American Veterinary Medical History Society – June 18, 2025
Event
The American Veterinary Medical History Society (AVMHS) held its annual meeting virtually on June 18.
Program
Dr. Margaret Brosnahan, immediate past president of the AVMHS, welcomed the virtual attendees. Dr. Arnold Goldman, president of the AVMHS, introduced Dr. Karen M. Becker, area veterinarian with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, who spoke on "Dr. James Steele: A Zoonotic Disease Legacy We Can Still Learn From."
Awards
J. Fred Smithcors Student Veterinary History Essay Contest, sponsored by the Donaldson Charitable Trust
First place—Allison Purtle (Auburn '28), for "Hello Dolly! The History and Ethics of Animal Cloning and the World's Most Famous Sheep"; second place—Yuxuan Xia (Cornell '28), for "From Barnyard to Biosecurity: The Veterinary Roots of Poultry Industrialization and Globalization"; third place (tie)—Nina Isabella Morales (Cornell ’26), for "Man's Best Friend: Understanding the Role of Veterinarians for War Dogs"; and Evelyn VanDenBerg (Missouri '28), for "Humps of Resistance: The Vital Role of Camels in Military and Wartime Endeavors"; fourth place—Rebecca Jaramillo (Cornell ’26), for "Minds Unleashed: The Evolution of Veterinary Behavioral Medicine."
Business
Reports were presented on ongoing AVMHS activities, including the publication of two issues of the bulletin Veterinary Heritage in July 2024 and in December 2024; the inclusion of 12 veterinary hospitals and clinics as part of the society's Registry of Heritage Veterinary Practices, which honors veterinary hospitals and clinics nationwide that are more than 50 years old; the addition of three stories to AVMHS Time-Bites, a series of historical ministories, links to which are regularly published in the Veterinary Information Network's email newsletters; and the 2025 J. Fred Smithcors Student Veterinary History Essay Contest.
Beginning in 2025, the board of directors approved the enabling of U.S. and Canadian citizens studying overseas at AVMA Council on Education–accredited veterinary colleges to submit essays for the contest. A book about the history of the stethoscope, "Stethoscope: The Making of a Medical Icon," was distributed in appreciation to all veterinary students who participated in the 2024 essay contest.
Four AVMHS Interim News & Comment newsletters were produced and sent to the membership in July and October 2024, and this past January and April. Recently, the society added new resource information pages to its website, including webinars and U.S. veterinary college class composites, as well as refinements and additions to existing pages.
Dr. Helen Wojcinski, chair of the Membership Committee, said the committee's primary focuses continue to be in the areas of recruitment, retention, and engagement of members. This past May, the committee hosted the webinar, "160 Years Later: Rinderpest’s Arrival into Great Britain," presented by Dr. Justin Kastner, a professor in the Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. It marked the 160th anniversary of a devastating outbreak of the disease in May 1865 in England.
The Museum Committee, chaired by Dr. Zbigniew Wojcinski, held three virtual meetings during the year. Committee members fielded several inquiries regarding the identification and donation of antique veterinary instruments and other memorabilia and have compiled a guide for handling such inquiries. This year, the society joined the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH). The new institutional membership has resulted in communication, cooperation, and learning opportunities in developing relationships with state and local museums and historical societies. Members remain interested in investigating existing historical markers and supporting the creation of new ones related to aspects of veterinary medicine in communities across the country.
Dr. Carol McConnell described her experience in representing the society at the 2025 Student AVMA symposium, held March 20-22 in Davis, California. The symposium provided her with the opportunity to meet students and provide information about the AVMHS and how involvement with the society would help their understanding of the history and development of the profession and also discuss submission of entries to the Smithcors essay contest. Dr. McConnell supported continuing outreach to students at the symposium in the future.
Officials
Dr. Arnold L. Goldman, Canton, Connecticut, president; Dr. Mary Beth Leininger, Lawrence, Kansas, program chair and president-elect; Susanne K. Whitaker, Ithaca, New York, secretary-treasurer; Dr. Margaret M. Brosnahan, Scottsdale, Arizona, immediate past president; and members at large—Diane A. Fagen, Rockford, Illinois; Dr. Shannon Greeley, Burbank, Illinois; Dr. Mark P. Helfat, Lumberton, New Jersey; and Dr. G. Sierra Schneider, Terrebonne, Oregon
A version of this story appears in the January 2026 print issue of JAVMA