Face time with the USDA secretary
AVMA leadership met with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on Dec. 6, 2017, in Washington, D.C., to discuss key issues involving the veterinary profession. A graduate of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Perdue is the first veterinarian to head the Department of Agriculture. Pictured from left to right are AVMA Immediate Past President Thomas Meyer, CEO Janet Donlin, Dr. Perdue (holding an AVMA paperweight), President Michael Topper, and President-elect John de Jong. Topics covered during the meeting included the value of two federal programs the AVMA helped establish to relieve veterinary shortages in rural America—the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program and the Veterinary Services Grant Program—and opportunities to improve animal disease detection and prevention through the Farm Bill. "We look forward to working with Secretary Perdue to continue advancing veterinary medicine during his tenure," Dr. Topper said.