Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians

Event: Annual meeting, Sept. 1, San Antonio
Program: The meeting, held in conjunction with the Association of Avian Veterinarians and Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians, drew 650 attendees. The immediate past president of the AEMV, Dr. Dan Johnson, presided over the meeting.
Awards: Oxbow Exotic Mammal Health Award, in conjunction with the AEMV: Dr. Brendan Carmel, Warranwood, Australia, won this award, given in recognition of excellence and innovation in the field of exotic mammal health. A 1987 graduate of the University of Melbourne, Dr. Carmel owns and serves as senior veterinarian at Warranwood Veterinary Centre. He also serves as a lecturer in wildlife and exotic pet medicine at the University of Melbourne Faculty of Veterinary Science and James Cook University. Dr. Carmel is a past president of the Unusual Pet & Avian Veterinarians special interest group and a founding member of the AEMV and ARAV. AEMV Research Grant ($4,475): Dr. Joanne Paul-Murphy, Davis, California, for “Evaluation of deslorelin implants on fibroadenoma recurrence in rats (Rattus norvegicus).” Benjamin and Bella Rabbit Research Grant ($2,500 each): Joanna Corey (Tufts ’16), for “Rabbit sex cord stromal tumors: A retrospective study to determine prevalence, treatment recommendations and prognosis”; and Dr. Molly Gleeson, Davis, California, for “Venous lactate levels in rabbits presenting for gastrointestinal stasis.” Poster Award: Drs. Andrew Bean and Peter Fisher, Virginia Beach, Virginia, for “Hypercalcemia of malignancy in the ferret: Four cases”; and Sarah Ozawa (Wisconsin ’16), for “Measurement of body temperature in Chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera). President’s Award: Dr. Chris Griffin, Kannapolis, North Carolina. Dr. Griffin was honored for his years of service to the association, including his roles as president from 2012-2014 and as past chair of the association’s conference planning committee.
Business: It was noted that the AEMV currently has 731 members representing 34 countries. Dr. Dan Johnson shared the treasurer’s report, announced the addition of two members-at-large to the AEMV board of directors, and provided information on an update to the association’s bylaws. The update will act as a template for association organization and management going forward. The president of the AEMV, Dr. Micah Kohles, emphasized the need for member participation with regard to positions available on the conference, marketing, membership outreach, and financial committees. Dr. Charly Pignon, representing the European AEMV, spoke on the International Conference on Avian, Herpetological, and Exotic Mammal Medicine, held in April 2015 in Paris. The AEMV will hold its 2016 conference in Portland, Oregon, in conjunction with the AAV and ARAV.
Officials: Drs. Micah Kohles, Gretna, Nebraska, president; Byron de la Navarre, Chicago, president-elect; Laurel M. Harris, Wasatch, Utah, secretary; Melissa Kling, Macon, Georgia, treasurer; and Dan Johnson, Raleigh, North Carolina, immediate past president