Member Appreciation Week

Thank you for participating in Member Appreciation Week

Members are the heart and soul of the AVMA. Every member plays an integral role—in the life of the Association itself, as much as in the veterinary profession at large. Without your passion and commitment, none of the AVMA’s work would be possible.

Member Appreciation Week is our annual celebration of the entire AVMA community. It’s our chance to say thanks.

Thank you for your membership and support.
Thank you for the hard work you do every day to improve the lives of patients, people, and society.

No matter your level of day-to-day involvement with the AVMA—from using member resources to volunteering on a committee—YOU are an essential part of this community.

The week is all about YOU

Whether you're caring for animals, advancing science, shaping future veterinarians, or making an impact in other vital ways—your AVMA family appreciates everything you do. Join in celebrating all AVMA members—the people who make it all possible.

Show your pride—shop AVMA's pop-up store

AVMA’s Member Appreciation Week pop-up store is back for a second year in a row. Shop limited-edition AVMA items—including apparel, totes, gifts, and more. Get FREE SHIPPING on all orders, compliments of AVMA. Hurry in—the store is only open until June 27.

Shop now

Join the celebration on social media

Follow along on AVMA's Facebook, X, Bluesky, and Instagram feeds to join the celebration. We’ll be sharing contest announcements, updates, messages of gratitude, and other fun activities all week long.

Notes of gratitude

Member Appreciation Week isn’t just AVMA’s way of saying thanks to members. It’s also an opportunity for you—the AVMA member community—to spread gratitude to your peers and colleagues. This year, we asked you to share thank-you messages to your fellow AVMA members—the people who have made a difference in your life—and the notes came pouring in!

Read messages from your peers

Some notes have been edited for length and clarity.

"Jessica, thanks for being an amazing mentor and friend. This profession can be extremely hard and challenging at times and I am lucky to work with someone as kind and caring as you. You have taught me not only how to be a great veterinarian but an even better person. Thanks for being you!"

- Dr. Alex

"Dad and Mom - just wanted to say congratulations and thank you for having such an illustrious career in rural America, raising a great family, and being strong mentors to me as I followed in your footsteps. Your recent retirement is exceptionally deserved for all the hard work, late hours, phone calls, consoling clients, compassionate patient care, excellent boss skills, and windshield time put in over the years. LOVE YOU and THANK YOU!"

- Dr. Lynn

"Dr. Lee was the first veterinarian I worked with just out of veterinary school. She was wonderful and always giving of her time to discuss cases, teach me procedures, train me during surgery, or dentistry, or whatever we were working on. She allowed me to pursue my interest in working with non-dog/cat species and was always supportive and kind. I find that I am not a natural mentor myself, but by trying to channel her, I work to be supportive to others and help give back when asked. She was a great role model and got me off to a great start in the profession."

- Dr. Tina

"Martha, thank you for being a leader and scholar at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine and in our wonderful profession. You seem to be always happy and kind in your dealings with people in our professional world. Everyone appreciates a person with whom they can have a fun or serious discussion without fearing a confrontation. Your award from AVMA President Jose Arce was well merited!"

- Dr. Marilyn

"Dr. Anita, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for all that you do. Your unwavering support, encouragement, and brilliant ideas make such a difference in our work. Your dedication, hard work, and deep compassion for both animals and people are inspiring. Your kindness and insight create a positive and enriching environment every day, and I’m incredibly lucky to work alongside you!

- Dr. Amy

"I am grateful to have a friend and colleague like Angel. She took me under her wing right out of vet school. She is always available to lend a hand or discuss difficult cases. She has also shown kindness and empathy during difficult times, such as my newborn son's NICU hospitalization. I admire her ability to manage a clinic and care for her family."

- Dr. Emily

"I want to thank Dr. Jeff for being my friend and mentor for 25 years. He was very kind and patient with me as a young and overly eager DVM, guiding me in my vet med journey, and teaching me patience and communication skills. He trusted me to run his practice and maintain the legacy of care when he retired. He lent me perspective on being not only a good DVM, but also a good parent, spouse, and flat out decent human being. My journey is better because of his impact, and I do my best to continue paying it forward in the profession."

- Dr. Melanie

"Dr. Mary, thank you for being there for us during our years in Auburn! Those home-cooked meals and time spent in the yard with the dogs were always valuable. Having a place to escape from academia and school life brought a much-needed balance and was always a breath of fresh air."

- Dr. Connie

"Dr. Dan, thank you for all your help and guidance throughout vet school. I truly don't know where I would be without your encouragement, advice, and recommendations. What did I do to deserve such a great mentor?! Thank you for seeing my potential and helping me harness it. Your direction and insight have made me a better professional. I don’t think I can ever thank you enough."

- Dr. Reagan

"Dr. Elise, thank you for all you’ve done to help our team survive and grow since COVID, and through the myriad changes in our hospital. You’ve stepped up as a true team leader. I’ve watched you throughout this time and am humbled by all that you do—and all that you give of yourself. Thank you."

- Dr. Polly

"Dr. David is one of the most talented, intelligent, generous, and knowledgeable internists I’ve had the pleasure to work with and learn from. He has supervised more than 15 veterinarians in our practice and has taught many skills to both new grads and seasoned veterinarians. His dedication to patient care and client service is outstanding."

- Dr. Michael

"Dr. Megan is my go-to first call whenever I have a difficult case. She’s always willing to help in any way she can. She’s a rockstar vet, and she deserves to hear it."

- Dr. MaRyka

"Dear Dr. John, I want to say a heartfelt thank you for everything you do. Your dedication as an associate DVM to our patients and their families truly shines through in every interaction. You approach each case with such care and expertise, whether it’s calming a nervous pet parent or going the extra mile to ensure an animal’s comfort. Your teamwork and passion for veterinary medicine make our practice stronger and Sedona an even better place for pets. I’m so grateful to have you on our team!"

- Dr. Reed

"Dr. Kayla, thank you for being a leader at our clinic and several others. You lead by example and always take the time to listen to the concerns of staff and colleagues. You are detail oriented, attentive to each case, and provide clear expectations for patient care. I appreciate having you as a colleague and a leader."

- Dr. Holly

"Dr. Tracy, you were—and still are—the greatest teacher of all time. You cared about equine welfare long before it was fashionable and accepted. I can’t thank you enough for your patience and for going out of your way—literally driving two hours to help me—because I had never performed a castration in veterinary school. I miss seeing you and Julie, but I’ll always be thankful to you both for giving me the opportunity to help horses. For that, I am forever grateful."

- Dr. Margie

"Dr. William, thank you for all the support you have provided me during this difficult time in my life. You have shown me that I have people in my life who really care and who I can count on. You are a true friend, and I sincerely value your friendship."

- Dr. Frank

"Dr. Emily, thank you for being so kind, caring, and compassionate. Your dedication to your patients, clients, and the human-animal bond does not go unnoticed. I'm excited to see where your career takes you—I know your hard work and dedication will carry you far."

- Dr. Lola

See what you've accomplished

As an AVMA member, your membership and support directly impact animals, pet owners, veterinarians, and students all across the country. Here's a look at what you and your AVMA community have accomplished in just a single year.