Q2 2025 AVMA House of Delegates Report
By Debra Nickelson, D.V.M., AAIV Delegate to the AVMA HOD
One of the most interesting roles of the House of Delegates is to vote for the AVMA President-Elect every year. While the states have a number of votes based on AVMA member population in each state, the allied organizations such as AAIV have one vote each. We do want to represent your interests for the next AVMA President-Elect 2025-2026 who will automatically become President 2026-2027. Please review the information about the two candidates for 2025-2026 AVMA President-Elect and let us know your thoughts and questions. Our vote is your vote!
Dr. Mary Ergen is former District III representative on the AVMA Board of Directors, representing AVMA members in Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. She currently serves as Director of Rehabilitation at Canine Rehabilitation of Nashville.
Dr. Ergen says, “I would like to continue to move our strategic plan forward, to see our technician initiatives materialize, streamline the Educational Commission on Foreign Veterinary Graduates, and continue to support our legislative issues. I am bullish on the AVMA. I think I can work well with our volunteers and other stakeholders to solve the current issues of workforce imbalance, the availability and validity of telehealth, and the use of (artificial intelligence) in our profession as just a few examples.”
The 1982 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine has been active in organized veterinary medicine for more than 30 years, including serving as president of the Tennessee VMA in 2008. She was also the Tennessee alternate delegate in the HOD for seven years.
Dr. Jennifer Quammen is former Vice-President of AVMA and currently serves at Chief Veterinary Officer at Otto. Here is her website. Home | Jen Quammen for AVMA President-Elect
Dr. Quammen says she is running for president-elect because she is eager to contribute to a profession that has enriched her life. “I have the foundational skills in communication and collaboration.”
A 2011 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Quammen has served as president of the Kentucky VMA (KVMA) as well as co-facilitator of the KVMA’s Power of Ten leadership program. Dr. Quammen is an alumna of the AVMA Future Leaders Program and has served as chair of the AVMA Council on Veterinary Service.
“AVMA cannot be everywhere at all times, nor can I,” she said, “but we can serve as a place to bring differing opinions into the same room—virtual or in real time—and find common ground to have respectful discussions.”
Please send any comments or questions to AAIV at industryvet@gmail.com. As always, thank you for your support and we are here for you.