Lemme, Marsden elected to AVMA Board
Drs. Charles Lemme and Melanie Marsden will join the AVMA Board of Directors this July. The AVMA announced in early April that both prevailed in contested elections to succeed retiring district representatives.
Dr. Lemme, a small animal practitioner from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was elected by a plurality of AVMA members living in the District VII states of Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Dr. Marsden, owner of a small animal/exotic animal practice in Colorado Springs, Colorado, was elected by a majority of AVMA members living in the District IX states of Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Utah.
Dr. Lemme has been a small animal practitioner since graduating from the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1975. He has been active in organized veterinary medicine for several years, having held leadership positions in the Chicago VMA, the Midwest Small Animal Association, the American Animal Hospital Association, and the Iowa VMA.
For the past six years, Dr. Lemme has represented Iowa in the AVMA House of Delegates, first as alternate delegate, then as delegate. He will replace outgoing Board member Dr. John Howe, who is a candidate for 2018-19 AVMA president-elect.
"The AVMA is a great organization but faces many challenges. Staying relevant to our current and future members is going to be a major one. It is going to take leadership that is engaged, experienced, but also forward-thinking to meet those challenges. I think I can provide those skills," Dr. Lemme said.
Dr. Marsden is a 1994 graduate of the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. She represents Colorado in the AVMA HOD and was a member of the House Advisory Committee. She helped create the House's Veterinary Information Forum as well as the current program allowing direct email communication from delegates to AVMA members in their districts.
Additionally, Dr. Marsden was an observer for the Council on Education's accreditation review of and site visit to the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences and a full participant in a Colorado Academy of Veterinary Technology site visit. She is a past president of the Colorado VMA.
Dr. Marsden will replace retiring Board member Dr. Michael Whitehair, the current Board chair.
"I will be part of the solution, working with veterinarians in our six states and nationally to help build the bridges needed, to expand the networks of support, and further the progress that keeps our members and profession vibrant, relevant, and vital to a rapidly changing world," Dr. Marsden said.
The other District VII candidates were Drs. Frank Edgar Walker of North Dakota and David M. Ylander of Nebraska. Dr. Lawrence D. McGill, a Utah resident, was a candidate for the District IX seat.
Related JAVMA content:
Lemme, Walker, Ylander run for District VII rep on AVMA Board (March 15, 2018)
Marsden, McGill run for District IX seat on AVMA Board (March 15, 2018)