Q3 2022 AVMA Report
By Debra Nickelson
New Initiatives
Journey For Teams
The AVMA is co-launching a multi-year educational initiative to help veterinary workplaces become more diverse, equitable and inclusive. The AVMA and VMAE plan to deliver monthly learning modules for about 30 months on topics related to DEI on the project’s website. These modules will be about 15 minutes in length and includes time to discuss the issues and make plans for changes in a practice. More information can be found at journeyforteams.org.
Coalition for Connected Veterinary Care
The AVMA launched this coalition to collaborate across the veterinary and animal health industry to enhance and expand care by leveraging technology, while simultaneously respecting the integrity of the veterinarian-client-patient relationship. The founding members are the AVMA, Veterinary Study Groups and Merck Animal Health along with more than 30 other veterinary organizations and companies that have signed on so far.
Reports for Ongoing Activities
AVMA Government Relations Division
While politics are polarized now, AVMA remains nonpartisan. The AVMA works with those in Congress interested in veterinary issues only. Veterinarians need to be the cause of the good change, not at the effect of someone else’s change. We need to advocate for the protection of our profession. AVMA attempts to expand grasstops and grassroots capabilities, grow the PAC and continue to improve the quality of interactions with state and allied VMAs.
AVMA PAC
The AVMA Political Action Committee has grown 30% over this time last year. This is an incredible accomplishment, but the new goal is $400k by end-of-year. Membership support is so important. All of the money goes out to Congressmen. The PAC website is updated regularly to show where money goes state by state. PAC funds are distributed on a non-partisan basis focused on veterinary issues only. It’s this historical nonpartisan stance that allows AVMA access to both sides of the aisle.
AVMF
The mission of the American Veterinary Medical Foundation is to raise funds to improve animal health. The AVMF has raised over half a million dollars for Ukraine relief including supplies, care, food, etc. You can visit the website avmf.org where you can find stories and heartbreaking images of what our colleagues are going through in this part of the world. New this year to the AVMF mission is education. Since there is an educational debt problem and workforce shortage, the AVMF plans to award 300,000 in scholarships.
AVMA Trust
AVMA trust doubled down its efforts to provide new and better ways to help, recognizing the needs of members at every step of the journey. For practicing veterinarians: portability, consent to settle, individual coverage limits. For Trust Veterinarians: claims review and advocates. Risk management resources: webinars, publications, educational blogs. For practice owners: practice healthcare solutions, veterinary safety manual, online training and online reputation management.
The next AVMA convention will be held July 14-18, 2023, in Denver.