McClure promoted to AVMA executive position
The AVMA Board of Directors has elected Chief Advocacy Officer Dr. Kent McClure as the Association’s new assistant executive vice president following Dr. David Granstrom’s retirement from the office in April.
The AVMA Bylaws provide for two members of the AVMA staff, the executive vice president (EVP) and the assistant executive vice president, to be corporate officers.
Dr. McClure will continue to oversee AVMA’s federal and state advocacy efforts as the Association’s chief advocacy officer, AVMA CEO and EVP Dr. Janet Donlin wrote in an April 10 staff email.
As Dr. McClure is located in the AVMA’s Washington, D.C. office, this selection will mean there is a corporate officer at each AVMA location, with Dr. Donlin working out of the Schaumburg, Illinois, office.
“Organized veterinary medicine is critical to our profession’s success, and this decision by the AVMA Board of Directors reflects their commitment to the role of advocacy,” she said.
Dr. McClure told AVMA News, “I’m honored to continue to serve and advocate for the veterinary profession in this expanded capacity. I am deeply appreciative of the ongoing support I have received from the Board and AVMA’s CEO and Executive Vice President, Dr. Janet Donlin.
“Along with the AVMA House of Delegates, Board and AVMA’s professional staff, we remain collectively focused on our commitment to the profession and the ongoing success of AVMA’s more than 108,000 members.”
In July 2017, Dr. McClure joined the AVMA in the newly created position of chief government relations officer. He was later promoted to the office of AVMA associate executive vice president.
During his time with the AVMA, Dr. McClure has managed AVMA’s advocacy on behalf of its 108,000-plus members at the federal and state levels and in the courtroom, on issues ranging from noneconomic damages for pet loss and scope of practice to telemedicine and xylazine.
In addition, Dr. McClure has spent more than a decade as a member of the AVMA Trust Board of Trustees.
Dr. McClure earned a veterinary degree in 1988 from Texas A&M University and a law degree in 1993 from the University of Texas. Prior to joining the AVMA, he worked nearly 19 years for the Animal Health Institute, a nonprofit trade association in Washington, D.C., including as general counsel for the organization.
In tandem with that staff change, Dr. Donlin also announced that Dr. Paula Parker, AVMA’s chief partnerships and strategic initiatives officer, will be assuming Dr. Granstrom's previous responsibilities related to credentialing, the House Advisory Committee, and House of Delegates (HOD).
“I’m honored to support AVMA’s governance and the House of Delegates, while continuing to lead our strategic partnerships and the veterinary economics team,” Dr. Parker said. “The HOD is central to AVMA’s representative strength, and I’m grateful for the chance to work more closely with our volunteer leaders, state and allied organizations, and our dedicated staff team.”