At its meeting in June, the AVMA Executive Board appointed Dr. Janet D. Donlin as the assistant executive vice president of the AVMA, filling the vacancy left by the retirement of Dr. Arthur V. Tennyson.

Dr. Donlin has served as the associate executive vice president and director of the AVMA Executive Division since June of 1996. In that role, she has managed the activities of the Executive Division, and served as a trustee (ex officio) to the AVMA Group Health and Life Insurance Trust. During the launching of the National Commission for Veterinary Economic Issues, she served as interim CEO of NCVEI for a year. She also received the AVMA President's Award in 2001 from President James E. Nave for her leadership during the developmental phase of the NCVEI.

In October 1991, Dr. Donlin joined the AVMA as an assistant director in the Scientific Activities Division. Her primary responsibilities at the time were to serve as a staff consultant to the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities, and oversee accreditation of veterinary technology programs.

Dr. Donlin earned an associate's degree in veterinary technology from the Medical Institute of Minnesota in 1973, and a bachelor's degree in medical technology from the University of Minnesota in 1977. She worked as a veterinary technician while studying veterinary medicine at the University of Minnesota, and after graduating in 1981, she initially worked as a companion animal practitioner. She followed that by spending 10 years in veterinary technician education, serving as director of the programs at the Medical Institute of Minnesota and the University of Minnesota in Waseca.