New officers step forward to lead AVMA in 2022-23

Dr. Lori Teller took the helm this weekend as the AVMA's new president – or, as she put it, "First Mom" – and pledged to build, sustain, and protect the profession she loves fiercely.

“Moms are the best multitaskers on the planet,” Dr. Teller told the AVMA House of Delegates during its summer meeting at AVMA Convention 2022. “We get stuff done. We feel all the feelings, not only our own, but those of our nearest and dearest.  We feel the greatest joy when our child accomplishes a goal and the deepest pain when our child is hurt.”

“But do you know what happens when someone threatens our child?” she continued in a prepared copy of her speech. “We go all Mama Bear on them. Have you ever seen an angry mother—or an angry bear? Get out of the way! 

“As president of the AVMA and it’s First Mom, I will work hard to build bridges, increase our collaborative efforts, and continue to focus on improving veterinary medicine for all of us. But I promise you, when someone threatens our profession, have no fear, because Mama Bear is here.”

Dr. Teller called out workforce challenges, utilization of veterinary team members, telemedicine, and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) as some of the issues she expects to spend time addressing during her one-year term as AVMA president.

She also pledged to champion veterinary successes. Our profession, she said, has “much to celebrate, and I want to make sure we remember that too. So when I have the opportunity to meet with you and our colleagues, be sure to tell me about your concerns, AND be sure to share with me your joys and accomplishments because I also want to celebrate those.”

Meet your new president-elect

Also during the House of Delegates meeting, Dr. Rena Carlson, a former AVMA Board of Directors chair, was elected to serve as 2022-23 AVMA president-elect. The election means that she will succeed Dr. Teller as AVMA president in 2023.

A 1989 veterinary graduate of Washington State University, Dr. Carlson told the House of Delegates: “I always say I’m standing on the shoulders of giants that have come before me and have built such an amazing, strong Association. I’ll do my best to continue that legacy, and I’ll do my best to build and grow that foundation.”

Dr. Jennifer Quammen, who earned her DVM from The Ohio State University in 2011, was elected as the 2022-24 AVMA vice president. 

Read AVMA News for more about Drs. Carlson and Quammen, as well as excerpts from their acceptance speeches.

New leaders for Board of Directors

Heading up the Board of Directors as chairman for 2022-23 is Dr. Ronald E. Gill, a 1975 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Charles Lemme, a 1975 veterinary graduate of Iowa State University, is the new vice chair. Learn more about Drs. Gill and Lemme.

Welcome new volunteer leaders

Volunteer members were named to a variety of councils, committees, and liaison positions over the weekend. Congratulations and thanks are in order for these new and continuing members:

• Liaison to the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums: Dr. Jessica Koppien-Fox
• Liaison to the Aquaculture Drug Approval Coalition: Dr. Rodman Getchell
• Legislative Advisory Committee (alternate representative): Dr. Mary Luebbers
• Veterinary Leadership Conference Planning Committee (alternate representative): Dr. Kemba Marshall
• Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents members: Dr. Kim Cronin, Dr. Ignacio Correas
• Council on Public Health members: Dr. Karyn Bischoff, Dr. Mariah Zeigler, Dr. Wendy Beauvais
• Council on Research members: Dr. Jessica Bertout, Dr. Annette O'Connor
• Council on Veterinary Service members: Dr. Stewart Silverman, Dr. Stanley Robertson, Dr. Julie Sanders, Kenichiro Yagi