Beaver elected Executive Board chair, Samuels vice chair

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Drs. Bonnie V. Beaver and Joan M. Samuels
Drs. Bonnie V. Beaver and Joan M. Samuels

Dr. Bonnie V. Beaver defeated Dr. Harmon A. Rogers in the election for 2001-2002 AVMA Executive Board chair during the board's July 24 meeting in Boston. Dr. Joan M. Samuels was unchallenged in her bid for vice chair.

Drs. Beaver and Samuels both joined the board in July 1997. Dr. Beaver represents District VIII and Dr. Samuels District X.

Her reasons for running, Dr. Beaver explained, are multiple, the primary one being that "the board chair has an opportunity to contribute to the AVMA and AVMA members in a way that an Executive Board member cannot." The chair must often provide leadership in the day-to-day decisions on various issues, she said, and work closely with the officers.

Dr. Beaver has no intention of starting any major projects, but will help complete projects already under way, such as the mentoring program and working to get legislation passed whereby the chief of the Army Veterinary Corps must, at a minimum, hold the rank of brigadier general.

Dr. Beaver is a professor in the department of small animal medicine and surgery at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine. She is a charter diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, for which she is a former president and current executive director.

A 1968 graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Beaver has been involved in organized veterinary medicine her entire career. She is an active member of the Texas VMA, and has served as its president and on the board of directors. With the AVMA, Dr. Beaver has served in various capacities, including in the areas of education and animal welfare. She chaired the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia during its most recent rewrite of the panel's report on guidelines for euthanasia.

Dr. Samuels practices small animal medicine in Buelton, Calif. She received her veterinary medical degree in 1977 from Michigan State University. Dr. Samuels is a former president of the California VMA and has served as California's alternate delegate in the AVMA House of Delegates.