Board chair addresses Colorado ballot initiative, highlights emerging technology task force

As a busy 2024 draws to a close, Dr. Robert Knapp, chair of the AVMA Board of Directors, spoke with AVMA News about the Association’s new Task Force on Emerging Technologies, Colorado’s Proposition 129, and the AVMA’s plans for strengthening the veterinary workforce.

Dr. Knapp also highlighted AVMA’s hosting of the World Veterinary Congress during AVMA Convention 2025 in Washington, D.C., findings from a recent labor market study by Brakke Consulting, and his experience at the inaugural Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Wellbeing (DEIW) Summit.

The responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Q. What are some key AVMA initiatives members should know about?

A. The answer to this question could fill an entire edition of JAVMA. To stay current on what is happening at the AVMA and in the profession, I encourage members to update their member profile and sign up for email alerts on topics of interest. Specifically, there are a couple of initiatives and events to mention.

The AVMA recently established the Task Force on Emerging Technologies and Innovation. The task force’s objectives include:

• Environmental scanning to identify and build awareness around emerging technologies that may enhance the delivery of veterinary services
• Developing initial policy that encourages the responsible development and use of these technologies for veterinary practice
• Exploring the possibility of a standing committee to review and consider these issues and related needs over the longer term

Also, AVMA Convention 2025, which will be held July 18-25, 2025, in Washington, D.C., will host the World Veterinary Congress in conjunction with the World Veterinary Association. This expanded event will be a great showcase for the AVMA and highlight our partnership with the profession globally.

Q. On election day, Colorado voters passed Proposition 129, creating a midlevel practitioner position in that state. The AVMA and other organizations opposed the ballot initiative, so where does the Association go from here?

A. While we are understandably disappointed by the outcome of the election, it is important to note that the vote was close: 52.7% in favor of Proposition 129 and 47.3% against. Significantly, 95% of veterinarians in Colorado expressed their opposition to the development of a midlevel practitioner, as did more than 200 national, state, local, and allied veterinary associations; veterinary technician associations; veterinary practices; individual veterinarians and veterinary technicians; the American Humane Association; the American Kennel Club; and the Colorado Federation of Dog Clubs and Owners.

Looking ahead, there are opportunities to influence next steps in Colorado. These include engaging in the upcoming Colorado legislative session and participating in the Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine’s rulemaking process to shape how VPAs will practice. The Colorado VMA and the AVMA will be actively involved in these efforts and will continue to advocate on behalf of our profession.

We’re also aware there will be efforts to move similar proposals in other states. The AVMA and our partners will continue to work with stakeholders across the nation to share our concerns about these proposals; support appropriate recognition and utilization of the skill sets of our comprehensively trained and qualified veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and veterinary technician specialists; and do everything we can to ensure that our clients and the animals we serve continue to receive quality veterinary care; and that the nation's food supply and public health are protected.

Q. The AVMA’s in the process of updating its Model Veterinary Practice Act. Why is it important to update these principles, and how might this latest version differ from the previous iteration?

A. The Model Veterinary Practice Act (MVPA) is intended to serve as a set of guiding principles for those who will be preparing or revising a state veterinary practice act. The practice of veterinary medicine is constantly evolving and that requires our model to be periodically reviewed and updated to reflect the needs of the profession.

We just posted the proposed draft for comments and that comment period will close on February 14. Some notable updates include:

• Reordered and formatted sections
• Updated phrasing for clarity
• Revised and new definitions
• Updates to Board of Veterinary Medicine (BVM) nominations and appointments
• Additions to powers of the BMV to support creating rules for the practice of veterinary technology, including registering veterinary technician specialists
• Updates to sections on temporary permits
• Revised active practice requirements for licensing by endorsement
• Additional exemptions
• A new section on telehealth

Q. What are the AVMA’s top priorities over the next three to five years?

A. The short answer is that our members’ needs are the No. 1 concern every day, every month, and every year. To that end, the AVMA’s priorities over the next few years include:

• Strengthening the veterinary workforce. We’ll be looking at three key areas here. First, better recruitment and retention of veterinarians in rural and production animal practice; academia and research; specialty medicine, including emergency and critical care; and public practice will be key. Second, more effectively leveraging and retaining veterinary technicians, veterinary technologists, and veterinary technician specialists. Third, the appropriate use of innovative modalities for the delivery of veterinary services.
• Member engagement, including veterinary students. Our goal is to provide quality resources for our members at every stage of their career. These include educational resources, business management and decision-making tools, best-in-class insurance products, and opportunities to serve the profession and have their voices heard by serving on an AVMA entity.
• Advocacy. No one else is going to look out for the needs of the veterinary team and protect the patients we serve better than us. Whether it is an encroachment on the definition of veterinary practice or protecting animals and public health by advocating for responsible action in response to a disease outbreak, the AVMA will remain the trusted representative for our profession.
• Encouraging practices to better leverage veterinary technicians, veterinary technologists, and veterinary technician specialists. This will enhance patient care, reduce barriers to care, protect animal health and safety, and improve veterinary workplaces by supporting staff retention and preventing attrition. The AVMA advocates for supporting and expanding veterinary technology programs, ensuring title protection and appropriate credentialing, further standardizing veterinary technician specialist training, and championing better pay and benefits.

Q. You attended AVMA’s recent Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Wellbeing Summit in Atlanta. What was your impression of the event?

A. The inaugural DEIW Summit in November was a tremendous success. Participants representing a wide range of practice settings and organizations were inspired and engaged by great keynote speakers. The breakout sessions provided opportunities for attendees to participate in small group discussions on relevant topics and obtain information and ideas to take home to their practices or organizations. There was also ample time for informal discussion and networking during breaks and meals. I believe this was a foundational event, building on the established DEIW resources such as Journey for Teams, Brave Space Certificate Program, and the Workplace Wellbeing Certificate Program provided by the AVMA.

Q. The AVMA commissioned and recently released a comprehensive study on the U.S. veterinary labor market. What do you see as some of the more notable findings from that study?

A. A couple of key takeaway messages in this report: One is that the current number of veterinary colleges is, barring another unprecedented event, expected to be sufficient to meet the projected demand through 2035. In order for demand to grow rapidly, pet owners must be willing to consume more and more veterinary services.

This study was probably the most robust veterinary workforce analysis in recent years. The model developed provides a framework for this work to be repeated, using a consistent, reliable approach to project workforce needs. Funding this study is just one aspect of how the AVMA supports the future of the profession. The AVMA remains committed to increased engagement of veterinary technicians and the entire veterinary health care team to become more efficient and provide quality veterinary care.

A version of this story appears in the February 2025 print issue of JAVMA