Richard Sullivan, DVM

District 10 AVMA Board of Directors representative

Biographical sketch

Dr. Richard Sullivan grew up in southern Wisconsin on a family dairy farm participating in 4-H and FFA programs through his first years in college. He attended Wisconsin State College, Platteville, for two years and then graduated from Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine. After serving in the Peace Corps in Mato Grosso, Brazil, as an extension veterinarian, he settled in Torrance, California, while his wife Connie finished her DrPH in epidemiology at UCLA. After four years as an associate, he had an opportunity to buy into a veterinary practice, and he and Connie decided to stay in California and raise their family there. They have one daughter and two sons, including one son who is a veterinarian.

Dr. Sullivan became part owner of the community emergency clinic and was soon elected to its board of directors, which he served on for 30 years.

Dr. Sullivan has served on the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association’s board of trustees, including as president. He then become a member of the California Veterinary Medical Association’s board of governors, also serving as its president and on numerous committees, including as chair of its legislative and animal welfare committees.

Dr. Sullivan became active in the AVMA by serving on the Judicial Council and  the State Advocacy Committee, and was on one of the working groups tasked with developing material for the AVMA’s position on telemedicine and telehealth. He was California’s alternate delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates for eight years, then served another eight years as the delegate representing California.

He also has served as a member of the California Veterinary Medical Board and on its multidisciplinary advisory board.