My father was a veterinarian, and I was always sure that is what I wanted to become, too. I helped him with farm calls, cleaned cages and did kennel work. I wanted to be a mixed animal practitioner, just like Dad. My main concern in school was food animal medicine, focusing on swine and beef cattle. When Dad retired, I purchased the practice and gradually, my focus changed to dogs and cats. I guess it pays to pay attention in school! I could not have made that career change without a great basic science foundation, tons of CE, and the help of many local colleagues.

I am proud to be a veterinarian. My colleagues are the best people I know. They are compassionate, caring and believe in their profession. That's why I am proud to be an AVMA member -- because of the people. There are so many different types of veterinary practices and fields within veterinary medicine. While a few outside forces seek to divide us, the AVMA brings the entire veterinary community together. The AVMA is able to present our concerns and protect our profession as one voice.

I am a big believer in team effort – we can get more done for animals and people together than we can separately. The AVMA speaks as one voice for the entire profession. Not just in Washington D.C., but in state capitals, too. We all need to be more politically active in order to effect positive changes. Local, state, and federal legislators want veterinarians to provide information and leadership. I am also an advocate of the One Health Initiative, as it has the potential to improve the lives of both people and animals.

PLIT has helped protect my reputation and assets for the last 27 years. The mission of PLIT is to offer the best professional liability, license defense, and business insurance to veterinarians and veterinary students. You don't practice veterinary medicine very long without having a situation where you are at least concerned about malpractice. Things can go wrong, and you have to protect yourself, your family, your employees, and your business. The PLIT insures close to 90% of the veterinary malpractice insurance that is written in the United States. Why? Because they do it very well and they have a very effective, efficient program that represents the veterinarian. PLIT has Trust Representatives-veterinarians with broad practice experience who review claims and work with insurance companies. It is a very efficient, responsive system that provides AVMA member veterinarians great protection. I have the privilege of serving as a PLIT Trustee, in a small way trying to give back this profession that has given me and my family so much.

AVMA PLIT
With over 50,000 veterinarians and students participating in PLIT-sponsored programs, professional liability insurance coverage has never been more affordable or more effective.