The AVMA House of Delegates elected Dr. René A. Carlson, Chetek, Wis., as 2004-2005 AVMA vice president. Delegates elected Dr. Carlson by unanimous consent July 24 while meeting in Philadelphia.

The Student AVMA and Alabama VMA seconded the Wisconsin VMA's nomination of Dr. Carlson. Following her election, Dr. Carlson was escorted to the stage by her husband, Dr. Mark Carlson.

As vice president, Dr. Carlson hopes to support veterinary students while showing that caring for people is just as important as caring for animals and understanding veterinary science.

"I want to share some of my own excitement and successes, and some of yours as well, and how the AVMA can help them," she said.

Dr. Carlson succeeds Dr. Thomas Kendall, Sacramento, Calif., who was at the end of his second term as vice president.

Since graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1978, Dr. Carlson has participated in organized veterinary medicine while employed in small and mixed animal practices.

Dr. Carlson has served as president of the Wisconsin VMA, which honored her with its 2001 Veterinarian of the Year Award. She currently owns a three-veterinarian small animal practice in Chetek.