Pride Veterinary Medical Community – June 22, 2024

Event

The Pride Veterinary Medical Community (PrideVMC) held its annual meeting on June 22 in Austin, Texas.

Program

More than 200 attendees participated in the annual meeting, hosted by the president and industry liaison of the PrideVMC, Dr. Omar Farías (he, him) and Dr. Ewan Wolff (they, them), and Pride Student Veterinary Medical Community (PrideSVMC) president, Sergio Acuna (he, him). The meeting reinforced the continued need to collaborate, support, and turn alarm into action as more anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and rhetoric surfaces.

Awards

PrideVMC 2024 Leadership Award

Dr. Jesse Navatta (they, them), Chicago, won this award given in recognition of individuals who actively support PrideVMC’s mission to create a better world for the LGBTQ+ veterinary community and the vision of an empowered LGBTQ+ veterinary community whose members are embraced by society as their authentic selves. Dr. Navatta is an associate veterinarian at BetterVet in Chicago. They serve on the PrideVMC board of directors and on the organization’s Advocacy, Education, and Member Engagement working groups. Dr. Navatta is also a founding member of the “booth champion” team, representing PrideVMC at veterinary conferences.

Business

The organization reviewed the 2024 strategic priorities and activities, shared its progress against key metrics, and acknowledged new board members and PrideVMC partners.

Officials

Dr. Omar Farías, Kansas City, Missouri, president; Erin Spencer, Derry, New Hampshire, president-elect; Dr. Rachel Dufour, Ithaca, New York, treasurer; Dr. Abby McElroy, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, immediate past president; Dr. Ashlea Tenorio, Pflugerville, Texas, information officer; Dr. Mia Cary, Greensboro, North Carolina, chief executive officer; Dr. Mo Miller, Chicago, PrideSVMC adviser; Lauren Salsburg, Ithaca, New York, student liaison; Dr. Ewan Wolff, Portland, Oregon, industry liaison; and directors at large—Dr. Bonnie Price, Bisbee, Arizona; Dr. Dane Whitaker, Sacramento, California; Dr. Deborah Kochevar, Grafton, Massachusetts; Emmett Brizendine, Orient, Ohio; Dr. Jesse Navatta, Chicago; and Dr. Paige Carmichael, Athens, Georgia

A version of this story appears in the October 2024 print issue of JAVMA