externa ZYMOX PLUS Otic Advanced Formula (steroid free) for managing chronic otitis externa cases due to resistant microbes, such as pseudomonas, which form complex bioflms. Ideal for those seeking alternatives to antibiotics and for those cases of pregnant or lactating females, exotics and those sensitive to steroids, such as rabbits. Features increased potency of the patented LP3 Enzyme System PLUS Additional enzymes to destroy hard to penetrate bioflm. petkingbrands.com/products/adv-otic.html LOOK FOR THE LIGHTED NEW PRODUCT GALLERY DISPLAY CASE TO SEE THESE FEATURED PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR 2016! VetFolio expands delivery of on-demand online veterinary education When Mackenzie Hellert, DVM, first heard about VetFolio 2 years ago at the NAVC Conference 2014, she wasn’t interested. In fact, she says, she was adamant that she wasn’t going to sign up. It wasn’t until Hellert, the primary veterinarian at Family Pet Hospital in Platteville, WI, received a free 3-month subscription from Merck, one of VetFolio’s Founding Sponsors, that she decided to see what the site was all about. And she liked it. A lot. Three months later, Hellert has upgraded her trial to a practice subscription and has already achieved 30 hours of CE credit. Additionally, Hellert has been able to use the account to help train her staff on new techniques that have improved outcomes at the clinic. “For me, it’s the CE available,” Hellert said, explaining her newfound interest in VetFolio. “When you’re at conference it’s great because you’re there and you can ask questions, but sometimes, at the end of the day, you’re just tapped out. You’re drained. This way you can watch an hour at a time, and take a break if you need to. I’m always in the learning mood while I’m watching it.” VetFolio was first launched at NAVC in 2014. Then, NAVC joined forces with the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) in 2015 to expand the on-demand educational offerings of the site to the whole veterinary community — including everyone from students, who receive a free subscription, to veterinary technicians, veterinarians and even practice managers. In 2015, more than 100 hours of CE were added to the site, and more new content is planned for 2016. VetFolio’s content is presented in the form of CE courses and certificate programs, articles, point-of-care documents, Conference Proceedings, videos and podcasts, plus an online community. “VetFolio had a great year in 2015,” says Bobby Lee, MBA, VetFolio’s Executive Director. “We saw tremendous growth and added a lot of great content. We will continue to add popular content like our web conferences and Conference recordings. Keep an eye out for new types of content like podcasts and certificate courses in 2016.” Across the country, at Adobe Animal Hospital in Los Altos, CA, veterinary technician Kenichiro Yagi has also been able to put skills he learned through VetFolio to use in real-life practice. For Yagi, the web conference “How Do We Know They Hurt? Looking For, Recognizing and Assessing Acute Pain in Cats” was especially helpful. “As a veterinary technician in the ICU, consistency and agreement in pain assessment and the accompanying approach to pain management between team members has been a challenge,” Yagi explained. “VetFolio’s course encouraged me to introduce a pain scoring system.” Both Yagi and Hellert agree that the access to educational resources whenever, wherever they are is one of the most helpful aspects of using VetFolio to earn CE and to brush up on skills and learn new techniques. For those new to accessing online education, Hellert suggests visiting the CE Center on the site and browsing the course names to find those that best match your interests and needs. Once you have a list, she suggests setting a goal for a certain number of courses in the month and then starting with the one you’re most interested in. “VetFolio is a resource that will become more useful and more powerful as individuals invest the time into being a part of the community, and learning to navigate the site to their favorite mode of learning,” Yagi added. The Gaylord and Marriott Exhibit Halls open today at 9:00 AM! Each year, Conference attendees look forward to visiting our two massive Exhibit Halls to see more than 650 booths, find exclusive deals and giveaways, and have the chance to win major prizes. Get in on the excitement this year with the following reasons to stop by the Halls each day during the Conference. Be the first to see new veterinary products Since the NAVC Conference 2016 is the year’s first and largest veterinary event, many companies launch their newest products throughout the exhibit halls. Make sure to explore to see them all. Get answers on new tools Check out the latest solutions first-hand through live demonstrations, video presentations, samples, cases and special events. Talk directly with manufacturers for in-depth knowledge. Discover the New Product Gallery Check out 15 exciting new solutions selected by an NAVC-appointed committee to be part of the New Product Gallery showcase. Tap your badge on each product panel to get more information by email. Save money with NAVC RealDeals Tucked inside your Conference registration bag is a RealDeals coupon booklet loaded with specials on the items you need. Flip through to find each special and booth location. Get stamped for valuable NAVC Conference Passport prizes Collect stamps from sponsoring booths and enter to win major prizes, including a Family Disney Vacation, NAVC Conference 2017 Package, Apple Product Package, a new Subaru Forester or $10,000! Scan to win Daily Prize Giveaways During our morning coffee breaks, get your badge scanned in at least two booths so you’re entered into daily prize drawings for two Cirque du Soleil Orlando tickets, Orlando Dinner Theater tickets for two, an iPad Air2 and a Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker. Enjoy free coffee and lunch each day Every morning, you can enjoy a refreshing coffee break. Plus, your Conference badge is preloaded each day with lunch money to use at the NAVC Deli located in both halls.
Imagine a clinical journal that inspires you to dream bigger about your career while giving you specific medical skills and continuing education (CE) opportunities. Dream no more, Today’s Veterinary Technician is here! It’s the peer-reviewed journal bringing you fresh clinical and career perspectives so you can: Earn CE through opportunities covering a variety of practical nursing and technical skills in areas such as emergency and critical care, dentistry and nutrition Get practical tutorials on medically oriented subjects you face every day Enjoy peer-reviewed quality articles from veterinary technician specialists Access up-to-date handouts that help you confidently discuss topics with clients Challenge yourself to grow in bold new directions Published by veterinary technicians for veterinary technicians Today’s Veterinary Technician joins Today’s Veterinary Practice as an official journal of the NAVC. It’s produced by a seasoned publishing team with a leading veterinary technician at the helm: Lynne E. Johnson-Harris, LVT, RVT, Editor-inChief. Lynne is the practice manager, working alongside her husband, Jerry Harris, DVM, at Hinckley Animal Hospital in Hinckley, OH, and she’s an NAVC Past President. She was the first veterinary technician to be an elected Board member of the NAVC and served on the Board from 2003 to 2014. We asked Lynne to give us the inside scoop on what prompted the NAVC to publish Today’s Veterinary Technician and what makes it different from other journals. What was the genesis of establishing Today’s Veterinary Technician? Lynne: “With the purchase of Today’s Veterinary Practice in 2014, the NAVC recognized there was a large audience — the veterinary care support team — that needed its own voice. Veterinarians have many journals, but technicians do not. We thought it was time to have a journal that celebrates the vet tech profession and the individuals that make it great. We established Today’s Veterinary Technician to address that audience by providing peer-reviewed CE articles, features and columns on practical and scientific topics for veterinary technicians. It’s a more clinical approach than what has been available.” Who exactly is Today’s Veterinary Technician for? Lynne: “This journal is for all members of the veterinary care team; however, our target audience is veterinary technicians and veterinary technician students.” How is it different from other industry publications that include articles for veterinary technicians? Lynne: “Today’s Veterinary Technician is brought to you by the leading veterinary CE provider, the NAVC. It will be a more ‘personal’ journal for veterinary technicians who are looking to enhance their careers with medical knowledge and CE. We’ll focus more on the scientific aspects of animal care while also presenting articles on personal and professional health and leadership.” What are the top benefits of being a subscriber? Lynne: “Subscribers will receive an ongoing resource of practical, up-to-date CE opportunities dedicated to veterinary technicians. They can use the information as soon as they have finished reading the article. In addition, we’re creating a community of dedicated veterinary technicians… and a vehicle for their unique voice, celebrations and issues. And, it’s FREE! We know the financial sacrifices many technicians make for this profession, so we’re proud to offer this journal free of charge to the profession, thanks to our generous sponsors.” What is your vision for Today’s Veterinary Technician as it rolls out beyond the debut issue? Lynne: “Our vision is for this to be the leading journal for and about veterinary technicians, to further drive the value of veterinary technicians through access to practical information that can be used every day to benefit the practice. We’re excited to add yet another medium besides the NAVC Conference and VetFolio.com to reach this audience, and we’ll be looking for ways to use all our platforms in a unique and valuable way for veterinary technicians. Veterinary technicians are often isolated in their day-today work. We’d like them to know their voices are heard, they’re appreciated and they’re fully supported by the NAVC.” Let us know what you think of our debut issue and what you’d like to see in future issues! We welcome your input. Stop by to talk with our team at either Today’s Veterinary Technician booth (Gaylord and Marriott; see below for locations and hours).
Dr. Merck is the incoming President of the NAVC Board of Directors for North American Veterinary Conference and is Program Chair for our Veterinary Forensics: Animal CSI track. She is the founding chair of the Board of Directors for the International Veterinary Forensic Sciences Association. Dr. Merck is the owner of Veterinary Forensics Consulting, LLC, (www.veterinaryforensics.com) in Austin, Texas. She’s a forensic veterinarian consulting on cases involving animals. She assists investigators of animal cruelty with crime scene investigation as well as the examination of live and deceased victims. Dr. Merck helps with large scale operations including exhumations of burial sites and Melinda Merck, DVM examination of skeletal animal remains. She frequently testifies as a veterinary forensic expert for animal cruelty cases around the country and provides training for veterinary, attorney and law enforcement professionals internationally on the use of veterinary medical knowledge in the investigation and prosecution of animal cruelty cases. Dr. Merck is on the WSAVA Animal Wellness and Welfare Committee and the Association of Prosecuting Attorney’s Animal Cruelty Advisory Council. She is the author of the textbook “Veterinary Forensics: Animal Cruelty Investigation, 2nd edition” by Wiley publishing, the co-author of the book “Veterinary Forensic Investigation of Animal Cruelty: A Guide for Veterinarians and Law Enforcement,” and a contributing author on forensics in other textbooks. She developed the first Veterinary Forensics course for University of Georgia and Florida veterinary schools and frequently lectures at other veterinary and technician colleges. She teaches workshops on animal crime scenes and the processing of burial and surface remains. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Science and member of the International Association of Blood Stain Analysts. NAVC: We appreciate your long term commitment to NAVC. Starting as a speaker at our 2004 conference, you’ve accepted increasing levels of responsibility, culminating in January in becoming president of our Board of Directors. What is it about NAVC that has kept you intrigued and involved? Dr. Merck: I love the challenge and commitment that we have to finding new and innovative ways to provide educational opportunities for the veterinary community. It is exciting to work with such a great group of people with passion and synergy to elevate our profession and affect positive change. NAVC: From reviewing your accomplishments and experience, it’s obvious that leadership runs in your DNA. What do you attribute that to? Dr. Merck: My parents: they both came from blue collar and farming roots in Texas. My father earned an associate’s degree and was hired by IBM. He went on to become the youngest branch manager in IBM history. My mother was a stay at home mom until we graduated high school. She then went back to school and obtained her nursing degree. They both taught me I could do and be anything! NAVC: Is there a quotation, poem or song that personifies your passion for your work? What is important to you that you be known for? Dr. Merck: For a quotation: “Be the change you want to see in the world”. For a song, “The Story” – I was definitely made to help animals. I want to be known for making a difference for animals and the veterinarians charged with ensuring their welfare. NAVC: People refer to you as the animal CSI, a unique leadership role in the veterinary profession. Obviously technology plays a big role in doing this work. What other significant elements contribute to the process? Does the satisfaction of using science to nail the perpetrators outweigh the negatives that come with the job? Dr. Merck: We have seen a tremendous growth in interest and application of human forensic science to animal cases. It is exciting to work with other experts and explore how their fields of expertise can support a cruelty investigation. The satisfaction does not come from the case outcome; it comes from knowing we used everything we could in our ‘forensic toolkit’ for the case. NAVC: The horrendous situations you learn about in your practice have got to take their toll on you emotionally. Do you experience something like compassion fatigue from the empathy you feel for the animals? How do you manage your emotions so your effectiveness is not compromised? Dr. Merck: It is critical to manage emotions and maintain objectivity in legal cases. Veterinarians typically have learned to compartmentalize emotions on a daily basis in practice in order to focus on each and every case they see. In cruelty cases, it helps to rely on the team involved in the case for support, the investigator and prosecutor, to help maintain perspective. It is also important to have life balance – to have something you do for yourself that makes you centered and whole again. I do yoga and walking. I also like to be creative with quilting and needle work – make something beautiful. NAVC: Your testimony and forensic determinations were instrumental in the successful prosecution of Michael Vick for cruelty to animals. You excavated two mass graves and then analyzed the 10 bodies that were removed. That high profile case captured the public’s attention and empathy. Since most cases are far less visible, how can the focus on deterrents and solutions remain sharp enough to produce the changes necessary to make a difference? Dr. Merck: Any cruelty case has a high profile in that community no matter how big or small the area. This is what makes a difference on the local level. We have now seen a major change from law enforcement with the National Sheriff’s Association and the FBI acknowledging the link of animal abuse to crimes against humans and supporting cruelty investigations. NAVC: On behalf of our profession, we thank you for your role in increasing the severity of punishment for crimes against animals. Were you surprised by the push back you initially encountered with legislators? It seems like cruelty to animals would be offensive to everyone. Dr. Merck: In working with the State legislature in Georgia, I learned there are a lot of factors I had never considered would be issues when trying to change animal cruelty laws. I did learn an important lesson: the State representatives do not often hear from their constituents. Therefore when they receive emails and phone calls on an issue they take notice. The public has a tremendous amount of influence if they take the time to make the call. NAVC: A few years ago, you were part of the Maddie’s Fund Shelter Medicine Program that received a $5 million grant to partner with the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine to develop a unique shelter medicine program that was the first of its kind in the U.S. Tell us more about the Program and how it influenced the incorporation of forensic training to shelter medicine residents. Dr. Merck: At the time this was the largest grant ever awarded by the Maddie’s Fund. It was unique in that it incorporated the development of the first Veterinary Forensics elective course for the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. This award supported not only a shelter medicine residency program but also provided forensic training for the residents. This is now a critical part of shelter medicine training for the new ABVP Shelter Medicine board certification. NAVC: NAVC relies on partnerships and sponsorships to produce quality events and affordable onsite and online education. What’s in it for those willing to invest in NAVC? Why are we a good choice? Dr. Merck: NAVC offers one of the most complete package of unique educational opportunities for the veterinary community reaching the profession on a national and international level. We provide exciting and innovative ways to enhance learning for our profession offering our sponsors and partners multiple avenues to reach and support the community. Whatever they need, we are committed to making it happen! NAVC: What are you looking forward to, both personally and professionally? Dr. Merck: I am looking forward to an exciting year for NAVC! We have so many things we are working on and have our beautiful new venue at the Orange County Convention Center for the 2017 Conference. Personally, I hope to spend more quality time with my geriatric animal household balancing my professional duties as President of NAVC!
Profiles in Leadership is a monthly NAVC Connect2Care feature that provides insights into the bright minds of leaders in the global veterinary healthcare community. This month, we’re delighted to introduce you to Michael T. Cavanaugh, DVM, DABVP, the CEO of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). A 1983 graduate of the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Cavanaugh became the CEO of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) in January 2010. In this capacity, Dr. Cavanaugh is responsible for AAHA’s national headquarters located in Denver, Colorado, where he oversees a staff of 75 and an annual budget of nearly $13 million. Dr. Cavanaugh practiced at AAHA-accredited hospitals in Illinois and Colorado before opening the AAHA-accredited West Ridge Animal Hospital in Topeka, Kansas, in 1988. During his practice years, Dr. Cavanaugh was very active in organized veterinary medicine and held numerous volunteer leadership and committee positions within AAHA. He became a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Canine and Feline) in 1996, and recertified in 2006. In addition to his experience as a companion animal practitioner, Dr. Cavanaugh gained valuable experience working in the animal health industry. He served as a part-time consultant with Hill’s Pet Nutrition until 1996 when he sold his practice, and as a technical services director for Heska Corporation for four years prior to joining Pfizer Animal Health in 2000. At Pfizer, Dr. Cavanaugh held positions of increasing responsibility, including director of veterinary hospital services where he led a group of nearly 50 veterinarians. NAVC and AAHA collaborated in early 2015 to present VetFolio (www.vetfolio.com). With the greatest amount of content and subject matter expertise in the veterinary profession, their progressive brands joined forces to provide the best online continuing education available to veterinary professionals today. With its combination of conference proceedings, articles from peerreviewed journals and professional magazines, community forums, Ask the Faculty, and CE, VetFolio provides everything in one location, available 24/7. NAVC: For more than 80 years, AAHA has had a history of producing strong educational content and tools that drive practice growth and success. It’s been almost a year since the “What if” conversations between the NAVC and AAHA leadership teams led to co-ownership of VetFolio. What are some lessons learned as VetFolio and the relationship with NAVC have evolved? Dr. Cavanaugh: First, I’ll say it has been a pleasure getting to know the executive team at NAVC. I think it has been a great learning experience for both teams so there have been numerous side benefits in addition to VetFolio. Since VetFolio is essentially a startup company, we’ve been reminded that you can’t communicate too much and, of course, make no assumptions. And, I think we both realize there is only so much capacity in each of our organizations to absorb more work. We are now treating VetFolio much more like a stand-alone company and we’re seeing very positive results from that. I remain very excited about the future of VetFolio and its impact on the veterinary profession. NAVC: Inquiring minds want to know what it’s like to work with NAVC’s CEO Tom Bohn. You are both contagiously energetic and brimming with mindbending ideas. If we were a fly on the wall in your one on one conversations, what would our impression be? Dr. Cavanaugh: You might think you were watching a couple of 14 year olds…just kidding…sort of. Tom and I share a high level of mutual respect. He is an association guy with many years of excellent experience in the association world. I am a veterinarian and I often tell people I have a checkered past, with experience in many aspects of our profession. Tom has helped me better understand the association world after I was thrust into it, and I have helped Tom better understand the veterinary profession. Beyond that, we share a love of music, with Tom being an excellent guitarist and me being a drummer. We will figure out a way to jam together at some point! NAVC: You’ve written about trends that are shaping the veterinary hospital of the future: pets as family members; focus on practice management software; culture change: forward booking; team-centered structure; mobile medicine; wellness plans; and client centricity. That’s a smorgasbord of opportunity! What tips do you have making manageable bites of those trends for practices that want to integrate them into their business plans? Dr. Cavanaugh: I believe preventive health care and forward booking are the “lowhanging fruit” for most modern veterinary hospitals. I’ve often said preventive care gradually fell by the wayside because it isn’t the “sexy” part of veterinary medicine. It can seem routine and mundane, but offers some of the best opportunities to bond clients to your practice and educate them and deliver excellent veterinary care at the same time. And forward booking – when is the last time you got out of your dentist’s office without having the next cleaning scheduled? They have it down to a fine art. We did calculations on this a couple of years ago. We are probably being generous to say 5% of veterinary patients have their next appointment booked prior to leaving the hospital after a visit. If we could just nudge that up to 10% – still nowhere near the 80% level the dentists have – and if you make a couple of assumptions that when we see the animals there will be other issues and illnesses detected that need to be addressed – that 5% increase in forward booking equates to a billion dollars in revenue to our profession. And I am not intimating anyone should be doing unnecessary procedures, this is just about providing excellent care to our patients. In a nutshell, preventive care and forward booking need to be talked about so much in the practice that they become ingrained in the practice’s culture. Then they should consider learning about the Fear Free™ movement and helping folks minimize their cats’ stress and fear associated with the veterinary hospital so that they can get their cats back in for regular visits. If we could see all the cats who are currently not visiting veterinarians, I believe the conversations relative to supply and demand for veterinary services would sound way different. NAVC: You love outdoor activities, including whitewater kayaking and rafting, canoeing, fishing, back packing, rock climbing, bicycling, skiing and hiking. We hear that your motto is, “Live to tell about it!” Does the thrill of those adventures cross over to your being a risk taking, entrepreneurial spirit in your professional life? Dr. Cavanaugh: Wouldn’t life be mundane without risk? I absolutely believe in calculated risk. I wouldn’t kayak a river without some due diligence and attention to safety and “what ifs” because I do want to live to tell about it. Similarly, I won’t throw AAHA into business arrangements willy-nilly because I want to live to tell about that as well. When proper due diligence indicates a deal or a new program make sense, I move forward. I actually think adventure sports help people like me because when we are in dangerous situations, we learn to quickly analyze situations and make good decisions based on sometimes limited information. I never suffer from nor participate in “analysis paralysis”. All that said, I am also driven into the back country because I have an extreme love of nature and the beauty that exists out there. I love seeing things for the first time and often find myself in awe of the beauty and power of nature. I feel very blessed that I get to live in Colorado. NAVC: At the AAHA Conference each year, you give a State of the Industry review. What are the significant takeaways from your most recent analysis? Dr. Cavanaugh: I was almost embarrassed about the key takeaways because they are so basic. We surveyed veterinary clients to determine what they believe is important. Things like effective communication, treating clients as part of the team, making certain they understand what you are telling them, explaining the need for diagnostics and what is learned from diagnostic results and helping them understand preventive care were the top items. And the reason clients leave is most often not due to price, but due to poor communication or a bad customer experience. More clients go elsewhere due to things beyond our control such as a family moving. We can control how we communicate; we can deliver a positive experience for our clients; and we can certainly include them as an important part of the pet’s healthcare team. We just don’t for some reason. If these became part of a practice’s culture, it would pay back exponentially to the practice. NAVC: A few years ago, AAHA became involved with a conference of pet bloggers, called BlogPaws. What has your experience been working with the bloggers? Dr. Cavanaugh: The amazing thing about the BlogPaws group is the huge number of pet lovers they influence. There are some who have over 1.5 million followers on Facebook! It has been great getting to know them and attending their conference. I even emceed their awards program a couple of years ago and it was a blast. I wore a tuxedo and told the crowd there was no way I was going to show up and have some of the cats in attendance better dressed than me! And, I saw a capybara on a leash in a hotel lobby…. NAVC: AAHA is a key player in Partners for Healthy Pets, along with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and other animal health industry leaders, colleges of veterinary medicine and numerous other allied associations. With the overarching mission of improving the health of our nation’s pets by promoting proper preventive care, where is the disconnect between veterinary teams and pet owners? Dr. Cavanaugh: Yes, we are very proud of our involvement in and contributions to Partners for Healthy Pets. It seems like preventive care is an easy thing for both practices and pet owners to forget in the hectic day to day life of a veterinary practice and the pet owner’s busy life. As I stated earlier, effective communication from the practice team to the pet owner is critical. Treating the pet owner as an important element of the pet’s healthcare team is critical. Making certain the pet owner understands what you are telling them is critical. Scheduling the next appointment and having an effective reminder system is critical. That pretty much identifies the issue as if one of these critical steps is missed, there is a likelihood we won’t be seeing that pet. It is very simple yet extremely complicated all at once. That is the disconnect. NAVC: If you were asked to contribute an item for a time capsule that would personify the current importance of the veterinary health care profession, what would that be to help communicate with future archaeologists? Dr. Cavanaugh: Probably not a surprise to anyone, I would put something in with the American Animal Hospital Association logo. Maybe a logo plaque or my lapel pin? I have been affiliated with AAHA for almost 35 years now if I count going through AAHA accreditation with a practice I worked at as a pre-vet student. Every practice I worked in as an associate and the practice I started and owned are all AAHA-accredited. I absolutely believe in our mission which is threepronged. It covers helping veterinarians and their teams practice excellent veterinary medicine, run successful businesses and meet the pet owner’s needs as they relate to the delivery of veterinary medicine. AAHA will still be thriving when your archaeologists open this time capsule, and it will be interesting for them to know that the AAHA logo meant something back in the “old days”. NAVC: What do you want to be known for? Dr. Cavanaugh: First and foremost, I’d like to be known as a good person and that covers being a good son, sibling, husband, father and friend. Then I’d like to be known as someone who helped develop others and took great pride when he saw others succeed. Finally, I’d like to be known as a guy who put his heart and soul into making AAHA relevant and successful in today’s world and for the next hundred years. NAVC: You and your wife of 35 years, Beth, have two children, Caitlyn and Kevin, and a border collie named Zoe. You have cited the client’s embrace of their pets as part of the immediate family as one of the most significant trends in animal care. Although you are preaching to the choir with NAVC readers, we’d like to know your philosophy about how pets strengthen the dynamics in a family. Dr. Cavanaugh: The human-animal bond continues to flourish and grow. We are so blessed to be in a profession that allows us to provide a service that so many people value. I absolutely believe that many people who aren’t currently bringing their pets in still love veterinarians. They simply can’t get over the hurdles between them and the veterinary practice. There are always outliers, but for most families or individuals who have pets in their lives, there is an added dimension that brings a lot of joy to their lives. I’m sad to admit that as a young man, I often said that pet ownership is not a God-given right and if you have no resources to care for a pet, you should not have one. Later in my career when I worked for Pfizer Animal Health I regularly spent time in New York City and enjoyed long walks around mid-town Manhattan. I witnessed countless homeless people and their pets. It dawned on me that the pet is likely one of the only positive things they have in their lives. Now I am thinking more about how we as a profession can help those who honestly can’t afford basic care for their pets to have access to veterinary care. NAVC: You have supervised large staffs, in your current job where you have a staff of 75, and, previously, as director of veterinary hospital services at Pfizer where you led a group of 50 veterinarians. What is your leadership style? Any team building techniques that you have found especially effective? Dr. Cavanaugh: My leadership style centers around developing people. I try my best to not immediately answer questions even if I think I know the answer. I like hearing what those on my staff think before I speak up. For whatever reason, I know what I say will influence what they are thinking and might keep them from speaking their mind. I ask a lot of questions and I actively listen to the answers. I try to create interdependence when looking at how performance is measured. The worst thing in my opinion is to create situations where one department can “win” at the expense of another department. I encourage calculated risk taking. The result is either a win or a learning opportunity. The best team building technique I’ve found is to make certain you have the right members on the team to begin with. Don’t be afraid to move people to other teams or allow them to be happy someplace other than your business. Trying to “fix” people is typically unsuccessful and not fair to that individual who is clearly not in the right spot to be effective. It is also unfair to their colleagues who are performing well and need your help to develop further. NAVC: What are you looking forward to? Dr. Cavanaugh: It is early November. I live in Colorado. We had our first significant snow of the season here in the Denver area a couple of days ago. Several ski areas are open. My skis are in the shop getting tuned up. I am spending time getting fit for winter activities. I am looking forward to going skiing. Let the countdown begin! With just over 30 days left before the official kickoff of NAVC Conference 2016, we wanted to make sure you have the information, tools and resources you need for a huge success. Here’s a handy list of reminders for your team. Pre-Conference Mailing List Request: Available now, order by January 1 If you’re interested in getting the NAVC Conference 2016 preregistered list for pre-conference mailings promoting your booth special or offer, the list(s) are compiled and ready to go. Be sure to send us your request by January 1, 2016 (the earlier, the better!). That’s the last day we can make the list(s) available to you. You’ll find all the details and the Request Form in our NAVC Partner Power Guide. Proof of General Liability Insurance: Due December 15 A Certificate of Insurance naming the NAVC as an additional insuror must be provided to the NAVC no less than 30 days prior to the Exhibit Hall move-in date. You’ll find complete instructions in the Exhibitor Guide 2016. Purchase your insurance now! Badge Orders: DUE January 11 by 5:00 PM Eastern You should have received your invitation to order badges. It is very important that your badges are ordered before going on site so you can simply stop by the Exhibit Registration Desk, pick up your badge and go. Go to your Exhibitor Portal to log in and order your badge. Need help? Call us at +1.352.375.5672 x797. You are able to see your list of personnel once you register them on the portal at all times. Please make sure it is correct and if changes are necessary to call us and we will assist. On January 12 confirmations with QR codes will be sent to all exhibitor personnel using the e-mails you provided. To expedite your registration process on site, bring your confirmation and QR Codes. Your printed badge will contain a large bold “E,” indicating your Exhibitor status. (Veterinarians will have a large bold “V” on their badge.) If appropriate, ribbons will be delivered to your booth prior to the Exhibit Hall opening on Sunday morning (Example: Session Sponsor, New etc). Please place them on your name badges. If you have 30 or more badges and want to pick them up as a group and hand them out at a meeting prior to exhibit hall opening. PLEASE contact us and set up a time for us to have them ready for you. VERY IMPORTANT that you communicate to your personnel as they “will not” be able to pick up their badge from us if you decide to do this. Freeman Services Please click the links below for details on service information, furniture, free lead retrievals (commercial booths), shipping, and more for the Gaylord and Marriott. Gaylord Quick Facts Marriott Quick Facts Booth Location The exhibit halls layout maps help you get the lay of the land when it comes to booth locations and service areas. Review the online 2016 NAVC Exhibit Hall Floor Maps to familiarize yourself with where you’ll be located. Please contact us right away if you have any questions/concerns. Set Up Times Gaylord | Friday, January 15 & Saturday, January 16 | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Marriott | Saturday, January 17 | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM NOTE: Booths must be set up by Saturday at 5:00 PM. Booth setup crews can pick up wristbands from Security, who will be stationed at the Exhibit Hall entrance or the Exhibit Registration Desk. Exhibit Registration Hours (Pick up your badges) Gaylord Palms: 1st Level at end of hall Friday, January 15 | 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM Saturday, January 16 | 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM Sunday, January 17 | 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM Monday, January 18 | 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM Tuesday, January 19 | 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM Wednesday, January 20 | 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM Marriott (Convention Entrance): Registration Desk is on left towards exhibit hall Friday, January 15 | Not Open Saturday, January 16 | 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM Sunday, January 17 | 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM Monday, January 18 | 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM Tuesday, January 19 | 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM Wednesday, January 20 | 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM Exhibit Hall Hours: GAYLORD Sunday | 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM Monday | 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM Tuesday | 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM MARRIOTT Sunday | 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM Monday | 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM Tuesday | 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Parking Will you be exhibiting at the Gaylord or Marriott but not staying there? You can purchase Parking Passes at a flat daily rate. Forms are located in your Freeman Kit for the Gaylord or Marriott. Log in and look under “Other Vendors section.” Breakfast, Lunch and Afternoon Breaks With your Exhibitor Badge, you may access the Exhibit Halls starting at 8:00 AM on Sunday for a continental breakfast in the Exhibitor Lounges, located in the back of aisle 200 and 2500 in the Gaylord and the far right back corner from the entrance at the Marriott. Lunches are served from 11:40 AM-1:45 PM. We encourage you to eat prior to 11:40 AM if possible so you’re at your booth during the rush between 11:40 AM1:45 PM. There’s also a designated coffee and cookie break from 2:30 to 3:30 PM each day in each Exhibitor Lounge. Prize Drawings As in the past, we have daily prize drawings in addition to the Passport Program. During session breaks, we’ll guide registrants into the Exhibit Halls to enjoy a coffee/lunch break and to take advantage of these prize opportunities. The daily prize requirements are merely to scan their badges at two booths during our 9:15 – 9:55 AM break. Be prepared for heavy traffic during the following session breaks each day: 9:15 – 9:55 AM 11:40 AM – 1:45 PM 3:35 – 3:55 PM Tear Down Hours Gaylord | Wednesday, January 20 • 2:00 PM – Thursday, January 21 • 10:00 AM Marriott | Wednesday, January 20 • 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM Shipping Instructions: Please review the links below. Gaylord Quick Facts Marriott Quick Facts
Download a PDF of the 2016 NAVC Conference Ultimate Preview and Planning Guide. Profiles in Leadership is a monthly NAVC Connect2Care feature that provides insights into the bright minds of leaders in the global veterinary healthcare community. This month, we’re pleased to introduce you to Heather Prendergast, BS, AS, RVT, CVPM. Heather has spent over 21 years in small animal practice. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from New Mexico State University, an Associate’s Degree in Veterinary Technology from St. Petersburg College, and is a Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM). She has taught over several years for both veterinary technology and assistance programs and is the author of the book Front Office Management for the Veterinary Team, now in its 2nd edition. Heather has lectured for several local, state and national organizations on topics ranging from grief management for healthcare professionals to nutrition, inventory, communications and team management for the veterinary healthcare teams. She has authored several articles and participated in published roundtable discussions with the goal of increasing nutritional awareness, client compliance and communication within the veterinary practice. Currently, Heather provides consulting services for veterinary hospitals and is an instructor for Patterson Veterinary University. She serves on several advisory committees, including the Pet Nutrition Alliance Committee and the Fear Free Advisory Board. In 2014, Heather was named Veterinary Technician of the Year. The NAVC is delighted that Heather is serving as our Veterinary Technician Program Chair for the NAVC Conference 2016. Visit NAVC.com for a complete list of veterinary technician sessions. Register by December 14 to save before prices increase! NAVC: In your recent interview in Today’s Veterinary Practice, you detailed the components of creating a comprehensive and valuable track for veterinary technicians who attend the NAVC Conference. What advice do you have for first time technician attendees as they plan their time to maximize that customized track opportunity at Conference? Heather: “The NAVC Conference can be overwhelming to first-time attendees. Take time to review the veterinary technician sessions and determine which subjects stimulate your passion the most. Make a point to attend those. Make sure to schedule time for the Exhibit Hall, as exhibitors have plenty of information to educate attendees as well. And, always look at the luncheons and evening receptions that have been planned just for veterinary technicians. These events provide outstanding networking opportunities, great food and some relaxation time!” NAVC: Last year the track featured Veterinary Technician Case Study Presentations, where you asked technicians to submit their case studies to NAVTA, and a committee selected the top individuals to present at NAVC. What were some of the most helpful “takeaways” for the audience from those case studies? We look forward to them again in 2016! Heather: “The Case Study Presentations are unique in that veterinary technicians in practice are selected to present their case to the attendees. Presenters have varying amounts of experience presenting, but all are passionate about patient care. Therefore, they focus on their roles in delivering impeccable service (sometimes to unique cases) and the patient outcomes. Two presenters from the 2015 Conference will be presenting in the NAVC 2016 Veterinary Technician Track! The 2016 Case Presentation winner will receive an all expense paid trip to the PRESENT Summit, held in Nags Head, NC. Attendees are encouraged to ask the presenter questions about their cases, allowing everyone in the audience to learn. The most common questions revolve around initial patient presentation, patient care and treatment administration.” NAVC: We’re intrigued by Synergie, LLC, (synergie-llc.com) the company you founded in 2010 to provide practice management consulting services to veterinary hospitals. Without divulging anything confidential, please tell us about some of the most creative and interesting solutions you’ve developed for your clients. And was it challenging to find just the right name for your company? Heather: “I have always been very passionate about TEAM work, and feel that the success of a business depends on a TEAM, not an individual. When I created the name Synergie, I wanted a company name that reflected that passion. Hence, Synergie was born. To develop interesting solutions for clients, one thing I especially try to instill is to teach managers to be leaders — leaders that involve the entire team in hiring, training, brainstorming, policy creation, problem solving, etc. The veterinary business can be complex, but if we involve the team, it is less cumbersome. The team then becomes accountable for the success of the hospital. It is a win-win situation when embraced and deployed appropriately.” NAVC: We’re betting that you have pets. Tell us one of your favorite stories about one of them). Heather: “Good bet! I have four dogs (two boxers, a Blue Heeler, and an English Mastiff), two horses and a miniature donkey. My favorite story is of a Red Heeler named Taylor. She went everywhere with me. She was loyal and never left my side. I never placed her on a leash (which always gave others hesitation). She went to work with me every day in the veterinary practice. She had a blanket under my desk and always stayed there, even when I left the office for another part of the hospital. She would only come to the office doorway when she needed to go outside, then a page would come over the speaker system that “Taylor needs to pee!” One day I brought a puppy into the office, wondering if I could bring this cute little one home. Taylor never made eye contact with the puppy, and averted eye contact with me the rest of the day. Needless to say, I didn’t adopt the puppy!. Taylor passed away of Transitional Cell Carcinoma in 2010.” [Insert image of Taylor here] NAVC: Your repertoire of lecture topics is encyclopedic, including diverse subjects such as safe work environments, pet obesity and inventory management. We’re betting you have a few that represent some personal passions of yours. What would those be and why? What tips do you have for other speakers? Heather: “I do have a diverse platform of topics, but I have to say, everything that I chose to lecture on, I am passionate about. If it is only a mediocre subject for me, I’ll pass on teaching it. I feel that to be good at what you do, you have to love it. So, I love each topic that I present. That being said, each year I find something new to keep my interest level (and passion) high. This year, I have become heavily involved in the Fear Free™ initiative. On the business side of the practice, we see the number of client and patient visits declining. On the technician side of the practice, we see patients that are terrified and hate coming to the practice. We must do something to change this! WE have created these awful experiences for pets every time they come to the practice. It is in our power to change this and make every visit fun and exciting, and where pets want to come. When pets love to come to the practice, so do owners.” Regarding tips for speakers, realize that when you get to speak about subjects you’re passionate about, it shows. Your excitement becomes contagious; the enthusiasm of the speaker flows into the audience. My goal is to be able to positively influence at least one person every day, and to change their practice, their team or their outlook on life. When I get to positively influence in this manner, ultimately, the pet patients are going to have a better experience in the practice, as will their owners. After all, most of us enter the profession because we love animals.” NAVC: You are a nutritional consultant for Nestle Purina Pet Care. Even if pet owners read the labels on pet food, how can they have greater assurance they are choosing the best product for their pet? Heather: “Pet owners should always consult with their credentialed veterinary technician or veterinarian when it comes to pet food recommendations. Labels can be very confusing for clients. Ask your veterinary team to decipher labels; they can dispel some of the more common myths.” NAVC: Last month, NAVTA (National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America) celebrated National Veterinary Technician Week which celebrated the vital role of technicians in preserving animal health and welfare. Since you were chosen for the Veterinary Technician of the Year award in 2014, would comment on behalf of your profession to share what technicians wish practice managers would do on a regular basis to show their appreciation? Heather: “A NAVTA demographics study was completed in 2011. At that time, veterinary technicians wanted to be able to aid in diagnostics, care for patients the best way possible and build relationships with clients through client education. In my consulting services, I most often see credentialed veterinary technicians that are not fully leveraged; they are not able to contribute to the practice the skills in which they went to school. When staff members are not leveraged fully, team morale drops. So while a pat on the back or “good job” is nice to get, it is much more fulfilling to contribute to the practice, to become emotionally invested and to see the practice grow. I also know that wage increases are a must for this industry. It’s embarrassing that our technicians administer anesthesia, vaccines and save lives, and are often paid less than the starting wages for a new employee at fast food restaurants. If we expect to continue to grow our business, then we managers/owners must invest in our team, pay them fair wages and provide benefits that are meaningful. Invested team members produce money for the practice by building client relationships, enhancing client compliance and increasing client retention rates.” NAVC: You recently updated your book, Front Office Management for the Veterinary Team, to include the latest in coverage of technology and procedures, including revised What Would You Do/Not Do boxes addressing real-life situations and a glossary. It must be frustrating to know new technologies were evolving even as your book went to its second printing. How do you stay current about technology related to your field? What tips do you have for technicians? Heather: “Technology changes so fast! In fact, many technology-oriented pieces were removed from the first edition, because it was so hard for published material to be “current” about technology. The monthly and quarterly publications in our industry stay on top of technology; it’s a reliable and convenient way for technicians to stay current.” NAVC: There are a lot of changes going on in the animal health industry. What do you see as the most promising change and most challenging change for the veterinary hospitals and clinics you work with? Heather: “This is a tough and complex question. Our industry is changing faster than it ever has in the past, with new technologies, medical advancements and changing consumers. First and foremost, our practices need to be flexible and willing to change and stay current. Practices that are not progressive are going to have a challenging time. Inventory will be changing as consumers order products from our online pharmacy. Consumers are no longer loyal to a specific veterinarian, but rather to the ‘brand’ that the veterinary team has developed. Veterinary technicians are considering a name change for the position that will be consistent throughout the United States and United Kingdom. Preliminary surveys show that our clients understand the role of “Veterinary Nurse” more than they do “Veterinary Technician.” Colorado State University is studying the role of a Veterinary Nurse Practitioner. What does this mean for the industry? Superior patient care and client education, and increased wages for credentialed staff members. The name transition to Veterinary Nurse and the potential creation of Veterinary Nurse Practitioner is exciting. The obstacles will be challenging, but can be overcome. Executive Director, Veterinary Innovation Council and Senior Director of NAVC Industry Services Adrian Hochstadt, JD, CAE comes to the NAVC to serve in two new positions. He has a significant background in association management and veterinary advocacy. For the past 10 years, he served as the AVMA Assistant Director of State Relations. We sat down with Adrian to discuss his new adventures via the NAVC. What is your education background? I earned a BS from University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana and a law degree from Northern Illinois University. In 1999, I became a CAE, which stands for Certified Association Executive, a credential obtained from the American Society of Association Executives, requiring considerable continuing education in association management and passing a written examination. What is your career/industry background prior to the NAVC? For the past 10 years, I served as the AVMA Assistant Director of State Relations, helping to create and implement the association’s state advocacy program. In that role I collaborated closely with state and other veterinary associations to advocate on behalf of veterinary medicine at the state and local level. Of course, I became immersed in many of the same regulatory, legislative and legal issues that will be critical to understand and shape in my new role at NAVC. My background also includes extensive experience with associations of various structures and sizes, such as the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons and the American Bar Association. In addition, I am honored to serve as the current President of the American Society of Veterinary Medical Association Executives (ASVMAE), which is composed of executives who manage various veterinary associations. That one-year term expires in July 2016. You uniquely have two roles with the NAVC – can you tell us about those? Working in two critical areas is actually one of the most exciting parts of the new job. On one hand, I will work with key stakeholders such as Industry Partners and veterinary professionals to identify game-changing issues that require innovative solutions and then make an immediate impact in these areas. On the other hand, I will also play a key role in NAVC providing management solutions to veterinary associations, so they in turn can represent their members appropriately and offer top quality services. How do these initiatives benefit our Industry Partners? Much like consumers and veterinary professionals, the NAVC Industry Partners will benefit from the innovations that will help expand animal healthcare in the United States with positive initiatives that unite pet owners, veterinary teams, suppliers, educators and nonprofit organizations devoted to animal health. The result will be improved animal health, greater access to veterinary care, increased demand for veterinary services and higher performing veterinary teams. On the association management side, we hope to see a well-managed and stronger organized veterinary medicine that will better represent their members. What’s the #1 most exciting thing our Partners need to know about these NAVC initiatives? I really see the Veterinary Innovation Council (VIC) as a game changer in how veterinary care will be delivered in the future. Our Partners will want to be at the table and support the VIC as these exciting innovations are developed and implemented. The VIC will be about results more than process. I look forward to working closely with industry, as well as the profession, in making a difference in animal health and helping make veterinary medicine all that it can be. To learn about VIC sponsorship and advisory council opportunities, please contact Adrian at
[email protected]. Mia Cary, DVM, NAVC VP of Industry Relations & Specialty Programs Greetings Industry Partner! I hope you all had a very Happy Halloween and are looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving with family and friends. We’re very thankful for your business and your important role in advancing animal care. A huge THANKS from all of us here at the NAVC! As you will see in this month’s Connect2Care Industry Partner eNewsletter, we are launching a new initiative, the Veterinary Innovation Council (VIC), led by VIC Executive Director Adrian Hochstadt. We are excited to have Adrian join the NAVC family and can’t wait to share more about VIC. In a nutshell, VIC is a project-driven industry-wide body aimed at three goals: Convening talent from across the profession to tackle global challenges facing the animal health industry — challenges that require collaboration and innovation Developing realistic, innovative solutions capable of transforming areas of critical value to the veterinary profession and animal health industry
Adrian Hochstadt, JD, CAE, Executive Director of the Veterinary Innovation Council
Collaborating with professional organizations, companies and nonprofits to implement the innovations and reforms. If you have specific questions or are interested in becoming part of VIC’s Industry Advisory group, please contact Adrian at
[email protected]. As you heard from Gail in last month’s edition, applications for the Neill P Overman Award are due December 15th. Last year’s uber-deserving winner was Amy Gregory from Hill’s Pet Nutrition. In the picture below, you can see Amy receiving the award at NAVC Conference 2015.
Amy Gregory receiving the Neill P Overman Award 2015
We also included a picture of Amy meeting Laili Ali during our Industry Summit two nights before her award presentation. If you’re reading this Amy, cheers from the NAVC Team! We are so appreciative of your professionalism, expertise and results-oriented approach. Why is this award special? Neill P. Overman is the founder of Veterinary Learning Systems and one of the founders of the Eastern States Veterinary Association, Inc., dba NAVC. He served on the NAVC Board of Directors from 1983 until his retirement in 2005 and passed away on April 4, 2015. In his honor, NAVC Amy Gregory Meeting Laili Ali Conference exhibitors may nominate someone from their company or other exhibitors who exemplify fairness, ethical behavior, salesmanship, knowledge of the profession and further the profession by promoting continuing professional development for all members of the veterinary healthcare community. The award, including $1,000 cash, a plaque for the winner and a plaque for the company, will be presented to the winner at their booth on Sunday, January 17, 2016 at a convenient time for both company and NAVC. The NAVC will have a photographer at the award ceremony to capture the excitement of the ceremony and to publicize it in NAVC publications. Starting in 2016, the award has been expanded so the winner and his/her company will be: Recognized on-site in the exhibit hall, in INSIDE NAVC, the on-site newspaper, during the Speaker/Exhibitor Reception and in the NAVC Exhibitor Guide Recognized in an NAVC press release, on NAVC.com and in the NAVC Connect2Care: Industry Partner eNewsletter Featured in an article including relationship with the NAVC Provide professional tips Given the opportunity to assist with development of a webinar for all exhibitors with “tricks of the trade” to improve their businesses. Please submit Neill P. Overman nomination forms, accompanied by two letters of support by December 15, 2015 directly to Gail Cummings, Director of NAVC Exhibit Operations. With NAVC Conference 2016 just over two months away, you won’t be surprised to see this month’s edition is chock full of reminders, due dates and last-minute opportunities. We are looking forward to the biggest and best Conference yet and can’t wait to see you there! Don’t forget to submit your story as part of our What Moves You theme. We’d love to highlight you on our website! Please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns or just to chat on your view of our industry and profession. I would love to hear from you! Cheers, Mia Mia Cary, DVM NAVC VP of Industry Relations & Specialty Programs
[email protected] Twitter @zenvet23 In addition to meeting your due dates for Conference exhibiting, sponsorships and advertising… we have a few critical updates about sponsorships still available, a hotel reminder and more. For conference booth traffic drivers and Conference sponsorships, contact
[email protected] to see what’s available.
Passport Program: A limited number of spots remain in our Passport Program for the Marriott Exhibit Hall only on a first-come, first-served basis. The Gaylord Passport is fully booked. RealDeals Coupon Booklet: Reserve your spot by the November 1st deadline.
Imagine how often Conference attendees will stop by these lounges to charge up their smartphones, tablets and laptops. Many times, attendees will have a seat and relax while waiting for their devices to recharge. Place your company or product name/logo in this unique area and get noticed non-stop throughout the week. There are several branding opportunities within these lounges on signage, on the base of the charging stations and on the seating. We have 2 sponsorship openings still available, giving your brand special recognition in the NAVC Conference 2016 Official Program Guide, promotional signage within each lounge, use of dual monitors to display a promotional video loop, listing on NAVC.com and more. Sponsor for $25,000 each.
For every dollar you spend to sponsor NAVC Conference programs and services, you’re getting your name out there while helping to make CE learning and other important advancements more affordable to all veterinary practice team members and students. Make your mark by aligning your company with a relevant presentation or series, Hands-on Laboratory, Masterclass, Meet The Professor Luncheon or other CE learning session. (You can see our preliminary list in the NAVC Conference 2016 Preliminary Program Guide.) Sponsor a full or half day General or Specialty Program: Receive recognition as a thought leader during General Sessions arranged by the NAVC program committee and Specialty Programs arranged by individual groups (e.g., ACVD, NAVTA, AHA, VOS, BSAVA, etc.). Choose topics that align perfectly with your products and services. Sponsorship starts at $6,300 for half-day sessions. Sponsor budget-friendly Masterclasses: Receive recognition during these 2hour, case-based sessions led by noted experts who explore the management of their unusual or challenging patients. Participants earn 2 CE credit hours while engaging in free-flowing discussions with peers. Sponsorship starts at $1,000 for individual sessions. Sponsor Meet the Professor Luncheons: These economical sponsorship opportunities include recognition during leisurely 90-minute scholarly exchanges with leading clinicians and like-minded colleagues. In an intimate and relaxed setting, participants earn 1.5 CE credit hours and have a chance to tap into expert consultations and make invaluable contacts. Sponsorship starts at $1,000 for individual sessions.
Room reservations have been filling up quickly at all the NAVC Conference 2016 official hotels. In fact, the Gaylord and Marriott now have limited availability for individual nights only. The “run-of-the-event” rooms are sold out. For assistance in finding the best rooms for your needs, visit our official NAVC Conference hotels page. Beth Thompson joined the NAVC about two years ago to head up our NAVC Publishing division, with a mission of guiding our team in producing our profession’s top clinical journals. Her background includes managing a number of respected publications you may be familiar with, including Compendium and Veterinary Technician. We’re pleased to introduce you to her now. What is your education background? Beth: “I have a BS in Marine Biology and a veterinary degree from U of Penn. I’m also a graduate of the IVAS acupuncture course for small animals. And, I just completed my Yale Publishing Course certification that helps publishing executives like me keep up to date in today’s changing media world. Really, I was pretty lucky to manage to get such a varied background and continue to learn all the time. Learning about new things or old things in new ways — it’s a wonderful tonic for all that ails you. What is your career/industry background prior to the NAVC and with the NAVC? Beth: “I worked in different aspects of the industry as a kennel worker, a veterinary assistant (in practice and in the ICU at Penn during my training), a keeper/assistant trainer at the Coney Island aquarium, a volunteer at the Staten Island Zoo and as an assistant manager in a pet store. After veterinary school, I worked a small animal and a feline-only practice. Once I started teaching at a veterinary technology school, I got “hooked” on being an educator. I ended up being co-director of that program before joining the continuing education team at Veterinary Learning Systems. Continuing education was a perfect career for me. I always loved reading, exploring new ideas and gaining expertise. Before I got my advanced degrees, I worked in New York starting as an editorial assistant and ending up as an acquiring/developmental editor and then selling to publishing houses as junior literary agent representing authors. I was Executive Editor of Compendium Journal, Editor-in-Chief of Veterinary Technician journal and worked as an Educational Program developer to create industry-driven educational opportunities for veterinarians and veterinary technicians. I was Medical Director/Publisher of Vetstreet.com and Healthy Pet Magazine where I worked to develop entertaining education for pet owners. In other words, I’ve had an extremely varied career that ended up including my two loves — animals and learning!” What is the Vice President of Content and Medical Director role at the NAVC? Beth: “I develop ways to take available information on topics and products… or take material from already produced educational experiences… and package them in new ways that help serve the veterinary community in their day-to-day work. I also help develop original content. A newer buzzword for all of this is “curation.” There’s so much information available today, veterinary professionals appreciate and need people they can trust to make sure it’s properly vetted and presented to them a variety of ways they can use for their own edification and in their practices. With the launch of our NAVC Publication division, I was a key team leader in the growth of Today’s Veterinary Practice and the soon-to-be-launched Today’s Veterinary Technician — our official journals of the NAVC — to create new and better learning opportunities and resources for the profession.” What exciting news do you have for industry partners? Beth: “The veterinary technician profession has always been near and dear to my heart. And, although we all acknowledge the essential roles they play in veterinary medicine, it is difficult to find lasting, sustainable ways to give back to those who give so much. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce that starting in 2016, we’re launching Today’s Veterinary Technician, a medical journal created with their needs and careers in mind.” What’s the #1 most exciting thing our Industry Partners need to know about NAVC publications? Beth: “Reader surveys prove that most of the professionals in our space, no matter what their age, really like having a print medium for education along with conferences and online opportunities. Print is not dead. In fact, it’s still the most memorable way to reach your prospects! As we refine and expand our offerings in all these different media, we want you to know that we can cover all the bases for you. We’re happy to work with you to find the right mix of messaging that works for your products and company.” If you’d like to explore advertising in the January/February issues of Today’s Veterinary Practice and Today’s Veterinary Technician — which will both deliver extra exposure for your products at the NAVC Conference 2016 — contact Renee Luttrell right away. Gail Cummings, Director of Exhibit Operations Hello Industry Partner! I have seen some signs of fall in the air here in Gainesville, Florida but it’s still pretty hot! I hope we are all blessed with a pleasant winter this year. Oh my, the conference is merely two months away! I’m pleased to have this opportunity to touch on a few matters this month that are crucial and deadlines are close. A few changes are coming in our BADGES procedure.
Director of Exhibit Operations Gail Cummings +1.352.375.5672
As always, we’ll continue to provide the best possible badge services to you. Your badge includes CE, continental breakfast in the exhibitor lounge, lunch, afternoon snack, entrance into all social events and entrance into the Exhibit Hall before it opens. In contrast, our registrants pay over $500 for these badges and you get all this for free (for your allotment) and then a reduced price of $375 above that allotment. This is a great deal! Please note that our badges for the NAVC Conference 2016 will flow a little differently this year and will launch later on this month. Watch your email for an announcement when they’re ready. Key changes include: The Gaylord Exhibit Registration Desk will open on-site at 7:00 AM on Friday, January 15 instead of the usual 2:00 PM, so you can take care of this task early. We will continue to provide those with 50 or more badges an opportunity to have them bulk printed. This is not new, but we ask that you set up a time early with us so that we can have them ready. With that said, individual staff members will not be able to pick up his/her badge as the system will show that it has been picked up. It’s very important to remember this for your team. The system will be much quicker for you to register your staff. You can review your list of registrants anytime, but please be aware that confirmation and QR codes will not be sent to your staff until a couple of days before conference. Once you pick up your badge, you can purchase two (2) guest badges from any cashier. This is limited to only 2, and these are for guests, not company staff members. Booth descriptions and keywords are due November 15! Your booth descriptions and keywords will go live online and in the NAVC Conference 2016 Mobile App, as well as in our Official Program Guide available at the Conference. You’re not going to want to miss this deadline because it’s how our attendees decide who they are going to visit at the conference. We found in our surveys that a majority of our attendees go online and choose the booths they plan on visiting prior to arriving on-site. We want them to visit your booth! Update your information now on your portal. The Neill P. Overman Award has expanded its recognition for winners. This award is given to a deserving veterinary industry professional each year, and this is your chance to nominate someone. We have added more opportunities for recognition of both the recipient and the company. Why is this award special? Neill P. Overman was the founder of Veterinary Learning Systems and one of the founders of the NAVC (originally Eastern States Veterinary Association). He served on the NAVC Board of Directors from 1983 until his retirement in 2005. In his honor, NAVC Conference Exhibitors may nominate other Exhibitors, and Industry Partner senior leaders may nominate their own conference/trade show managers for this annual award. The selection criteria is based on individuals who exemplify fairness, ethical behavior, salesmanship, knowledge of the profession and those who further the profession by promoting continued professional development for all members of the veterinary healthcare community. Get all the details on page 15 of the NAVC Conference 2016 Exhibitor Guide. You’ll find the application form on page 17 of the guide. Please submit nominations, accompanied by two letters of support by December 15, 2015 directly to Gail Cummings, Director of Exhibit Operations. Past Neill P. Overman Award winners: 2015 Amy Gregory, Hill’s 2014 Sherry Kratz, Purina 2013 Dean Cost, Bayer HealthCare 2012 Teri Hodges, Novartis 2011 Nancy (DeBacker) Park, Hill’s 2010 Lesa Boileau, Merial Ltd. 2009 Susan Bartlett, Fort Dodge Animal Health In this month’s eNewsletter, you’ll find helpful updates for your NAVC Conference 2016 planning. There are still many ways to participate including education session sponsorships, print and digital advertising … just to name a few. Contact your NAVC SAM to learn more. You’ll also find an update on NAVC VetFolio, success tips for online advertising and you’ll meet Beth Thompson, VMD, NAVC Vice President of Content and Medical Director. Thanks for exhibiting with us! The NAVC appreciates your continuous support by communicating to us your ideas, concerns… and also by providing testimonials so we can continue to grow and improve the NAVC experience for you, your company and everyone attending the Conference. I can never thank you enough for what you do for us. Nice talking with ya! Gail Gail Cummings Director of Exhibit Operations
[email protected] 352.244.3730 As a new official journal of the NAVC — this peer-reviewed, state-of-the-art publication supports veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, veterinary technician students and other veterinary support team staff. How is Today’s Veterinary Technician an exciting and different resource for you? You’ll find editorial content with a MEDICAL CE focus for technicians. Earn CE through opportunities covering a variety of practical nursing and technical skills in areas such as emergency and critical care, dentistry, and nutrition Get practical tutorials on medically oriented subjects you face every day Count on peer-reviewed quality from experts in veterinary medicine It’s published by the NAVC, with a leading veterinary technician at the helm. Led by Editor-in-Chief Lynne Johnson-Harris, LVT, RVT, Today’s Veterinary Technician joins Today’s Veterinary Practice as an official journal of the NAVC. Our goal is to contribute to better health for animals and to promote your career growth. It’s all about YOUR success. Today’s Veterinary Technician will provide medical insights and techniques to improve the skill set and professional development of veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, veterinary technician students and other members of the veterinary healthcare team. “We are thrilled to be adding another source for quality CE to all members of the veterinary healthcare team! Along with the other products in the NAVC portfolio, TVT will offer practical nursing and professional development information.” — Lynne Johnson-Harris, LVT, RVT, Editor-in-Chief, TVT, Practice Manager at Hinckley Animal Hospital, Hinckley, OH and NAVC Past President 2013-2014 Today’s Veterinary Technician is FREE to all veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, veterinary technician students and other members of the veterinary healthcare team. Subscribe today so you get the very first issue! Profiles in Leadership is a monthly NAVC Connect2Care feature that provides insight into the bright minds of leaders in the global veterinary healthcare community. However, for this issue, we’re introducing you to Barbara NattersonHorowitz, M.D. In 2012, with Kathryn Bowers, Dr. NattersonHorowitz authored the New York Times bestselling book, Zoobiquity: The Astonishing Connection Between Human and Animal Health. Zoobiquity was named Discover Magazine’s Best Book of 2012, The China Times Best Foreign Translation of 2013, and a Finalist in the American Association for the Advancement of Science Excellence in Science Books 2012.
Photo Credit: Joanna Brooks
Zoobiquity is an interdisciplinary field that draws together knowledge from human medicine, veterinary medicine, and evolutionary biology to create an integrated view of physical and behavioral health. Zoobiquity has a strong basis in established science and research from all three fields, as well as related disciplines including anthropology, psychology, neurobiology, paleontology, and physiology. Zoobiquity’s translational aspect comes from juxtaposition and synthesis of knowledge and development of new hypotheses for modeling disease and treatment. Dr. Natterson-Horowitz will be presenting several Zoobiquity-related talks at the NAVC Conference 2016. She is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Natterson-Horowitz holds a professorship in the UCLA Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and is Co-Director of the Evolutionary Medicine Program at UCLA. She has served as a cardiovascular consultant to the Los Angeles Zoo as a member of its Medical Advisory Board and is Chair of the Zoobiquity Conference, a national educational program that facilitates interdisciplinary discussions between physicians, veterinarians and others in the health professions. Dr. Natterson-Horowitz completed her undergraduate studies at Harvard College and received a Master’s degree from Harvard University. She received her medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco. NAVC: Your “aha!” moment started when the Los Angeles Zoo called you to consult on Spitzbuben, a kitten-sized Emperor tamarin who was in heart failure. The chief veterinarian cautioned you about making eye contact with the tiny monkey, saying it would lead to capture myopathy, a condition in animals that causes damage to the heart by releasing an overflow of stress hormones. Your knowledge of takotsubo cardiomyopathy in humans, where firm, healthy contractions are reduced to inefficient spasms, caused you to recognize the relationship between the two conditions and to realize that veterinarians and physicians could learn a lot by sharing information. Put us into that moment with you and describe how that epiphany felt. Dr. Natterson-Horowitz: “In the procedure suite at the zoo, the patient was being prepped for her echocardiogram. Out of reflex, I approached the patient while making lots of eye contact to reassure her. But having never had a non-human patient before, it didn’t occur to me that usual calming measures for people might result in very different response in other animals. The veterinarians cautioned me about ‘capture myopathy’, a term I had never heard before. I remember dutifully backing off but being intrigued by this term. When I got back to work I literally just Googled ‘capture myopathy’ and I learned that when some animals are chased, restrained and/or frightened, they may experience surges in catecholamine resulting in a variety of clinical effects. But what literally stopped me in my tracks was a sentence about a sub-form of capture myopathy in which animals that have been suddenly frightened, without restraint and without a chase, die acutely. This description of a well-known veterinary syndrome struck me as nearly identical to that of a relatively “new” identified human syndrome — the broken heart syndrome or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Finding the commonalities between the two syndromes was truly exciting for me as a cardiologist because I am primarily a clinician and not an investigator, and I never really thought I would discover anything. So making this connection was an unexpected and a great feeling. But as interesting to me was how well it illustrated the gulf between our professions. Here was a syndrome veterinarians had been diagnosing, treating and even preventing for decades, which was “discovered” by cardiologists in about the year 2000. It was exciting and alarming to wonder how things might have been different if cardiologists and ER doctors had this information over the past thirty years. Moreover, I had my ‘capture myopathy moment’ because I am a human cardiologist who is allowed to spend time working beside veterinarians. It became pretty thrilling to wonder what ‘capture myopathy moments’ might be waiting for oncologists, psychiatrists, immunologists, and others to discover through veterinary and human medical collaborations.” NAVC: In your book Zoobiquity, you credit early contributors to this “new” field of knowledge, including physician Rudolf Virchow; father of modern veterinary and human medicine William Osler; former AMA president Ron Davis who partnered with the former AVMA President Roger Mahr; veterinary-epidemiologist Calvin Schwabe, and many others, including Darwin. Respecting that their findings paved the way somewhat, to what do you attribute the fact that your research “got legs” (two legged and four legged and has become an international phenomenon? What part did access to better technology play? Dr. Natterson-Horowitz: “Got legs—2 vs. 4… that is funny! All of us who are working in the One Health space are standing on the shoulders of the giants that preceded us. One Health really is one of the biggest and most important ideas of our time. Despite the veterinary profession’s deep awareness of it, remarkably, the majority of physicians in the United States have neither heard of One Health nor do they have a sense of what it is about. I think one part of the problem has been One Health’s traditional emphasis of zoonotic diseases as a central connector between human and animal health. Of course, zoonoses and other infectious processes are of crucial importance to human and non-human animal populations. But there are crucial One Health connections to be made in every specialty of medicine. The vast majority of the 900,000+ physicians in the United States are busy practicing pediatrics, family medicine, cardiology, dermatology, psychiatry, OB-GYN and other specialties. Infectious diseases and emerging pandemic threats, while important to physicians, may seem disconnected to their day-to-day practice concerns. What my co-author, Kathryn Bowers, and I tried to do in Zoobiquity was to feature important pathologies shared by non-human animals and people which are NOT explicitly infectious – heart failure, breast cancer, self-injury, obesity and eating disorders among others. I think some of the success of our conferences and the book has been our emphasizing the point that One Health is for every kind of clinician — physician, nurse, psychologist and dentist — not to mention patients. The role of technology in moving our ideas forward has been huge. First, our comparative research was made absolutely possible by guided web-based search strategies. Had we tried to write the book 15 years earlier, it would not have been possible. Social media has also helped create excitement around Zoobiquity Conferences, and the reach of my TED talk has everything to do with social media.” NAVC: There’s an inside joke we’ve heard veterinarians tell, “What do you call a physician?” “A veterinarian who can treat only one species.” Yet it’s not funny about the chasm between the two professions that you experienced when you introduced your research. Did your training as a psychiatrist help you weather this storm? Is the divide getting smaller? Dr. Natterson-Horowitz: “Like a lot of students, I found myself interested in many areas of medical specialties at the end of four years of medical school. I ended up doing a full residency in psychiatry after medical school. I enjoyed it, but ultimately realized I was far more interested in internal medicine and cardiology and decided to go back to residency and train in those fields. However, having the background in psychiatry turned out to be invaluable in dealing with cardiac patients… not to mention colleagues J. One of the greatest classes I took during my psychiatry residency was on how groups work — how factions arise, who attains power and the value of clear communication in improving group relations. This type of curriculum is often unique to psychiatry. As I began looking at the central issue of Zoobiquity — that despite the commonality of health and disease across species the fields of human and veterinary medicine were so disconnected from each other — using the psych group training has been useful. Veterinarians and physicians have complex (positive, negative and ambivalent) ideas and feelings about each other. Many of these are based on a lack of information or misinformation. For example, there is a startling lack of awareness among many physicians about veterinary sub-specialization, DVM-PhD programs (and that most PhD candidates who are also veterinarians specialize in humanrelated research), and peer-reviewed veterinary medical literature. Physicians often aren’t aware of the scope of clinical problems encountered by veterinarians or the significant and unique stressors of veterinary practice. On the other hand, some veterinarians are unaware of increasing (sometimes debilitating) stressors confronting physicians, particularly those young and new to practice. Also it has been my observation that veterinarians sometimes overestimate what physicians know about comparative medicine. In fact, we physicians know very little about the comparative aspects of the diseases we treat in people. We need veterinarians as our guides and teachers, but they need to recognize how much we have to learn.” NAVC: As of this interview, your TED talk has been viewed 1, 276, 535 times. We especially liked the closing: “Because it turns out, some of the best and most humanistic medicine is being practiced by doctors whose patients aren’t human. And one of the best ways we can take care of the human patient is by paying close attention to how all the other patients on the planet live, grow, get sick and heal.” How did you encapsulate your years of research and practice into a 20-minute TED talk? Dr. Natterson-Horowitz: “Doing a TED talk is a pretty specific thing. They give you a timeline of preparation and rehearsal that starts about 9 months before the talk so I had plenty of time to reflect on how I would use the 18 minutes to (in an engaging way!), give the history of the gulf between our fields, analyze the cost of this disconnect and the power and potential of collaboration to benefit both human and non-human animal patients. It was challenging to talk about the blind spots we physicians have without being disrespectful to my profession. But it was a real opportunity to share ideas about how to bring the fields together. Interest in Zoobiquity Conferences spiked after the talk and I heard from clinicians from both human and veterinary medical fields from around the world. Ultimately, the goal is to bring together practitioners in human medical and veterinary care of all kinds for a collaborative and transformative experience. I have been surprised by how much of a platform TED is for ideas like this. One of the most unexpected (and exciting) aspects of the whole experience is that the talk has been translated into 25 languages. Hearing from veterinarians and physicians who connect to the ideas from Egypt, Japan, Poland, Kazakhstan and Sweden has been gratifying and reaffirming of the work.” NAVC: We imagine that you spend a lot of time thinking about the implications of Zoobiquity. What completely different topics or interests are you passionate about? Dr. Natterson-Horowitz: “Zoobiquity is what I am passionate about! After twenty years of a pretty standard academic cardiology practice, exposure (serendipitously) to the tremendous potential of human and animal medical collaboration has pretty much consumed my thought and intellectual work. It has also pushed me towards the emerging field of evolutionary medicine. Evolutionary biology is as foundational to medicine as mathematics is to engineering or architecture, but it has been pretty much ignored by medical schools and physicians. The chairman of the Department Ecology and Evolutionary biology here at UCLA is an expert in animal behavior and had long been interested the application of evolutionary biology to medicine. He attended a Zoobiquity Conference and the two of us decided to join together to start a program in Evolutionary Medicine. Every February (Darwin’s birth month), we host Evolutionary Medicine Month. We invite evolutionary biologists from around the world to present at UCLA Internal Medicine Grand Rounds. We then “embed” the evolutionary biologists on rounds with our interns, residents and medical students as guest attendees. UCLA undergraduate students also can minor in Evolutionary Medicine. We will soon launch a Master’s Degree in Evolutionary Medicine for medical students and other professional clinical students. It would be great to see veterinary students interested in evolution and medicine participate in this program, too. Other than that, I’m busy with my teenagers, their sports and schools, my husband and our adorable, kind, wise and geriatric Havanese, Bongo.” NAVC: When you talk to groups of young people, what’s the takeaway message you leave with them? Dr. Natterson-Horowitz: “While as scientists it is important for us to look for differences, recognizing similarities is as important if not more so. Like a lot of students I was admonished to avoid “anthropomorphism,” so for decades I wouldn’t let myself ‘see’ commonalities as anything other than my (ignorant) anthropomorphism and human exceptionalism. But decades later (thanks to technologies like comparative genomics and molecular phylogenies), we now recognize our extraordinary commonality with animals around us. In my own effort to not make a ‘mistake,’ I blinded myself to truths I should have spotted. Sometimes the biggest ideas are hiding in plain sight and students and doctors early in their careers have the best ‘vision’ to spot them.” NAVC:The 2016 Zoobiquity Conference is in Philadelphia, starting April 2. You and your team bring medical schools together with veterinary schools for collaborative discussions of the shared diseases and disorders of animal and human patients. How has the conference evolved since it was founded in 2011? Dr. Natterson-Horowitz: “Our first two Zoobiquity Conferences were held jointly with UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and UCLA School of Medicine. We were then approached by schools around the US and have held conferences in NYC (Animal Medical Center-NY, Wildlife Conservation Society/Bronx Zoo, faculty from Weill Cornell, Columbia, NYU and Mount Sinai); Seattle (University of Washington School of Medicine and Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine); and Boston (Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts) with a special research-focused Zoobiquity Conference at Stanford University School of Medicine in 2014. It’s been gratifying and exciting that the conferences have now been picked up internationally — two have been held in Europe and one in Australia with more being planned. Initially our goals were to bring academic physicians and veterinarians together to have conversations about the shared syndromes of animal and human patients. We wanted to emphasize not only zoonotic infections (that is what physicians expect) but to include cardiovascular, neurological, psychiatric/behavioral, cancer and other cases. Now, as (hopefully) physician awareness of the variety of connections between non-human animal and human health is increasing, we are starting to create themes for our conferences. The Seattle conference focused on how the environment affects animal and human health. Within that themed conference, we featured a diverse range of environments, from air pollution and food safety to abusive domestic environments. We are thinking about a themed Zoobiquity Conference in the future focusing on brain disorders. We would like for the conference to look comparatively at syndromes ranging from epilepsy, movement disorders and glioblastoma to selfinjury, compulsions and anxiety. Because human medicine is so sub-specialized and most practitioners become pretty focused on their area, we feel that by creating a few Zoobiquity Conferences which are more narrowly-focused and specialty-oriented, we may be able to engage more physicians from both veterinary and human medicine.” Mark your calendar! Join us at Dr. Natterson-Horowitz’s presentations on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at the NAVC 2016 Conference: IGNITE! “How will veterinary science transform human medicine?”With co-author Kathryn Bowers 11:05 – 11:15 AM Meet The Professor Luncheon: “Veterinarians on Rounds at Human Hospitals”Additional fee required. Space is limited. Add this program during registration. 12 Noon – 1:30 PM Zoobiquity: “Bringing Human Science to Animal Medicine”Sponsored by Aratana 7:30 PM Kim Zillioux has just joined the NAVC and she’s your NAVC US SAM (NAVC Strategic Account Manager) – West. She has more than ten years of experience in the animal health industry, and she’s excited to work with you to support your goals in reaching thousands of prospects through a variety of NAVC programs. Kim’s enthusiasm for veterinary industry professionals shines through this interview. We’re pleased to introduce you to her now. NAVC: What is your background prior to the NAVC? Kim: “Prior to joining the NAVC, I was a Senior Territory Manager for Novartis Animal Health. I called on veterinarians and their staff for over 10 years, educating them on parasite control, pain management, dermatology and best surgical practice. The most rewarding part of my job was partnering with the staff to help them provide best medicine for their furry patients. The animal hospital staff members were so much fun to work with! I am thrilled to be able to continue my career in the animal health field!” NAVC: What was your experience with NAVC events before joining us? Kim: “I was chosen to attend the NAVC several times throughout my career with Novartis. The Conference gave me a unique opportunity to meet with my veterinarians and their staff in a non- clinic setting. The time I spent with my clients at the Conference helped me to build stronger relationships, which in turn, helped grow business for both my territory and for Novartis.” NAVC: What is the Strategic Account Manager role? Kim: “As a Strategic Account Manager, it is my goal to help our Industry Partners build excitement and fun at Conference 2016. I prefer a consultative approach. Once you tell me your goals for the Conference, it is my job to find which of the many unique opportunities offered by the NAVC that will meet and exceed those goals.” NAVC: Any special tips to help IPs prepare for NAVC Conference 2016? Kim: “Let’s talk! I am so excited to get to know my Industry Partners and what they want to achieve through their partnerships with the NAVC. The NAVC has a variety of offerings that can be customized to meet any customer’s needs. Do you want to drive traffic to your Symposium? Let’s talk about a Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall and common areas with branded cups and/or coffee sleeves. Are students your passion? Students love their free lunches provided in the Student Sponsorship Package. Do you want to make a splash in the Exhibit Hall? Let’s talk about staging a Live Marketing Event!” NAVC: Do you have pets? If so – what kinds, and their names? Kim: “One of the job hazards of walking in and out of veterinary clinics every day is collecting rescue animals! I have two dogs, London and Kroger, and three cats, Morgan, Mason and Merlon. There is nothing like coming home to happy, tail wagging fur-babies!” NAVC: Where are you located/based? Kim: “I live in Dahlonega, a sleepy mountain town in North Georgia. It is the site of the first American Gold Rush. And, yes, you can still go into the mines and pan for gold. Panning for gold is much harder than it sounds!” NAVC: Any interests or hobbies that might be fun for us to know about? Kim: “Most of my spare time is spent at our town’s 70-year-old Community Theater. I began performing in musicals when I was 16 and just recently started directing. It’s a lot of fun, even if I won’t ever be good enough to quit my day job and move to Broadway!” If your company is located in our NAVC Western Territory, contact Kim Zillioux for assistance with NAVC sponsorships, advertising and exhibits. Check this page to identify your NAVC sales professional. Hello Industry Partner! Can you believe the end of summer is quickly approaching, and that we’re now within the 5-month countdown to NAVC Conference 2016? Time sure does fly when you’re having fun, right? For many of you, the anticipation of a new school year has probably been top of mind, with children returning to school these past few weeks. Hopefully, you were able to fit in those last-minute vacations (or for those of you who travel often, maybe it was a “staycation”)! As always, we’ve been busy at work here at the NAVC! Our NAVC Conference 2016 Preliminary Program Guide will soon be arriving in mailboxes all across the country. We cannot wait for everyone to see the exciting program and all the events we have planned for Conference 2016! Here’s your sneak peek at the Guide. We anticipate that our Conference registration numbers will start to soar as attendees register during the next few months, especially before the October 14 early registration discount deadline. That brings me to the topic of year-round advertising on our website, NAVC.com. Between now and Conference, we expect over 615,000 unique page views on the site (we average over 123,000 views each month). For a very reasonable cost, your company can gain high exposure by posting a leaderboard or skyscraper ad with a link to your product promotion or website. This is a great way to build excitement for your brand, as many in our NAVC audience will visit our website several times to check out our Conference 2016 online program and register to attend. Now is perfect the time to get your ads up on NAVC.com! You probably received our Industry Partners: Flash! eBlast a few weeks ago that included information about our updated Partner Points system for 2015-16. We’ve added some additional ways in which your company can earn Partner Points. Why is this important to you? Because the points you earn from sponsorships, exhibiting and advertising between June 1, 2015 and May 31, 2016 will contribute towards your points total, which will be used to determine your ranking for the 2018 booth selections. Remember that advertising that I mentioned for NAVC.com? If you purchase an ad before October 31, 2015, you’ll earn 1 extra bonus Partner Point to add to your total! Contact our Sales team to place your ad. Get all the latest details on the exciting additions to our NAVC Partner Points system. As you may have noticed, we’ve added a few members to our NAVC sales team. Most of you already know Sondra Reynolds, who is now our Inside Sales & Solutions Coordinator. Sondra just celebrated her 3-year anniversary with NAVC! A few months ago, we introduced Jamie Laws, who is our Strategic Account Manager — East. In this newsletter, you will meet Kim Zillioux who has just joined our team as our Strategic Account Manager — West. I am personally very excited that Jamie, Kim and Sondra will be assisting you with all your NAVC 2016 planning needs! They represent a wealth of knowledge within the veterinary industry and they can help you strategize for Conference, Institute and VetFolio. NAVC has many opportunities for your company and we offer the best audience to which you can promote your brands and showcase your support to the veterinary profession. Jamie, Kim and Sondra are ready to help. Next month, Gail Cummings, NAVC Director of Exhibit Operations, will begin contributing to this column with her “Greetings with Gail” column. If there’s anything I can do for you, please do not hesitate to reach out! All the best, Whitney Whitney Brockman NAVC Director of Sales
[email protected] Profiles in Leadership is a monthly NAVC Connect2Care feature that provides insight into the bright minds of leaders in the global veterinary healthcare community. We’re pleased to present our interview with Julie Legred, CVT. Julie is the Executive Director of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) and she is Senior Manager of Veterinary Technician Programs for the NAVC, overseeing all Veterinary Technician initiatives within the NAVC. Julie also works with her husband in their swine genetics business, LSG Healthsystems. She graduated from the University of Minnesota – Waseca in June 1985 with an Associate in Applied Science in Animal Health Technology. Julie has worked in many areas of veterinary technology including small animal and exotic practices, research, education (instructor and program director), swine genetics, corporate medicine, leadership, management and consulting. Julie was recently featured in a video on this NAVC.com page: “Steve Dale – The Role of a Veterinary Technician.” You may want to use this video for your practice to educate pet owners about what vet techs do. NAVC: You were hired when NAVTA and NAVC transitioned to a new partnership in January 2014. How’s that going? What did the partnership make possible? LEGRED: “This partnership was very exciting and I think it continues to be for both sides. This partnership allowed NAVTA to be in a bigger spotlight during the announcement. Veterinary technicians aren’t always given the opportunity to shine. There always seems to be a focus on the veterinarians throughout the industry, so the excitement during the 2014 NAVC event was very much appreciated by our profession. This partnership has allowed me as Executive Director of NAVTA the chance to have additional resources to help in the day-to-day office tasks. We have transitioned to a new database and website, allowing our members immediate access to their Members Only areas within the website and all membership benefits. NAVC helped in creating new logos and branding for us. NAVTA and our members love our new look; we continue to hear great feedback on the look. We have also just recently transitioned our financial processing over to NAVC while still being overseen by our Treasurer and me. This is nice, as it allows me to focus more on Executive Director duties such as public awareness initiatives, member benefits, promotion of the veterinary technology profession and support of NAVTA’s existing committees and strategic plans. NAVC is also reaping the benefits of the relationship, allowing them to be viewed as the veterinary technician supporters they truly are. They are able to get in front of our members with their initiatives and news, as well as have veterinary technician feedback in a more concentrated way. This allows them to gear the NAVC conference and other CE offerings in a technician’s mind and thinking to provide it in a way most beneficial for veterinary technicians.” NAVC: You know our readers will be curious about the 200,000 hogs that you and your husband have in your swine genetics business. Tell us more about what prompted you to pursue this and how is your work here benefitting the industry. LEGRED: “Well, I guess I really didn’t pursue it, I married into it! J My husband’s dad started the business a long time ago. Upon graduation from college, my husband devised a business plan and strategy that outlined our swine genetics business. Over the last 30 years, it has grown tremendously and morphed with the industry needs. We have several farms in 12 states raising our stock. We sell animals, semen and embryos and our facilities include not only barns, but business offices, surgical facilities and two AI and collection labs. This is really my husband’s business, but I have taken on various duties over the past 20 years as book/payroll/human resource person, laboratory technician, special projects coordinator and anesthesia/surgical technician. When I talk with students, I always tell them “never say never.” When I was in school, I asked my instructors why I had to learn large animal as I swore I would never use it. I grew up in the city and never saw myself leaving, so always thought I would be small animal only. 10 years after graduation, look where it took me… to a pig farm in a town of less than 400 people! You just never know! I can say this has been an incredible experience. I have learned so much and, because of this, I can be an advocate for all species in veterinary technology and relate to the many different positions within our profession. That helps in my position to have an understanding and can bring insight into many different partnerships and projects for relating to veterinary technology. With this experience, I have been able to speak to 4H and FFA groups about veterinary technology and the veterinary profession as a whole. The individual students/kids have really opened their minds with excitement when they hear about the different aspects of veterinary medicine.” NAVC: You were an organizing member for the Pet Nutrition Alliance. What do you wish everyone knew about pet nutrition? LEGRED: “Nutrition can be so simple, but yet have a huge impact on pets, family members, and animals of all species. Veterinary technicians have a means to make a real difference in their patients’ lives with nutrition. It’s something we learn about a great deal in our veterinary technology programs, but aren’t always given the opportunity or tools to do what we were prepared to do. Technicians can educate while the doctors may not have enough time to do so or go into greater detail needed to gain clients’ trust and compliance. It takes the entire team to make a difference.” NAVC: As though you didn’t have enough to keep you busy, we hear you have a family of 14, which includes Brent, your husband of 20 years; your four boys (Justin 29 years, Kaylan 17 years, Karson 15 years and Kamron 13 years); two dogs (Louie – 10-month-old Bulldog and Andee – 6-month-old Mini Doxie); three cats (Harriet, Dora and Pickle); a green cheeked conure (Rio); one bearded dragon (Frederick); two chameleons (John and Val); and a hedgehog (Minnie). If there were a movie about this part of your life, what would it be titled? What actress would you want to play you? LEGRED: “We Bought a Zoo? I think this is almost fitting to a “T!” Scarlett Johansson seems to do a good job in this movie and I think would portray me well too. Maybe she would like to advocate for the veterinary technology profession?!” NAVC: And to put to shame all of us who say we are very busy, you are also a hockey, baseball and football mom, a chauffeur and a food preparation agent. So what’s your secret for balancing home and work life? What’s your best tip for staying organized? LEGRED: “I’m not going to lie! This is probably the most challenging in my life. My boys (including my husband!) and my pets are the most important things in my life. I keep very busy with my positions and the veterinary medical industry as a whole and love what I do, but my boys are also busy and I don’t want them to alter what they’re doing because of my career or Brent’s. We want them to have every opportunity to explore their future and enjoy life as kids and active in sports. It forms them as a person and you can see their discipline they endure to exceed. I MAKE time for their events and games and feel this is extremely important, but at the same time, there are times where I cannot make it work to attend, so they understand this too. Work/life balance is very important. You have to take time for yourself and understand that things can wait a couple hours or days. Your kids grow way too fast and you need to enjoy it while you can. Having a supportive spouse is key, as well as your kids understanding why you might be missing a couple of things helps in the balance. It’s give and take by all involved. You’re in it together!” NAVC: You’ve served in many volunteer leadership positions in your career – among others, the Minnesota Association of Veterinary Technicians; NAVTA (President 2008 and 2011); the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Committee on Veterinary Technicians Education and Activities (CVTEA); the Fear Free Veterinary Visits Advisory Board; the AVMA’s Convention Management and Planning Committee and currently on their Task Force for Continuing Education. Although that benefits your career, what is your personal philosophy about the importance of serving in volunteer positions? LEGRED: “It is giving back to your profession. So many of our state and national organizations do so much for our profession and veterinary medicine as a whole, but seldom have their doors being banged down by an overwhelming number of volunteers. This is your profession, your field and your voice. It is important to give back whether it’s as a chair of a committee, a committee member, running for a board position or simply becoming a member. These organizations need us to do the things they set out to do. They are only as good as the people supporting them. To get the necessary work done to move them forward, they need individuals to do the work and to provide input for their initiatives. I can tell you that this is another one of those things I never saw myself doing, but I am soooo happy I took that first bit of uneasiness stepping into a volunteer position. I have met lots of great people and have gained an unbelievable amount of knowledge from those I have met over my volunteer years. All of my experiences have been different but I neither regret nor would I change one little bit of giving those hours to our profession and to the entire veterinary medical arena.” NAVC: You are passionate about the Partners for Healthy Pets initiative. How does that organization specifically benefit the veterinary and veterinary technician professions? LEGRED: “NAVTA has been a part of the Partners for Healthy Pets initiative since the very beginning. It has just recently come about that veterinary technicians are coming to the forefront of the initiative, or maybe I should say they’re being asked to “Champion” the entire veterinary healthcare team to bring preventive medicine as a top priority amongst the team. We all know preventing is better than having to treat and should be something we just do without thinking, but do we really do a good job of it? We probably think we do, but what do our clients think? Are we getting the message across to them? This is data saying we aren’t, so we need to try and do a better job of doing so. NAVTA has created a workbook in conjunction with the Partners for Healthy Pets, as tool for veterinary technicians to approach their hospitals and to help in their efforts in getting every on board to help more pets in these efforts. There is a great deal to gain for practices, but also ultimately for pet health and well-being.” NAVC: You are a popular speaker at our NAVC conferences, speaking on parasitology, leadership, compliance, preventative and senior care, and career opportunities within veterinary technology, and you also talk to kids about animal health care and dog bite prevention. How do you prepare differently for adult versus child audiences? What advice do you have for being an effective speaker? LEGRED: “If you really want to know, there isn’t much difference in the two. There are different learners in all groups, so I try to have it as interactive as possible, as this keeps the attention of your audience. You can also get an idea of what knowledge is there. They can also learn from each other in these discussions. Great minds work together no matter if it comes in big or small packages.” Profiles in Leadership is a monthly NAVC Connect2Care feature that provides insight into the bright minds of leaders in the global veterinary healthcare community. We’re pleased to present our interview with Brian Speer, DVM, DABVP, ECZM, founder of the Medical Center for Birds in Oakley, California; author of the guidebook, Current Veterinary Therapy in Avian Medicine and Surgery, to be released by Elsevier later this year; and a frequent speaker at conferences. Brian Speer was raised in a small town in California’s central coast area. He received his Dr. Brian Speer examines a pigeon baccalaureate of science degree in biological sciences with a concentration in zoology from California Polytechnic State University in 1978, and his DVM degree from the University of California at Davis in 1983. Since 1989, he has limited his practice in the San Francisco Bay area to include exclusively bird species, where his patients include companion and aviary birds, breeding bird collections, zoologic display collections and performing animals. Brian received his board specialty status through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in February 1996, and was certified in the European College of Avian Medicine and Surgery in 1999 (now part of the European College of Zoological Medicine). An active member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV), he has served as chair of the Aviculture Committee, as a director of the board and as president 1999-2000. He has served as Research Director for the American Ostrich Research Foundation, Veterinary Advisory Council for the American Federation of Aviculture, as a director for the Model Aviculture Plan, and on the advisory board for the Advocates for Bird Conservation. He is currently an Avian Medicine folder editor for the Veterinary Information Network. Brian is well published in the AAV annual proceedings, has served as guest editor for the journal Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine, and authored chapters in several veterinary medical texts on pet bird, avicultural and ratite medical topics. He is a co-author of the 530-page textbook, The Large Macaws, published in 1995, and Birds for Dummies, published in 1999. Most currently, Brian is the editor of Current Veterinary Therapy in Avian Medicine and Surgery, planned for release by Elsevier later this year. Brian is a sought-after guest speaker at veterinary seminars, avicultural conventions and bird clubs throughout the United States and abroad. ———————————————————————————————– NAVC: We checked the reviews for your book Birds For Dummies. Once we got past “Squawk about this!,” we were quite impressed — “Truly a book worth reading for new and old Avian Addicts.” “At last — a book that contains more than just pretty bird pictures. It is clear, concise, factual, useful and understandable.” “If more people read this book before they bought a bird, I would see fewer sick, maladjusted and behavior-problem birds.” Is that last comment what prompted you to write the book? Dr. Speer: “The best medicine that most any healthcare provides is education. The Dummies book was comparatively inexpensive, written in layperson lingo and designed to help people learn more about the magic of companion bird ownership, and how to set the stage for success with good basic husbandry and preventative healthcare. Although as a veterinarian, I expect to always be struggling with health and disease problems with my patients; it is truly a joy and pleasure to see those annual examinations, work on training, enrichment and serving the true welfare of the animals, and simply celebrate how incredibly cool they are. Hopefully, that little book has had some measurable effect of this nature for other colleagues as well.” NAVC: The Medical Center for Birds focuses solely on serving the bird species and their caretaker owners. Was limiting the scope of your practice a difficult decision? Dr. Speer: “Actually, the decision was not difficult at all. We are fortunate to all be a part of a profession where we have the opportunity to follow our passions, and for myself, this was avian medicine and surgery. Having a species-specific focus in practice has actually empowered us here to really dig in, get to know these animals better and serve their needs and those of their stewards. This, in turn, offers us all the opportunity to not only meet, but to continually improve with what we do for each case, every year.” NAVC: The list of your presentations at veterinary and non-veterinary conferences (including being voted “Speaker of the Year” at the NAVC Conference!) is extraordinary. Time away to present to groups is time away from your practice and your family. What’s your thought process when you accept or refuse an invitation to speak? Is “giving back” part of your decision-making? Dr. Speer: “Yes; giving back to the profession is a fundamental core value here. I am proud to be a part of the veterinary profession and to have the opportunity. There has always been benefit beyond giving back too. During the processes of literature review, manuscript preparation and delivery of materials to colleagues, we always learn along the way. I am grateful for these opportunities to live my passion in avian medical practice, continually learn, move forward and hopefully help others find similar paths for themselves and their patients. Traveling, time away from family and practice and home can be burdensome, and that neverending challenge to find a balance is always there. So far, my wife tells me that I am doing ok, at least so far. :-)” NAVC: Thank you for serving as one of eight Exotics Program Chairs for the NAVC Conference 2015. Help our readers understand what’s involved in developing that track. Dr. Speer: “I have had the privilege to be involved with NAVC for a number of years. In the past, I was chair of the Avian program, and then, most recently, tried to fill the position as Exotics Program Chair that Steve Barten vacated when he moved to overall Conference Program Chair. The Exotics Program chair position helps facilitate and coordinate the planning of the Exotics functions for the NAVC, with the primary guidance from the individual species program chairs. These subsets include the individual tracks of Avian, Small Mammal, Reptile/Amphibian, Aquatics, Zoo and Wildlife. Combined, these six program chairs and myself work with the overall conference planning group to deliver NAVC attendees a total of 16 full days of non-domestic animal medical programming at our annual conference. Laboratories that cover exotics topics that we offer each year at the NAVC conference are also planned and coordinated amongst our group. In addition, we support and coordinate the student reception, where students interested in exotic animal medicine have a unique opportunity to meet the speakers, session chairs and sponsors of the event in a unique, exoticsonly environment. This is a wonderful opportunity for students, and we are thankful for the vendor support and speakers’ willingness to participate in such an experience for them.” NAVC: In articles you’ve written, you explain that most pet birds receive virtually no veterinary medical care during their lives, and that many birds that do receive medical care only receive emergency or crisis-intervention veterinary care. Why do you think owners of birds don’t seem to regard the avian veterinarian as a “must” for general well-being of their pet? Dr. Speer: “That is an excellent question. There has been a progressive evolution in cultural perception of value and the nature of the human-animal bond with avian healthcare, as there has been with the more traditional domestic companion animal species. Part of the issue lies in the comparative low purchase price for many of the smaller companion animals, and a traditional society perception that inexpensive or less commonly held animals have less value, hence less merit to invest in optimizing husbandry and healthcare services. Part of the issue is influenced by mere lack of awareness by the public that good healthcare is possible, or that preventative healthcare can have immense value. These issues set the stage for much more critical animals to be presented for emergency health care, which, in turn, in some circumstances sets the stage for consumer perception that veterinarians can’t always help when the need arises. On the other hand, there are incredible things that skilled and well-educated avian veterinarians can and do accomplish. These things are done daily in numerous practices. The variability in levels of consumer awareness of need and value, and even amongst veterinary healthcare providers here in the United States and abroad, offers incredible opportunities. Veterinarians who desire to really raise the bar and pursue career advancement in avian medicine and surgery have a large population of underserved patients and their stewards from which a solid practice base can be developed. I have no doubt that, in due time, there are great changes on the horizon for birds and their supporting cast of veterinary healthcare providers.” NAVC: Reading the reviews on your practice website gave us a glimpse into the culture of your practice and into your style of treating patients and educating their owners. For instance, “Dr. Speer is great. He’s very friendly and doesn’t talk down to you even though he’s a big expert in the field. I trust him.” “My guys are very fortunate as Dr. Speer is the very best in his field and his facility is fabulous. My two parrots give Dr. Speer two wings up!” “Brian Speer is one of the ‘go to’ guys for avian care, so much so that this is a teaching hospital.” “Dr. Speer is the bird father. He always know what tricks to make my birds do the things I want to accomplish. He is caring, and always right on target!” Raves like that don’t happen by chance. To what do you attribute the way the bird owners feel about you and your practice? Dr. Speer: “We all have clients who really appreciate what we do and how we do it. Possibly one of the differences here is that we all try to be personable, wear our compassion on our sleeves, and always take the time to talk things through with folks. Simply, we love what we do, are proud of how we do it and happy to share with our clients. Compassion, flavored with good science and medical acuity, and balanced by a client-centered practice focus works.” NAVC: You’ve led one of the NAVC Expeditions — The Macaws of Tambopata, Peru, a rainforest field trip to the Tambopata Research Center. What were your hopes for the “takeaways” that the participants experienced? Where else would you like for our Expeditions to go to study birds? Dr. Speer: “Tambopata is truly a magical place for anyone to visit. Such an opportunity to be in the midst of the Peruvian Amazon rainforest, surrounded by such incredible biodiversity, and to see these animals where they live is a lifechanging experience. My wishes for colleagues to take home from those experiences were simple: to gain a greater depth of understanding and appreciation for the greater world in which we live, and from where some of these ‘exotic’ animals that we have the privilege to work with in practice come from. Other potential areas that we have entertained for future expeditions have (of course) included a return to Tambopata, Yosemite National Park, Costa Rica and more. Lots more to explore and to see!” NAVC: What’s so special about macaws that caused you to write a book about them? Dr. Speer: “My first pet bird was Toby, a Blue and Gold macaw. He was 7 years old when he came to live with us in 1983, and still is here with us today. Toby, in many ways, helped teach me how cool birds really are, and specifically, how cool he was in all of his macaw-ness. Seriously, having lived with a large number of macaws (we have 16 at present time), these large birds have been a part of my zone of comfort and familiarity for a long time. It was from this that the opportunity originated to co-author The Large Macaws with Joanne Abramson and Joergen Thomson.” NAVC: Do you have pets? Tell us about them. (Or if you don’t have pets now, tell us about your favorite pets you had while growing up.) Dr. Speer: “I have been fortunate to have had a number of very special animals in my life, and, believe it or not, they are not all birds! Jed, our wonderful black Labrador retriever, was our first ‘child’ and absolutely my best bud. He was very well trained, and it was an absolute joy watching him hunt. It wasn’t until after he passed away that I came to realize that it wasn’t hunting pheasants that I enjoyed; it was working with Jed and seeing him doing what he did so well. And I know – a bird doctor that admits to being (at the time) a bird hunter. Color me – different. We have had a number of cats over the years that have brought, and continue to bring, lots of enjoyment. We have three at present. When they get ill, off we go to the cat doctor. I really no longer feel comfortable with those types of ‘exotics’ as compared to birds! In the back two acres, we have Big Bird and Ernie, the two 37year-old pet emus, the Canada geese, pigeons, doves, Mr. Peabody and his girlfriends (peafowl), and the ducks. And then there is Mr. Tortoise, the sulcata tortoise, who is up to about 120 pounds now and growing, and growing.” NAVC: If anything were possible, what innovation or medical discovery would benefit your patients the most? Dr. Speer: “Simplistically, the continued and innovative integration of sound behavioral medicine with traditional medicine is probably the greatest need I can see in what veterinarians can do in avian healthcare. Most of the bird species we see are so intelligent, and by really altering the way we deliver our health care in this way, their welfare can truly be benefited. Regarding medical discoveries that we would love to see in the coming years, I can easily see a need for advancements in our ability to diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease and cancer.” NAVC: While researching you online, we found a chat forum hosted by BirdHobbyist.com. When you asked for questions from the virtual audience, the first one was “Are you perchance single?” Do you get that a lot? Seriously, how important is a good sense of humor in your work? Dr. Speer: “That’s funny. I honestly had forgotten about that. Nope, I am not single, and very happily married to Denise. We have our 33rd anniversary coming up this summer! A good sense of humor is really important to help us all keep an even keel on life, and everyone that knows me understands that humor is a big part of my life. Live large, laugh hard and enjoy what you do!” NAVC: What do you want your legacy to be? Dr. Speer: “Isn’t a legacy something that is attributed to those older guys? Seriously, my hope would be to have had an influence on what veterinarians know to do for birds, for their health and welfare.” #### TVP is growing like crazy with more than 60,000 subscribers and counting. We recently made a big splash about TVP as the “Official Journal of the NAVC” with a press release and eBlast. In addition, the November/December issue will be distributed in the NAVC Conference Exhibit Hall and TVP booth, and the January/February issue will be included in all attendee registration bags. This means more exposure for your veterinary products and services… and more qualified leads coming your way!
Two TVP issues will be distributed at the NAVC Conference 2016 so you can reach even more prospects
Consider how your solutions align with our TVP editorial topics for the next two issues, distributed at the NAVC Conference 2016:* November/December 2015 Managing Acute Gastroenteritis Canine Cushing’s Syndrome: Pathogenesis & Diagnosis SDMA – New Biomarker For Early Detection of CKD A Practitioner’s Guide To Fracture Management: Part 3 AHS Heartworm Hotline: DX & TX of Caval Syndrome, Part 1 ACVN Nutrition Notes: The Role of Protein in Nutrition Practical Techniques from the NAVC Institute: Sick Kittens Elements of Oncology: Cancer Pain Part 2 Endoscopy Essentials GI: Foreign Bodies Imaging Essential: Ultrasound Overview Part 3 Patient 911: How to Identify & Treat Respiratory Distress Recovery & Rehab: Orthopedic Devices Observations in Ophthalmology: Canine Aniscoria Practice Building Journal Club: Infectious Disease Banfield Pet Health by the Numbers The Back Page: Prosthetics for Small and Large Animals January/February 2016 Dilemmas in Dermatology: Pearls & Pitfalls Small Animal Dental Surgery Canine Cushing’s Syndrome Series (Management & Treatment) AHS Heartworm Hotline: Caval Syndrome Series Endoscopy Essentials: Lower GI Endoscopy Series: Overview Journal Club: Focus on Small Animal Dentistry On Your Best Behavior: Feline Anxiety Practical Dentistry: Treatment of Periodontal Disease Practical Techniques from the NAVC Institute: Soft Tissue Surgery (Anal Sacculectomy) Practice Building: Handling Euthanasia in Your Practice Today’s Technician: CBC & Serum If your company’s products or services align well with any of these topics and you’d like to promote them at the NAVC Conference, contact Renee Luttrell right away to discuss this great opportunity. *Topics updated monthly. Dr. Mia Cary, Vice President of Industry Relations & Specialty Programming Greetings Industry Partner! A huge THANK YOU to those of you who participated in July’s NAVC Institute 2015, our Institute Brainstorm session and our NAVC Industry Advisory Council meeting. During the same week in July we also held 2-½ days of VetFolio planning meetings with key personnel from the NAVC and AAHA teams. I’m sure your month was just as busy as ours! NAVC Institute 2015 was a huge success with initial feedback from attendees and exhibitors rating the experience quite highly. We will share additional feedback after the participant and exhibitor surveys have closed. And now here we all are already deep into August (can you believe it!) with 2016 planning well underway. Along those lines, as you’ll read in this month’s eNewsletter we have the slate of NAVC Institute 2016 courses set including several new offerings (shown here). I’m especially excited about our new course “Small Animal Boot Camp: What You Really Need to Know.” Dr. Danny Joffe, the course leader, is building a unique curriculum for those looking to get back into small animal medicine or recent graduates who want a boost of immersion to hone the skills and knowledge used daily by small animal practitioners. Ideal profiles for this course include:
NAVC Institute 2016 Course List (preliminary)
Moms and Dads who stepped away from small animal practice to raise kids and are now eager to re-engage with veterinary practice Practicing vets interested in transitioning from large animal to small animal practice Recent graduates who aren’t interested in a full internship but would like an immersion course to quickly increase their confidence and competence As you can see, this is a unique course that will fulfill a definite need in our profession. Your NAVC Strategic Account Manager (SAM) is happy to share the sponsorship details regarding this course and other branding and access opportunities available for NAVC Institute 2016. As mentioned earlier, VetFolio 2016 planning is also well underway. We have unique offerings built into the 2016 sponsorship packages including advertorials that are searchable throughout all of VetFolio.com, 4-6 module certificate courses, multi-episode podcasts and a new VetFolio New Product Showcase and Podcast Library (separate from the NAVC Conference New Product Gallery). In this month’s eNewsletter you will meet VetFolio’s new Executive Director, Mr. Bobby Lee. As you’ll discover, Bobby has a long history with the NAVC and the veterinary profession and we are thrilled to have him leading the VetFolio team! Last month I mentioned our NAVC Conference 2016 theme: ‘What Moves You’ and the website where we’re collecting stories from our attendees and Industry Partners. We want to better understand what drives you to do your job every day so together we can help inspire the entire veterinary community. If you haven’t done so yet, please visit the site and share your story! This can be via a few short The NAVC Conference 2016 theme is What Moves You? sentences, pictures or a video submission — whichever you would enjoy the most. Thank you! Next month Whitney Brockman, NAVC Director of Sales, will begin alternating this column with me so you’ll hear from each of us every other month. In her September column, “Words from Whitney,” she’ll introduce you to a new team member who will help us to provide you even more customized support. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if there is anything I can do for you! Cheers, Mia Mia Cary, DVM NAVC VP of Industry Relations & Specialty Programs
[email protected] Twitter @zenvet23 Profiles in Leadership is a monthly NAVC Connect2Care feature that provides insight into the bright minds of leaders in the global veterinary healthcare community. We’re pleased to present our interview with Dana M. Varble, DVM, Executive Director of ARAV and Director of Exotic Animal Activities for the NAVC. Dr. Varble received her B.S. in Zoology from Southern Illinois University in 1999, and a veterinary degree from University of Illinois in 2003. She previously worked in clinical exotic and emergency medicine. She has spoken locally, nationally and internationally at conferences and seminars on herpetological and exotic animal medicine and surgery. Her special interests are exotic pets, wildlife and zoo animals, herpetological medicine, organized veterinary medicine, soft tissue surgery, and emergency and critical care. She joined the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians in 2003, served on the board of directors from 2008 to 2014, and was the president of ARAV from 2012 to 2013.
Dana M. Varble, DVM, Executive Director of ARAV and Director of Exotic Animal Activities for the NAVC
In January 2015, she began to serve as the Executive Director of the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) and Director of Exotic Animal Activities for the NAVC. The ARAV is a professional organization promoting conservation and humane treatment of all reptilian and amphibian species through education, captive breeding, and habitat preservation. Members are dedicated to the advancement of veterinary medicine and surgery, preventative medicine, husbandry, and scientific research on reptiles and amphibians, both in the wild and in captivity. Scientific information is disseminated through annual meetings of the ARAV and through the Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery, the official publication of the Association. ———————————————————————————————– NAVC: Congratulations on being selected as Executive Director for ARAV! You previously served as the volunteer president of that organization. How does that experience affect the way you approach your job as ED? Dr. Varble: “Thank you! I was very excited to be given the opportunity to explore another aspect of veterinary medicine. I enjoyed my time as President and feel privileged that I have been able to turn a volunteer activity into a full time career. My time as President gave me a unique perspective on both the strengths of ARAV and its challenges. My years of involvement in the organization allowed me to make many close friends. In a unique twist, I now feel that I work for my friends! I can be their advocate, organizer and leader. I am confident that they are comfortable speaking freely with me and asking me to work on behalf of ARAV.” NAVC: What adjectives would your colleagues use to describe you? How would you describe yourself? Dr. Varble: “I’ve got a BIG personality! NAVC CEO Tom Bohn called me a “firecracker.” I loved it because that’s how I feel sometimes! I have a large, outspoken Midwestern family so I am an extrovert and a talker. I love meeting new people, never really felt shy in my life. I am organized and driven. I like tasks with a goal, deadline and milestones. One of my biggest challenges in the early portion of my career was becoming skilled at being a good listener. It was a learning process for me yet the knowledge I’ve gained from other people’s stories, experiences and opinions is extremely valuable. It was one of the best lessons I gained from practicing veterinary medicine.” NAVC: In the arc of your career, what milestones brought you to your current work? Who has been most influential in affecting your choices? Dr. Varble: “One thing I have learned over the years is how much I like veterinarians and veterinary technicians. As a profession, we are ambitious and dedicated. We are also open-minded, casual and have empathetic personalities. I chose to leave general practice early in my career due to my need for independence and a faster pace. Coincidentally, that is the same reason more than 10 years later, that I left ER medicine! I spent the majority of my practice years working as an ER veterinarian. Knowing that my true interest Several veterinary colleagues inspired her to follow her was in exotics, I opted to seek other passion in reptile medicine venues to maintain my involvement in exotics, including volunteering for ARAV, doing relief work and seeing exotics on an emergency basis. I was grateful to my friend and colleague, Nicole Johnson, who dragged me to my first ARAV meeting when I was a student. Mark Mitchell, Doug Mader and Eric Klaphake pushed me as a student and as a new graduate to maintain my interest in reptile and amphibian medicine. Leigh Clayton was ARAV president before me; I admired her as a strong female leader in the profession and still do. Lastly, I really learned so much from Dr. Wilbur Amand, the previous ARAV Executive Director. He handled a group of crazy reptile vets with patience and diplomacy, while encouraging progress and growth in ARAV. It was during my time as president that I realized that I might be interested in a job like Dr. Amand’s one day. With the help of North American Veterinary Community, I was able to realize that dream.” NAVC: Your publications and lectures include topics such as “Complex Cloacal Resection in a Female Green Iguana,” “Chronic Granulomatous Coelomic Effusion in a Leopard Gecko,” “Evaluating the Clinical Effects of Clove Oil and Propofol on Tiger Salamanders,” and “Exotic Animal Medicine: Initial Evaluation and Restraint.” Do these exotic opportunities find you or do you choose them? Dr. Varble: “I believe we all look for opportunities that motivate us. My interest in certain topics, such as exotic soft tissue surgery, led me to seek employment with many opportunities in surgery. As my skill set grew, other veterinarians and clients would seek my help with their unusual surgical cases. I also became known as the ER veterinarian that would see anything that fit through the front door! That included treating calves, pigmy goats and anteaters in the middle of the night. Other times I’d find myself involved in topics that I had a strong opinion on but no particular skills in (or so I thought). I’ve always been interested in educating the veterinary health care team (veterinary technicians, assistants, and other support staff) to have a higher appreciation for exotic animal medicine. I had no idea that I was an entertaining lecturer until I was told I was! I did find, as an ambassador for exotics, that getting the veterinary health care team excited about exotics was easier than the veterinarians! Their excitement meant that more and more veterinarians would see exotics on an emergency basis because they were confident that their staff could handle, medicate and care for these unusual patients. That’s why I love encouraging technicians and veterinary support personnel to be open to new opportunities.” NAVC: Your community activities include being a Search and Rescue volunteer, a tracking/trailing canine handler/trainer, AKC Rally Obedience and competitions, and Crossfit. What attracts you to this type of volunteer work? Dr. Varble: “That it’s just a little crazy! It’s a great way for me to burn off excess energy. Actually my bloodhound desperately needed a job when he was young so I discovered search and rescue. What surprised me was that I loved every aspect of that volunteer work, not just the canine activities. I liked being a first responder, high angle (mountain) rescue, swiftwater training, One of Dr. Varble’s interests is search and hiking at night, and helicopter rides into the rescue dog handling as a volunteer mountains. I’m not as active in that field anymore but I know I’ll find it again because I really loved it! My new favorite is Crossfit, a high intensity workout program. I’ve started competing this year and I plan on becoming certified as trainer. I know when the opportunity arises for more search and rescue work, I’ll be ready to go again.” NAVC: We understand you have a house full of exotic and other pets. Tell us about them and how they get along. Dr. Varble: “I have two dogs, one cat, four snakes and a bearded dragon. One of my dogs and my cat are in the autumn of their lives so they are the best napping buddies that two animals can be. My other dog, a bloodhound named Calhoun, was my search and rescue dog and my obedience dog. It’s truly amusing to watch a bloodhound attempt obedience. He actually looks like he is straining and appears to leave with a headache. Patience is not one of Calhoun’s strong traits but he tries really hard! He is basically retired now but still needs a lot of activity to burn off his excess working dog energy or he gets into trouble. Dr. Varble’s family includes two dogs, one cat,
Both he and my other dog Dottie, received four snakes and a bearded dragon aversion training to snakes while we were living in Arizona and, to this day, tend to avoid the snakes when I take them out to handle them. My snakes are all gentle and easily handled ball pythons which was my favorite snake growing up. My mom said I couldn’t get one so I now have four! I have two wild-type (the naturally occurring common coloration), 1 amelanistic (“albino”) and 1 piebald. One of my wild-type ball pythons, Phil, is 25 years old; he was captive hatched in 1990. My bearded dragon, Chiricahua, is of unknown age but appears to be an adult male. To feed him, I own a colony of Dubia cockroaches, which are interesting to keep as well. Chiricahua has a leash to go outside, with supervision, to get some real UV light but absolutely hates the dogs! Whenever they get riled up around him, he puffs out his beard, which then turns dark black. He is gentle and easy to handle for people though, a real sweetie.” NAVC: What are you learning now, personally and professionally? How do you find the time? Dr. Varble: “Right now I am literally learning new skills every single day. I had little prior experience with websites, Internet publishing, journal editing/publications, association management and conferences. I consider myself an expert on ARAV! I lean on my team at NAVC to guide and educate me on various topics and I’m turning that knowledge into practical solutions everyday. I don’t really have a “quitting time” every day. I try to harness my energy in bursts. Since I can literally pick up a computer and work anytime, sometimes I do! And, yes, that means I send out e-mails at 2:00 AM from time to time, over many weekends, and, yes, I’ve done some serious editing on planes and at coffee shops. I take advantage of the flexibility of my current career. I think that flexibility allows me to be more productive than I otherwise might be.” NAVC: What’s the primary source of satisfaction that you receive in your work? Dr. Varble: “I love working with veterinarians and meeting veterinarians from all over the world. We are an amazing, caring and fun group of people. We have the best stories, the most creative ideas and the wildest adventures. I love trying to provide them with the best resources to make their jobs more satisfying. The possibilities and opportunities in veterinary medicine are literally endless.” #### We’re currently fine-tuning the content for our September/October 2015 issue of Today’s Veterinary Practice. Pain management, pyoderma, oral care radiography and feline stone disease are just a few of the subjects we’re covering. This is the perfect time to consider advertising in TVP and reaching more than 60,000 veterinary professionals — especially if your solutions align with this upcoming issue. Our September/October 2015 Editorial Calendar includes these topics along with many others: FEATURES Intestinal Anastomosis: Tips for the Solo Reach more than 60,000 readers of Today’s Veterinary Practice Surgeon Feline Stone Disease (Urolithiasis) Practitioner’s Guide to Fracture Management: Part 2 COLUMNS Dermatology Details: Persistent Pyoderma NAVC Institute 2015: Latest on Litterboxes Practical Dentistry: Radiography Techniques Journal Club: Pain Management Today’s Technician: Recognizing Canine Pericardial Effusion Back Page: 2015 Pain Management Guidelines If one or more of your company’s solutions align well with any of these topics, contact Renee Luttrell right away to discuss this great opportunity. Leona Perry has been an NAVC team member since June 2013 and has been devoted to the VetFolio launch and its growth. Part of her role is working with our many founding sponsors and webinar/web conference sponsors — making sure these valuable events run smoothly and attract traffic to VetFolio. You may have met Leona at a veterinary conference. She’s the friendly face behind our VetFolio booth and demo stations. We’re pleased to introduce you to her now.
Leona Perry, Director of VetFolio Media Content and Community
NAVC: What is your career background?
Leona: “I spent the first 10 years of my work life in marketing and public relations, working for great businesses like Cypress Gardens theme park and USA Water Ski (the governing body for the sport of water skiing.) I even got to travel to Argentina as part of the United States Olympic Committee public relations team for the 1995 Pan American Games, representing the U.S. Water Ski Team. In 1998, my husband took a new job and our family moved to Georgia. I got to be a stay-at-home mom for several months, and then I was lucky enough to receive a call one day from a friend who worked for iVillage.com. She was looking for a community moderator for their Working Diva channel. It was something I could do at home on the computer while applying all my writing and communication skills to grow this online community. I stayed with iVillage for two years, and then was offered a position on the WebMD.com community team. Eventually, I became Manager of Community for this vibrant online site, where members were able to come together and talk about the challenges they faced living day-by-day with chronic illnesses or caring for a family member who needed them.” NAVC: When did you join the NAVC, and why? Leona: “I joined NAVC in June 2013 to help build and launch VetFolio.com. I’ve always had a deep love for animals, and a great deal of respect for those who spend their lives caring for the furry, feathered, scaly, slimy and shelled pets we think of as part of our families. It has been an exciting and satisfying ride so far, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!” NAVC: Please describe your role with VetFolio. Leona: “I’m now working on the NAVC publishing team, producing course content for VetFolio and creating the foundation for what we hope will very soon be a thriving online community for not only VetFolio members, but also NAVC Conference and Institute attendees and AAHA-accredited practice folks.” NAVC: What do you love about the veterinary industry? Leona: “I love that veterinary professionals and industry professionals are doing their best to create better and more effective treatments and experiences for animals seen in practice. Our pets are part of our family. I compare the veterinary visit to taking my kids to the pediatrician, and my expectations are very much the same. I want my pets to get the best care and also be happy and comfortable while they are getting it. Most of the veterinary professionals I have met during my time at NAVC are all striving to do just that by reaching out for more knowledge through both live and online continuing education.” NAVC: Do you have pets? Leona: “Yes! We currently have two dogs and a cat. The dogs are both Australian Shepherds and full of energy. Chester is a seven-year-old blue merle that loves to play chase and hide and go seek. He’s a sweet boy. I try to bring him to visit the office now and then, so he can get all the petting he desires (if there is a such thing!). Tucker is our two-year-old red tri. Naturally, he has all the teenage dog energy to spare, and he lives to catch a Frisbee. Our cat, Princess Leia, is an American long hair. Her favorite pastimes are eating, sleeping and shredding any piece of paper that happens to hit the floor or be batted off a table onto the floor by her agile little paws. My daughter adopted a Manx kitten, Neko, a frequent visitor to our little menagerie. If you know any Japanese, you’ll note that “neko” is the word for “cat.” So yes, her name is Cat. Regardless of that fact, she thinks she is a dog and gets along famously with her canine uncles.” NAVC: What are you seeing as trends in VetFolio and hot topics? Leona: “Our new web conferences, which are on-demand courses made available to the public for two weeks, have been extremely popular. They have covered topics ranging from flea control and healthy practices to the new AAHA pain management guidelines, cytology and canine otitis externa… brought to you by our wonderful VetFolio sponsors. And, there are many more to come during the second half of the year. Lately, the most popular topics folks are finding on the site are client education, behavior, dentistry and dermatology.” NAVC: What kind of feedback do you get from veterinary professionals when reviewing VetFolio at trade shows? Leona: “The feedback we’ve gotten so far has been very positive, particularly from practice managers and practice owners who are looking for opportunities to provide training to their staff. Most are excited to see the amount of information we have available in VetFolio, and we’re adding more all the time!” NAVC: Anything you’d like to say about VetFolio opportunities for veterinary companies looking to reach their target audiences? Leona: “VetFolio is a great way for companies to showcase their educational resources, spotlight any new products they have launched and share information about all of their products and services with an extremely engaged section of the veterinary community. Through the website and our promotional avenues, we’re easily reaching more than 50,000 individuals, including veterinarians, practice managers, veterinary technicians, students, educators and association executives across the industry. And the list is growing. VetFolio subscribers want more. They want more for their practice teams. They want more for their patients, more for their clients. They demonstrate this daily by taking more courses, participating in more web conferences, reading more articles and proceedings, consuming more product news and information, and watching more videos. Your company can be part of this exciting growth and help us provide the MORE that our subscribers and future subscribers are thirsting for.” If you’d like to discuss VetFolio content opportunities for your company, email
[email protected].
BETTER CARE FOR ANIMALS EVERYWHERE
© 2018 North American Veterinary Community Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com
+1.352.375.5672
REGISTER FOR INSTITUTE
