AVMA staff leaders

The AVMA’s professional staff works in conjunction with the Board of Directors, House of Delegates, and other member volunteers to protect, promote, and advance the veterinary profession. Reporting to the Office of the Executive Vice President, staff are organized into divisions responsible for specific topical areas—from advocacy and animal welfare, to membership services, convention planning, animal and public health, accreditation, research, economics, and support services. AVMA’s professional staff take pride in supporting AVMA members, and animal and human health.

Janet D. Donlin, DVM, CAE

Executive vice president and chief executive officer

As AVMA CEO, Dr. Donlin works closely with AVMA’s volunteer leaders, staff and veterinary colleagues to advance the AVMA's mission "to lead the profession by advocating for our members and advancing the science and practice of veterinary medicine to improve animal and human health."

Dr. Donlin started working for the AVMA in 1991 as an assistant director in what was then the AVMA Scientific Activities Division. Over the course of the next 17 years, she served as an interim division director, associate executive vice president and assistant executive vice president. She became chief veterinary officer of the Global Veterinary Business Channel of Hill's Pet Nutrition before returning to the AVMA family as chief executive officer of the AVMA Professional Liability Insurance Trust (AVMA PLIT). She became AVMA’s CEO in 2016.

David E. Granstrom, DVM, PhD, DACVM (parasitology)

Assistant executive vice president

Dr. Granstrom’s responsibilities include governance and administration as well as oversight of several divisions. He sits on the AVMA Board of Directors as an invited participant and provides professional staff support to the Board Governance Committee. He also serves as liaison-trustee on the boards of trustees for the AVMA trusts and as a liaison to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation. Previously, Dr. Granstrom led the AVMA Education and Research Division and spent several years as associate director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Natural Resources Institute. Dr. Granstrom spent time as a tenured associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Science at the University of Kentucky, and owned and operated a solo mixed practice in Laurie, Missouri. Dr. Granstrom also served a 21-year career as a public health officer in the Kansas and Kentucky Air National Guard, retiring as lieutenant colonel in 2005.

Gail C. Golab, DVM, PhD, MANZCVS, DACAW

Associate executive vice president / Chief veterinary officer

Dr. Golab's roles include oversight of the Association's Animal and Public Health, Animal Welfare, and Global Outreach divisions. She previously served as chief advocacy and public policy officer, director of the Animal Welfare Division, and in a variety of other roles. Before joining the AVMA, Dr. Golab spent several years in private companion animal practice and also served as biochemical/biomedical research consultant at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois. She holds a PhD from Texas A&M University and DVM from the University of Illinois; is certified as a member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (Animal Welfare); is a charter diplomate of the American College of Animal Welfare; and is a distinguished fellow in the National Academies of Practice.

Dr. Kent McClure, DVM, JD

Associate executive vice president / Chief advocacy officer

Dr. McClure leads all aspects of the AVMA's advocacy work, both in Washington and at the state level. He has over 20 years of experience advocating on policy issues important to veterinary medicine and veterinary practice, and has worked as both an attorney and a veterinarian. Dr. McClure previously served as general counsel for the Animal Health Institute, where he worked on the development of policy that impacts the veterinary profession, animal health product research and commerce. He has served as a member of the AVMA Judicial Council, a trustee for AVMA-PLIT, a liaison to the AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents, and a member of the board of directors of the National Association for Biomedical Research. He earned his DVM at Texas A&M and his law degree at the University of Texas.