AVMA search committee on the job
The AVMA Executive Vice President Search Committee that will recruit a successor to Dr. Bruce W. Little was set in motion by several actions taken in Honolulu in July.
Prior to the AVMA Annual Convention, Dr. Little announced his intention to retire Dec. 31, 2007, and plans were laid to form a broad-based search committee to procure a new leader (see JAVMA, July 15, 2006).
At the July 13 Executive Board meeting in Honolulu, Dr. Robert E. "Bud" Hertzog of Lee's Summit, Mo., announced the names of the AVMA members he, as 2005-2006 board chair, was appointing to the search committee. He selected from some 40 names submitted by board members.
By definition, the committee comprises a chair who is serving on the board during the 2006-2007 Association year, a House of Delegates representative, and three at-large members. Dr. Larry Kornegay, District VIII, of Houston was named to serve as chair.
Dr. Michael Whitehair, Abilene, Kan., will represent the HOD on the search committee, and the at-large representatives are Drs. Hertzog; James H. Brandt, Nokomis, Fla.; and Deborah T. Kochevar, North Grafton, Mass.
Dr. Kornegay said, "We come from diverse demographic, practice, and geographic backgrounds and will perform our task in a competent and timely manner. All of us have had direct experience with the executive vice president position. We have a good feel for what it entails and how important it is to find the best person for this position at the pinnacle of our profession."
The committee met once in Honolulu and formulated a funding recommendation. On July 19, the Executive Board approved the committee's request for funding of up to $60,000 for travel expenses for committee meetings and interviews, interview-related travel for candidates, miscellaneous expenses such as reference checks, and use of one or more search consultants. The committee is in the process of choosing the consultant(s), who will develop a profile of the attributes of an ideal candidate, engage key veterinary professional stakeholders in the selection process, and ensure an optimal interview process.
The position ad running in JAVMA (see page 775) and online at http://jobs.avma.org/search.cfm will continue through Oct. 15, which is the application deadline. From the resulting group of applicants, the committee will identify candidates to be interviewed. The committee will present a list of finalists to the Executive Board, which will select the new executive vice president. The committee expects the search to take a minimum of six months.
"As the JAVMA ad so capably describes, we are looking for a candidate with a demonstrable knowledge of, and strong involvement in, organized veterinary medicine," Dr. Kornegay said. "He or she should be an energetic, forward-thinking, creative individual with high ethical standards and an appropriate professional image.
"This person is expected to be a strong leader, be skilled in diplomatic facilitation of consensus between multiple perspectives, and have 10-plus years of executive-level management experience."
Some inquiries have been received from nonveterinarians, Dr. Kornegay noted, but candidates must have a DVM or VMD degree and must have been a voting member of the AVMA for the past 10 consecutive years.
"AVMA is blessed to have Dr. Bruce Little on board through December 31, 2007," Dr. Kornegay said. "We plan to take our time during the selection process and present the Executive Board with the best candidate or candidates available to lead the AVMA."
