Debra Nickelson DVM, MBA

AAIV Alternate Delegate

We invite you to nominate an AVMA member who has made significant contributions to the veterinary profession through innovating and transformational leadership in promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Nominations are due by 11:59 p.m. on May 22. 

Beginning this year, a new AVMA award will formally recognize accomplishments in support of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) with the AVMA Frederick Douglass Patterson Lifetime Achievement Award. Approved by the AVMA Board of Directors at its April meeting, the new award will be presented for the first time at the AVMA convention in July. 

Nomination criteria

• Nominees must be an AVMA member veterinarian.
• Nominations may be submitted by any individual (AVMA member or non-member) or organization.
• Self-nominations will be considered.
• Nominations must reflect an individual’s significant and sustained contributions in promoting and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in veterinary medicine. The following are some potential criteria that could be considered:
  • Longevity of service: The nominee should have a demonstrated record of promoting and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the lifetime of their career.
  • Innovation: The nominee should have demonstrated innovative approaches to promoting and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion including novel strategies and techniques in veterinary medicine that have resulted in measurable change.
  • Collaboration and partnership: The nominee should have demonstrated an ability to work collaboratively and build partnerships with diverse stakeholders, such as community organizations, academic institutions, government agencies and private sector entities to achieve common goals related to diversity, equity and inclusion in veterinary medicine.
  • Leadership and advocacy: The nominee should have demonstrated exceptional leadership and advocacy in promoting and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion including the ability to inspire and influence others to create positive change in the veterinary profession.
  • Positive impact on underrepresented communities: The nominee should have demonstrated a positive impact on marginalized and underrepresented communities with a focus on creating equitable opportunities and outcomes in veterinary medicine for all individuals regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age or ability.

Nomination requirements

• Cover letter summarizing the nominee’s contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion including how they have met the specific criteria for the award.
• Interactive PDF nomination form.
• Curriculum vitae/resume or biography, highlighting the professional achievements, education and experience in promoting and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Supporting documentation demonstrating the nominee’s contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion, such as publications, reports, videos or news articles.
• Up to three letters of support from individuals who can provide insight into the nominee’s contributions to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in veterinary medicine.
• Digital high resolution (300 DPI) colored headshot photograph, suitable for publication:
  • 5” x 7”
  • TIFF or JPG format

Nomination form

AVMAFrederickDouglassPattersonNominationForm_2023_FINAL.pdf

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We encourage you to send a message to industryvets@gmail.com about these candidates. Who would you vote for?

Candidates for 2023-2024 AVMA President-Elect

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AVMA endorses federal legislation to address illicit xylazine

A newly proposed law backed by the AVMA would help combat the emerging threat posed by illicit xylazine while protecting veterinary access to this important animal sedative. The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act was introduced into congress in March. The bill’s provisions would equip law enforcement with additional tools to stop xylazine trafficking while maintaining veterinarians’ ability to legitimately use xylazine. 

It strikes the right balance of protecting our communities while preserving veterinary access to this critically important animal drug. If it becomes law, the legislation will make the manufacture, distribution, dispensing or possession of illicit xylazine subject to Schedule III penalties under the federal Controlled Substances Act. Illicit use of xylazine includes any use, or intended use, in people and would address any diversion of xylazine from veterinary sources. At the same time, the legitimate veterinary uses would remain under their current prescription status.

Highlights of the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act

• Manufacture, distribution, dispensing and possession of illicit xylazine would be subject to Schedule III penalties, engaging the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and allowing for harsher punishments when xylazine is handled illegally.
• The legitimate importation, manufacture, dispensing and administration of xylazine for non-human species would not be subject to the restrictions and requirements of scheduling. 
• Any diversion of xylazine from the veterinary supply chain for illicit use would be subject to the penalties of a Schedule III drug. 
• Manufacturers and distributors would report sales of veterinary xylazine to the DEA through a tracking system that would identify unusual activity or changes in ordering patterns. 
• The DEA would submit a report to congress detailing the prevalence and impacts of illicit xylazine use in the United States. 

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February 2023

Resolutions

There were nine resolutions brought forward to the House of Delegates for review during the winter session in January. Such resolutions are brought to the House if a new policy is created, an existing policy needs rewording or if the board of directors determines the policy to be pertinent. 

• An updated policy on “Inherited Disorders in Responsible Breeding of Companion Animals” that supersedes the existing policy of the same name and continues to emphasize the importance of responsibly managing inherited disorders in companion animals.
• A new policy on “Therapeutic Medications in Competition Equids” that supersedes the policy on “Therapeutic Medications in Non-racing Performance Horses,” mirroring revisions by the American Association of Equine Practitioners to the AAEP policy on this topic in 2020.
• A new policy on “Unregulated Horse Racing” stating that the AVMA condemns unregulated racing of equids because of threats to animal health and welfare, such as infectious disease, administration of illegal substances and abusive practices.
• New policies on “Bovine Disbudding and Dehorning” and “Bovine Castration” that supersede the policy on “Castration and Dehorning of Cattle” to recognize that castration and dehorning require different animal care and to clarify the distinction between dehorning and disbudding.
• A consolidated policy titled “Harmonized Approach to Voluntary and Regulated Aquatic Animal Health Programs” that supersedes four policies on state oversight and federal programs pertaining to the health of aquatic animals.
• A consolidated policy on “Veterinary Compounding” that supersedes the three existing policies on this topic, provides additional clarity and adds more resources.
• A revised policy on “The Importance of Veterinarians in Food Safety” that adds a statement that management and leadership training would help improve the supervisory success, job satisfaction and retention of supervisory public health veterinarians with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service.
• A revised policy on “Dog Bite Prevention” that adds a statement that all dogs can bite and reaffirms that the AVMA considers it inappropriate to label specific breeds or classes of dogs as aggressive or dangerous, among other revisions.

The HOD did not approve a revised policy on “The Veterinarian’s Role in Supporting Appropriate Selection and Use of Service, Assistance, Emotional Support and Therapy Animals.” The proposed revisions were largely editorial. The HOD referred the revised policy back to the board of directors for clarification of the wording by the AVMA Steering Committee on Human-Animal Interactions.

Veterinary Information Forum Topics

Need for a mid-level position

The House of Delegates agreed that establishing a mid-level veterinary provider category would be complicated and would not do much to expand access to veterinary care. Instead, delegates agreed that the focus should be on improving resources and programs to retain veterinarians and veterinary technicians, further developing veterinary technician specialties and helping veterinary practices maximize efficiency. Read more here: Idea of midlevel practitioner rejected (avma.org)

Workplace culture and retention

There are many relevant AVMA resources available, and the House of Delegates wants to make sure that members are aware of what is available and how to make use of them. Resources include:

·     Workplace Wellbeing Certificate program

·     Brave Space Certificate program

·     Train the Trainer program

·     Journey for Teams

There are also tools such as EAP programs and mental health coverage that exists within the offerings from the AVMA Trust. Read more here: Turn to AVMA and others for resources to improve workplace culture (avma.org)

Thinking ahead to the summer session, one of these candidates will be elected AVMA president-elect.                                             

Candidates for 2023-2024 AVMA President-Elect

Dr. Sandra Faeh Butler (Left)
Dr. Arnold L. Goldman  (Middle)
Dr. Bob Murtaugh (Right)

Again, it is our honor to represent you, not just during the HOD sessions, but all year. Please let us know what questions and concerns you have at industryvets@gmail.com.

Thank you,

Drs. Ellen Lowery and Debra Nickelson

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AVMA House of Delegates Report

If you have not participated in a Veterinary Leadership Conference, I encourage you to attend. Sure, Chicago can be freezing cold in January, but it can be surprisingly pleasant, and you are indoors most of the time. There also will be fun team-building projects for a good cause.

There are plenty of networking opportunities, insightful sessions on leadership, well-being activities and you can see your AVMA governing body in action on the House of Delegates floor. Click the link for more information: Veterinary Leadership Conference | American Veterinary Medical Association

Journey for Teams

The AVMA is co-launching a multiyear educational initiative to help veterinary workplaces become more diverse, equitable and inclusive. The AVMA and Veterinary Medical Association Executives (VMAE) will 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 include time to discuss the issues and make plans for changes in a workplace. More information can be found on journeyforteams.org.

How does Journey for Teams work?

Any veterinary professional can sign up to participate in Journey for Teams. Over the next two years, Journey for Teams will release a wide range of resources you can use to learn about DEI topics and build a practical roadmap to advance DEI where you work:

·     Developing and supporting fabulous teams

·     Fostering an extraordinary workplace

·     Walking the walk with clients, customers and vendors

·     Embracing the community

You can choose how to use the program. You might decide to delve into the foundational concepts around DEI first, or you might use it to continue work already started. It’s up to you.

Every journey needs a navigator, so the program relies in part on team members who commit to guide discussions, identify possible action items and monitor progress on those actions. The Journey for Teams program provides the resources these navigators need to lead the DEI initiative in their workplace. Participating workplaces are encouraged to include a commitment to DEI core principles and behaviors in their stated values.

What will you gain as a Journey for Teams participant?

·     A greater sense of curiosity

·     Inspiration and knowledge to foster respectful dialog

·     Tools to help colleagues better understand and embrace DEI behaviors

·     Pride and satisfaction in the work you do to build a more welcoming community

Through Journey for Teams, you’ll foster your own growth and meaningfully impact the lives of colleagues, customers and the diverse society we’re all committed to serve.

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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.

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I am pleased to announce that Dr. Sandy Willis is our official liaison with the AVMA. Dr. Willis asked to be assigned the American Association of Industry Veterinarians. Dr. Ellen Lowery and I are thrilled to have Dr. Willis on our team. Dr. Willis served as an intern at the University of Minnesota during my fourth year as a student, so we have known each other a long time. 

Resolutions

There were five resolutions brought forward to the House of Delegates for review. Such resolutions are brought to the House if a new policy is created, an existing policy needs rewording or if the Board of Directors determines the policy to be pertinent.

·     Resolution 6 – New Policy on Use of Prescription Drugs in Veterinary Medicine

o  Passed with amendments about treatment, control and prevention of disease and conditions.

·     Resolution 7 – New Policy on Adverse Event Reporting

o  Passed.

·     Resolution 8 – Revised Policy on Genetic Modification of Animals in Agriculture

o  Passed with amendment on definition of livestock meaning all farm raised animals.

·     Resolution 9 – Revised Policy on Approval and Availability of Antimicrobials for Use in Food-Producing Animals

o  Passed.

·     Resolution 10 – Revised Policy on Raw Milk

o  Passed with amendments on non-human mammalian milk. 

Other Topics of Discussion

·     Model Veterinary Practice Act

·     Telehealth

·     Responsibility to provide emergency care

·     Workforce issues

·     License portability

Again, it is our honor to represent you, not just during the HOD sessions, but all year. Please let us know what questions and concerns you have via industryvets@gmail.com.

Thank you,

Dr. Ellen Lowery and Dr. Debra Nickelson

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By Debra Nickelson

Meet your AVMA Leaders

2022-2023 AVMA President: Dr. Lori Teller (Left most)
2022-2024 AVMA Vice President: Dr. Jennifer Quammen (Middle left)
2022-2023 AVMA President-Elect: Dr. Rena Carlson (Middle)
AVMA Board of Directors Chair: Dr. Ronald E. Gill (Middle right)
AVMA Board of Directors Vice Chair: Dr. Charles Lemme (Right most)

Candidates for 2023-2024 AVMA President-Elect

Dr. Sandra Faeh Butler (Left)
Dr. Bob Murtaugh (Middle)
Dr. Arnold L. Goldman (Right)

Summary of Candidates’ Remarks

Meet House Advisory Committee Elected Members

Dr. Stuart Brown
Dr. Diana Thome
Dr. Libby Todd

Meet AVMA Committee Members Nominated by AAIV

Dr. Efrem Hunter – Legislative Advisory Committee
Dr. Wendy Weirich – Alternate, Animal Welfare Committee
Dr. Joe Dedrickson – Animal Agriculture Liaison Committee
Dr. Karen Shenoy – Alternate, Food Safety Advisory Committee (pet food industry) 

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AVMA Legislative Report

April 2022

Since AVMA is involved in several legislative activities, here is a separate report.

AVMA secures funding for programs essential to the veterinary profession 

Recently, Congress passed a government spending bill that includes many wins for veterinary medicine. During this process, the AVMA has been engaged with lawmakers and working with coalitions to advocate for funding programs critical to the profession. These programs include:

· Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) will receive an increase of $1 million in funding from the last fiscal year for a total of $9.5 million. VMLRP plays a critical role in closing food animal and public health veterinary medicine access gaps by offering three years of educational repayment in exchange for service in USDA-designated veterinarian shortage areas.

· Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database Program (FARAD) will receive $2.5 million to protect the U.S. food supply against accidental or intentional contamination of animal-derived foods so that it is safe for human consumption.

· Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP) has been allocated an additional $500,000 in funding for a total of $3.5 million. VSGP is a federal program that provides grants to develop, implement and sustain veterinary services and relieve veterinarian shortage situations across the United States.

· USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspective Service (APHIS) will use $1 million to strengthen the oversight of imported dogs.

· USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has been given $2.8 million to address the high levels of public health veterinarian vacancies.

One Health legislation passes Senate Committee 

On March 15, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions passed the PREVENT Pandemics Act which included provisions that would require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop a One Health framework. The legislation would have the CDC coordinate with the Agriculture and Interior Secretaries on One Health and issue a report to Congress on their progress. 

USDA opens FY 2022 application cycle for Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced the opening of the fiscal year 2022 application cycle for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP).

Under the VMLRP, food animal and public health veterinarians receive up to $25,000 a year for student loan repayment in exchange for at least three years of service in one of the USDA-designated rural veterinary shortage areas. There are 227 veterinarian shortage situations in 46 states for FY 2022.

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AVMA House of Delegates Report

April 2022

It seems there are two seasons for the AVMA House of Delegates: meetings and getting ready for meetings.

In preparation for the summer meeting during the AVMA Convention, we are looking for Veterinary Information Forum (VIF) topics to discuss and possibly be formed into resolutions for policy. So far, here are the VIF topics:

·      VCPR and telemedicine/telehealth

·      Veterinary technician and assistant roles and responsibilities

·      Emergency care responsibilities

·      Possibly paraprofessionals

License portability and the model practice act will be discussed to follow up from the winter meeting. 

Anyone can submit VIF topics, so please contact us at industryvets@gmail.com if you would like the AVMA to address any issues. Your delegate Dr. Ellen Lowery and I would be happy to discuss these issues with you and formulate them into a VIF topic or even a resolution. 

If you are attending AVMA convention, you are welcome to observe the general sessions of the House of Delegates on: 

·     Thursday, July 28, 10 a.m. to noon

·     Friday, July 29, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Let me know if you are interested in stopping by and I will provide more details. 

I was honored to join a new HOD Member Engagement Working Group in which we work on ways to increase communication, engagement, and involvement of the House of Delegates members and to promote participation at all levels. We meet once a month, have completed a survey of HOD members and will send proposals to AVMA on how to better communicate with the HOD, but also with all AVMA members.  

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