Affiliated groups meet in New Orleans

Thirty-nine allied or other veterinary-related organizations and all of the 30 alumni groups from universities and colleges convened this year at the 145th AVMA Annual Convention in New Orleans.

Over five days, the veterinary groups were involved in many activities, including lectures, certification examinations, business meetings, workshops, and social gatherings. Many of the organizations co-sponsored the AVMA's educational sessions.

The following pages highlight the activities and honors reported by some of the organizations.

Avian pathologists

Event: American Association of Avian Pathologists meeting, July 19-22, New Orleans
Awards: Special Service Award: Dr. Charles L. Hofacre, Athens, Ga., was recognized for his contributions to the field of avian medicine. A 1984 graduate of The Ohio State University and a diplomate of the American College of Poultry Veterinarians, Dr. Hofacre is a professor and director of clinical services in the Department of Population Health at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. He has served as secretary-treasurer of the AAAP since 2003. Bayer-Snoeyenbos New Investigator Award: Dr. Isabel Gimeno, Raleigh, N.C. A 1995 graduate of the University of Madrid, Dr. Gimeno is a faculty member of the Department of Population Health and Pathobiology at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Lasher-Bottorff Award: Dr. Conrad R. Pope, Newark, Del., won this award, given in recognition of an avian diagnostician/technical service veterinarian who has made important contributions to the poultry health program in North America over the past 10 years. A 1964 graduate of Tuskegee University, Dr. Pope is a professor of poultry pathology in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences at the University of Delaware. Phibro Animal Health Excellence in Research Award: Robin W. Morgan, PhD, Newark, Del., for sustained excellence in poultry disease and health for 20 years or more. Dr. Morgan received her PhD degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1982. She is dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Delaware. P.P. Levine Award: Dr. James S. Guy, Raleigh, N.C. A 1980 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Dr. Guy is a professor in the Department of Population Health and Pathobiology at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Reed Rumsey Student Award: Drs. John R. Dunn, East Lansing, Mich.; and Justin Brown, Athens, Ga. Dr. Dunn is a 2003 graduate of, and PhD student at, Michigan State University. He works for the Department of Agriculture's Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory. Dr. Brown is a 2004 graduate of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and just completed requirements to earn his PhD degree from the University of Georgia. Richard B. Rimler Memorial Paper Scholarship: Dr. Dharani K. Ajithdos, College Station, Texas. Dr. Ajithdos is a 2000 graduate of the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in Chennai, India. He is pursuing a PhD degree at Texas A&M University. L. Dwight Schwartz Travel Scholarship: Lauren Boswell, Raleigh, N.C. Boswell is a second-year veterinary student at North Carolina State University. Arnold S. Rosenwald Student Poster Award: Antonio Morales, Athens, Ga.; and Il-Hwan Kim, Seoul, Korea. Eskelund Preceptorship Awards: Suzanne M. Byrd (CAL '09), Anne L. Hurley (GA '10), Rachel Nichols (COL '09), William A. Parker (LSU '09), Ian Rubinoff (MIN '09), and Renée G. Schott (WIS '09). Lifetime membership was granted to Dr. Yan Ghazikhanian, Sonoma, Calif. A 1963 graduate of the University of Tehran, Dr. Ghazikhanian recently retired as vice president and director of veterinary services from Nicholas Turkey Breeding Farm.
Business: The AAAP business office will now be managed by Bob Bevans-Kerr and Janece Bevans-Kerr, serving as executive director and director of member services, respectively.
Officials: Drs. Bruce Stewart-Brown, Salisbury, Md., president; Jagdev M. Sharma, Saint Paul, Minn., president-elect; Charles L. Hofacre, Athens, Ga., secretary-treasurer; Fred J. Hoerr, Auburn, Ala., immediate past president; Patricia A. Dunn, University Park, Pa., Northeast director; Hector Cervantes, Watkinsville, Ga., Southern director; Kenton S. Kreager, Adel, Iowa, Central director; Mark C. Bland, Napa, Calif., Western director; and directors-at-large—Drs. Bruce R. Charlton, Coulterville, Calif., and Kate E. Barger, Springdale, Ark.
Contact: Janece Bevans-Kerr, Director of Member Services, American Association of Avian Pathologists, 12627 San Jose Blvd., Suite 202, Jacksonville, FL 32223; phone, (904) 425-5735; fax, (281) 664-4744; aaapaaap [dot] info (aaap[at]aaap[dot]info); Web site, www.aaap.info

Food hygiene veterinarians

Event: American Association of Food Hygiene Veterinarians meeting, July 21, New Orleans
Program: Rear Adm. Linda K. Tollefson led a discussion on antimicrobial resistance.
Awards: Veterinarian of the Year: Rear Adm. Tollefson, Gaithersburg, Md., for exceptional commitment and leadership in public service. A 1980 graduate of the University of Illinois and a past president of the AAFHV, Rear Adm. Tollefson is the assistant commissioner for science at the Food and Drug Administration and co-chair of the Interagency Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance. She also serves as the coordinator for Commissioned Corps Affairs at the FDA and directs the FDA offices of Women's Health and Orphan Products Development. She is one of the founders of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System for Enteric Bacteria. President's Special Award: Dr. Heather Case, Schaumburg, Ill., for extraordinary service to the AAFHV and its members over the past year. A 1998 graduate of the University of Minnesota, Dr. Case is an assistant director of the AVMA Scientific Activities Division. She was an AVMA Science and Technology Policy Fellow in the office of Rep. Robert E. Andrews of New Jersey from 2006-2007. In addition, Dr. Case held the position of assistant state veterinarian on the Minnesota State Horse Racing Commission in 2006.
Officials: Drs. Rex Holt, Atlanta, president; Thomas Kasari, Fort Collins, Colo., president-elect; Charles Pixley, Winterville, Ga., vice president; Heather Case, Schaumburg, Ill., recording secretary; Joseph Blair, Annandale, Va., executive vice president; and Candace Jacobs, Philadelphia, immediate past president
Contact: Dr. Joseph Blair, Executive vice president, American Association of Food Hygiene Veterinarians, 4910 Magdalene Court, Annandale, VA 22003; phone, (703) 323-0003; fax, (703) 323-9327; joeblair3verizon [dot] net (joeblair3[at]verizon[dot]net), Web site, http://avma.org/aafhv

Human-animal bond veterinarians

Event: American Association of Human-Animal Bond Veterinarians meeting, July 19, New Orleans
Officials: Drs. Victoria Voith, Pomona, Calif., president; Tamara S. Shearer, Columbus, Ohio, president-elect; Marcy Hammerle, St. Charles, Mo., secretary; Thomas Krall, St. Petersburg, Fla., treasurer; and Martha Littlefield, Baton Rouge, La., immediate past president
Contact: Dr. John S. Wright, Interim Executive Director, American Association of Human-Animal Bond Veterinarians, Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, C339 Veterinary Medical Center, 1352 Boyd Ave., Saint Paul, MN 55108; phone, (612) 626-1280; fax, (612) 624-0751; wrigh008umn [dot] edu (wrigh008@umn.edu); Web site, aah-abv.org

Retired veterinarians

Event: American Association of Retired Veterinarians meeting, July 20, New Orleans
Business: Discussions were held on a possible name change and on subjects to attract senior veterinarians and AVMA honor roll members to participate in AARV social and educational activities. In 2008, the AARV will donate $1,000 to support the AVMA Congressional Science Fellowship Program.
Officials: Drs. Bert Mitchell, Sarasota, Fla., president; Franklin Coy, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, vice president and Eastern representative; Roger W. Batchelder, Cortland, N.Y., treasurer; Arthur Freeman, Indianapolis, immediate past president; Russell Anthony, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Central representative; Roy H. Peterson, Tillamook, Ore., Western representative; and Everett Macomber, Centralia, Wash., executive secretary
Contact: Dr. Bert Mitchell, President, American Association of Retired Veterinarians, 5186 Cote du Rhone Way, Sarasota, FL 34238; phone, (941) 320-1997; fax, (941) 921-7187; bert [dot] mitchellearthlink [dot] net (bert[dot]mitchell[at]earthlink[dot]net)

Veterinary toxicologists

Event: American Board of Veterinary Toxicology meeting, July 21, New Orleans
Awards: Service Award: Dr. Patricia Talcott, Pullman, Wash., for her service as ABVT president and her longtime support of, and commitment to, the ABVT. A 1988 graduate of Washington State University, Dr. Talcott is an associate professor of veterinary toxicology at the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine's Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. She also serves as director of admissions at the college. Veterinary Toxicology Student Paper Competition, co-sponsored by Intervet Inc. and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Animal Poison Control Center: Dr. Meredeth B. Crandall (WSU '08), first place; Dr. Michael J. Light (WSU '08), second place; and Dr. Curt Rehling (WSU '08), third place. Veterinary Graduate Student Award: Dr. Asheesh Tiwary, Davis, Calif. Dr. Tiwary is a 2000 graduate of the Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology in Pantnagar, India.
New diplomates: Drs. Donna Mensching, Urbana, Ill.; and Sharon Welch, Urbana, Ill.
Business: ABVT president, Dr. Wayne Spoo, presented a strategic organization plan proposal and reviewed the recent changes and service upgrades to the ABVT Web site. Dr. Mike Murphy, ABVT representative to the AVMA American Board of Veterinary Specialties, reviewed the need to conduct a job task analysis.
Officials: Drs. Wayne Spoo, Pfafftown, N.C., president; Birgit Puschner, Davis, Calif., secretary-treasurer; and Patricia Talcott, Pullman, Wash., immediate past president
Contact: Dr. Birgit Puschner, Secretary-Treasurer, American Board of Veterinary Toxicology, California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, P.O. Box 1770, Davis, CA 95617; phone, (530) 752-1154; fax, (530) 752-3361; bpuschnerucdavis [dot] edu (bpuschner[at]ucdavis[dot]edu); Web site, www.abvt.org

Veterinary preventive medicine

Event: American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine meeting, July 20, New Orleans
Awards: Distinguished Diplomate Award: Brig. Gen. Michael B. Cates, Gunpowder, Md., for his longstanding, important, and lasting contributions to veterinary public health, preventive medicine, and the ACVPM. A 1980 graduate of Texas A&M University, Brig. Gen. Cates is chief of the Army Veterinary Corps and commander of the United States Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine. In that position, he coordinates food safety, zoonotic disease control, and veterinary public health in more than 150 locations around the world. Brig. Gen. Cates helped develop the first Special Medical Augmentation Response Teams—Veterinary, which offers support to civil authorities during natural and manmade disasters. Helwig-Jennings Award: Dr. John Sanders, Kearneysville, W.Va., for his service on the ACVPM Internal Affairs Committee and as liaison to the ACVPM. A 1985 graduate of the University of Tennessee and a past president of the ACVPM, Dr. Sanders is branch chief of food defense/preparedness coordination at the Department of Homeland Security. Earlier in his career, Dr. Sanders worked for the Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Animal and Plant Health inspection services, and the Food and Drug Administration. Frank A. Todd President's Award: Dr. Russell W. Currier, Des Moines, Iowa, for extraordinary efforts in support of the Prevention for One Health One Medicine Forum at the AVMA Annual Convention in New Orleans, and continuing service to the administration of the ACVPM. A 1967 graduate of the University of Minnesota and executive vice president of the ACVPM, Dr. Currier retired as Iowa's state public health veterinarian in 2004. Prior to joining the Iowa Department of Public Health in 1975, he practiced briefly in Hartford, Wis., and was appointed to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Epidemic Intelligence Service. Certificates of appreciation for service on committees: Drs. John Sanders, Kearneysville, W.Va.; M.D. Salman, Fort Collins, Colo.; Jimmy Davis, Harker Heights, Texas; Radford Davis, Ames, Iowa; Francois Elvinger, Blacksburg, Va.; and Paul Garbe, Atlanta.
New Diplomates: Thirty-seven new diplomates were welcomed into the college following successful completion of the certifying examination. The new diplomates are Drs. Stacey A. Anderson, Cheyenne, Wyo.; Dwayne C. Bechtol, Philadelphia, Tenn.; Kristin S. Bloink, Larchmont, Iowa; Annette K. Bredthauer, Lincoln, Neb.; Robin L. Burke, Fort Detrick, Md.; Sherry L. Burrer, Merrimack, N.H.; Heather Case, Schaumburg, Ill.; Mark G. Chappell, Fort Detrick, Md.; Nicole A. Chevalier, Kaiserslautern, Germany; David L. Day, Maysville, Ky.; Jill M. Duel, Urbana, Ohio; Deborah L. Dufficy, Washington, D.C.; Brigid L. Elchos, Hattiesburg, Miss.; G. Gale Galland, Atlanta; Mark E. Gants, Kansas City, Mo.; Diane K. Gross, Atlanta; Luke C. Heider, Columbus, Ohio; Paul J. Hollier, Fort Bragg, N.C.; Lisa M. Hull, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.; Thomas A. Kohler, APO, AP; Julie M. Krygier, Frederick, Md.; Shannon H. Lacy, Washington, D.C.; Adam J. Langer, Atlanta; Laura K. Lester, Luke AFB, Ariz.; Matthew A. Levine, San Diego; Susan L. McClanahan, Saint Paul, Minn.; Wendy E.H. Mey, Lackland AFB, Texas; Stephanie L. Mont, Tripler AMC, Hawaii; Julio C. Montero, Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Päivi J. Rajala-Schultz, Columbus, Ohio; Emi K. Saito, Fort Collins, Colo.; Timothy L. Settle, Washington, D.C.; Lynn M. Shinaberry, Spangdahlern, AB, Germany; Max L. Teehee, Fort Detrick, Md.; Chad A. Weddell, Philadelphia; Matthew D. Wegner, Fort Wainwright, Ark.; and Deborah L. Whitmer, Floresville, Texas.
Business: Dr. Margaret N. Carter, ACVPM president, reported on the job analysis study conducted by the National Board of Medical Examiners over the past year. The study included detailed surveys of ACVPM membership.
Officials: Drs. Margaret N. Carter, Alexandria, Va., president; Roger A. Krogwold, Dublin, Ohio, president-elect; Candace A. Jacobs, San Antonio, secretary-treasurer; Russell W. Currier, Des Moines, Iowa, executive vice president; John R. Herbold, San Antonio, immediate past president; Beth E. Karp, Rockville, Md., president of the Specialty of Epidemiology; and councilors—Drs. M.D. Salman, Fort Collins, Colo.; J. Kevin Grayson, Davis, Calif.; and Liz A. Wagstrom, Clive, Iowa
Contact: Dr. Russell W. Currier, Executive Vice President, American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, P.O. Box 22219, Clive, IA 50325; phone, (515) 331-4439; fax, (515) 331-4947; evpacvpm [dot] org (evp[at]acvpm[dot]org); Web site, www.acvpm.org

Laboratory animal practitioners

Event: American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners meeting, July 19-22, New Orleans
Awards: ASLAP Excellence in Research Award: Dr. Craig L. Franklin, Columbia, Mo., for important scientific contributions to the field of laboratory animal medicine. A 1987 graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia and a diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Dr. Franklin is an associate professor in the Research Animal Diagnostic Laboratory at MU. His research focuses on the pathogenesis of chronic intestinal mucosal inflammation and the characterization of mutant rodent models for human disease.
Business: The ASLAP installed two new directors on the board of directors for three-year terms. They are Drs. Lisa Halliday, Chicago, and Wendy Underwood, Indianapolis.
Officials: Drs. Gerald D. Smith, Indianapolis, president; Mark M. Klinger, Orangeburg, N.Y., president-elect; Frederick M. Rock, New Brunswick, N.J., secretary-treasurer; Karl J. Field, Princeton, N.J., immediate past president; and AVMA delegate and alternate delegate—Drs. Susan S. Cook, Williamston, Mich., and Lynn S. Keller, Wallingford, Conn.
Contact: Darlene Brown, Coordinator, American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners, P.O. Box 125, Adamstown, MD 21710; phone, (301) 874-4826; fax, (301) 874-6195; aslap-infoaslap [dot] org (aslap-info[at]aslap[dot]org); Web site, www.aslap.org

Veterinary medical association executives

Event: American Society of Veterinary Medical Association Executives meeting, July 19, New Orleans
Awards: Executive of the Year: Karlene Belyea, Okemos, Mich., for exemplifying the best in association management and continually bringing credit to the profession and the association community. Belyea is the executive director of the Michigan VMA. She has reshaped the MVMA and developed the association's new image through a progressive branding campaign that has revitalized its communications and promotional materials and Web site. Belyea has created a benefits and services package that saves each member veterinarian $1,000 to $6,000 annually and triples the number of tangible benefits. Under her directorship, the MVMA has seen a 27 percent increase in membership and a meaningful improvement in finances. Best in the Business Innovation Award: Stacee Daniel, Meridian, Idaho, in recognition of a unique, innovative, or creative activity (in public outreach, community education, public relations, member services, or administration) that had a successful outcome. Daniel is the executive director of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. Under her directorship, the ACVO mobilized some 150 veterinary ophthalmologists and 1,000 primary care veterinarians who provided free eye examinations and preventive health reports to more than 1,500 service dogs in the United States and Canada.
Officials: Dr. Charles Franz, Montgomery, Ala., president; Charlene Wandzilak, Hershey, Pa., president-elect; Dr. Tom Johnson, Ankeny, Iowa, secretary; Ralph Johnson, Denver, treasurer; and Michelle Wagner, Reno, Nev., immediate past president
Contact: Dr. Charles Franz, President, American Society of Veterinary Medical Association Executives, P.O. Box 3065, Montgomery, AL 36109; phone, (334) 395-4666; fax, (344) 270-3399; charlesfranzmgt [dot] com (charles[at]franzmgt[dot]com), Web site, www.vmaexecs.org

Veterinary history society

Event: American Veterinary Medical History Society meeting, July 21, New Orleans
Program: Several presentations focused on the history of veterinary medicine in Louisiana, including "Folk veterinary medicine in Louisiana" by Dr. Martha Littlefield; "James Law: America's first veterinary epidemiologist and the equine influenza epidemic of 1872" by retired Brig. Gen. Thomas J. Murnane; "My father's practice in Lafayette, Louisiana" by Dr. Robert Leonpacher; "Katrina—Its effect on the veterinary profession: Mississippi" by Dr. Brigid L. Elchos; and "Katrina—Its effect on the veterinary profession: Louisiana" by Dr. Robert C. Gros. Dr. Littlefield also presented "Louisiana history with a veterinary perspective" on behalf of Dr. Everett D. Besch.
Awards: J. Fred Smithcors Student Veterinary History Essay Contest, sponsored by Merck & Company: First place ($750)— Hattie Kugler, Washington State University, for "Scratches, grease heel, and grapes: Or chronic pastern dermatitis then and now"; second place ($500)—Kevin J. Koernig, Tufts University, for "The Bureau of Animal Industry and veterinary professionalization at the turn of the 20th century"; and Michael J. Walsh, Kansas State University, for "The emergence of animal rights in veterinary medicine."
Officials: Dr. J. Alford Moore, Humble, Texas, president; Dr. Howard H. Erickson, Manhattan, Kan., president-elect; Susanne Whitaker, Ithaca, N.Y., secretary-treasurer; and Dr. Zbigniew Wojcinski, Ann Arbor, Mich., immediate past president
Contact: Susanne Whitaker, Secretary-Treasurer, American Veterinary Medical History Society, 23 Wedgewood Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850; phone, (607) 253-3499; fax, (607) 253-3080; skw2cornell [dot] edu (skw2[at]cornell[dot]edu); Web site, cvm.missouri.edu/avmhs

Veterinary medical law association

Event: American Veterinary Medical Law Association meeting, July 19, New Orleans
Business: The AVMLA voted to hold its 2009 annual meeting and continuing education program in conjunction with the Central Veterinary Conference West in San Diego, and its 2010 meeting with the CVC Central in Kansas City, Mo.
Officials: Karen Wernette, DVM, Lake Zurich, Ill., president; Elizabeth Settles, DVM, JD, Blaine, Wash., president-elect; John W. Thomas, JD, Washington, D.C., secretary-treasurer; and Ed Liebler, DVM, JD, Lansing, Mich., immediate past president
Contact: Julia Fullerton, JD, Executive Director, American Veterinary Medical Law Association, 5 Golfview Place, DeKalb, IL 60115; phone, (312) 233-2760; fax, (312) 268-6155; avmlainquirygmail [dot] com (avmlainquiry[at]gmail[dot]com); Web site, www.avmla.org

Animal behaviorists

Event: American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior meeting, July 18, New Orleans
Program: The meeting was held in collaboration with the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.
Awards: AVSAB Student Research Award: First place (sponsored by Premier Pet Products): Timothy Helms (CAL '10), for "Evaluation of the term 'guardian' on owner attachment to dogs"; Second place (sponsored by the AVSAB): Carrie Ellis (UP '09), for "Mitigation of sow aggression during group formation for pen gestation." ACVB R.K. Anderson Resident's Award, sponsored by Premier Pet Products: Dr. Julia Albright, Ithaca, N.Y., for "Gene mapping owner-directed aggression in English Springer Spaniels." SVBT Member Award, sponsored by Premier Pet Products: Ginny Price, St. Petersburg, Fla., for "Puppy class instructors, subject matter, and business factors: A preliminary survey."
Officials: Drs. Kathy Meyer, Gaithersburg, Md., president; Karen Sueda, Los Angeles, president-elect; Kari Krause, Canton, Mich., secretary-treasurer; John J. Ciribassi, Carol Stream, Ill., immediate past president; Valli Parthasarathy, Athens, Ga., recording secretary; and members-at-large—Drs. Laurie Bergman, Norristown, Penn., and Sophia Yin, Davis, Calif.
Contact: Dr. John J. Ciribassi, Immediate past president, American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, 1042 Mountain Glen Way, Carol Stream, IL 60188; phone, (630) 231-1544; fax, (630) 231-1544; drjdvmgmail [dot] com (drjdvm[at]gmail[dot]com); Web site, avsabonline.org

Women veterinarians

Event: Association for Women Veterinarians Foundation meeting, July 19, New Orleans
Awards: Outstanding Woman Veterinarian of the Year: Dr. Melinda J. Wilkerson, Manhattan, Kan. A 1989 graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia and a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, Dr. Wilkerson is director of the Clinical Immunology/Flow Cytometry Laboratory at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she also serves as an associate professor of immunology and interim dean of academic programs. Her research interests center on host-parasite interaction involving infectious and noninfectious agents, and developing assays using flow cytometry, including evaluating cellular immunity in several species. Distinguished Service Award: Judith Collier-Reid, Dallas, for her efforts to promote the professionalism of women in veterinary medicine. Collier-Reed is executive director of the Southwest Veterinary Symposium. Through her leadership, the SWVS established a Task Force on Women in Veterinary Medicine and continuing education to benefit women in the veterinary profession.
Business: The AWVF will continue its awards and scholarship program. Gender/generational issues programming during the AVMA Annual Convention in 2009 will focus on health issues, career opportunities, and work-life balance.
Officials: Drs. Stacy Pritt, Denver, Pa., president; Elizabeth Boynton, Claremont, Calif., treasurer; and Debra Nickelson, Phoenix, immediate past president
Contact: Dr. Stacy Pritt, President, Association for Women Veterinarians, 23 Rosemont Drive, Denver, PA 17517; phone, (717) 484-2343; fax, (717) 336-5344; stacy [dot] prittcovance [dot] com (stacy[dot]pritt[at]covance[dot]com); Web site, vet.ksu.edu/AWV/index.htm

Lesbian and gay association

Event: Lesbian and Gay VMA meeting, July 20, New Orleans
Awards: Leadership Award: Drs. Michael D. McElvaine, Washington, D.C.; Tim Withers, Arlington, Va.; and Vic Spain, Philadelphia, were the first recipients of this award, honoring veterinarians who have shown leadership and service skills in veterinary medicine and in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities. A 1976 graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and founding president of the LGVMA, Dr. McElvaine works for the Department of Agriculture. He serves as president of the Federal Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Employees of the Federal Government. Dr. Withers, a 2001 graduate of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and a past president of the LGVMA, works for Cherrysdale Veterinary Clinic. He helped the LGVMA move to an online system for communication and membership renewal. Dr. Spain, a 1993 graduate of the University of California-Davis and past secretary of the LGVMA, works for Merck & Company. He is a past president of the board for Pets are Wonderful Support in San Francisco and has served on the San Francisco Animal Welfare Commission. Student scholarships were awarded to Diana Stolba (CAL '10) and Heather Trout (TUF '09). President of the Student LGVMA at the University of California-Davis, Stolba volunteers with Rural Area Veterinary Services, a program of The Humane Society of the United States and The Fund for Animals, providing assistance with vaccination and spay/neuter programs at Native American reservations. Trout helped with the successful efforts in 2007 to change the AVMA Group Health and Life Insurance Trust policy on domestic partner coverage. She serves on a Tufts committee to shape curriculum, mentors first-year students, and serves as an admission tour guide at the university.

Business The LGVMA's first educational DVD lecture, "Sexual diversity in the animal kingdom," is now available. The lecture was delivered at the 2007 LGVMA meeting in Washington, D.C., by Professor Joan Roughgarden from Stanford University. Information on the DVD can be obtained from the LGVMA Web site.
Officials: Dr. Jennifer Thomas, Ferndale, Mich., president; Dr. Chip Wells, Washington, D.C., vice president; Dr. Karen Hull, Gosport, Ind., secretary; Dr. Michael Miller, Alameda, Calif., treasurer; Dr. Michael D. McElvaine, Washington, D.C., immediate past president; Dr. Ken Gorczyca, San Francisco, executive secretary; Nick Depompa, Auburn, Ala., student board member; and members-at-large—Lyn Garson, Enfield, Conn.; Dr. Ted Eudy, Santa Fe, N.M.; and Dr. Scott Weber, Davis, Calif.
Contact: Dr. Ken Gorczyca, Executive Secretary, Lesbian and Gay VMA, 584 Castro St. #492, San Francisco, CA 94114; phone, (415) 860-6157; lgvmalgvma [dot] org (lgvma[at]lgvma[dot]org); Web site, lgvma.org