Rawson elected to AVMA Executive Board

Dr. Chester L. "Chet" Rawson of Markesan, Wis., has been elected to represent AVMA members living in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin on the AVMA Executive Board.

The Wisconsin VMA nominated Dr. Rawson to be the board's District VI representative, a position currently held by Dr. John R. Scamahorn of Greencastle, Ind., whose six-year term expires this July. As the sole nominee for the board seat, Dr. Rawson was declared to be elected in February.

Dr. Rawson plans on using his leadership skills and professional experience to represent his colleagues in District VI. "I am very interested in continuing to support the veterinary profession through the AVMA, especially in the areas of animal welfare, animal husbandry, and livestock animal agriculture," he said.

Additionally, Dr. Rawson says he supports improving the relevance and credibility of veterinary medicine to producers and consumers alike.

The 1968 graduate of the University of Illinois-Urbana College of Veterinary Medicine spent more than four decades in large animal medicine and has been a diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists since 1980.

In 2002 Dr. Rawson joined Alta Genetics, a company focused on reproduction and genetic improvement of dairy cows, where he works in technical services and training.

Dr. Rawson has an extensive history with the AVMA and Society for Theriogenology, for which he's served on the executive board and as president. He has represented the society on the AVMA Animal Agriculture Liaison Committee since 1996 and is also the organization's alternate delegate in the AVMA House of Delegates.

In 1990 the Wisconsin VMA elected Dr. Rawson president. His other professional affiliations include the American Association of Bovine Practitioners and the American Dairy Science Association.